Teens with criminal records sentenced for machete attacks on boy, 80-year-old

Minutes after he and another teen attacked a 15-year-old boy with machetes, nearly severing the victim’s wrist and slicing off three fingers, he ran home and made a startling disclosure to his foster mother.

“(He) says ‘I think I killed a kid,’” the woman told police, according to an agreed statement of facts provided to court at a sentencing hearing for the two youths Friday.

“I said ‘Don’t joke about that’, because he was giggling,” the woman said. “Then I noticed blood on his shoulder and a whole lot on his shoe, and I asked him where it was from and he wouldn’t answer me.”

The offender, who is now 17, and his 15-year-old co-accused each pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault and robbery in connection with two violent machete attacks committed six days apart in August 2024. The other victim was an 80-year-old man who had never met the teens.

St. Boniface residents drained after demolition of Happyland pool

As demolition continues at one outdoor pool in St. Boniface, a city councillor hopes to take a second look at extending the life of another one.

Longtime Thin Air director handing reins to new team at writers festival

Since 1997, Winnipeg has played host to an annual writer’s festival virtually without fail — even through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sluggish response to apartment fire triggers renewed call for resources, changes from firefighters’ union

A slow response time to an apartment fire in south St. Vital Friday morning has renewed calls from the firefighters’ union for more resources and a renegotiation of the city’s fire-paramedic agreement.

United Firefighters of Winnipeg president Nick Kasper said it took twice as long as it should for a crew to get to the blaze on Meadowood Drive because the closest fire trucks were out on “low-priority” medical calls.

Firefighters were sent to the four-storey building at about 9 a.m. Crews declared the fire under control within a half-hour.

Two residents were assessed by paramedics, and one was taken to hospital. Damage was contained to the suite where the fire started.

Introduction to Michif — one word at a time

Before the wolf can howl, Norman Fleury says a Michif word: Ooyoowuk.

“Ooyoowuk,” Fleury repeats. Or, in English, “howl.”

Ooyoowuk is one of 70 words articulated by Fleury with an animation and English translation to match — all bundled into digital flashcards.

A group of Métis entrepreneurs unveiled their Michif flashcards this week. They join a swelling movement to revitalize the Métis language, which combines languages such as Cree and French.

Hudson’s Bay seeks approval to auction off 1670 charter, court filings show

TORONTO - Hudson's Bay wants to revert to its original plan to auction off its founding charter after more parties signalled interest in buying — then donating — the 1670 document, new court documents say.

The Ontario Superior Court had been due to hear a motion earlier this month approving the sale of the artifact to the Weston family of grocer Loblaw Cos. Ltd. fame. Their holding company Wittington Investments Ltd. offered $12.5 million for the charter and planned to donate it to the Canadian Museum of History. 

The hearing was adjourned after DKRT Family Corp, a holding company owned by David Thomson, objected to the Weston sale. The firm acting on behalf of the billionaire chairman of Thomson Reuters was willing to spend at least $15 million on the document he wants to donate to the Archives of Manitoba.

Hudson's Bay declined to comment Friday on news that it would return to the auction plan. The new court documents did not say who else was interested in the document but noted that the retailer will seek permission on Sept. 29 to auction off the charter on Oct. 15. 

North Dakota missing its Manitobans

Kay Rone used to spot plenty of Manitoba licence plates outside stores, hotels and restaurants throughout Grand Forks on weekends in past years.

There haven’t been nearly as many since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020.

“Now, you hardly see them in town,” said Rone, who owns Northern Roots Boutique, a women’s clothing store opposite Columbia Mall, which was once a big draw for cross-border shoppers.

She displays a window sign welcoming Canadians.

Carney to attend United Nations General Assembly at pivotal time for the institution

WASHINGTON - Mark Carney is set to attend the United Nations General Assembly for the first time since becoming prime minister — just as war in the Middle East and U.S. President Donald Trump's push against multilateralism hang over the gathering of world leaders.

Carney will not give a speech in front of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly while in New York City from Sunday to Wednesday. Instead, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand will address the forum later next week.

A government news release said Carney will meet with world leaders at the UN "to advance peace, security and human rights." Senior government officials said Carney is scheduled to meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, other heads of state and CEOs.

Global leaders, including Carney, will be navigating some difficult diplomacy on Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank, and could risk the ire of the American president.

Bus riders, drivers welcome police safety initiative; two arrests made on day plan rolled out

The announcement of a new police strategy — placing both uniformed and plainclothes officers on Winnipeg Transit — was welcome news for riders Friday.

The Winnipeg Police Service announced the initiative’s first arrests were made on Wednesday, when the plan was unveiled.

“I love it,” said one elderly woman who was waiting for her bus at Unicity. “I love it for the bus drivers as well, because they take the brunt of it.”

She said she had already noticed more police nearby, pointing out that she saw multiple cruisers pull into the parking lot while she ate breakfast at a nearby Burger King.