Your forecast
Sunny. Hazy. Wind becoming west at 20 km/h this afternoon. High 28 C. UV index 8 or very high.
What’s happening today
Join local cultural historian Britt Bauer tonight for the Winnipeg Queer History Walk, a free tour from Upper Fort Garry through downtown and the Exchange District. No registration needed — just show up with comfortable walking shoes.
Meet at Upper Fort Garry tonight for a queer history walking tour. (Mike Deal / Free Press)
Free Press to lead media literacy project
The Manitoba government is turning to Western Canada’s oldest newspaper to teach students how to debunk misinformation and master other necessary skills for the digital age.
The department of education is partnering with the Free Press and Winnipeg School Division to launch a media literacy platform with lessons on the tenets of journalism, algorithms and related subjects.
“A media literacy refresh” is necessary to respond to massive changes in how and where Manitobans consume information, said Tracy Schmidt, minister of education and early childhood learning. Maggie Macintosh has more here.
Education minister Tracy Schmidt says with many kids wanting to be content creators, ‘we need to make sure that they are being responsible actors.’ 9Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press)
Today’s must-read
More than 17,000 residents of northern communities scrambled to escape advancing wildfires Wednesday as the Manitoba government declared a state of emergency and the firefight was hampered because resources were stretched thin.
“With the wildfires in northern Manitoba intensifying, our government has triggered a provincewide state of emergency to help us through this crisis,” said Premier Wab Kinew at a 5:30 p.m. news conference, his second of the day to address the situation. “The safety of Manitobans is, and will always be, our No. 1 priority.”
The City of Flin Flon and the First Nations of Pimicikimak and Mathias Colomb issued mandatory evacuation orders. All residents and visitors were told to get out before midnight.
“This is the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people’s living memory,” the premier said. Nicole Buffie has the story.
An aerial photo of a wildfire threatening Flin Flon taken on Tuesday. (Government of Manitoba)
On the bright side
Romi Mayes wants to make live music an on-demand experience. Last month, the Winnipeg blues artist, event producer and booking agent launched Sure Shot Bookings, an online platform to help connect the public with musicians- for-hire across the country.
“It’s kind of like SkipTheDishes, but for music,” Mayes says.
Named after the Beastie Boys classic of the same name, Sure Shot currently has a roster of about 150 artists working in Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
Customers looking to book an act for a public, private or corporate event can submit a request and Mayes — currently the company’s sole employee — will get to work liaising with the musician or band. Eva Wasney has the story.
Winnipeg musician and booking agent Romi Mayes has launched her own cross-country live music platform. (Supplied)
On this date
On May 29, 1965: The Winnipeg Free Press reported governor general Georges Vanier and his wife arrived in Winnipeg for a three-day visit. The Soviet Union accused Canada of carrying out a “witch hunt” against Soviet officials in Ottawa, saying Canada had bugged the Soviet embassy there with hidden microphones. 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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