Canadian Cory Johnston off to solid start in Elite Series opening event

Former abuser of alcohol, drugs who graduated from recovery program now helping others

The second time Ray Ducharme overdosed, he was in a Winnipeg hotel room, waiting for a spot in Adult and Teen Challenge Central Canada’s live-in recovery program.

It was Oct. 30, 2024 — not long after his first overdose had landed him in a Red Deer, Alta., hospital for eight days. Ducharme had gone west, trying to outrun the baggage he carried in Winnipeg, before eventually returning home at the behest of an ATCCC employee who assured him there would be a bed available in seven to 10 days.

Then came the second OD.

Three days later, in early November, Ducharme woke up in a Winnipeg hospital with his family around him. Doctors weren’t sure he’d survive.

Man accused of stabbing security guard has record of thefts

The man accused of stabbing a security guard at a Winnipeg grocery store last week left jail in early August after admitting to several thefts from retail stores and an assault at a Sobeys earlier this year.

Winnipeg Police Service officers were called to the FreshCo store on the 600 block of Sargent Avenue shortly after 1 p.m. on Friday over an assault.

The suspect had tried to leave the grocery store without paying for merchandise before a confrontation broke out and he pulled out a knife outside the store, police said on Sunday. The guard, a 24-year-old man, was taken to hospital in critical condition and later upgraded to stable.

Peter Edwin Morrison Black, 23, has been charged with robbery, assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon. He was detained in custody. He was arrested on Saturday, the day after the stabbing, in the area of Ellice Avenue and Sherbrook Street.

Port of Churchill celebrates first grain shipment in six years

Approximately 30,000 tonnes of Canadian durum wheat from Saskatchewan-based AGT Foods is being loaded at the northern Manitoba port and will be shipped to customers in Europe.

Health-care workers worry province rushing to open temporary Dauphin hospital

The province says it is on track to reopen the flood-damaged Dauphin hospital emergency department on Labour Day, but some of health-care workers worry the reopening is being rushed.

The temporary emergency department will operate on the main floor of Dauphin Regional Health Centre, using temporary power and water while restoration work continues in other areas of the hospital. The facility was forced to close on July 1 after significant flooding hit the region. More than 50 patients had to be evacuated.

When it opens Sept. 7, the temporary emergency department will provide services 24-7, a Manitoba government news release said.

Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, said it’s her understanding crews are “rapidly cleaning” an area of the flooded hospital, but said critical necessities, like running water and flushing toilets, will be missing.

Heavy rain, wind sweep across Manitoba as tornado takes out barn near Elkhorn

Kelvin Siemens hoped he was dreaming when a tornado touched down near his home Sunday evening.

When he woke up the next morning, the southwestern Manitoba farmer confirmed it was no dream, as his barn and hay shed were toppled and a pile of rubble was left behind.

“This kind of devastation can really test your constitution,” Siemens, 65, told the Free Press from his farm just south of Kola, a small community in the Rural Municipality of Wallace-Woodworth.

The tornado was reported near Elkhorn, about 105 kilometres west of Brandon, at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday. A second tornado touched down near Maryfield, Sask., located southwest of Elkhorn.

Winnipegger Kirt Hill gearing up for first season as Oilers assistant GM

Growing up in the Maples, Kirt Hill spent countless hours on the outdoor rink dreaming of winning the Stanley Cup.

As he made his way through the minor hockey system, into the system of the Winnipeg Hawks and Thrashers and later into the Western Hockey League with the Kelowna Rockets, that dream was still very much alive.

But after a trade to the Regina Pats and a pit stop in the USHL, Hill had a revelation of sorts.

“In Regina, as a 19-year-old and seeing how good they were, I kind of knew the writing was on the wall for me,” Hill said in a recent telephone interview from Edmonton.