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BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Gamemasters Escape Solutions managing partner Laura Hawkins (middle) is pictured with co-owners Shea Silva (left) and Allan Hawkins (right) stand inside an escape room called Poseidon’s Promise at Enigma Escapes at 4-980 Lorimer Blvd., in Winnipeg, Man., Monday, Dec. 29, 2025.

Unlocking entertainment

Aaron Epp 6 minute read 6:00 AM CST

Even on an international vacation, Laura Hawkins wanted to escape.

The Winnipeg entrepreneur was travelling through Europe in 2014 with her husband, Allan Hawkins, and their daughter, Shea Silva, and everywhere they went — Dublin, Athens and Paris — the family visited an escape room.

The concept, where players are confined to a themed room and have to discover clues and solve puzzles to find their way out within a set time limit, had yet to take off in Canada. Silva discovered them while researching what she and her parents could do to entertain themselves on their European holiday.

The family has always enjoyed spending time together playing board games, Hawkins says, so the idea of tackling immersive puzzles was right up their alley. By the time they finished their third escape room, they were hooked and talking about starting an escape room facility of their own.

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Better confidence, greater returns?

Joel Schlesinger 5 minute read Preview

Better confidence, greater returns?

Joel Schlesinger 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

It may be 2026, but a new survey suggests a gender gap when it comes to investing.

“Women are a little more than half the population and they’ve made a lot of economic progress over past decades, but there still is a persistent wealth gap,” says Dorothy Sanford, chair of the investor advisor panel for the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization.

The national regulator for investment advisers and brokerages released the findings of an inaugural report on gender differences, finding women are less likely to invest than men and, most revealing, in Sanford’s view, are less confident about investing.

“One of the key messages coming out of all this is women’s lack of confidence,” she says about the survey of 3,000 Canadians, including 2,000 women.

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Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

Freepik

Happy woman holding coins and banknotes in hands. Cartoon female person on pink background flat vector illustration. Money, wealth, finance for banner, website design or landing web page.
Freepik Happy woman holding coins and banknotes in hands. Cartoon female person on pink background flat vector illustration. Money, wealth, finance for banner, website design or landing web page.

‘Exciting step’: retail clothing giant Uniqlo announces store at CF Polo Park

Malak Abas and Kevin Rollason 4 minute read Preview

‘Exciting step’: retail clothing giant Uniqlo announces store at CF Polo Park

Malak Abas and Kevin Rollason 4 minute read 7:00 AM CST

Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo is set to open a store at CF Polo Park this spring — with a second location at St. Vital Centre to follow.

The retail giant, known for its casual wear clothing, has 37 stores in Canada. The Polo Park location will be Winnipeg’s first.

“We have been patiently waiting to share this news, and we are so pleased to make it official,” Whitney Martyniuk, marketing director for Uniqlo Canada, said in a statement.

“The opening of our first Winnipeg location represents an exciting step for Uniqlo in Canada.”

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7:00 AM CST

Uniqlo has 37 stores in Canada. The Polo Park location will be Winnipeg’s first. (Anne D’Innocenzio / The Associated Press files)
Uniqlo has 37 stores in Canada. The Polo Park location will be Winnipeg’s first. (Anne D’Innocenzio / The Associated Press files)

Military will get to Manitoba First Nation dealing with water issues on Monday: chief

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Military will get to Manitoba First Nation dealing with water issues on Monday: chief

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:23 PM CST

PIMICIKAMAK - The chief of a Manitoba First Nation in the throes of severe water issues, including flooding and backed-up sewage, says seven members of the Canadian Armed Forces are to arrive in his northern community on Monday.

Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias says in a social media post that members are to provide technical assistance, assessments and support related to critical infrastructure and recovery operations.

He says plumbers and other workers are also arriving to help with the water and electrical issues, but the community is having a tough time finding them adequate washrooms and shower facilities.

He says some workers already in the community about 500 kilometres north of Winnipeg are also getting sick due to the lack of clean water.

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Updated: Yesterday at 4:23 PM CST

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias, left, and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. (MKO) Grand Chief Grand Chief Garrison Settee speak to the media during a tour at Pimicikamak Cree Nation, Wednesday.
John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias, left, and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. (MKO) Grand Chief Grand Chief Garrison Settee speak to the media during a tour at Pimicikamak Cree Nation, Wednesday.

Trump ‘inclined’ to keep ExxonMobil out of Venezuela after CEO response at White House meeting

Seung Min Kim And Julia Nikhinson, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Trump ‘inclined’ to keep ExxonMobil out of Venezuela after CEO response at White House meeting

Seung Min Kim And Julia Nikhinson, The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 7:48 PM CST

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President Donald Trump said Sunday that he is “inclined” to keep ExxonMobil out of Venezuela after its top executive was skeptical about oil investment efforts in the country after the toppling of former President Nicolás Maduro.

“I didn’t like Exxon’s response,” Trump said to reporters on Air Force One as he departed West Palm Beach, Florida. “They’re playing too cute.”

During a meeting Friday with oil executives, Trump tried to assuage the concerns of the companies and said they would be dealing directly with the U.S., rather than the Venezuelan government.

