Your forecast
Mainly sunny, with wind from the northwest at 20 km/h and gusting to 40 this morning. Expected high is 27, low 12; humidex 30 and UV index 7 or high.
What’s happening today
The Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival kicked off Wednesday with evening performances, but today is the first full day of scheduled shows. The festival runs until July 30. For more, see Alan Small’s feature on London-based poet and spoken-word performer Jem Rolls, Ben Waldman’s look at affordability and accessibility at this year’s festival, today’s editorial on the importance of the fringe fest to the downtown area, or visit the official website.
Fringe festival executive producer Chuck McEwen says this year’s festival is back up to 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)
And the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Edmonton Elks at IG Field. To get you prepared for the 7:30 p.m. kickoff, catch up with Jeff Hamilton’s latest edition of 5 game day storylines.
Today’s must-read
A spike in drug poisoning cases in Winnipeg has sparked renewed calls for the province to open safe consumption sites, as proponents argue the deepening crisis will only get worse without them. Recent WFPS data revealed a surge in drug poisoning with cases nearly doubling in the first half of July this year over last. Cierra Bettans has the story here.
The government’s opposition to supervised consumption is rooted in ideology, rather than reason, said Thomas Linner, provincial director for Manitoba Health Coalition. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)
On the bright side
Four Red River Métis siblings born and raised in Winnipeg are competing at NAIG 2023 in Halifax, representing Team Manitoba in U16 and U19 box lacrosse.
Richard De La Ronde (centre) is coaching three of his sons at the North American Indigenous Games while the fourth is playing on Manitoba’s under-16 team. (Supplied)
On this date
On July 20, 1950: The Winnipeg Free Press reported in Ottawa, cabinet authorized an immediate acceleration of Canada’s defence effort, which could add up to 8,000 people to the regular forces, millions to the defence budget and double the production of fighter planes. Prime minister Louis St. Laurent pledged additional Canadian aid to UN forcers in Korea. In the U.S., Congress moved swiftly to place the nation on a statutory defence production basis, resting on legislation requested by president Harry Truman, in response to the Korean crisis. In Winnipeg, 2,000 people showed their respects at the funeral for slain police Det. Seg. J. E. Sims. Read the rest of this day’s paper here. 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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