The Wrap: International student decline, St. Mary’s crash, QDoc growth, RMTC preview, and rodeo sisters

Manitoba universities and colleges are receiving fewer applications from overseas owing to the “chill” of a new cap on international students.

The federal immigration minister announced a cap on foreign student visas in January as a way to quell the rapid increase in the number of international students, citing pressure on housing, health care and other services.

But local post-secondary leaders have rejected the notion that such problems warrant the imposition of a cap here in Manitoba.

International students pay much more for tuition than citizens and permanent residents; without those high fees some institutions are already seeing a hit on bottom lines, which affects tuition rates.

Education reporter Maggie Macintosh looks at the impact of reduced foreign enrolment on local universities.

A serious crash this week at a curve in the road in St. Vital has renewed concerns about speeding and prompted questions about whether additional safety measures are needed.

Surveillance video obtained by the Free Press appears to show a northbound car travelling at a high speed when it slammed into a guardrail, vaulted over the sidewalk and slammed into a business at a curve on St. Mary’s Road early Tuesday.

Winnipeg police have not yet released any information about the crash, which happened almost two years to the day a similar collision killed a 17-year-old standout soccer player.

Earlier this week, QDoc Inc. saw 330 patients in a single day, a record for the free virtual healthcare company that connects Manitoba patients with local doctors via encrypted audio and video.

Launched in the midst of the pandemic in late 2021, the company has been ticking off a number of technology breakthroughs and winning a stream of awards while it aids the delivery of medical care in Manitoba.

Martin Cash reports on what the founders hope the future holds for QDoc as it works to become solidly ensconced in the health-care system.

With a play that goes wrong, artistic director Kelly Thornton and newly installed executive director Evan Klassen hope to start the 2024-2025 Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre season on the right note.

The Play That Goes Wrong is an Olivier- and Tony-winning comedy of errors big and small directed by Dennis Garnhum.

Arts reporter Ben Waldman talks to the cast and director about accidents, close calls and bad ideas in their own acting careers.

Rodeo is more than a sport — it’s a lifestyle for the McCannell sisters.

Shayna, Hannah, Hallie and Bailey McCannell are among the top barrel-racing competitors at this week’s Manitoba Rodeo Cowboys Association finals in Brandon.

Mike Sawatzky talks to the quartet and their father about nurturing the family’s love for the sport.