Canada – Winnipeg Free Press

Burdett Sisler, Canada’s oldest known living man, Second World War vet, dead at 110

Kathryn Mannie and Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 12:09 PM CDT

Burdett Sisler, the oldest known living man in Canada and one of the oldest Second World War veterans in the world has died. He was 110.

Sisler’s son Norman says his father died with family members by his side after his health took a turn for the worse in recent weeks.

“It's bittersweet. You don't want to see him go, of course. But he had a long life,” Norman said. “It was a great life.”

A statement from Gov. Gen. Mary Simon's office says she and her husband were saddened to learn of Sisler's death and are sending condolences to his friends and family.

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N.S. premier blasts First Nation highway blockades, calls for RCMP to be respected

Eli Ridder, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

N.S. premier blasts First Nation highway blockades, calls for RCMP to be respected

Eli Ridder, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 1:47 PM CDT

Tensions between the Nova Scotia government and First Nations leaders flared up over the weekend amid a continuing debate over who has jurisdiction in Indigenous communities.

Premier Tim Houston says blocking highways “is never acceptable” after protestors set up multiple blockades in reaction to an RCMP raid on an unregulated Indigenous cannabis shop in Cape Breton.

“The unlawful obstruction of others is not peaceful. It undermines public safety, respect for law enforcement and the rule of law itself,” he wrote in a social media post Saturday evening.

“Our roadways are our lifeblood. At any given time, people are travelling for critical reasons such as getting to medical appointments, hospitals, work and caring for their families.”

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Updated: 1:47 PM CDT

Sipekne'katik First Nation members protest along Highway 102 near Shubenacadie, N.S. on Thursday, April 2, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ted Pritchard

Artemis II mission highlights deep space effects on astronauts’ bodies

Charlotte Glorieux, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Artemis II mission highlights deep space effects on astronauts’ bodies

Charlotte Glorieux, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Updated: 9:51 PM CDT

MONTREAL - The Artemis II mission is showing how even a short 10-day journey in deep space presents significant challenges to the human body, including exposure to radiation and other effects scientists are still studying.

The combination of radiation exposure, microgravity, and confined living conditions can place significant strain on the human body, said Dr. Farhan Asrar, a physician, space medicine researcher and associate dean at Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Medicine.

The Artemis II mission marks a return to deep space for the first time in 50 years, offering a rare opportunity to closely monitor how astronauts are affected.

“There are still many effects of deep space on the body that we don’t fully understand,” Asrar said.

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Updated: 9:51 PM CDT

In this image from video provided by NASA, Artemis II astronauts, from left, Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch and Victor Glover gather for an interview en route to the moon on Saturday, April 4, 2026. (NASA via AP)

Don’t touch that dial: Future of Canada’s campus radio stations in doubt

Eli Ridder, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Don’t touch that dial: Future of Canada’s campus radio stations in doubt

Eli Ridder, The Canadian Press 6 minute read 9:10 AM CDT

Elke Sorensen was in her second year at Vancouver Island University when she first got involved with the campus-community radio station — an experience that may soon become less common.

After spending some time asking questions about CHLY 101.7 FM before volunteering, the then-21 year old says she was immediately put in the "hot seat" inside a live radio booth.

Like many student rookies, Sorensen started off hosting a show focused on Canadian music that she says allowed her to make local connections.

“I really ingrained myself and got to know the community and felt more like a citizen in this new city that I now call my home,” she said in an interview.

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9:10 AM CDT

Elke Sorensen, as shown in this recent handout photo, is a student at Vancouver Island University and host on CHLY 101.7 FM radio. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout-Elke Sorensen (Mandatory credit)

Artemis astronauts field more final frontier questions from Canadian kids

Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Artemis astronauts field more final frontier questions from Canadian kids

Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 1:55 PM CDT

Jeremy Hansen, just days away from becoming the first Canadian astronaut to circle the moon as part of the Artemis II mission, gave the country yet another glimpse into life on the final frontier.

Hansen, along with American astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, took part in a live question-and-answer session early Sunday from aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft to answer questions submitted by Canadian kids.

The virtual event, the second of its kind, took place about four days into the 10-day lunar flyby mission.

One youth asked how food is prepared and eaten in space, while another wanted Hansen to pick a movie that best reflects what it's like in space. Hansen responded with 1995's "Apollo 13" starring Tom Hanks -- save for its disastrous chain of events.

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Updated: 1:55 PM CDT

Universities offering exam deferrals, holds on tuition as war rages on in Middle East

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Universities offering exam deferrals, holds on tuition as war rages on in Middle East

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 4 minute read 5:00 AM CDT

OTTAWA - Universities across Canada are offering some international students extra supports like exam deferrals and extensions on tuition as the war continues in the Middle East.

The University of Victoria said it has reached out directly to students who have links to Iran to offer support on a case-by-case basis. Those supports include offering special bursary funding and lifting holds on registration related to overdue tuition.

