Free Press Head Start for Oct. 19

Good morning.

After being hit, threatened and spat at on the job, a Winnipeg Transit driver says violence against bus operators has become so shockingly common it sparks fear amongst loved ones. Joyanne Pursaga reports.

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet has appointed a new executive director. Elena Tupyseva, an experienced dance and arts administrator from Moscow, was selected to fill the role following an extensive recruitment process and a unanimous vote by the ballet’s board of directors. Eva Wasney has the story.

— David Fuller

Your forecast

Mainly cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of showers this morning. Expected high is 16 C, UV index 2 or low.

What’s happening today

The Winnipeg Jets host the Vegas Golden Knights at Canada Life Centre, starting at 7 p.m. Jets goalie Laurent Brossoit, who played for the Knights during their Stanley Cup run, will now face his former teammates in his season debut. Mike McIntyre has the story.

Laurent Brossoit will make his season debut between the pipes for the Jets tonight. (Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press files)

Today’s must-read

Wab Kinew officially became Manitoba’s 25th premier Wednesday, introducing the most diverse cabinet in the province’s history during a swearing-in ceremony steeped in Indigenous tradition and focused on reconciliation.

The NDP leader and Fort Rouge MLA became the first First Nations premier of a Canadian province after taking the oath of office from Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville in front of an invitation-only crowd at The Leaf horticultural exhibit in Assiniboine Park. Carol Sanders and Danielle Da Silva report.

Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew wore a traditional war bonnet during the ceremony. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free )ress)

On this date

On Oct. 19, 1962: The Winnipeg Free Press reported in Lockport, one man was killed and three were injured when a stone-laden semi-trailer and a car crashed through the wall of a beer parlour. In Washington, D.C., high-level Soviet-U.S. talks failed to yield any evidence a Kennedy-Kruschev meeting in November could put an end to the Berlin crisis. In Ottawa, the government cut $228 million in spending on construction programs, equipment purchases and payrolls. 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

Dean Pritchard:

Hospital attack victim relieved by Manitoba’s first-ever ‘high-risk’ court order

Candyce Szkwarek says she feels safer now that the man who nearly killed her during a terrifying knife attack at Seven Oaks General Hospital two years ago is subject to a first-time Manitoba court order that will make it harder for him to win release from a psychiatric treatment facility. Read More

Tyler Griffin, The Canadian Press:

Complainant's ex-husband testifies in Nygard trial

TORONTO - The ex-husband of a woman who has accused Peter Nygard of sexual assault testified Wednesday that he and the complainant agreed she was "absolutely" taken advantage of, but th... Read More

Katie May:

COVID, flu vaccines in short supply as clinics, pharmacies wait for new doses

Some Winnipeggers are having trouble securing a COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot appointment as pharmacies and clinics await more doses. With fall respiratory virus season underway, the earliest avail... Read More

New in Sports

Ken Wiebe:

Vilardi out 4-6 weeks with knee injury

Gabriel Vilardi is going to be on the shelf for a significant amount of time, though the news regarding his timeline was mostly positive for the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets will be without the services... Read More

Jeff Hamilton:

Third in West up for grabs

Woeful Stamps and Riders in duel for post-season berth Read More

Mike Sawatzky:

Wesmen women have big shoes to fill

Hoops squad looks to vets and newcomers to step into void left by graduating stars Read More

New in Arts and Entertainment

Ben Waldman:

Boombox musical

Jagged Little Pill examines issues of racial and sexual identity, violence, addiction Read More

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti:

What’s up: Vampire Circus, Ken Dryden, Gordon Lightfoot tribute, French film, jazz-listening lessons

Halloween comes early with the Vampire Circus, a 90-minute fusion of circus cabaret and immersive theatre, featuring acrobats, contortionists, jugglers and clowns — and a truly wild backstory involving Count Dracula’s plot to take over the world. Read More

Alan Small:

Making music a marathon rather than a sprint

Poetry-slam artist Larysa Musick launches new EP Read More

New in Business

Gabrielle Piché:

High hopes for holiday spending

More than half of respondents to survey say they’ll hunt for sales, 40 per cent plan to stick to precise budget Read More

The Canadian Press:

Scotiabank cutting 3% of global workforce

TORONTO - Scotiabank said Wednesday that it is cutting about three per cent of its global workforce, becoming the latest Canadian bank to trim staff amid continued economic uncertainty.... Read More

Amanda Stephenson, The Canadian Press:

Top court ruling could 'reset' energy policy: CAPP

CALGARY - Last week's ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada against large portions of the federal government's impact assessment law could reset the policy landscape in this country in ... Read More

Fresh opinions

Editorial:

The hard work begins for Kinew and co.

It’s the dawn of a new era in Manitoba politics. While it’s true this inherently optimistic sentiment is expressed every time a new government is introduced, there’s something about Wednesday’s swearing-in of the NDP government led by Premier Wab Kinew that makes the oft-repeated observation seem particularly relevant. Read More

Tom Brodbeck:

Spirit of treaties takes shape in Manitoba

It’s unlikely Manitoba’s first lieutenant-governor, Adams Archibald, imagined a First Nations person would ever become premier of the fledgling province he took leadership of in 1870. The former No... Read More

Dan Lett:

Historic moment for Manitoba, great expectations for Manitobans

In his first official act as premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew put the “ceremony” back in ceremony. By tradition, the swearing-in of a new premier and cabinet has been referred to as a “ceremony.” It ... Read More

Head Start