Time to intervene on hubby and therapy ‘buddy’

Star Trek star helps bring music of franchise to WSO

John de Lancie knows a thing or two about obsessive fandoms.

“Back in the ’60s, and I certainly grew up in that, there was one fandom: sports. Those of us who read sci-fi and what have you, we were very much of a subculture, and Star Trek … provided a shade, a tent,” he says.

These days, the Hollywood actor — who reprises his iconic role as the mischievous Q in 60 Years of Star Trek & Beyond, presented by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra tonight — is no stranger to the Trekkie circuit.

And he’ll be meeting at least a few Trekkies tonight, as the WSO’s concert delves deep into the franchise’s musical heritage and lore. 60 Years of Star Trek & Beyond weaves the famous classical themes that inspired Star Trek’s sound with music from the franchise itself, along with new compositions by Nick DiBerardino, who joins de Lancie onstage for a theatrical and philosophical back-and-forth.

Maritime modern gothic fiction sees Free Press Book Club get spooky

The Free Press Book Club is leaning into spooky season with its October pick, The Witch of Willow Sound. Author Vanessa F. Penney will join the book club meeting Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. to read from her novel and answer questions from readers, the Free Press and co-presenters McNally Robinson Booksellers.

Penney was born in Newfoundland, raised in rural Nova Scotia and is based in Dartmouth, where she works in the non-profit sector. The Witch of Willow Sound is her first novel.

Published in September 2025 by ECW Press, The Witch of Willow Sound follows Phaedra (Fade) Luck’s journey to find her missing aunt, Madeline Luck. When Fade arrives to the secluded, forested area of Willow Sound where Madeline lives, she finds her aunt’s once quaint cottage has fallen into disrepair; the wood is rotting, it’s damp and the vibes are very off.

As Fade searches for more information about her aunt and where she could have gone, the local townsfolk are not exactly keen on her presence, let alone her questions. For decades, they labelled Madeline as a witch and blamed any tragedies or misfortunes on her, including an impending hurricane.

Chief says minister offered money to remove highway checkstop

The chief of the Bloodvein River First Nation says a Manitoba cabinet minister offered up to $250,000 for economic development as he was trying to persuade her to remove a highway checkstop that has outraged hunters.

Kinew won’t budge on opposition to criminalizing residential school denialism

Premier Wab Kinew stood by his opposition to the proposed criminalization of residential school denialism Wednesday, after some First Nations leaders criticized his earlier comments and asked him to reconsider.

Kinew said he doesn’t think Canada should make residential school denialism a crime, nor does he think it’s feasible to do, and he’d prefer to see it combated with education.

“When somebody has a question or wants to make a statement from a place of ignorance, the response isn’t to try to criminalize,” he told reporters.

“The response should be to try to heal whatever is going on with them that would cause them to say something hurtful, to try and educate whatever they lack in terms of knowledge about the true history of our country, and ultimately to find a way for us to all live together.”

‘We know we’re not going to beat Mother Nature’: Ice prep begins at Princess Auto Stadium for Heritage Classic

Derek King typically has ice in his veins.

But the Manitoban admits there may be a few more butterflies than usual as he prepares for the ultimate home game — the 2026 Heritage Classic between the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens.

“This is so exciting to be back,” King, the NHL’s vice-president of hockey operations and facilities operations, said Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s definitely going to be a fun event to be part of.”