Small town from central Quebec breaks record for world’s biggest poutine

Every few weeks, Winnipeg repeats the same ritual.

An encampment is dismantled. People gather what little they own and move somewhere else. Outreach workers start over. Police respond to the next location. Emergency departments see the same people. Neighbours grow more frustrated. Businesses absorb another loss.

Then the cycle begins again.

We’ve mistaken movement for progress.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: When I got into a bank lineup recently, I had no idea who queued up behind me, because I was too busy checking my phone. Then I heard this guy say down my neck, “Just as beautiful as ever!”

I whirled around and saw my ex-boyfriend grinning at me. I waited for him to finish at the bank, so we could go for coffee at a breakfast place and catch up. But that was it for me — coffee and a chat! Unfortunately, he wants more of “us” and he’s been calling me every night since. The guy’s in sales now, and he’s using his new techniques, but he’s going overboard and really annoying me now!

How do you tell a past boyfriend to cease and desist? To be fair, he’s said nothing overly inappropriate, except how he’s really loving my new look and that he wants to see me again. Why isn’t he getting the hint when I refuse all his suggestions to do more together?

— Getting Fed Up, East Kildonan

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’ve discovered my wife is quite amorous out at the lake. It’s our first year having a fair bit of alone time at the cottage, and I’m all for an exciting sex life with the breeze blowing in through the windows.

Our kids are grown up now and not out here regularly anymore, so my wife doesn’t think she needs to keep it down. And she can be pretty noisy in bed.

Our neighbour behind us invited me over for drinks on his deck yesterday afternoon. When he’d had a few, he made a crack about the “free symphony” coming from our bedroom window.

Of course, I went home and told my wife, and she was mortified.