This morning
Ryan Thorpe / Winnipeg Free PressElijah Gunner
Tragedy a turning point: A young man whose legs were amputated after he was hit by a train last week is speaking out to warn others about being reckless around railways. “Alcohol and stupid choices are what caused this,” Elijah Gunner says. His recovery could take as long as five months, but Gunner says he’s happy to be alive and there are people in worse situations. Ryan Thorpe reports. READ MORE
Your forecast: There will be a mix of sun and cloud this morning, then clearing, with a high of 17 C and wind from the north at 30 km/h this afternoon.
In case you missed it
FRED GREENSLADE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILESThe Sherridon mine 30 kilometres from Flin Flon closed down in 1951, but First Nations people still have concerns about the tailings they’ve seen in the water, one Indigenous leader says.
Mines to cost taxpayers millions: Two abandoned mine sites are so contaminated they will need water-treatment plants for nearly 25 years to clean them up, at a cost of $64 million. The provincial government is carrying a liability of $281 million to remediate 417 contaminated sites, and that doesn’t include Manitoba Hydro storage sites still in use. Nick Martin reports. READ MORE
Sketchy situation: Sgt. Kevyn Bourgeois of the Winnipeg Police Service and Cpl. Dean Martin, an RCMP officer based in Thompson, are among the few officers in Canada working as a sketch artists. They see themselves as conduits for witnesses’ memories. Bourgeois says he was never interested in becoming a sketch artist, but he was caught making a doodle of his instructor in recruit class. Katie May reports. READ MORE
More doctors in Manitoba: The number of doctors in Manitoba increased by three per cent last year, and the number of working family physicians has grown by nine per cent over the past four years, new data released today show. The Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority had the largest decline over the four-year period at 13.2 per cent but announced Wednesday 22 new doctors have been hired or will be starting work this fiscal year. Jane Gerster reports. READ MORE
Around the water cooler
Bombers’ defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall: a defence almost magically adept at forcing turnovers at key times. (Justin Samanski / Winnipeg Free Press files)
In defence of offence: There’s an adage that says defence wins championships, but columnist Paul Wiecek points out four teams in the last 10 years have won Grey Cups with average defences. He says the Blue Bombers’ offence is their best chance to win it all and end their long championship drought. READ MORE
Resort raffle: The NDP is raffling off an “all-inclusive vacation for two” to Costa Rica in a cheeky fundraising effort lampooning Premier Brian Pallister’s trips to his vacation home in Costa Rica. “It’s a nice resort from what I understand. We can’t guarantee anybody a 7,700-sq.-ft. hacienda and a private infinity pool, but we’re pretty sure people will have a good time,” says NDP MLA and raffle ticket seller Andrew Swan. Larry Kusch reports. READ MORE
Up next
Biker book: Joe Calendino, a former full-patch member of a B.C. biker gang, is at McNally Robinson Booksellers tonight to launch his book, To Hell and Back: A Former Hells Angel’s Story of Redemption and Recovery. After being kicked out of the gang following an assault fuelled in part by his drug use, Calendino became sober and founded an outreach initiative for kids. Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson reports. READ MORE
Trending now
Kristian Dowling / The Associated Press FilesHugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner: The founder of Playboy magazine and a self-styled proponent of the sexual revolution in the United States has died at the age of 91. Hefner became the flamboyant symbol of the lifestyle he espoused. For decades he was the pipe-smoking, silk-pajama-wearing centre of a constant party with celebrities and Playboy models. READ MORE
On this date
On Sept. 28, 2001: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that Canadian airport security guards’ training came under scrutiny as U.S. president George W. Bush outlined a plan to take federal control of security on U.S. airlines in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Near Winnipeg, a flight instructor and a student pilot died when the twin-engine plane they were flying exploded and crashed on the northwest edge of the city. Concert promoter Kevin Donnelly was tapped by Winnipeg Enterprises Corp. to manage the Winnipeg Arena and the proposed new arena to be built downtown. READ MORE
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