Drug site opposition, genetic testing, what’s up for NYE
Plus: A polar bear mom has 'adopted' another cub

Nicole Buffie and Adam Treusch:

Blizzard blasts southern Manitoba

Winnipeggers started digging out Thursday after a blizzard hammered southern Manitoba, with city police urging drivers to stay off the roads for much of the day. Read More

Joyanne Pursaga:

Council passes 2026 budget with last-minute change to hire additional firefighters

City council, swayed by a union pressure campaign, unanimously approved a final-hour amendment to boost the size of Winnipeg’s firefighting ranks and voted to pass the 2026 budget Wednesday. Read More

Scott Billeck:

Residents, biz owners plead with NDP to scrap plan for Henry Avenue drug site

Many of the residents and business owners who packed a town hall across the street from the proposed supervised drug consumption site in the North Logan neighbourhood on Tuesday night, voiced fierce o... Read More

Erik Pindera:

B’nai Brith takes physician college to court over ‘antisemitic’ comments made by doc

B’nai Brith Canada has taken the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba to court after it dismissed a complaint about a doctor’s social media posts, which the Jewish organization called antisemitic. Read More

Melissa Martin and Maggie Macintosh:

Learning in an AI world

From public schools to post-secondary institutions, educators are grappling with AI's impact on education Read More

Julia-Simone Rutgers:

Digging in

Despite local opposition, a political scandal and initial government rejection, Sio Silica is ramping up efforts to obtain a licence for its sand-mine proposal Read More

Photography by Mikaela MacKenzie:

In pictures: Inside Whiteshell Laboratories

A tour of Pinawa's former nuclear site Read More

Joshua Frey-Sam:

Wesmen hope to spike trend in new year

Close losses frustrating as men’s volleyball team head into holiday break Read More

Toni De Guzman:

‘We can build good things’: grand opening of affordable units near U of M

Raina Alexander has eyes on the “big sister” role as resident manager of 939 Chancellor Dr. The 95-unit building, built by Paragon Design Build and Bockstael Construction, has one- to three- bedroo... Read More

Maggie Macintosh:

Culinary program marks first anniversary

Red River Polytech project focuses on inner-city high school students Read More

Malak Abas:

U of M researchers studying whether genetic testing helps zero in on effective mental-health treatment meds

A team of University of Manitoba researchers is recruiting people seeking mental-health treatment for a study that could take the guesswork out of medication with the help of genetic testing. The s... Read More

Adithi Ramakrishnan, The Associated Press:

Catch the Ursid meteor shower as it peaks just before Christmas

NEW YORK (AP) — The last major meteor shower of the year, known as the Ursids, peaks soon, bringing glowing streaks to nighttime and early morning skies. Compared to other meteor showers, it'... Read More

Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press:

How did Canada’s young people become its unhappiest generation?

VANCOUVER - As a teen growing up in Toronto, Bhavik Sharma imagined what life would look like at 25. He and his high school friends would be starting families. They'd be on six-figure... Read More

Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press:

Canada Post ‘fully prepared’ for holiday rush after last year’s disruptive strike

Canada Post says it's ready for the holiday rush and expects to deliver letters and parcels on time coming out of its labour turmoil of the past two years. The postal service said Tue... Read More

Scott Billeck:

Spence Neighbourhood Association expects first residents will move into new supportive prefab housing by Christmas

Six people experiencing housing insecurity are expected to move into new transitional housing units in Winnipeg’s West End by Christmas, as the Spence Neighbourhood Association prepares to complete a rapid housing project that closes one chapter and opens the next. Read More

Toni De Guzman:

Heartwarming rarity cuts through the cold: polar bear mom ‘adopts’ baby cub

As researchers watched polar bears making their way towards Churchill in mid-November, they took note that the mother, who they had observed with a single cub in the spring, had added a second to her travelling party. Read More

Conrad Sweatman:

The fibres of her being

Ragpickers owner ‘can’t retire, because I’m actually here collecting all the stories’ Read More

Denise Duguay:

Escapist viewing for a stressful time of year

In the middle of the best-of-the year roundup season, here is a list of simple escapist viewing. Read More

David Sanderson:

Crèching it

Convention Centre salon goes all-out with multimedia Yuletide nativity display Read More

Dan Lett:

It’s time for show; tell has failed to convince opponents of supervised consumption’s benefits with facts

After one false start and facing a fresh surge in opposition over a new proposal, there’s nothing left for Manitoba’s NDP government to do but dig in and show people that supervised consumption works.... Read More

Jen Zoratti:

It’s not personal, AI… and that’s the problem

I have a photo album on my phone called Smile File. In it are screen shots of all kinds of correspondence from my friends and family, a hall of fame of sorts. Like the text my dad sent me after he ... Read More

Rebecca Chambers:

City’s lack of imagination mars more than infrastructure

With an election looming next fall, it’s on us, as citizens, to make up for the lack of creativity and proactive work being done for our benefit at city hall in a very specific way. Read More

Niigaan Sinclair:

City a bad host to Welcoming Winnipeg committee

The City of Winnipeg introduced the Welcoming Winnipeg committee during the pandemic in 2020. After launching during such an inauspicious time, it’s perhaps unsurprising how complicated and frustrating the committee’s work has been since then. Read More

Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press:

The year in money: notable personal finance changes for 2025

TORONTO - There’s been a lot to keep up with this year, so it’s easy to have missed new developments on the personal finance front even if they might mean more money in your pocket. T... Read More

Joel Schlesinger:

It’s all funds, games until …

Regulators up surveillance of ‘gamification’ techniques used to game investors (potentially) of their money Read More

The Canadian Press:

Here’s how some young Canadians are facing their financial future

The Canadian Press has been speaking with young people about the financial challenges facing their generation — a tough job market, unaffordable housing and goals that seem out of reach. 'WAITING F... Read More

Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press:

From sushi delivery to oat milk lattes, how ‘little treats’ provide sense of solace

"Little treat culture" serves as an everyday pick-me-up for young people grappling with mounting stresses, a sense of powerlessness and the unaffordability of long-term goals. Read More

Eva Wasney:

Batchable breakfasts make Christmas morning easy

Reader-submitted recipes for Fancy Baked Egg Scramble from Evelyn Hinther, Apple Dutch Baby from Shirley Masek and Fluffy Pancakes from Brent Leung. Read More

Kevin Rollason:

Falafel Place shuttered after inspection

A decades-old Winnipeg eatery that serves Middle Eastern cuisine, which changed owners, has been shuttered by provincial health inspectors after an inspection. Read More

Ben Sigurdson:

Food-friendly wines to let you switch-hit for the holidays

Rather than uncork the same-old wine to pair with your holiday dinner, why not venture off the beaten path and potentially discover a fab new pairing for your turkey, trimmings and sides? Read More

What’s up in Winnipeg on New Year’s Eve: Karaoke, masquerade party, The Leaf after dark, and more

Free Press staff recommend things to do this week Read More

Ben Waldman:

Opera’s yuletide production delivers on grand scale

The Little Opera Company’s never been this big. Since its founding in 1995, the independent chamber opera organization has prioritized what artistic director Spencer Duncanson calls “bite-sized” pr... Read More

Jen Zoratti:

Suite sounds of nostalgia

Nutcracker score an indelible part of the season Read More

The Week That Was: Dec. 8 to Dec. 13

This week's news quiz topics include: nuclear reactor, Sea Bears, local film production, Winnipeg Transit and more. Take the quiz