The Wrap: Task force salaries, record-setting heat, a century of tourtière, soccer stars and Cirque’s acrobatic magic

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

'A ton of power and a ton of resource and very little accountability'

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said Thursday she’s concerned over the salary figures for Manitoba’s now-decomissioned surgical and diagnostic recovery task force because the government doesn’t know what compensation structure the task force used or why staff were being paid such high salaries.

More than a dozen of the 66 full-time salaries paid by the task force, the team responsible for cutting pandemic surgery wait times, were between $200,000 and $500,000 adding to the more-than $5 million spent on salaries for 66 full-time staff in 2022-23.

Katie May:

‘Basically impossible’ to get clarity on task force’s opaque operations, health minister says

Manitoba’s surgical and diagnostic recovery task force spent more than $5 million on salaries over the past year, and the current government said it has not been able to get a full picture of task for... Read More

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

'I can’t believe we’re out here and golfing at this time of year'

Seven new high-temperature records were set in southern Manitoba on Wednesday, and another eight were surpassed Thursday — including a century-old mark in Winnipeg.

The mercury in Winnipeg soared to 8.6 C today, easily besting the former record of 5.6 C set in 1923.

Southern Manitoba has a historical daytime average of -9 C this time of year.

Kevin Rollason:

Record-setting warm weather keeps Winnipeg in swing of things

Temperature records continued to fall Thursday across southern Manitoba, giving local skaters pause and local golfers an excuse to hit the links. Seven new high points were set Wednesday; another e... Read More

'It probably belongs as much to the town, as it does to our family'

Sometimes there is no secret recipe for a business to stay in operation for a century. But one specific recipe — tourtière — is certainly the key to success for Boulangerie St-Pierre Bakery, a mainstay in the French community south of Winnipeg since the mid-1920s.

Writer David Sanderson recently visited the massive bakery operation, where demand for the spiced meat pie is never greater than during the holiday season.

David Sanderson:

The tourtière that sells itself

Boulangerie St-Pierre Bakery a cornerstone in St. Pierre-Jolys and beyond Read More

'You want to be your best for Christine Sinclair'

Christine Sinclair — the most influential player in Canadian soccer history — closed out her illustrious international career on Tuesday when Canada beat Australia 1-0 in a friendly at BC Place with 48,112 fans in attendance.

Winnipeg’s Desiree Scott wasn’t in action as she’s rehabbing a knee injury, but she was one of 10 former teammates from the 2012 Olympics side that won bronze who welcomed Sinclair, 40, onto the pitch for her farewell game.

Taylor Allen:

Christine Sinclair brought out the best in me, says Desiree Scott

It was one of the most important nights in Canadian soccer history. There was no way Winnipeg’s Desiree Scott was going to miss it. Christine Sinclair — the most influential player in Canadian socc... Read More

'It’s dreamlike. It’s magical'

Since it first premièred as a big-top production in Montreal back in 2005, Corteo has been performed for 10 million people in 20 countries across four continents. It opens in Winnipeg tonight.

The show, which takes its name from the Italian “cortège,” or procession, tells the story of a clown named Mauro who is reflecting on his life.

Jen Zoratti:

Not clowning around

Cirque’s retooled arena show creates acrobatic circus magic Read More