Breaking through the cold and harsh reality of ICE

The reality was cold, harsh and unforgiving on Saturday morning. And I’m not talking about that windchill-amped deep freeze that gripped much of Canada and the United States.

Instead, it was the news that started with the first alert on my phone of another fatal shooting involving ICE agents in Minneapolis that kept on rolling through my day. A protester recording the latest salvo in the immigration crackdown on the streets of his city. Multiple shots fired as he is pinned to the ground. Immediate denials of any wrongdoing from Trump administration officials who variously describe Alex Pretti as a “would-be assassin,” “domestic terrorist” trying to “massacre law enforcement.”

And then the surfacing of video from the scene — including some outstanding work from the New York Times — revealing the truth of what really happened.

I was still processing what was playing out in a city near and dear to so many in Winnipeg when I made my way downtown to watch the Jets play the Detroit Red Wings. However, it wasn’t what played out on the ice that took my mind off ICE. Rather, it was the warmth spread throughout the arena as part of WASAC (Winnipeg Aboriginal Sports Achievement Centre) Night, which celebrates Indigenous culture.

In song, ceremony and service recognition, a community long relegated to the margins was able to shine in the spotlight. And in a city and province still reckoning with its own record of racism to First Peoples, there was heartfelt applause for all that was part of the 8th annual WASAC Night.

In this tale of two cities, one night does not magically mean the best of times will trump the worst of times. But that one night builds upon previous WASAC Nights and ongoing efforts elsewhere in our city and province, foundational to an understanding and a culture that doesn’t lead to the ugliness of the “othering” politics in Minneapolis.

And on a night when the Jets came up short and left their coach bemoaning the team’s effort, I left the arena feeling that Winnipeg still got a win while mourning what was lost in Minneapolis.

Paul Samyn, Editor

COMING UP

Kensington Market is a densely populated, multiculturally diverse neighbourhood in downtown Toronto. It is home to KMOPS, the Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site, which, despite its successes, remains a lightning rod in the community. Dan Lett visits the site and the surrounding neighbourhood to look for lessons the Manitoba government can learn from while it continues its efforts to establish Manitoba’s first supervised consumption site.

With only nine sleeps left until the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games opening ceremonies, the Free Press’ own Mike McIntyre — and Scoop — will land in the fair city of Milan next week to tee up the anticipated Olympic action. Keep looking for lead-up coverage in the sports section for all things Winter Games.

ONE GREAT PHOTO

Peters Derry walks along Wellington Crescent despite the cold weather on Jan. 23. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press files)

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