The Wrap: Ex-coach sentenced, health-care support strike looms, Oct. 7 anniversary, and Jets preview

Good evening. Here’s a look at what our newsroom has been working on today:

'If our justice system was based on vengeance, you would be sentenced to life'

Kelsey McKay, a disgraced high school coach who pleaded guilty in July 2023 to nine counts of sexual assault and two counts of luring, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison.

The offences he admitted to occurred 10 to 20 years ago when McKay was in his 30s and 40s and coached at Vincent Massey and Churchill high schools.

Dean Pritchard reports from the packed courtroom.

And: In 2022, sports reporter Jeff Hamilton wrote a long investigative piece about why red flags about McKay’s behaviour were ignored; it’s indispensable reading for parents.

Dean Pritchard:

Judge sends ex-high school coach to prison for 20 years for sexually assaulting players

Kelsey McKay wielded his powerful influence to manipulate and sexually groom vulnerable teens under his wing, a judge said Monday before sentencing the disgraced high school football coach to 20 years in prison. Read More

Jeff Hamilton:

The Kelsey McKay playbook

Plenty of red flags — in retrospect — over alleged behaviour of high school football coach Kelsey McKay Read More

Three Savour Manitoba magazine covers promoting a food, drink, and lifestyle publication.

'We’re pretty far apart'

Manitoba’s health-care system is bracing for significant disruption if more than 25,000 support workers go on strike at 6 a.m. tomorrow.

Last-minute contract talks continued with a conciliator Monday ahead of a deadline set by the workers’ unions, who said a strike remained a strong possibility.

Chris Kitching looks at some of the services that could be affected, including ER and hospital bed wait times, cuts to some home care duties and delays to elective and less urgent surgeries.

Chris Kitching:

‘This will not be business as usual’: health officials, unions brace for support-worker strike Tuesday

Significant disruption to health-care system possible Read More

'This war is destruction and misery'

Ceremonies, events and protests were held across Canada and around the world to mark the anniversary of a brutal Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

Two events are underway in Winnipeg this evening; the Free Press will provide coverage later tonight on winnipegfreepress.com and in tomorrow’s print edition.

Julia Frankel, The Associated Press:

A year after the Hamas attack shattered their community, going home still feels impossible

On a sun-dappled day in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Liora Eilon stood where her son was killed. She picked up a figurine from among the belongings scattered around an abandoned home nearby. “Every time we come here, Tal leaves us a little message,” the 71-year-old said, turning over the plastic soldier in her hands. Read More

Joseph Krauss And Sarah El Deeb, The Associated Press:

Gaza is in ruins after Israel’s yearlong offensive. Rebuilding may take decades

The Gaza Strip is in ruins. There are hills of rubble where apartment blocks stood, and pools of sewage-tainted water spreading disease. City streets have been churned into dirt canyons and, in many places, the air is filled with the stench of unrecovered corpses. Read More

David R. Martin, Tassanee Vejpongsa And Justin Spike, The Associated Press:

Vigils, protests around the world commemorate the anniversary of Hamas attack on Israel

NEW YORK (AP) — Commemorations and protests unfolded across the world on Monday to mark the anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, an assault that sparked a war that has deva... Read More

Morgan Lowrie and Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press:

Prayers, protests and police as Canada marks anniversary of Oct. 7 Hamas attack

MONTREAL - With prayers, protests, and a heavy police presence, Canada has marked the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and trigg... Read More