Ariana Grande withdraws from London musical and will take a break from the public eye

Bombers turn to other passions away from the field

You can’t think about football 24-7.

Even at this time of year, when it’s hard not to be consumed by the playoff race, it’s important for players to have other interests and hobbies to take their minds off the pressure and stress that comes with playing for a living.

“Always thinking about football gets mentally draining,” said Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Ontaria Wilson after Thursday’s closed practice.

“Being able to remove yourself from that environment and think about something else can relax your mind.”

Confidence vote was gamble for MLA, Tories: political expert

BRANDON — A Progressive Conservative MLA’s decision to put forward a confidence motion against the party’s former leader carries a lot of risk for her and the Tories, a political science expert says.

Obby Khan resigned as leader of the PCs on Monday after Jodie Byram (Agassiz) initiated a confidence vote against him the previous week.

The majority of the PC caucus voted in favour of Khan, but he resigned a few days later, citing continued efforts to undermine him by a minority of MLAs.

Brandon University political science Prof. Kelly Saunders said while she doesn’t know what Byram’s motivations were for triggering the vote, such a move carries a lot of risk.

Retired guidance counsellor defends explicit 2025 sex-ed presentation to high school football team in disciplinary hearing

Gus Watanabe, a former employee of Oak Park High School in Winnipeg, was the subject of a public disciplinary hearing on Thursday.

Manitoba PCs choose Narth as interim leader; ‘deeply hurt’ Khan blasts former caucus colleagues

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative caucus chose MLA Konrad Narth as interim party leader Tuesday to replace Obby Khan, who quit a day earlier after he said he was stabbed in the back by a small group of caucus members plotting in secret to oust him.

Wawanesa rebrands newest branch WSI

Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. has completed its acquisition of Ontario-based Everest Insurance Company of Canada and rebranded it as WSI, expanding Wawanesa’s commercial capabilities.

WSI will operate as a distinct organization within the Wawanesa group of companies, retaining the expertise, talent and underwriting discipline that established Everest as a respected player in the speciality market, Wawanesa announced on Thursday.

Wawanesa acquired Everest Canada from Everest Group Ltd., a Delaware-based global reinsurance and insurance provider. The deal was first announced in March and received regulatory approval in September. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“It was a very competitive process,” Wawanesa president and CEO Evan Johnston said. “This was a sought-after asset and we were the successful bidder, which I’m very proud of.”

Port of Churchill signs agreement with Dutch port

Arctic Gateway Group, operator of the Port of Churchill, has signed an agreement with the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands to attract business and strengthen supply chains linking Western Canada and Europe.

The agreement enables the two ports to work together to develop new trade in critical minerals and energy products, connect Canadian producers with European buyers, and identify opportunities to improve the supply chain from Western Canadian resource projects through Churchill and into European markets.

The Port of Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port and home to more than 3,000 businesses across its industrial complex, serving as a major gateway for critical raw materials and energy.

Meanwhile, the Port of Churchill has been identified as a transformative national strategy for Canada and is emerging as a northern trade corridor connecting Western Canada’s resources to global markets.