Your forecast
Periods of light snow ending this afternoon, then cloudy. Wind from the northwest at 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light this afternoon. Temperature falling to -24 C this afternoon. Wind chill -28 this morning and -36 this afternoon. Risk of frostbite.
What’s happening today
🎉 It’s New Year’s Eve, and if you’re looking for something to do today, Free Press writers have got you covered. If you’re out and about, here’s a look at what’s open and what’s closed on Jan. 1.
📰 Free Press editor Paul Samyn weighs in on the importance of reporting the truth, now more than ever in an age of misinformation, in his New Year’s message to readers: “Trusting in Canada demands that our decision-making be informed by independent journalism, produced by Canadians for Canadians.” Read more here.
⛸️ Skaters, rejoice: the Nestaweya River Trail at The Forks could be open as early as New Year’s Day, marking one of its earlier openings in recent years. Nicole Buffie has the story.
Kelsey Heide runs a pump as part of a crew flooding the Nestawaya river trail at The Forks on Monday. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press files)
Today’s must-read
A local comedian killed in a Nassau Street house fire Monday afternoon is being remembered for his big heart, as the union representing city firefighters warned of further tragedies if staffing shortages are not addressed.
“It’s one thing to be in this job and witness tragic outcomes and know that you’ve done everything you could to prevent it,” United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg president Nick Kasper said Tuesday.
“Then it’s another thing when you’re arriving too late to make a difference, and you’re getting there slower than you should be, and you see these types of outcomes that you hope you could have done more to prevent.” Malak Abas and Erik Pindera have the story.
One person is dead and three others were treated in hospital after a house fire at 792 Nassau St. (Malak Abas / Free Press)
On the bright side
Auckland rang in 2026 with a downtown fireworks display launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, making it the first major city to greet the new year at a celebration dampened by rain.
South Pacific countries are the first to bid farewell to 2025. Clocks strike midnight in Auckland, a population of 1.7 million, 18 hours before the famous ball drops in New York’s Times Square. The Associated Press has more here.
On this date
On Dec. 31, 1943: The Winnipeg Free Press reported Soviet troops, streaming through a hole in German defences, broke through to the outer Bug River defences in an offensive that split the routed remnants of Gen. Von Mannstein’s legions. In Italy, Canadian troops pushing towards Pescara gained another mile through German minefields. Search our archives for more here.
Today’s front page
Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Free Press.
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