The Wrap: Newcomer slain, controversial restraint banned, winter solstice, debunked diagnosis, Santa’s coming to town

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

'It was just such a meaningless loss'

A 19-year-old man is facing second degree murder charges after a Ukrainian refugee was killed Wednesday.

Ivan Rubanik, 46, was the victim of a random attack at Watt Street and Talbot Avenue in the Elmwood neighbourhood. Rubanik moved to Winnipeg from Ukraine with his wife Yuliia and children a year ago seeking a better life.

Chris Kitching:

‘No rhyme or reason’: Ukrainian refugee slain in Elmwood random attack

A Ukrainian refugee who came to Winnipeg for a better life with his wife and two children was stabbed to death Wednesday in a random attack while walking to work. Manitobans are rallying around the... Read More

Three Savour Manitoba magazine covers promoting a food, drink, and lifestyle publication.

'There is no excuse for this to be used in any situation, any circumstance'

A full-body restraint known as “the wrap” has been banned in the Manitoba Youth Centre and the Winnipeg Remand Centre.

The province said it was meant to be used to stop inmates from harming themselves, but internal incident reports obtained by the Free Press suggest it was also being used when youth inmates caused major disturbances or refused to comply with corrections officers’ orders.

The restraint was used on youths in at least 50 incidents since 2018, including a minimum of five times in 2023.

Erik Pindera:

Manitoba bans use of controversial restraint in jails

The Manitoba government has phased out the use of a full-body restraint in its youth jail and adult remand centre that some advocates have compared to torture. “I directed the department to phase o... Read More

'All I want for Christmas is warm feet'

N’Dinawemak is Winnipeg’s Indigenous-run warming centre, run out the former Levi’s Leathers guitar-strap factory at 190 Disraeli Freeway. It celebrated its two-year anniversary last month.

Niigaan Sinclair visited the centre on the winter solstice, a central time of feasting, gathering and visiting, for Indigenous peoples.

Niigaan Sinclair:

Winter solstice, community solace

Sense of belonging central to Indigenous-run homeless warming centre’s operations; N’Dinawemak offers abundance of light on year’s darkest day Read More

'It’s a vague, sort of catch-all type of a term'

Just before 1 a.m. on Aug. 2, 2019, two Winnipeg police officers arrived at an Elmwood home. Within minutes, Viengxay Chommany would be handcuffed face-down on a sidewalk, his ankles shackled, struggling to breathe.

A Manitoba pathologist would later determine Chommany died from complications of “Anoxic Brain Injury” due to “Probable Arrhythmia” due to “Excited Delirium.”

The problem, however, is that excited delirium would soon be thoroughly debunked.

Marsha McLeod:

Pseudoscientific charade

Critics allege the widely debunked diagnosis of ‘excited delirium’ is a convenient concept that offers a way to mask a more accurate cause of death in custody — asphyxia due to prone restraint Read More

'I have definitely managed to bring a few kids back to the believing side, at least for one more Christmas'

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

In 2020, the local man in the red suit — better known as Manitoba Santa — set out to transform himself into the holly-jolliest Claus this city and province had ever seen.

David Sanderson:

The pick of the St. Nicks

‘Manitoba Santa’ knows it takes a lot more than a hearty ‘ho-ho-ho’ and a fake beard to hob-nob with the cream of the Kris Kringle crop Read More