The Wrap: Critical incidents, sex trade regulation, heritage languages and a North End lighting fixture

The number of critical incidents in Manitoba’s health-care system in late 2023 soared to the highest level since early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Manitoba Health’s latest quarterly report, published online this week, listed 54 incidents, including 20 deaths, between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 — the highest quarterly total since the same three-month period in 2020.

Representatives for health-care workers link the increase in incidents to chronic staff shortages and high patient ratios and workloads.

Chris Kitching looks at the numbers.

The erotic massage parlour industry in Winnipeg operates unabashedly in the open. Several local escort agencies and parlours tout their services online, Google reviews included.

But it also operates very much in the shadows, existing in a legal grey area — purchasing sexual services is illegal in Canada, but selling them isn’t — and there is limited oversight and safeguards.

Malak Abas talks to two veteran sex workers about the business.

Many immigrants hope integration into Canadian society won’t mean losing their language, culture, identity and history.

But proficiency in immigrants’ heritage languages tends to fade after a generation or two.

Experts say although Canadian multiculturalism celebrates diversity and cultures, it does not aim to assist immigrants in maintaining proficiency in their mother tongue.

Tahira Khan investigates.

Ideal Electric Manufacturing Ltd., a combination retail store and service depot at 372 Selkirk Ave., has specialized in lighting fixtures, lamps and lampshades since before the Great Depression.

Current head honcho Michael Gruber is the third generation of his family to work at the business, which was started by his grandfather out of a North End garage.

David Sanderson shines a spotlight on the century-old enterprise.