The Wrap: Oake women’s centre, Windsor Hotel fire, election roundup, and WSO season

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

'Addictions are not going away'

Scott Oake revealed plans yesterday for a new women’s-only addictions treatment centre.

The Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre will offer long-term residential treatment, with child-care spaces to help support mothers enrolled in the program.

A location and targeted opening year for the women’s centre have not yet been determined.

Chris Kitching:

Scott Oake reveals plan for women’s-only addictions recovery centre

When Scott and Anne Oake set out to establish a men’s-only addictions treatment centre in memory of their late son, Bruce, it came with the goal of one day opening a facility just for women. That d... Read More

'A pretty daunting fire'

Five dozen firefighters and paramedics spent hours battling a blaze at the former Windsor Hotel on Garry Street Wednesday.

A crowd of onlookers watched from a nearby parking lot as flames and smoke poured from the windows while crews doused the structure from aerial ladders. Once the fire was out, an emergency demolition was ordered for what remained of the building.

The 113-year-old building, where silent film era star Charlie Chaplin once stayed and which later became a jazz and blues music hot spot, had been vacated in March by a provincial health order.

Tyler Searle:

Fire destroys vacant downtown Windsor Hotel

A vacant historic hotel in downtown Winnipeg was reduced to rubble Wednesday, after firefighters scrambled to contain an inferno blazing within. The former Windsor Hotel (187 Garry St.) caught fire... Read More

Election roundup

Gabrielle Piché:

‘We’ve gotta dream big’: Stefanson focuses on economy, boosting Manitoba’s population during address

Progressive Conservative Leader Heather Stefanson courted Manitoba’s business crowd Wednesday with talks of cutting taxes and keeping talent in the province. Read More

Danielle Da Silva:

NDP pledges to jump-start cardiac care at St. B

Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew vowed to add more cardiac health-care specialists and staff to St. Boniface Hospital as part of a promise to create a new “centre of excellence.” Read More

Chris Kitching:

Less vote splitting predicted with fewer Liberal, Green nominees

AN absence of Liberal or Green party candidates in some key provincial ridings could work out in the NDP’s favour when Manitoba’s general election is held Oct. 3, according to a longtime political ana... Read More

Carol Sanders:

Tories promise to eliminate PST on trees, flowers

The Progressive Conservatives promised to kill the provincial sales tax on flowers and trees, if re-elected Oct. 3. The candidate for Seine River, Janice Morley-Lecomte, made the announcement at a campaign event in the driveway of a home on a Charleswood cul-de-sac in the Roblin constituency. Read More

Tyler Searle:

Parties talk ways to address poverty during debate

REPRESENTATIVES from four of Manitoba’s major political parties traded verbal blows Tuesday night, as they debated how to address and overcome poverty in the province. A debate, hosted by Make Pove... Read More

Malak Abas:

New ID option for Manitoba First Nations voters

First Nations members who have struggled to obtain traditional ID have a new option allowing them to vote in the upcoming Manitoba election. The declaration of First Nations guarantor for proof of ... Read More

'To be onstage together, it’s a gift'

A two-decade friendship between Vadim Gluzman, the Ukrainian-Israeli violinist, and WSO music director Daniel Raiskin renews Thursday night when the WSO opens its new season at the Centennial Concert Hall.

The two have been pals since both were in the early parts of their classical music careers in the early 2000s.

“He’s one of my absolute dearest musical and personal friends,” Gluzman says of Raiskin. “One of those people that you have complete trust as an artist. This is really very special.”

Alan Small:

Stringing together

Dear friends reunite as WSO season kicks off with visit from Israeli-Ukrainian violinist Read More