The university said it's also offering flexibility to applicants struggling to meet their final admissions requirements due to the war.

Queen’s University said it's giving some students extensions on winter tuition and fee payments without late penalties, access to emergency bursaries and expanded access to counselling and mental health supports.

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5:00 AM CDT

Queen's University signage is seen in Kingston, Ont., Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

University study finds few improvements to at-risk species in B.C.

Marissa Birnie, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

University study finds few improvements to at-risk species in B.C.

Marissa Birnie, The Canadian Press 5 minute read 1:00 AM CDT

VANCOUVER - As spring blooms in British Columbia, the brilliant orange-and black pattern of a monarch butterfly's wing and the distinctive cream cap on a black male bobolink songbird are a rare sight.

Both remain on B.C.'s endangered species list, a status that hasn't changed for many at-risk species in the province in more than two decades, says a new study from Simon Fraser University.

The study, published March 23 in the journal "Facets," looked at the B.C. government’s list of threatened, special-concern and secure species and found only 14 species saw genuine improvement in their status between 2008 and 2025.

There were population increases for the hairy woodpecker, humpback whale, the broad-winged hawk and long-billed curlew, the study says.

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1:00 AM CDT

The hairy woodpecker is seen in this undated photo is one of only 14 species that saw genuine improvement in their status on British Columbia's list of threatened, special-concern and secure species. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Peter Thompson (Mandatory Credit)

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Taber, Alta., named Hockeyville winner over Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Taber, Alta., named Hockeyville winner over Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: 9:50 AM CDT

TABER - A southern Alberta community that lost its only two ice rinks after a Zamboni explosion has been named the Kraft Hockeyville 2026 winner.

Taber, Alta., was one of two finalists, along with Tumbler Ridge, B.C., vying for the prize this year, which comes with $250,000 for arena upgrades.

The winner was determined by online voting that took place over Friday and Saturday, and was announced by National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman during Sportsnet’s "Hockey Night in Canada" broadcast on Saturday night.

People in Taber's Community Centre Auditorium, many of them children wearing hockey jerseys, jumped and cheered on TV when the news was delivered.

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Updated: 9:50 AM CDT

Damage is shown following an explosion at an ice rink in the town of Taber, Alta. in this December 2025 handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Town of Taber (Mandatory Credit)

Iran war the latest crisis affecting food banks as usage in Toronto hits record high

Kathryn Mannie, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Iran war the latest crisis affecting food banks as usage in Toronto hits record high

Kathryn Mannie, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 6:10 PM CDT

Toronto’s largest food bank says it’s been dealing with crisis after crisis as the war in Iran makes it even more expensive to feed the thousands of food insecure Torontonians who rely on it.

Neil Hetherington, CEO of the Daily Bread Food Bank, said food bank visits have skyrocketed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but recent rising gas prices are adding fuel to the fire.

He said it costs 50 cents more per litre to fill up the trucks that deliver food to the over 200 food banks and meal programs Daily Bread serves.

“Every week, every day, our prices are going up to be able to deliver the food,” Hetherington said, noting it's coming at a time when food bank usage is higher than it’s ever been.

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Updated: Yesterday at 6:10 PM CDT

In Toronto’s Little Italy, fans line up to swap jerseys and embrace Team Canada

Sandra Ezekwesili, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

In Toronto’s Little Italy, fans line up to swap jerseys and embrace Team Canada

Sandra Ezekwesili, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 2:47 PM CDT

TORONTO - Fans of Italy's national soccer team may be disappointed their team won't be in the 2026 World Cup, but at least some of them got a consolation prize.

More than 100 fans lined up outside Café Diplomatico on a grey Toronto morning for a Canada Soccer jersey swap targeting the city's Italian-Canadian community, and the jerseys were gone in under 30 minutes.

Part of Canada Soccer's new World Cup brand campaign, "Our Game Now," the premise was simple: bring your Italy jersey, get a Canadian one.

In the end, those who got jerseys didn't have to give theirs up.

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Updated: 2:47 PM CDT

A Canada Soccer jersey swap event truck in Toronto’s Little Italy on Saturday, (April 4, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sandra Ezekwesili

Why the Iran war has renewed calls for a sovereign medical supply chain

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Why the Iran war has renewed calls for a sovereign medical supply chain

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Yesterday at 5:00 AM CDT

OTTAWA - The fallout from the war in the Middle East has led to cuts in helium supplies for health services in at least one province — and experts are warning that Canada still hasn't done enough to secure sovereignty over critical medical supply chains.

Saskatchewan's health authority says it has been warned by its supplier that its "allocations" of liquid helium, used in MRI machines, "will be reduced temporarily by 50 per cent."

A spokesperson said there is no impact on patient care at this time, but researchers who rely on helium say they've been warning about supply issues for years.

"We must establish a sustainable, stable and secure helium supply in Canada," said Genevieve Seabrook, manager of the nuclear magnetic resonance research facility at Toronto's Princess Margaret Cancer Research Centre.

