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Free Press Head Start for June 8, 2026

Good morning.

When Winnipeg writer and artist Sam Beiko suggested there should be a podcast explaining what was at stake in the coming municipal election, co-host Patty Wiens — who holds the volunteer title of ‘Winnipeg’s bike mayor,’ a role awarded by a global cycling advocacy organization — offered an immediate response. “We’re gonna do that podcast,” she said at the time. Zoe Pierce has the story.

Parents and school officials in Brandon say security has been beefed up but some students continue to grapple with fear and trauma one year after a student was slashed with a sword at a high school. The Brandon Sun’s Abiola Odutola reports.

— David Fuller

 

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Your forecast

Mainly cloudy; clearing this afternoon. Wind from the south at 30 km/h gusting to 50. High 27 C. UV index 8 or very high.

What’s happening today

Former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour’s installation ceremony today to become Canada’s 31st governor general is set to include a 21-gun salute, a poetry reading and two musical performances by Canadian artists.

Arbour will replace Mary Simon, who became Canada’s first Indigenous viceregal in 2021.

The ceremony, taking place at the Senate of Canada building, is expected to begin at about 10 a.m. The Canadian Press reports.

Louise Arbour (Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files)

Louise Arbour (Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files)

Today’s must-read

Surrounded by thousands of rainbow-clad strangers, Mira Kopiova and Jamie Komarniski celebrated their historic wedding — the first of its kind to kick off Pride Winnipeg Festival — over the weekend.

The pair tied the knot in a surprise ceremony on The Forks main stage on Saturday.

Less than 24 hours later, the newlyweds led the 39th annual parade in celebration of Manitoba’s LGBTTQ+ community.

The 27-year-old described the weekend’s events as “therapy,” as well as a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights violations in her home country. Ukraine does not legally recognize same-sex marriage, although its Supreme Court recently upheld a landmark lower court decision that recognized a gay couple as a de facto family. Maggie Macintosh has the story.

Academy Hospitality decked out a vintage car for its Pride float to celebrate the marriage of Mira Kopiova and Jamie Komarniski who were grand marshals for the parade. (Maggie Macintosh / Free Press)

Academy Hospitality decked out a vintage car for its Pride float to celebrate the marriage of Mira Kopiova and Jamie Komarniski who were grand marshals for the parade. (Maggie Macintosh / Free Press)

On the bright side

A Cree student who graduated from the University of Manitoba nursing program said she’s striving to make the health-care system a more welcoming place for Indigenous patients.

Kaydence Morgado Thomas, who was raised in Winnipeg and has ties to Norway House Cree Nation, officially graduated from the UM Pathways to Indigenous Nursing Education program earlier this month.

She is set to begin work at Health Sciences Centre next month and will pick up shifts at Percy E Moore Hospital in Hodgson, whose patients also come from Peguis First Nation and Fisher River Cree Nation.

“I want to create an environment where patients feel respected and valued,” said Morgado Thomas. Tiago Resko has more here.

Kaydence Morgado Thomas (Brook Jones / Free Press)

Kaydence Morgado Thomas (Brook Jones / Free Press)

On this date

On June 8, 1928: The Manitoba Free Press reported the Southern Corss monoplane took off from California for the last leg of the fliers’ 7,351-mile journey, heading for Brisbane, Australia, 1,795 miles away. In Regina, a plan for a Canadian consumers’ co-op was launched. In Ottawa, the federal minister of the interior clarified he had no intention of proposing a delay in a decision concerning Manitoba’s Seven Sisters power generation site, noting there remained differences of opinion about the project in Winnipeg.

Today’s front page

Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Free Press.

 
 

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Top news

Jon Gambrell And Melanie Lidman, The Associated Press:

Israel and Iran appear to pause strikes after trading fire for the first time since April ceasefire

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel and Iran appeared to back away from further strikes Monday, hours after they traded fire for the first time since the U.S. agreed to a ceasefire with... Read More

 

Morgan Modjeski:

Pair of fires leaves one dead, three in hospital

Death on Friday pushes fire-connected fatalities to 13 in 2026 Read More

 

AV Kitching:

Have compassion, will travel

Manitoba couple has answered calls to help when disasters have befallen communities both near and far over the past 21 years Read More

 
 
 

New in Sports

Mike McIntyre:

Veteran pitcher Lambson finds form as Goldeyes edge Explorers

Mitch Lambson reached deep into his bag of tricks and came up with the type of clutch performance his Winnipeg Goldeyes desperately needed. The crafty veteran shook off a poor start to his season o... Read More

 

Taylor Allen:

Bombers outlast Stamps in first test of the season

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers didn’t let the weight of expectations hold them down in Cowtown. Did they have a flawless showing at McMahon Stadium on Friday night? Not quite. But it’s safe to say... Read More

 
 

New in Arts and Entertainment

Conrad Sweatman:

Pocket-change plan

Province’s removal of PST from some groceries doesn’t amount to much Read More

 

Maggie Macintosh:

Popular Chatfield Exchange to stay open

Road-trip destination receives strong online support after previous complaints lodged by RM residents Read More

 

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press:

‘Scary Movie’ tops box office, slaying ‘Masters of the Universe’ and adding to low-budget streak

NEW YORK (AP) — The summer box office is booming — but not because of the usual suspects. After three weeks of indie horror dominance at the box office, the slasher spoof “Scary Movie... Read More

 
 

New in Business

Gabrielle Piché:

Legislation to create Manitoba-Indigenous Crown corporation pending as some First Nations express concerns

Legislation to create a new Crown corporation is hung up, in part, on First Nations’ concerns the entity would override the government’s duty to consult individual nations before launching projects. ... Read More

 

Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press:

‘Pick-up man’: Organizations work to address mental health of Canadian farmers

Josh Lehmann was a cowboy from Rosthern, a tiny town near where the North and South Saskatchewan rivers meet and the open prairie rolls into the northern boreal forest. He was a rodeo rider, a good... Read More

 

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press:

Is Canada in a recession? What to know after a volatile week of economic data

OTTAWA - There was one word on the lips of many Canadians economists, politicians and journalists this past week: recession. Recent economic data has painted a mixed picture of Canada's economy, an... Read More

 
 

Fresh opinions

Editorial:

Coming sales-tax break a confusing mess

With less than 30 days to go before provincial sales tax is removed from a broad array of snacks and ready-to-eat meals, there remains little clarity on what exactly the NDP government of Manitoba is trying to achieve. Read More

 

Allan Levine:

Alberta’s long-standing mentality of grievance

In October, Albertans will vote in a referendum about a referendum. They will be asked if they support another future “binding” referendum on whether Alberta should separate from Canada. Read More

 

Peter McKenna:

Deciphering Raúl Castro’s U.S. federal indictment

Given its targeted audience, I wasn’t surprised at all by how gleeful the Miami Herald’s editorial was about the issuing of a multi-count murder indictment of 95-year-old former Cuban president Raúl Castro. Read More

 
 

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