Free Press Head Start for May 24

Good morning.

It was standing room only inside a Brandon high school Tuesday night as hundreds protested a proposal to ban books on sexuality and gender identity in some school libraries. “I couldn’t have been able to love myself without help from media or books containing people like me in them,” 16-year-old Brandon student Jason Foster told the hundreds in attendance at a Brandon school board meeting at the Vincent Massey High School gymnasium. The Brandon Sun‘s Kyle Darbyson reports.

Meanwhile, LGBTTQ+ residents rallied in Winnipeg with pride flags as trustees reconvened in Brandon, to send a message to school board members across the province: “We’re watching what’s happening, we’re concerned and we’re not going to suffer silently,” said rally organizer Mandalyn Unger. Maggie Macintosh reports.

In other news, O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation is suing Manitoba Hydro, seeking a court injunction to restrain the Crown corporation’s Churchill River diversion. Erik Pindera has the story.

— David Fuller

Your forecast

A mix of sun and cloud; hazy. Expected high is 19 C and a low of 11.

What’s happening today

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to visit Winnipeg today. The prime minister is scheduled to meet with Indigenous high school students in the morning before making an announcement about protecting fresh water. He is also expected to take part in a town hall in the evening. The Canadian Press reports.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press)

Today’s must-read

Manitoba Public Insurance’s board of directors voted unanimously to oust former chief executive officer Eric Herbelin from the Crown corporation after reviewing the findings of an internal investigation into his conduct. Danielle Da Silva has the story.

MPI board chair Ward Keith (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)

On this date

On May 24, 1939: The Winnipeg Free Press reported King George and Queen Elizabeth had arrived in Winnipeg. More than 100,000 lined downtown streets, and another 100,000 had gathered on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building for the royal reception. In his welcoming address, King George praised the energy and determination with which Manitobans have contributed to the building of Canada.

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.

Top news

Joyanne Pursaga:

City takes aim at derelict buildings

Council to mull new plan to address hundreds of decaying properties across Winnipeg Read More

Carol Sanders:

NDP rail on Manitoba deal with B.C. surgery hub

The Progressive Conservative government was called out in question period Tuesday for signing a deal with a B.C. surgical centre that spent 14 years in court fighting the underpinnings of medicare and... Read More

Carol Sanders:

Province creates new gender-equity office to co-ordinate services for LGBTTQ+ community

Premier Heather Stefanson has announced $250,000 in annual operating funding for Pride Winnipeg and a new gender equity secretariat to update, expand and rename the Manitoba Status of Women Secretariat to better co-ordinate services for the LGBTTQ+ community. Read More

New in Sports

Mike McIntyre:

Recent tragedies emphasize need for continued focus on horse health and safety

They’re off and running at Assiniboia Downs. As a new season of racing begins, we need to talk about technology — and tragedy — at the track. It’s going to look a little different this year, with a... Read More

Taylor Allen:

Pigrome keeping up with Jones

First-year pros vie for job as Bombers third-string QB Read More

Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press:

Russian sailors offered limited option to qualify for Paris Olympics

GENEVA (AP) — Russian and Belarusian sailors are set to get their only path to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics at a last-chance event in France next year – an option described as “m... Read More

New in Arts and Entertainment

Ben Waldman:

Miller’s masterpiece at 28th Minute

Director pursued ‘All My Sons’ all his life Read More

AV Kitching:

Grave uncertainty

Overlooked cardiac blockages led to alarming brush with death, point to medical inequities endangering women’s heart health Read More

Holly Harris:

Agassiz Chamber fest jazzes it up with diverse lineup

From Brahms to Buster Keaton to the Beatles Read More

New in Business

Gabrielle Piché:

She’s pleased to meat you!

New addition to bustling Stafford-Grosvenor community is a proudly Indigenous, woman-owned charcuterie café Read More

Martin Cash:

Kinew hits all the right business notes during speech

NDP Leader Wab Kinew promised he would avoid typical electioneering rhetoric in a speech to the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday and then hit all the right business notes in front of a full house at the Fort Garry Hotel. Read More

Fresh opinions

Editorial:

Flying the sponsored skies

The announcement of new air routes to and from Richardson International Airport always crank up the afterburners for Winnipeggers with wanderlust. The latest news came May 11 when Calgary-based air... Read More

Tom Brodbeck:

PM’s adviser can’t be the one to decide whether Canadians need a public inquiry

David Johnston flattered himself Tuesday when he released his long-awaited recommendation on whether a public inquiry should be held into allegations of foreign interference in Canada’s elections. ... Read More

Jennifer Lee:

Remembering the prison next door

Growing up in Manitoba, I was aware of the looks I would sometimes get when someone asked where I was from. It wasn’t a secret; I grew up in a prison town. Read More

Head Start