Moose makes dramatic entrance crashing through window of Saskatoon classroom

If it works in Ontario, why not in Manitoba?

Grid-scale battery storage has fundamentally changed the global energy landscape — and Manitoba needs to get on board.

Battery systems store large amounts of excess electricity for when it’s most needed. While they can be charged from any generation source, they are especially beneficial for integrating wind and solar power, which vary with weather and time of day. Batteries allow electrical grids to meet the need for firm, dispatchable and affordable capacity using renewable energy, rather than relying on coal, nuclear and fossil gas. They also provide numerous other benefits, including reducing overloading of transmission infrastructure and helping to regulate the grid’s frequency and voltage.

Average costs for grid-scale batteries plummeted by more than half between 2023 and 2025 and installations have skyrocketed in China, the U.S., Australia and Europe. Texas now has 16,500 megawatts (MW) of battery storage, while California has 15,200 MW. Closer to home, Ontario recently awarded 640 MW of contracts to three battery storage projects in a competitive auction, with batteries beating out fossil gas-fired power plants on cost every time. One of these projects will be built near Dryden, only four hours east of Winnipeg.

Each battery system will provide eight hours of capacity but will cost considerably less than Ontario’s previous battery procurements, which provide only four hours of capacity. With this latest auction, Ontario has now secured 3,600 MW of battery storage capacity, including the operational Oneida (250 MW), Hagersville (300 MW) and Napanee (250 MW) projects. Almost all have significant Indigenous participation, with the latest procurements boasting 50 per cent First Nations ownership.

Lynn Lake councillor, fire chief surprised to be named in insurance firm’s suit against mining company

A Lynn Lake councillor and the town’s fire chief say they learned from the media that they had been named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by their insurance company against a gold mining firm in relation to last spring’s wildfire.

Coun. Eugene Shin and his wife Ashtyn, as well as fire chief Paul Grimmer, are named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against Alamos Gold Inc. in the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench this month.

Shin and Grimmer say the suit was initiated by Optimum Insurance, without their knowledge.

“It is extremely puzzling,” said Shin, who added they did not instruct anyone to start the legal proceeding.

Blue Bombers’ Brown not bent on revenge

It’s the kind of storyline you’d find in the wacky world of professional wrestling.

You know, the one where someone is disrespected and cast aside by their former alliance, only to get the chance to step into the squared circle and exact revenge.

While there won’t be any body slams or powerbombs, quarterback Dru Brown could find himself in a similar scenario — except on turf — on Sunday if he’s tasked with leading the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-2) into Ottawa to face the Redblacks (0-5).

Starting quarterback Zach Collaros (neck) was a limited participant at Tuesday’s practice, while Brown took reps with the first-team offence.

Moose crashes into Saskatoon classroom

Saskatoon police say a moose narrowly skirted a trip to the principal's office after crashing through the window of a school classroom.

The moose broke through the glass of a community room, which is a shared space between the Sylvia Fedoruk School and St. Nicholas Catholic School.

Veronica Baker, a spokeswoman for Saskatoon Public Schools, says a before-school program was taking place in the room when the unexpected visitor made its dramatic entrance.

The teachers and students were able to get out of the classroom.

Toys ‘R’ Us closing Polo Park store

Embattled toy retailer Toys “R” Us is closing its store in Winnipeg’s Polo Park area.

Staff hung signs sharing the news — and advertising liquidation pricing — on Friday. The signage does not indicate when the store, located at 1445 St. Matthews Ave., will close for good.

A store manager declined to comment on Monday, directing a reporter to Toys “R” Us Canada Ltd.’s head office. The company did not respond to interview requests.

Toys “R” Us announced in January it would close its Polo Park location, but reversed course a few weeks later. The Canada-wide company has been in creditor protection since February.

Poilievre can only smile and nod after Carney’s chess move

Mark Carney may still be relatively new to elected politics, but he’s proving to be a remarkably quick study in the art of political chess.