The Wrap: Wildfires, HSC death, Skibicki trial, camp funding cut

Hundreds of people evacuated Cranberry Portage in northern Manitoba on the weekend, fleeing a wildfire rapidly spreading toward the community.

The out-of-control inferno was just over one kilometre away from Cranberry Portage Monday afternoon.

Many displaced residents made the roughly one-hour drive south to The Pas, where a reception centre was set up at the Wescana Inn to register evacuees and arrange for accommodations.

A patient at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre died on the weekend while he was on a hospital ward for treatment, according to health-care sources.

A source said the patient assaulted at least one staff member, and died after self-harming shortly afterward.

The situation has raised questions about patient and staff safety, and what could be done to prevent similar circumstances.

Shared Health confirmed the death has been declared a critical incident, and an internal investigation is underway.

The trial of admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki heard today that Winnipeg police officers went through more than 2,000 hours of video evidence while trying to track the whereabouts of Skibicki and his four victims.

Court was shown video of Skibicki and one of his victims walking in a parking lot, and another victim and Skibicki eating together at a shelter.

More surveillance video showed three different instances when Skibicki is seen dumping contents in various garbage bins in his neighbourhood, including where partial remains of a third victim were found.

Skibicki admits killing the women, but is arguing he should be found not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder.

Manitoba camp officials have been left scrambling after the provincial government slashed or denied their funding for summer programming this year.

More than a dozen camps in the province received less Urban/Hometown Green Team grant program funding than in prior years, and at least eight will receive no money at all.

Without the provincial grant, non-profits will have to come up with additional monies to pay staff, go into debt, or consider making programming cuts.