The Wrap: Firefighters ‘babysitting’ impaired drivers, health violations, library-slaying sentencing, and a new Filipino resto at The Forks

A Winnipeg firefighter says crews are being forced to sit and wait with suspected impaired drivers — sometimes for hours — until police arrive.

It’s not uncommon for WFPS members to arrive first and wait an hour or longer for officers to respond to a suspected impaired driver call that is assigned a lower priority, the firefighter said, adding the situations also present safety concerns, because some suspected impaired drivers become combative or flee before police arrive.

Since July 2023, provincial health inspectors have ordered the closure of 11 Winnipeg restaurants because of rodents, while a further 11 were shuttered due to insects.

Reporter Kevin Rollason called around to some of the restaurants on the list.

The “random and senseless” end to the life of Tyree Cayer in the Millennium Library in December 2022 was triggered by an argument the 28-year-old man got into with a group of angry youths through doors at the building’s front entrance.

The circumstances of Cayer’s death were subject to a publication ban until Tuesday, as the cases of the four teens arrested by Winnipeg homicide detectives wound their way through court.

Reporter Erik Pindera was in court today for the guilty plea and sentencing of the last of the four teens.

Basta! Filipino Kitchen, is the newest food stall at The Forks Market and the first to focus on Filipino fare.

Owner Norm Pastorin, 49, has spent his career running kitchens at well-known local restaurants, including the Grove, Black Bird Brasserie and Cornerstone.

When he was approached by The Forks with the idea of launching a Filipino food kiosk in the busy marketplace it was at a serendipitous moment.

Eva Wasney reports on the new menu of silogs (Filipino breakfasts), bowls, pulutan (snacks) and dessert.