Brandon doctor censured for improper genital exam

A longtime Brandon pediatrician has been reprimanded by Manitoba’s physician watchdog after he administered a genital exam on an adolescent patient without gloves, proper draping and obtaining consent.

Dr. Emmett Elves was issued a formal censure by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba earlier this month, after it found he “failed to meet the standard of the profession” and “displayed a lack of judgment” relating to a 12-year-old boy’s appointment in 2022.

Elves, who has been practising since the 1970s, has apologized to the patient and plans to retire in June, according to a discipline decision posted on the college’s website.

The censure comes one month after a Free Press investigation revealed six Manitoba physicians — including Elves — have chaperone conditions on their licences, meaning they require someone else present when conducting sensitive exams.

Doctor censured for posting ‘unprofessional’ comment on patient online

Manitoba’s physician regulator has reprimanded a Winnipeg doctor after he made an “inappropriate and unprofessional” comment about a patient online.

Family doctor Abdel-Kareem Chehadi was formally censured by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba after he fired back at a patient who criticized his conduct on the online forum RateMDs, according to a decision posted on the college’s website in recent days.

The decision states the matter involved a patient with a history of anxiety and substance use disorder, including alcohol and benzodiazepines. When the patient, called “Patient A” in the decision, started seeing Chehadi in November 2019, the doctor’s treatment plan included consultation with an addiction specialist, tapering of medications and cognitive behavioural therapy.

The patient also required the doctor to fill out certain MPI forms relating to the loss of their driver’s licence. In July 2020, a “conflict” arose over the MPI forms and a long-term disability form which led to “a deterioration of the physician-patient relationship.”

Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame inductee remembered as 'superwoman'

Judy Brown was the kind of grandmother who would be waiting in her grandkids’ driveway in the wee hours of Christmas morning, rushing inside the moment she saw the lights turn on.

She was the kind of mom who built her life around her daughters and their activities, shuttling their teammates to and from so many sports games she was known affectionately to many as “Mom Brown.”

She was the kind of best friend who called just to chat every morning for decades.

She was a volunteer. A loving wife. A multitasker extraordinaire and an organizer so highly regarded in the Manitoba curling community she was inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame last year.

Preliminary numbers show Manitoba drug deaths at record level in 2022

Drug deaths in Manitoba appear to have hit a record high in 2022, new data shows.

According to preliminary statistics from Manitoba’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner provided to the Free Press by an advocacy group, there were 418 total drug-related overdose deaths in 2022, up from 407 at about the same time last year for 2021 (the number later grew to 424 after more deaths were confirmed). There were 371 drug deaths in 2020, up from 199 in 2019.

Teachers give bill failing grade at marathon hearing

Manitoba teachers fear proposed legislation on educator misconduct will be co-opted by ill-intentioned parents and don’t believe it will protect students, they told a standing committee during six hours of presentations Monday night.

Around 20 teachers from across the province spoke at the at-times tense marathon public hearing at the legislature or called in and spoke by video about their thoughts on Bill 35 — The Education Administration Amendment Act (Teacher Certification and Professional Conduct).

“Will this make our kids safer? It sounds like a recipe for witch hunts,” speaker Jim Parry-Hill said.

The bill, if passed, would make teacher discipline public and create a registry of teachers also accessible by the public. It would also assign an independent commissioner to investigate allegations of wrongdoing by teachers. A panel made up of a teacher, a person appointed by the Manitoba School Boards Association and a member of the public would rule on matters sent to public hearings.

NDP to delay addictions bill

New Democrats intend to delay a controversial Tory bill to regulate Manitoba drug addictions services, “effectively killing” it, says NDP Leader Wab Kinew.

Province announces new funding for sexual assault crisis response program

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservatives announced new funding for a new community-led sexual assault crisis response program Sunday amid criticism over its handling of a similar program at Health Sciences Centre.

Manitoba bill would ‘eliminate’ OD-prevention RV: Sunshine House

The head of the organization that runs Manitoba’s only overdose prevention site said he feels “sideswiped” by proposed legislation to regulate addictions services.

Harm-reduction advocates take aim at province’s addiction services bill; federal minister voices support for supervised drug sites

Harm-reduction groups in Manitoba want the provincial government’s new addictions services bill rescinded, saying it “closes that door” to supervised consumption sites “under the cover of regulation.”

Province digs in amid calls for OD stats release

The Stefanson government is holding firm on its refusal to release 2022 fatal overdose statistics, ignoring calls in the legislature from the NDP to do so.

