Offended Winnipeggers don’t like the taste of city golf courses’ food order

The decision to replace Salisbury House with a U.S.-based food-service company’s fare at two city-owned golf courses has left a foul taste in the mouths of some councillors, customers and Manitoba’s Tory leader.

Former Seven Oaks School Division worker pleads guilty to sex, luring offences involving female youths

Matthew Mousseau appeared in Winnipeg court Wednesday and pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation and one count each of luring, accessing child sexual abuse material, voyeurism, indecent exposure and providing liquor to minors.

Apex Adventure Plex trampoline park opens first Winnipeg location

Mulling over marketing tactics to promote your new business? Set a world record fewer than two weeks after opening.

Staff at Apex Adventure Plex did. On April 9, an adjudicator from Guinness World Records recognized the company’s new location in Winnipeg’s Transcona neighbourhood as having the world’s longest permanent trampoline.

At 58.6 metres (192 feet), it’s a key feature at the trampoline park, which opened at 12-1150 Nairn Ave. at the end of March.

“We’re incredibly proud to bring some of the latest and greatest in attractions from around the world to Winnipeg,” co-owner Luke Shaheen said on Wednesday. “We’ve pulled out all the stops and we hope the community enjoys it.”

Moose forced into must-win mode

In the blink of an eye, the Manitoba Moose find themselves on the verge of playoff elimination.

It wasn’t for a shortage of scoring chances, but rather a lack of finish as the Moose managed 43 shots on goal against Matt Murray but lost 4-1 to the Milwaukee Admirals before a crowd of 3,169 on Wednesday at Canada Life Centre.

“It kind of speaks for itself, but I think the message is belief,” said Moose defenceman Isaak Phillips, who was a physical presence in the contest. “We’re right there in that game. We ran into a little bit of a hot goalie there at the end. We could have had two or three go in the back of the net, but that happens sometimes.”

Falling behind 2-0 and seeing the deficit grow to three in the second period created a hole that was too difficult to dig out of, even if the Moose carried a good chunk of the play.

Spring temperatures welcome as most golf courses set to fully open by Saturday

Despite a few remaining snow mounds and some standing water in areas, golf courses in and around Winnipeg have started teeing it up for the season, with many more expected to follow in the coming days.

One of the first to open was Shooters Family Golf Centre, which has become notorious for its quick jump into the outdoor season.

Owner Guido Cerasani opened the back nine for the first time on April 15, but was forced to close it again owing to Mother Nature taking another swing at low temperatures and snowfall. All 18 holes have been available for walking players since Monday, and Cerasani said enthusiasts have taken full advantage.

“Big time. (Tuesday) and (Monday), it was like full-bore summertime,” said Cerasani, who opened his driving range on March 27, then again on April 2.

PCs chew out NDP over food contract with U.S.-based firm

The Progressive Conservatives say a government contract awarded to a multibillion-dollar U.S. firm should have been given to a Manitoba company.

‘Playing poker with an open deck’: city too transparent on projects, construction officer says at police HQ inquiry

The city’s chief construction officer says Winnipeg publicly shares too much financial detail on its major projects and he’s interested in keeping more information confidential.

During a public inquiry into the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters project Wednesday, Tom Sparrow noted project updates are regularly provided publicly at city council committee meetings.

“We’re actually playing poker with an open deck … I’ve never, in my lifetime, ever seen projects delivered this way. It’s very frustrating,” said Sparrow.

He said the public format “absolutely” limits the amount of information he feels he should share with elected officials at such meetings.

Residents relocated to hotels after fatal fire at Manitoba Housing downtown high-rise

Two days after she fled from her Manitoba Housing unit owing to a fire, Norma Bushie manoeuvred her wheelchair to the door of the Kennedy Street building on Wednesday afternoon, desperate to retrieve her identification cards and a charging cable for her cellphone.

Staff told the 37-year-old she could not return to her eighth-floor suite, which is one of dozens damaged by a blaze that killed one person on Monday and shuttered six of the building’s 16 storeys.

“I couldn’t take anything out of there,” Bushie said. “I’m not sure when we can get back in. We’re staying at a hotel right now.”

She is among the many people who are indefinitely displaced as the provincial government scrambles to restore access to the 58 units affected by the blaze.

Carney says the U.S. can’t dictate the terms of trade talks ahead of CUSMA review

OTTAWA - Canada will not make any more concessions to the United States ahead of negotiations on the continental trade pact, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday as he insisted Washington will not be allowed to dictate the terms of the talks.

Carney was responding to a Radio-Canada report citing officials who said the Americans are imposing an "entry fee" on trade talks with Canada and are demanding concessions before negotiations begin.

"It's not a case of the United States dictates the terms. We have a negotiation, we can come to a mutually successful outcome. It will take some time, and we will take the time," Carney said as he arrived on Parliament Hill Wednesday.

The Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement is up for mandatory review this year. Mexico and the U.S. agreed to begin formal talks on that review in January. Canada and the U.S. have not reached that point yet.

Family mourns ‘all around great guy’ killed while crossing Henderson Highway

A 32-year-old father who died in a collision in East Kildonan Sunday morning is being remembered by family for his playful spirit and willingness to help others.

Winnipeg police said the victim, who was identified by family as Gabe Beardy, was walking across Henderson Highway, at Neil Avenue, when he was hit by a northbound vehicle shortly before 5:20 a.m.

“He was all around a great guy. If somebody needed help, whether to change a tire or anything, 100 per cent he was going to help you,” Beardy’s uncle, Brad Beardy, said Wednesday. “He was always trying to provide for his family.”

Beardy, who is from Lake St. Martin First Nation in the Interlake, is survived by four young children, said his uncle, who is acting chief of the community about 250 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

Warm weather, forecast rainfall raises flood fears in Peguis First Nation

Warm temperatures and the threat of rainfall are raising concerns in Peguis First Nation.

Man accused of bringing smoke grenade into Grace Hospital

An intoxicated man was found waiting at the Grace Hospital Monday morning with a smoke grenade in his possession, Winnipeg police said, leading a union leader to raise questions about safety at the facility.