Some, however, weren’t convinced.

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Updated: Yesterday at 7:48 PM CST

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

California wants to mix hydrogen with gas to cut climate pollution. Critics say that poses risks

Dorany Pineda, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

California wants to mix hydrogen with gas to cut climate pollution. Critics say that poses risks

Dorany Pineda, The Associated Press 7 minute read 8:08 AM CST

Alma Figueroa began to worry when she learned that her gas provider wanted to test a controversial solution to curb global warming: blend hydrogen with natural gas to power her stove and other appliances. Figueroa, who has asthma and recently learned her lung cancer is back, worries about health risks.

“I don't want to be anyone's experiment," said Figueroa, 60, a resident of Orange Cove in California's Central Valley.

The Southern California Gas Co. wants to blend and inject hydrogen into the town’s gas infrastructure, after the state agency that regulates utilities directed them and other companies to launch pilot projects. Proponents see it as key to helping California reduce planet-warming pollution by curbing reliance on gas while integrating cleaner energy into existing infrastructure. It's part of a statewide effort to create safety rules for hydrogen blending. But opponents say it poses unnecessary risks, and Orange Cove's mostly Latino and low-income residents say processes are happening without transparency or their input. Projects in states such as Colorado and Oregon have also raised concerns.

Interest in deploying hydrogen boomed during the Biden administration but has been hard hit with the Trump administration's cancellation of billions of dollars for hydrogen technology and other clean energy projects, including $1.2 billion for a hydrogen hub in California.

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8:08 AM CST

FILE - Hydrogen storage tanks are visible at the Iberdrola green hydrogen plant in Puertollano, central Spain, March 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)
FILE - Hydrogen storage tanks are visible at the Iberdrola green hydrogen plant in Puertollano, central Spain, March 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Clothing company founder Sean Rayland-Boubar at the Red Rebel Armour headquarters on Century Street.

Social impact ‘stories behind the numbers’

Winnipeg-based clothing company Red Rebel Armour finalist in $50K national Indigenous Venture Challenge

Aaron Epp 5 minute read Friday, Jan. 9, 2026

More Business

Lululemon says it expects Q4 sales and EPS to be at high end of guidance

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Lululemon says it expects Q4 sales and EPS to be at high end of guidance

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 7:55 AM CST

VANCOUVER - Lululemon Athletica Inc. says it expects its net revenue and diluted earnings per share for its fourth quarter to come it at the high end of its guidance for the period.

Chief financial officer Meghan Frank says the update is based on the company's performance over the holiday season.

The retailer had previously guided for revenue in a range of US$3.500 billion to US$3.585 billion and diluted earnings per share between US$4.66 and US$4.76 for the fourth quarter.

The company made no changes to its guidance for gross margin, selling, general and administrative expenses, or the effective tax rate.

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7:55 AM CST

A Lululemon store is pictured in Toronto, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor
A Lululemon store is pictured in Toronto, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor

Paramount’s next target in hostile takeover bid of Warner Bros. is a board of its own making

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Paramount’s next target in hostile takeover bid of Warner Bros. is a board of its own making

The Associated Press 2 minute read 9:01 AM CST

NEW YORK (AP) — Paramount Skydance is taking another step in its hostile takeover bid of Warner Bros. Discovery, saying Monday that it will name its own slate of directors before the next shareholder meeting of the Hollywood studio.

Paramount also filed a suit in Delaware Chancery Court seeking to compel Warner Bros. to disclose to shareholders how it values its bid and the competing offer from Netflix.

Warner Bros. is in the middle of a bidding war between Paramount and Netflix. Warner’s leadership has repeatedly rebuffed overtures from Skydance-owned Paramount — and urged shareholders to back the sale of its streaming and studio business to Netflix for $72 billion. Paramount, meanwhile, has made efforts to sweeten its $77.9 billion hostile offer for the entire company.

Last week, Warner Bros. Discovery said its board determined Paramount’s offer is not in the best interests of the company or its shareholders. It again recommended shareholders support the Netflix deal.

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9:01 AM CST

A Netflix sign is displayed atop a building in Los Angeles, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, with the Hollywood sign in the distance. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A Netflix sign is displayed atop a building in Los Angeles, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, with the Hollywood sign in the distance. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

At-home STD tests offer new options for screening and treatment

Matthew Perrone, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

At-home STD tests offer new options for screening and treatment

Matthew Perrone, The Associated Press 5 minute read 7:17 AM CST

WASHINGTON (AP) — New options for testing and treating some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases are becoming available, a trend that experts hope will keep downward pressure on U.S. infection rates.

Last year, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first at-home test that can detect three common infections in women — gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis — as well as the first home-based kit for the virus that causes cervical cancer.

The agency ended the year by approving two different drugs for gonorrhea, the first new options for the disease in decades.

It’s positive news after cases of sexually transmitted infections reached alarming highs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted screening, education and treatment for sexual health nationwide.

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7:17 AM CST

This photo provided by Visby Medical in January 2026 shows its three-in-one gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis test for women. (Visby Medical via AP)
This photo provided by Visby Medical in January 2026 shows its three-in-one gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis test for women. (Visby Medical via AP)

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