We had it covered: 2022 in arts coverage, all wrapped up

Advertisement

Advertise with us

Music streaming service Spotify started the year-end “Wrapped” trend and we’re jumping on the bandwagon. In 2022 (as of Dec. 27), the Free Press arts and life team published 1,182 stories and digital readers spent more than 81,000 hours engaging with our work. Here are some of the most viewed stories from the last year:

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/12/2022 (1325 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Music streaming service Spotify started the year-end “Wrapped” trend and we’re jumping on the bandwagon. In 2022 (as of Dec. 27), the Free Press arts and life team published 1,182 stories and digital readers spent more than 81,000 hours engaging with our work. Here are some of the most viewed stories from the last year:

Visual Art

Picture This — Ben Waldman captures a rare moment of online serenity in this story about Canadian Paintings, a popular Twitter account that shares work by Canadian artists sans commentary.

Theatre & Dance

Dramatic Dialogue — In this season preview, Jill Wilson talked with Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre artistic director Kelly Thornton about programming a diverse “all-you-can-eat buffet” of shows for 2022-23.

MTC artistic director Kelly Thornton (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files)
MTC artistic director Kelly Thornton (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Music

Change of Key — Forgot how to festival? Ahead of the first in-person Winnipeg Folk Festival since 2019, Eva Wasney walked readers through what to expect, how to dress and where to pitch a tent at Birds Hill Park.

TV & Film

Actress Edi Patterson foiled by famously frigid Winnipeg intersection — We all love a good Winnipeg celebrity story. Even better? A highly relatable story about a film star trying to walk across Portage and Main in the dead of winter. Randall King recounted actress Edi Patterson’s local filming experience, which she shared during an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Reviews

Took it to the limit, one more time — Eagles’ performance in September was a five-star experience for concertgoers and digital readers alike. Alan Small reviewed the cinematic show, which included backing by members of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

The Eagles perform at Canada Life Centre as part of their Hotel California tour on Sept. 16, 2022. (David Lipnowski / Winnipeg Free Press files)
The Eagles perform at Canada Life Centre as part of their Hotel California tour on Sept. 16, 2022. (David Lipnowski / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Food & Drink

Part science, part madness, all meat — David Sanderson profiled the proprietors of Boulevard Meats & Deli, a Southdale butcher shop run by a trio of sisters that specializes in bacon shots and pig wings.

Books

Banning books stifles important classroom conversations — After local author David A. Robertson’s YA novel, The Great Bear, was banned by Ontario’s Durham School Board, Jen Zoratti laid bare the harmful hypocrisy of the decision.

Life

Clicking with colony culture — Ahead of an exhibit at the MHC Gallery, Alan Small spoke with photographer Tim Smith about his years-long project documenting life on the Deerboine Hutterite colony in western Manitoba.

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Proposed Transcona development — which could add 20,000 people — gets thumbs down from residents

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Preview

Proposed Transcona development — which could add 20,000 people — gets thumbs down from residents

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

Dozens of Winnipeggers fear plans to make way for up to 20,000 more people to live in south Transcona would dramatically alter their neighbourhood and tie hefty fees for new services to their property titles.

If city council adopts the proposed South Transcona secondary plan, all future development applications would need to conform to its goals. The affected area is located south of Dugald Road, north of St. Boniface Road, east of Plessis Road and west of Murdock Road.

Homeowner Virginia Page Jähne fears the plan could add a massive tab to the title of her 4.3-acre property to cover services required for the development.

“My main concern is that they are wanting to put $1.4 million onto my title to pay for this. Now, they say that I will not have to pay it unless I subdivide. But if a person comes by and wants to buy from me … and they see that $1.4 million … what’s the first thing (they’re) going to do?” said Page Jähne, in an interview.

Read
Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

Ratcheting up heat can lead to cold feet

Maureen Scurfield 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I came home early from my family’s beautiful lake cottage with my heart broken in pieces. I’d taken my new love out there and he seemed so happy to go with me. Friends of mine at the lake helped by offering me their romantic cabin while they were away on a road trip.

After two days of bliss on the beach, walking the sandy shores at twilight, plus some great lovemaking, our trip felt absolutely magical to me. It was like the honeymoon I hope to have with him someday. I happily told my guy that over breakfast in the morning. His face fell.

He went out right away for a “long run,” and then he went again for a second one right after lunch. He didn’t come back for many hours, so I finally went down to the kiosks at the beach at 5 p.m. looking for him, asking if anyone had seen my guy.

One guy said, “Yeah, he was with your other visitor today — the red-headed girl.” I’d had no other visitor. I suddenly realized he must have met another woman at the beach, and passed her off as my friend. I just lost it!

A Life's Story: Woman fought for better outcomes for others amid cancer fight

Janine LeGal 7 minute read Preview

A Life's Story: Woman fought for better outcomes for others amid cancer fight

Janine LeGal 7 minute read Yesterday at 3:00 AM CDT

Catherine Mary Burke was strong and motivated in ways many of us could never imagine.

She was known for fighting the good fight, and she fought as hard as she could for as long as she could. But something set her apart. Even when it was too late for her, she insisted cancer survival rates had to be better for other women. And they are today because of her fierce determination.

Burke died on Nov. 29, 2025, at age 67 after courageously facing breast cancer for more than a decade.

“Cathy was born happy,” said her husband, Patrick Burke. “She was a glass-half-full person. What a gift this attitude was to me and the boys. She never once said ‘Why me?’ or complained. She was just so happy to be alive.

Read
Yesterday at 3:00 AM CDT

Firefighter’s death fuels cancer fight

Zoe Pierce 5 minute read Preview

Firefighter’s death fuels cancer fight

Zoe Pierce 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

The United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg is mourning the loss of Winnipeg firefighter Darrel Maynard while continuing its work to raise awareness of occupational cancer and improve health protections for firefighters.

Maynard, a senior firefighter II and acting lieutenant with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, died Aug. 5 at age 41 after a three-year battle with occupational cancer.

He served Winnipeg for nearly two decades and leaves behind his wife Francine and sons Colin and Christian.

“Darrel was an incredible, incredible person, an incredible firefighter, and really, really special to all of us,” said Nick Kasper, president of UFFW.

Read
Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

WRHA directs three care homes to accommodate surge of hospital patients

Malak Abas 5 minute read Preview

WRHA directs three care homes to accommodate surge of hospital patients

Malak Abas 5 minute read Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has directed three long-term care centres to make space for hospital patients, citing “exceptionally high demand for care across the health-care system.”

Read
Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

Rise of social media reflects rise of self-promotion — to the detriment of genuine storytelling

Reviewed by Matt Henderson 5 minute read Preview

Rise of social media reflects rise of self-promotion — to the detriment of genuine storytelling

Reviewed by Matt Henderson 5 minute read Yesterday at 3:00 AM CDT

A conversation is overheard between two people; one congratulates the other on their success, evident through countless posts on LinkedIn, but the other confesses the prolific aggrandizement is due to slumping success.

A young man on an airplane spends three hours poring over selfies taken on a vacation, zooming in on his biceps and using AI to retouch photos before posting on Instagram.

Anonymous and cowardly trolls on Reddit attempt to end another person’s career.

All this “storytelling” was observed in one day by this reviewer.

Read
Yesterday at 3:00 AM CDT