Good morning!
Your forecast: Proper footwear is important today as wet snow falls in the morning, flurries continue into the afternoon and the temperature, -1 C at 6 a.m., drops as the day goes on. Environment Canada figures we could get up to five centimetres of snow, and the low tonight is -6 C. On Friday, expect a cloudy, brisk day with a high of -4 C and an overnight low of -10 C. The sun peeks through Saturday and Sunday, with daytime highs of -6 C and -4 C, respectively. But more snow is coming Monday.
In case you missed it
Winnipeg Blue BombersCharles Ritchot came forward with the winning ticket for a prize of $178,748.
50/50 fact finding: The Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba said Wednesday it will meet with representatives of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday to investigate how the CFL team dropped the ball with the Grey Cup 50/50 prize. Charles Ritchot, 61, of La Salle collected the $178,748 prize Tuesday but not before a whole lot of confusion caused by the incorrect winning number posted on the Bombers’ website. READ MORE
Winnipeg welcome to Syrians: The Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council, which runs the Winnipeg-based Welcome Place for newcomers, has been told to expect just eight government-assisted Syrian refugees to arrive in Winnipeg this month. It is not known if any of the eight will be on the first two planeloads arriving in the next 48 hours in Toronto. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has indicated he will be at Pearson International Airport on Thursday evening to greet the refugees. A second flight will arrive at Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport on Saturday. READ MORE
Former West St. Paul councillor in conflict: Dan Garcea, a former West St. Paul councillor, was in conflict of interest more than 20 times between 2010 and 2014 in council debates or votes regarding his brother’s companies, says a damning report by the Manitoba Ombudsman. The report said the worst of Garcea’s conflict of interest cases was the awarding of $3 million in contracts to build the rural municipality’s new fire hall mostly to companies owned by Garcea’s brother, John, head of the Garcea Group of Companies. Dan Garcea also works for his brother, John. READ MORE
Up next
John Woods / The Canadian Press FilesThe Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Free admission: The price is right for visiting the Canadian Museum for Human Rights today – admission is free because it’s International Human Rights Day. Special activities will include a citizenship ceremony for 40 people, fun family programs including colourful human rights boats sailing on the museum’s indoor pond and the museum’s annual public meeting.
Big deal for CN: Canadian National has scheduled an announcement for 10:30 a.m. today regarding “ a significant rail contract”. Free Press business reporter Martin Cash will attend.
Chronicling inner city: A report on inner-city Winnipeg will be released today at noon at Thunderbird House, 715 Main St. The State of the Inner City Report is an annual research collaboration between community-based organizations and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Around the water cooler
WPS handoutThe Winnipeg Police Service announced today, the will be taking delivery of a GURKHA tactical vehicle, manufactured by Terradyne Armored Vehicles, in the spring of 2016.
Armoured and ready: The Winnipeg Police Service has purchased a $343,000 armoured vehicle to use in rescues, hostage negotiations and during the execution of high-risk search warrants. Within a matter of weeks, the police will get a Gurkha, custom built by Terradyne Armoured Vehicles of Newmarket, Ont. The personnel carrier has ballistic panelling and gun ports, but isn’t equipped with weapons of its own. READ MORE
Doors open for seasonal cheer: Manitoba’s legislative building is opening its doors to the public on Saturday from 1-3 p.m. Many rooms will be open for public viewing, including the offices of the premier and MLAs and the offices of the lieutenant-governor among others. Choirs from École Constable Edward Finney School, École Île-Des-Chênes School, John Pritchard School, École LaVérendrye School, and Niji Mahkwa School will perform on the Grand Staircase throughout the afternoon. Kids can take part in crafts and colouring from Art City, get their face painted and visit Santa, who will arrive at the top of the Grand Staircase at 1:30 p.m.
Surgery saves Winkler girl: Kara Hamm, 2, was born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a life-threatening birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm, which divides the chest from the abdomen, fails to form properly. Dr. Richard Keijzer, a pediatric surgeon at Children’s Hospital performed Kara’s first surgery to reduce pressure on her lungs by pushing the internal organs away from the lungs to where they should be. He’s one of the leading researchers trying to find the cause and cure for CDH. READ MORE
Trending now
Jeff Chiu / The Associated Press FilesDonald Trump, left, accepts his Muhammad Ali award from Ali at Muhammad Ali’s Celebrity Fight Night XIII in 2007. Ali is criticizing Republican presidential front-runner Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States, and calling on Muslims “to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda.”
Muhammad Ali: The 73-year-old boxing legend is coming out swinging against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Days ago, Trump proposed a ban on Muslims entering the United States. Ali, who is Muslim himself, issued a statement calling for people to “stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda.” Ali, who was born Cassius Clay, converted to Islam and changed his name in 1964.
#TwitterMakesMeFeel: Who knew a social media platform could inspire such feels? Tweeps are declaiming it makes them feel “wide awake at all hours,” “like you have to follow me back,” or “like an old grandma yelling at the TV but sometimes the TV is like ‘oh God Grandma you’re so right.'”
On this date
On Dec. 10, 1923: The Manitoba Free Press reported that memorials to Canadian soldiers who died at St. Julien, Sanctuary Wood and Paschendaele had been completed in Belgium, and work on memorials in France would begin soon. The chairman of railway commissioners said prosperity was at hand for Western Canada due to bumper crops. A new centre party made up of moderates among British MPs was posited as a solution for Britain’s political conundrum.
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