‘Step in right direction’: doctors college makes it easier to acquire drug to treat opioid addiction

Manitoba’s physician regulator is making it easier for doctors to prescribe a pill used to treat opioid addiction.

At a December meeting of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, council voted to remove a requirement for doctors to complete specific training before being allowed to prescribe Suboxone to patients with opioid dependency. The training, which took place in-person or online, will now be encouraged, but is not mandatory.

Manitoba’s lack of drug-overdose data called coverup

Critics are calling on the Stefanson government to release data on drug overdose deaths in a timely manner, saying its refusal to do so is an “embarrassment.”

Manitoba keeps overdose stats secret, so advocates release them

The Stefanson government refused to share data on how many Manitobans died of drug overdoses in 2022, one day after it released its budget plan to tackle drug addiction.

The province said it doesn’t rely on preliminary OD numbers and the only firm numbers are from 14 months ago.

One advocate whose son died of a drug overdose called the practice “shameful” while experts on access to information said it suggests political interference.

Former doctor found guilty of misconduct after calling watchdog ‘killers’ in emails

A former Winnipeg doctor who twice ran for the Manitoba Progressive Conservative party has been reprimanded after he labelled officials with the province’s physician watchdog as “killers” in emails, saying they “tortured” him.

Doctors watchdog ‘dropped the ball’: expert

Sexual assault allegations against a former Winnipeg doctor, brought to light in a patient’s lawsuit, are raising questions about how the province’s physicians watchdog handled complaints against him years ago.

Lawsuit accuses former Winnipeg doctor of sex abuse

A patient is suing her former doctor and the Winnipeg clinic he worked at, alleging sexual abuse during medical appointments.

Rescue cares for tiny black bear cub

HE’S so small he can fit in the palm of her hand, but Judy Stearns can already tell the orphaned black bear cub she’s caring for is going to be a “tough, strong little bear” when he grows up.

Lack of paper trail a puzzler for some

Governments and law enforcement across Canada were on high alert as the so-called “freedom convoy” rolled into Ottawa, blocked U.S.-Canada border crossings and landed on legislature doorsteps one year ago.

Two airports reopen in Mazatlan area

Manitobans stranded in a popular Mexico tourist destination after violence swept through the region this week should soon be heading home.

Two airports have reopened in Mazatlan, a travel hotspot in the northwestern Sinaloa state, after days of instability following the arrest of alleged drug trafficker Ovidio (The Mouse) Guzman, son of former cartel boss Joaquin (El Chapo) Guzman, on Thursday.

Flights were cancelled and travellers were advised to shelter in place. Gunshots rang out and vehicles burned on area roads.

Apartment evacuated, man arrested after uttering threats

Winnipeg police arrested a man and evacuated his Cumberland Avenue apartment Friday after he allegedly made threats against police.

City urged to boost street safety

The high number of pedestrians killed by vehicles in Winnipeg last year highlights the need for a greater commitment to safe streets, including better sidewalk and bike lane snow clearing, advocates say.

Amid a toxic drug crisis, Winnipeg and Hamilton go in starkly different directions

In Hamilton, there's a pair of supervised consumption sites in operation, with a third on its way. In Winnipeg, there's a patchwork approach to harm reduction as advocates try, at the very least, to make it safer for users on the streets.

Portage la Prairie woman kidnapped, suspect on the loose

A Portage la Prairie area woman and her child are safe but shaken after a stranger pretended to be in distress on the side of the road, then kidnapped them and demanded they drive him to Winnipeg, Manitoba RCMP say.

Furby Street shooting marks Winnipeg’s 47th homicide

A man is dead after an early Saturday morning shooting at an apartment building in the 500 block of Furby Street.

Top marks for Manitoba’s new approach to probing teacher misconduct

Child protection advocates have praised the Manitoba government’s commitment to creating a teacher registry and an independent body that handles teacher misconduct, calling it a “big win” for child safety and a “precedent-setting” decision.

Doctor discipline hearing highlights new public stance

A former doctor’s unfounded claims Manitoba physician watchdog investigators “tortured” him and were “racist” have landed him in front of a discipline panel.

Committee speakers give voice to those locked in NDAs

A Manitoba teacher, former nurse and government IT worker spoke out publicly — some for the first time — about their experiences with non-disclosure agreements, during a five-hour legislative standing committee meeting Wednesday evening.

Hundreds of teachers preyed on students across Canada, study finds

An extensive, Canada-wide study of child sexual abuse in schools has found at least 252 current or former K-12 personnel committed, or were accused of committing, offences against children between 2017 and 2021.

