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Provincial public safety training committee seeks to set standard ‘right across the country’

Carol Sanders 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:10 PM CDT

Standardized training for all police in Manitoba will make everyone safer, say proponents of a public safety training strategy that’s starting to take shape.

This Just In

Ice sweep Tigers, advance to second round

Wednesday, 10:32 PM CDT

The Winnipeg Ice are off to the second round of the WHL playoffs for a second straight season after downing the Medicine Hat Tigers 3-2 on the road to win Game 4, completing the best-of-seven series sweep.

Matthew Savoie scored a short-handed goal, his sixth tally of the series, before Owen Pederson added another and Ty Nash rounded out the scoring. Goaltender Daniel Hauser stood tall all series, allowing just nine goals.

The Ice are the first club to advance to the conference semi-finals and will face the remaining team who accumulated the least points during the regular season in the next round.

Vacant home hit by fire again

Wednesday, 2:02 PM CDT

A fire broke out on a property on Pritchard Avenue early Wednesday for the third time in less than a year.

Firefighters were sent to the vacant two-storey house in the 600 block of Pritchard Avenue at 4:51 a.m.

The fire was declared under control at 7:21 a.m. Firefighters also worked to protect neighbouring homes.

No one was inside when firefighters entered the house.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

There were previous fires on the property last month and in July, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said.

The July fire was contained to an outbuilding attached to the house. The WFPS said at the time that the house and garage had already sustained heavy damage from a previous fire or fires.

Body found outside in Snow Lake

Wednesday, 1:18 PM CDT

RCMP are investigating after a man's body was found outside a business in Snow Lake.

RCMP were sent to the scene on Lakeshore Drive at about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday and found the body of a 44-year-old Thompson man in the snow.

The cause of death has yet to be determined but it is believed the man had been outside for a period of time, during which the temperature had dropped to as low as -24 C.

RCMP and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are investigating.

Another fatal fire on a First Nation

Wednesday, 11:23 AM CDT

A 49-year-old man is dead in the latest of several recent fatal fires on Manitoba First Nations.

RCMP were sent to the scene of a house fire in Bloodvein First Nation at about 4:50 a.m. Tuesday.

It was believed that someone was inside the home. Mounties worked with community members to extinguish the fire, the RCMP said in a news release Wednesday.

Once the smoke had dissipated, RCMP officers went inside and found the male resident, who was dead. It appears the man was home alone when the fire started, RCMP said.

RCMP and fire officials are investigating.

Sexual assault suspect arrested

Wednesday, 11:13 AM CDT

A 26-year-old man has been arrested and is facing charges of sexual assault and robbery after a woman was assaulted near the courthouse entrance.

The 20-year-old woman was followed and grabbed from behind in front of the Kennedy Street entrance of the provincial Law Courts building on March 17. On Wednesday, the Winnipeg Police Service announced the sex crimes unit identified a 26-year-old suspect and arrested him Tuesday in the 200 block of St. John's Avenue.

Winnipeg Ice take 3-0 series lead in opening round of WHL playoffs

Tuesday, 10:31 PM CDT

The Winnipeg Ice hit cruise control early on Tuesday night.

The junior club waltzed into Medicine Hat, Alta and trounced the Medicine Hat Tigers 7-2 in Game 3 of their first-round series in the WHL playoffs.

Seven different skaters scored for the Ice on a night goaltender Daniel Hauser stood tall in a winning effort.

The Ice hold a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series entering Wednesday’s potential series-clinching Game 4. The puck drops at 8 p.m.

 

Three slashed with box cutter at party

Tuesday, 2:14 PM CDT

Three people were slashed with a box cutter at a house party in Garden Hill First Nation early Monday.

RCMP were sent to the home at approximately 12:40 a.m.

Three victims were sent to the First Nation's nursing station to be treated for their wounds.

RCMP said a woman who was asked to leave the party returned with a box cutter and slashed a 24-year-old woman, a 26-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man.

All three suffered "life-altering injuries," RCMP said.

A 33-year-old woman was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated assault, two counts of uttering threats and a single count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

She was released from custody pending a scheduled court appearance in May, RCMP said.

Man shot in Wasagamack First Nation: RCMP

Tuesday, 12:06 PM CDT

A man shot in Wasagamack First Nation Monday afternoon had to be rushed to Winnipeg for treatment.

Island Lake RCMP said officers responded to the reported shooting at about 12:35 p.m.

The 27-year-old victim was first taken to the local nursing station in the community, which is about 607 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. He remains in stable condition, RCMP said.

Mounties found a suspect, who knows the victim, at about 2:35 a.m. Tuesday. The 35-year-old man is still in custody and RCMP haven't said whether he's been charged.

City snow crews prepared for Colorado low

Tuesday, 9:31 AM CDT

Winnipeg’s snow-clearing operations are ready to roll as a forecast Colorado low is expected to reach the city tonight.

The city said in a statement crews are monitoring road conditions and are ready to apply salt to increase traction for motorists.

As well, the city will monitor snow levels to decide which equipment to send out to clear it.

Currently there are no winter parking bans in force.

