The Wrap: Skibicki trial and vacant Manitoba Housing units
Plus: a story of daring immigration, Old World craftsmanship and handmade success

The trial of admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki learned about him through his own words Wednesday, with pen pal letters in which he discusses everything from the persecution of Caucasians to his post-apocalyptic zombie novel.

The letters, from over a year ago, also foreshadow Skibicki’s legal strategy and how he thinks he should not be held criminally responsible because of mental illness.

Manitoba Housing’s wait list had 6,079 applicants Tuesday, up from 5,822 on Jan. 1, a provincial spokesperson said. It is up from 5,423 in February 2023, but down from more than 9,000 in 2020.

Social housing advocates are calling on the NDP government to significantly boost Manitoba’s stock of low-income rentals to keep up with demand amid housing and homelessness crises.

Nearly one million Vietnamese people left the country as “boat people,” travelling by sea to find a better life elsewhere. Tam Nguyen was one of them.

Arriving alone in Winnipeg in 1980, Nguyen spoke no English and worked in a clothing factory and in tailor shops before opening his own in 1986.

In the past 30 years, he’s made custom dresswear and suits for common citizens, Winnipeg Jets and the Hollywood set, including actors Samuel L. Jackson and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Ben Waldman reports on Quan Luong’s short documentary, Tailor Made, which tells Nguyen’s story in his own words, capturing the tailor’s craftsmanship and sense of humble fortune.