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Yesterday at 5:00 AM CDT

A member of a medical team prepares an MRI machine before a procedure at Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital on Tuesday May 1, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Could Trump follow through on his threats to quit NATO? Experts say it’s possible

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press 7 minute read Preview

Could Trump follow through on his threats to quit NATO? Experts say it’s possible

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press 7 minute read Updated: 9:51 AM CDT

OTTAWA - President Donald Trump's comments to a British newspaper this week revived speculation about whether he is ready to pull the U.S. out of the NATO defensive pact, of which Canada is a member.

Venting his frustration over what he claimed is the failure of allies to help America in its war against Iran, Trump told the Daily Telegraph NATO is a "paper tiger" and that the U.S. leaving the alliance is now "beyond reconsideration."

Aaron Ettinger, associate professor of political science at Carleton University, said the threat of the U.S. quitting NATO has grave implications for Western security and must be taken seriously.

“We can't just treat Trump's threats as a TACO Tuesday situation,” Ettinger said, referring to the acronym “Trump Always Chickens Out,” which describes the president's pattern of issuing aggressive threats before caving or doing nothing.

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Updated: 9:51 AM CDT

President Donald Trump arrives for a press conference after the plenary session at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Canadian Space Agency’s first space to Earth video call with Col. Jeremy Hansen

David Augustine, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canadian Space Agency’s first space to Earth video call with Col. Jeremy Hansen

David Augustine, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 9:37 AM CDT

LONGUEUIL - Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen connected with Earth from deep space early Saturday morning in a historic first for the Canadian Space Agency, as part of a live question-and-answer session during the Artemis II mission.

The virtual event featured Hansen speaking live from aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft, approximately three days into the 10-day lunar flyby mission.

Hansen said that while all the training prepared the crew for the mission, there is nothing like experiencing it in the moment.

"Riding the rocket for us has just been extraordinary, and we have all these simulations, but it felt so different for us in real life."

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Updated: 9:37 AM CDT

This image from video provided by NASA shows the Artemis II crew, from left, Canadian astronaut and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, mission specialist Christina Koch and pilot Victor Glover as they speak with NASA Mission Control in a video conference while en route to the moon, Thursday, April 2, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout-NASA
(Mandatory Credit)

CFIA announces recalls for salads, cheeses and meal kits over listeria concerns

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:52 AM CDT

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced recalls due to possible listeria contamination affecting products including salads, cheese and meal kits.

The agency says Co-Op brand creamy garlic and spinach salad, sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan with best-before dates between March 24 and April 4 are recalled and should not be consumed.

Numerous cheese products sold nationally, including Bothwell shredded three-cheese nacho blend in 400-gram and one-kilogram quantities, Goldstream cheddar style shredded processed cheese product, and Paradise Island brand Asiago shredded cheese are also among the recalls over listeria concerns.

A recall for some cheese ingredients included in certain Hello Fresh brand meal kits, sold across Canada has also been expanded from an earlier one issued last Monday.

One of Canada’s most wanted for murder arrested in Surrey, police say

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

One of Canada’s most wanted for murder arrested in Surrey, police say

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Friday, Apr. 3, 2026

SURREY - Police say a suspect who is wanted in connection with a homicide case in Manitoba has been arrested in B.C.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia says officers arrested a suspect who was seventh on Canada's most wanted list while conducting patrols in Surrey, B.C., last week.

Sgt. Sarbjit K. Sangha of the CFSEU says officers were patrolling in Surrey on March 26 when they identified and arrested Chad Dandan, who is wanted in connection with a homicide investigation in Winnipeg.

Sangha says Dandan was attempting to avoid detection by hiding his identity, but officers still identified and arrested him.

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Friday, Apr. 3, 2026

An organized crime agency police patch is seen on the shoulder of a member of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C. during an RCMP news conference in Burnaby, B.C., Monday, May 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. mother and seven-year-old daughter freed from ICE, says MLA

Nono Shen, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

B.C. mother and seven-year-old daughter freed from ICE, says MLA

Nono Shen, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Friday, Apr. 3, 2026

VANCOUVER - A Canadian mother and her seven-year-old daughter who spent three weeks detained at an immigration facility in Texas were released from detention on Thursday.

Amelia Boultbee, an independent MLA who represents the electoral district of Penticton-Summerland where the mother is originally from, took to social media to celebrate the news, saying that she was pleased to hear that Tania Warner and daughter Ayla were going to be released.

Boultbee said in an interview on Friday that she was able to "briefly touch base" with the Warner family, adding it's gratifying to know that they are safe and at home.

"They're gonna get to sleep in their own beds. Have a proper shower. I think that everybody's just exhausted from the ordeal," said Boultbee, adding that the family needs to rest up and enjoy their Easter long weekend.

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Friday, Apr. 3, 2026

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