Environment and Climate Change Canada is forecasting the snow to begin late tonight with about five centimetres to fall overnight and another 10 cm on Wednesday.

 

Manitoba First Nations share $3.4M for fire protection

Katie May 4 minute read Preview

Manitoba First Nations share $3.4M for fire protection

Katie May 4 minute read Yesterday at 5:34 PM CDT

As the chief of Bloodvein joined his colleagues in demanding improved emergency services, after a 49-year-old man died in a house fire on the reserve, Ottawa revealed the annual firefighting budget for Manitoba First Nations is just over $3 million.

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Yesterday at 5:34 PM CDT

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Chief Roland Hamilton, in the band office on Bloodvein First Nation, says the community needs proper firefighting equipment, but training is crucial.

City report leans away from possible cosmetic spray pesticide program

Joyanne Pursaga 4 minute read Preview

City report leans away from possible cosmetic spray pesticide program

Joyanne Pursaga 4 minute read Yesterday at 6:42 PM CDT

The pitfalls of using pesticides outweigh the cosmetic benefits of killing weeds, so Winnipeg shouldn’t resume using them on public lands, according to a new city staff report.

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Yesterday at 6:42 PM CDT

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Coun. Jeff Browaty called last year for the city to report on potentially phasing in cosmetic pesticide use to rid green spaces of “noxious weeds,” such as dandelions, as the province prepared to remove its ban.

Snow hits, digging out begins

Kevin Rollason 5 minute read Preview

Snow hits, digging out begins

Kevin Rollason 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 7:51 PM CDT

An army of plows is currently working across the province to clear snow from a Colorado low storm system that moved into southern Manitoba late Tuesday night.

Weatherlogics, which takes measurements every six hours in Winnipeg, reported 8.4 centimetres of the white stuff has fallen here so far.

Environment and Climate Change Canada is predicting an accumulation of 10 centimetres during the day Wednesday, and another two centimetres in the evening.

The system is expected to peter out Thursday.

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Updated: Yesterday at 7:51 PM CDT

The snow is expected to end early Thursday. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

Storm brings fresh snow, frustration

Erik Pindera 4 minute read Preview

Storm brings fresh snow, frustration

Erik Pindera 4 minute read Yesterday at 4:38 PM CDT

The two Winnipeg post-secondary students figured they were going to be late for afternoon classes Wednesday when they saw the volume of snow that had accumulated on Good Street in front of their apartment building — and on Leo Paul’s new car.

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Yesterday at 4:38 PM CDT

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

“I thought it would be spring, but it’s not going to be spring anytime soon,” Leo Paul said.

Thermëa spa advises customers of data hack

Gabrielle Piché 3 minute read Preview

Thermëa spa advises customers of data hack

Gabrielle Piché 3 minute read Yesterday at 3:11 PM CDT

Manitobans who’ve recently bought gift cards for Nordic-style spa Thermëa have been warned their personal information may have been leaked in a data breach.

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Yesterday at 3:11 PM CDT

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Groupe Nordik opened Thermëa in Winnipeg, on the Crescent Drive Golf Course, in 2015.

Jets in hot water after 3-1 loss to Calgary Flames

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Preview

Jets in hot water after 3-1 loss to Calgary Flames

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Yesterday at 10:35 PM CDT

The plot thickens. And so, too, does the playoff race.

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Yesterday at 10:35 PM CDT

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Calgary Flames’ Trevor Lewis (22) celebrates a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during third period NHL action in Winnipeg.

Province expands post-surgery outpatient hip, knee physiotherapy access

2 minute read Preview

Province expands post-surgery outpatient hip, knee physiotherapy access

2 minute read Yesterday at 12:02 PM CDT

Eligible Manitobans recovering from total hip- or knee-replacement surgery will now be able to access physiotherapy and rehabilitation services from any physiotherapy clinic in the province, the government announced Wednesday.

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Yesterday at 12:02 PM CDT

JESSICA LEE / FREE PRESS FILES

“Today’s announcement follows a typical pattern from this government of cutting public health-care services — in this case, the 2017 cut to outpatient services — creating chaos for patients and families and then selling privatization as a silver bullet,” Thomas Linner, provincial director of the Manitoba Health Coalition said Wednesday.

Arrest in sex attack outside Law Courts

Winnipeg Free Press staff 2 minute read Preview

Arrest in sex attack outside Law Courts

Winnipeg Free Press staff 2 minute read Yesterday at 11:58 AM CDT

A man has been arrested after a woman was sexually assaulted near the entrance to the Law Courts building last month.

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Yesterday at 11:58 AM CDT

WPS HANDOUT

The WPS released an image of a suspect and an updated description on March 22 and additional images and a video of a suspect on March 29.

Free Press investigation nominated for journalism excellence award

2 minute read Preview

Free Press investigation nominated for journalism excellence award

2 minute read Yesterday at 5:27 PM CDT

The Free Press investigation into teacher and physician misconduct has been nominated for a prestigious CJF Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism.

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Yesterday at 5:27 PM CDT

The Free Press investigation into teacher and physician misconduct has been nominated for a prestigious CJF Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)

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