The Wrap: Firefighter death, dating nightmare, Carmen at the opera, and Sea Bears sign a Winnipegger

Firefighters from across the province are rallying around the family of Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service member Preston Heinbigner, who died by suicide April 9.

Heinbigner is survived by his wife, who is pregnant, and their nearly two-year-old son, the organizer of a GoFundMe page wrote.

Heinbigner’s family is scheduled to be at the legislature when he is recognized by MLAs Wednesday. Firefighers will join them to advocate for better mental health supports for first responders.

A Tinder date gone wrong sparked a three-year-long campaign of harassment that resulted in an innocent man being arrested three times, spending three nights in jail, and being forced to move three times to escape his tormentor, a court heard Monday.

Jennifer Plantz pleaded guilty to criminal harassment and assault in connection to over 20 complaints she brought to Winnipeg police falsely claiming the man had stalked and sexually assaulted her. She was ordered Monday to serve a 15-month conditional sentence under house arrest.

Manitoba Opera unleashed a firestorm of love and lust Saturday night as it presented its first production of Bizet’s Carmen since April 2010.

The three-performance run, which wraps up Friday, features a galaxy of Canada’s finest opera stars.

Set in Seville, Spain, Bizet’s eternally popular opera comique tells the tale of opera’s favourite femme fatale, Carmen, a Roma woman who falls deeply in love with officer Don José, before being swept off her feet by handsome toreador Escamillo.

The Winnipeg Sea Bears have signed Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson.

The Winnipegger, who first wowed at Garden City Collegiate, has nine years of pro hoops experience, with stops in France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain and Portugal.

Ogungbemi-Jackson returned home to Winnipeg in late March after terminating his contract in Belarus with seven regular-season games remaining. He signed with the Sea Bears soon after, but the news was kept under wraps until Monday’s announcement.

Taylor Allen talks to the point guard about playing at the downtown arena.