The Wrap: Fewer sleeping in bus shelters, businesses feeling unsafe, early winter, and Namestnikov used to hate hockey

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

'That’s really no place for people to be living'

The number of calls to the Winnipeg Transit Control Centre about people sleeping in bus shelters fell to its lowest level in years during most of 2023, according to data obtained by the Free Press.

But the head of one outreach organization said while she has noticed an improvement, the matter still keeps her staff busy.

Joyanne Pursaga:

Fewer reports of homeless sleeping in bus shacks, but problem persists

Winnipeg Transit is receiving fewer reports of homeless people sleeping inside bus shacks, but outreach workers and city staff who remove human waste and needles from the shelters say more work is nee... Read More

Get ready to savour Manitoba's freshest summer flavours

'It’s just another cost added on'

Vandalism, break and enters, shoplifting, litter and public intoxication were among the top community safety challenges Manitoba businesses reported experiencing in a new survey.

“Previously, our big fight was the pandemic,” says SeoRhin Yoo at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. “Post pandemic, we’re seeing that crime is unfortunately rising, especially in the west.”

Gabrielle Piché:

Manitoba small businesses worry about crime, safety: survey

Tina Driscoll employs a buddy system with her staff. Pairs of two lock the gate at Dynasty Bathrooms on Logan Avenue. Employees also lock the door — customers ring a doorbell for assistance. It ... Read More

'What’s on the ground now is going to stick around for awhile'

Pack up your Halloween decorations and get out your sleds, skates, and snowshoes: winter has arrived.

This could end up being Winnipeg’s earliest start to winter — based on snow cover of at least two centimetres — since record-keeping began almost 70 years ago, says Scott Kehler at Weatherlogics.

Chris Kitching:

Pre-Halloween snow cover puts this year in running for city’s earliest winter, so… yay?

Whether it was welcomed with cheers or jeers, most Manitobans will agree winter seemed to arrive a lot earlier than usual this year. They may not be wrong. This could end up being Winnipeg’s earlie... Read More

Erik Pindera:

Cold weather heats up fire service prevention officer’s work in homeless camps

Winnipeg’s unexpectedly early start to winter has left many in the city’s homeless population scrambling to stay warm. Read More

'Russian is not an easy thing to learn'

Not only has Vladislav Namestnikov carved out a successful NHL career — he’ll play his 640th regular-season game on Thursday night against the Golden Knights in Las Vegas — but he might be the most interesting man in the Winnipeg Jets locker room.

Hockey writer Mike McIntyre likens Namestnikov to “the bearded guy in those Dos Equis beer commercials, but with blistering speed and a wicked wrist shot.”

Mike McIntyre:

Hockey in Namestnikov’s blood

Jets’ versatile forward latest in family to make a living playing shinny Read More