Dobson returns to council with St. James win

It was anyone’s game in St. James, but Shawn Dobson won out in the end.

Dobson, who previously represented the former St. Charles ward on city council from 2014-18 (which was then dissolved and merged into St. James and Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood), was in competition with four other candidates in the 2022 municipal election. The ward had no incumbent, with two-term councillor Scott Gillingham making the jump into the Winnipeg mayoral race.

“I’m good. Actually, I’m ecstatic,” Dobson said, as reporters arrived at his election party Wednesday night — held at his mother’s house, where he grew up — moments after he learned he’d won.

Wearing a suit and surrounded by a small group of supporters, who passed around mimosas, Dobson said he was ready to hit the ground running as a second-time Winnipeg councillor.

Manitoba doctor discipline process takes ‘good baby step’

After repeated criticism of its secretive handling of physician misconduct, Manitoba’s doctor watchdog now posts information about upcoming discipline hearings on its website.

Political experts say there’s no clear frontrunner for mayor just days before election

With election day quickly approaching, mayoral candidates are making their final push for support, but political observers say there is no clear frontrunner in the race — warning anything could happen.

Winnipeg doctor loses licence for professional misconduct

Manitoba’s physician watchdog has stripped a Winnipeg doctor of his licence, after finding him guilty of “serious” professional misconduct.

Alarm sounded over school divisions’ silence

A near-blanket refusal by Manitoba school divisions to provide information about teacher misconduct is “insulting” and “nonsensical,” privacy experts say.

Local piper honours Elizabeth

Park-goers within earshot stopped and turned as bagpipe music rang out in the English Gardens at Assiniboine Park Sunday morning.

Doctors’ regulator ignored key matters in ‘sexual boundaries’ review: critics

In the midst of a brewing — but not yet public — alleged sexual abuse scandal involving a rural doctor, Manitoba’s physician watchdog undertook an in-depth review of its misconduct policies.

Local Ukrainian church offers to bless cars, spread awareness on road safety

It’s not “magic” and it won’t protect you from getting a speeding ticket, but having a blessed car can add that extra level of confidence on the road, says Father Ihor Shved.

U of M opens pro bono legal rights clinic

A new pro bono clinic at the University of Manitoba aims to help communities historically under-served by the justice system take on issues ranging from disability rights to Indigenous rights to environmental rights and everything in between.

Expo hopes to shed the skin of reptile resistance

More than 1,000 reptile aficionados flocked to a weekend expo in Winnipeg for the chance to admire all things slithery, scaly and — at least to those gathered — sweet.

Breeders and organizers of the Manitoba Reptile Breeders' Expo say the event is an opportunity to share their hobbies with fellow reptile fans, educate the public about responsible pet ownership and, in some cases, change people’s negative preconceived notions of reptiles.

“In general (snakes) get a bad rap because of how they’ve been portrayed,” said Jhun de Guzman, owner of Ballistic Pythons in Winnipeg, pointing to movies he watched growing up such as Anaconda and Snakes on a Plane. “Actually, they’re friendly animals.”

De Guzman, flanked by his 11-year-old son with a young snake curled around his hand, said a few visitors approached his booth this weekend shaking with fear. But by the time he was finished with them, they were newly converted ball python fans, even inquiring about purchase (his snakes can range from about $50 to a few thousand, depending on age and other breeding factors).

Rising Winnipeg River threatens homes, cottages

WHITESHELL PROVINCIAL PARK — Amy Vereb’s family has been in the Otter Falls area for 22 years but she’s never seen flooding the likes of which surrounded her family’s resort Saturday.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Vereb said with tears in her eyes.

Throngs of area residents, cottagers and other volunteers gathered together outside the Vereb’s Otter Falls Resort Saturday to haul sandbags into dozens of awaiting pickup trucks. Drivers then took the bags back to homes and cottages in the area where they’re trying to stave off rising floodwaters.

In a weekend news release, the province said the Winnipeg River water levels are expected to crest in early June, but levels aren’t likely to drop below seasonal for several more weeks.

Storm warnings continue across province

Mother Nature just won’t give Manitoba a break.

Environment Canada says Winnipeg could break an April rainfall record Saturday, with snow expected Sunday. The southern half of the province meanwhile has snowfall, rainfall and storm warnings in effect this weekend.

According to Terri Lang, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, Winnipeg’s April record for the most rainfall in one day was set on April 30, 1986, with 36 millimetres of rain landing in the city.

“Certainly, that record is in jeopardy,” Lang said.