News briefs for Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Important artifact returning to Peguis First Nation

7:16 PM

Peguis First Nation will soon have a lost piece of its history back home.

A critical artifact to the community — a horsehead pipe bowl once owned by Saulteaux leader Chief Peguis — will soon be repatriated to the Manitoba First Nation, said Chief Stan Bird in a social media post Wednesday.

The item was rediscovered by the Manitoba Museum in 2021 and Chief Bird said in the post the museum’s board of governors has approved a formal request to have the pipe bowl returned.

A celebration and community gathering will be organized to mark the artifact’s return, with Chief Bird calling it a “living symbol of peace, responsibility and the enduring spirit” of the First Nation.

Kinew meets with Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada

3:03 PM

Premier Wab Kinew had a meeting with Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada, Andrii Plakhotniuk, in Winnipeg on Wednesday.

“Our province has always had a strong connection to Ukraine,” said Kinew. “When we get the chance to discuss how we can continue to work with each other in the future and strengthen our relationship, we seize that opportunity.”

The meeting comes after the provincial government and the Kherson Regional Military (State) Administration of Ukraine inked an agreement in June last year to work together on agriculture, economic development, education, health care, sport and culture and environmental issues.

The province has committed to donate two road graders to Kherson, meant to help rebuild and maintain roads and prepare land for infrastructure projects, as the region tries to recover from Russia’s occupation of part of the area after the invasion in 2022.

While in Manitoba, Plakhotniuk will also participate in a business roundtable with the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and the Manitoba Business Council, before spending an evening with Ukrainian community members in Winnipeg.

Police watchdog investigating after man injured during arrest

12:28 PM

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has launched an investigation after a man complained he was injured by city police while being arrested early this year.

The Winnipeg Police Service notified the IIU about the allegations on Tuesday. They stem from a Jan. 3 incident in which officers arrested a man who was “unsteady on his feet and slurring his speech,” near the intersection of Nassau Street North and River Avenue, the police watchdog said in a news release.

Officers responded to the area after receiving a report about a disturbance at a bar on the 400 block of River Avenue. Police were told an intoxicated man was refusing to leave the establishment, and was alleged to be harassing people and making unwanted sexual advances toward women, the release said.

Police located the man around 12:45 a.m., shortly after he left the bar and told him he was being detained under the Intoxicated Persons Detention act.

“Attempts to communicate with him were unsuccessful because he was uncooperative and failed to comply with police directions,” the release said. “The male was resistant and combative with officers, resulting in a use-of-force encounter and he was taken into custody.”

The man filed a formal complaint to the Law Enforcement Review Agency on June 3. He provided medical records from Jan. 5, documenting a fracture to his rib, bruising and swelling to his eyes, head and body, and lacerations to his wrists. He also reported experiencing tingling in his fingers, the IIU said.

The police watchdog is mandated to review any police interactions that involve serious injuries. It is calling on witnesses who have information or video footage related to the incident to contact investigators at 1-844-667-6060.

Woman, 20, dead after single-vehicle rollover

12:00 PM

A 20-year-old woman died Wednesday morning after a single-vehicle rollover on Pimicikamak Cree Nation.

Officers received a report about the crash around 6 a.m. Investigators determined a vehicle with two female occupants was travelling northbound on Saggitawak Road at a high speed, when it lost control, rolled and collided with a tree, RCMP said in a news release Wednesday.

The driver was pronounced dead on the scene. The 16-year-old passenger was transported to the nursing station with non-life-threatening injuries. She will be flown to Winnipeg for further treatment, police said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Highway 59 reopens after fatal collision

11:24 AM

Highway 59 was partially closed following a fatal collision involving a semi-truck on Wednesday morning.

Police responded to reports of a two-vehicle collision on the highway, near Prefontaine Road in the Rural Municipality of Taché around 12:21 a.m., RCMP said in a news release.

Investigators determined a vehicle with two occupants was travelling north on the highway when it crossed into the path of a southbound semi-truck. The vehicles collided and ended up in the ditch.

The driver of the vehicle, a 20-year-old man from Ontario, died on scene. His passenger, a 13-year-old boy from Steinbach, was airlifted to Winnipeg with serious and life-threatening injuries. The driver of the semi-truck, a 45-year-old man from Alberta, was not injured, RCMP said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Prolific shoplifter arrested, charged after weeks-long spree: WPS

11:04 AM

City police have arrested and charged a man accused of being a prolific offender after a series of thefts and robberies targeting commercial businesses.

Police brought the 44-year-old suspect into custody Monday near Salter Street and Partridge Avenue following a weeks-long investigation, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Wednesday.

Between May 1 and June 9, a man entered eight different retail businesses in various areas of the city and stole approximately $5,000 worth of goods. Some of the retailers were targeted more than once, and in some instances, the man allegedly threatened staff with a knife, WPS said.

All of the incidents were captured on security cameras. The suspect is now facing numerous charges for robbery, disguise with intent and theft under $5,000.

Sandy Bay First Nation boy, 13, charged after school shooting threat

10:40 AM

Police arrested and charged a 13-year-old boy from Sandy Bay First Nation on Tuesday, after receiving a tip about a potential school shooting.

Officers first learned of the allegation on Monday around 6 a.m., when they were told a student had allegedly threatened to attend Isaac Beaulieu Memorial School on graduation day and shoot multiple students, the Manitoba First Nations Police Service said in a news release Wednesday.

Investigators identified a student from the school as a suspect and brought him into custody the following day without incident. The boy has been charged for uttering threats to cause bodily harm or death, MFNPS said.

He was released from custody on an undertaking.

Jets announce pre-season schedule

10:36 AM

The Winnipeg Jets will face the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers when the reduced exhibition schedule opens in late September.

With the regular season expanding to 84 games this fall, a shortened training camp will include just four pre-season contests.

The Jets travel to Edmonton on Sept. 19 at Rogers Place before hosting the Avalanche on the 21st and the Oilers on the 22nd.

The Jets will head to Denver for a final tune-up on Sept. 25.

The NHL regular season is tentatively scheduled to open on Sept. 29, though the full docket of games is expected to be announced in July.

Man dies in workplace incident in RM of Stanley

9:28 AM

A 68-year-old man died on the job Tuesday after becoming entangled in machinery.

Pembina Valley RCMP attended the scene around 3:30 p.m., at a commercial farming business south of Winkler.

The police and Manitoba Workplace Health and Safety are investigating.