The Wrap: Nygard’s lawyer withdraws, Cullen and Sio Silica, Furby violence, botanical beauties, and bronzed Manitobans

Defence lawyer Brian Greenspan has withdrawn from disgraced fashion mogul Peter Nygard’s criminal case in Manitoba, arguing in a Winnipeg court he could no longer represent the convicted rapist for “ethical reasons.”

The Toronto-based lawyer said it’s the first time in his 50-year career that he has requested to withdraw from a case.

“There’s been an irreconcilable breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship,” Greenspan told a judge last week.

Nygard was charged in July with sexual assault and forcible confinement stemming from an alleged incident at his former company headquarters in Winnipeg in November 1993. The charge has not been tested in court.

Former Manitoba Tory deputy premier Cliff Cullen has been accused of lobbying the NDP’s transition team in favour of the proposed Sio Silica mining project.

A source told the Free Press an unsolicited communication from Cullen was considered an attempt to push the new NDP government toward approving Sio Silica’s proposed silica sand mine, which requires an environmental licence.

An NDP caucus spokesperson said the transition team did not respond to the former finance minister and longtime MLA. Cullen did not respond to requests for comment.

Anyone following trends in Winnipeg crime will know Furby Street all too well due to a recent spate of violent crime: two homicides, a shooting, a hostage incident, a police shooting.

Talk to people living on the street anywhere near where violence has occurred and many of the responses are similar: crime is out of control, but residents care about the community and have no interest in leaving.

Fifteen local florists were invited to create pieces around the theme “voyage” for the Fleurs de Villes show currently on display at the Leaf at Assiniboine Park.

Using only plant material, the artists folded, draped and coaxed leaves and flowers into works of sartorial elegance.

AV Kitching spoke with some of the botanical artists about their work.

Canada’s dominant run at the recent U18 Women’s World Hockey Championship in Zug, Switzerland had one small imperfection.

That flaw — a 4-2 loss to Czechia in Saturday’s semifinals — cost the enormously talented Canadians a shot at gold.

Mike Sawatzky talks to Sara Manness and Avery Pickering, two Manitobans on the squad.