The Gordie Bell hockey sweater: Homecoming tale of former Portage Terriers netminder’s jersey

Strangely, the first thing I did after opening a much-anticipated Canada Post parcel was smell the contents, hoping to find a hint of my father’s scent.

It didn’t come as much of a surprise after almost 84 years there is none of my late father Gordie Bell’s DNA attached to his 1942 Portage Terriers Memorial Cup jersey I had been gifted. It wasn’t all bad though. More than eight decades have passed since that celebrated national championship and none of the foul odour often attached to used hockey sweaters is detectable either.

In contrast history and nostalgia almost drip from the woven wool jersey.

That ’42 Memorial Cup isn’t the only national title claimed by Junior Terriers. The club won the Centennial Cup in 1973 and the RBC Cup in 2015. But the Memorial Cup team holds special significance, especially if your last name is Bell.

When it comes to fixing health care, province must follow doctors’ orders

To get an honest assessment of Manitoba’s health-care system, it’s best to skip the government news releases and listen to the doctors.

City sewage plant megaproject progresses amid need for more funding

The finishing touches are being put on four massive fibreglass sewage pipes inside a two-and-a-half metre thick concrete tunnel 20 metres underground.

When the work is done, they’ll start pumping out millions of litres of raw sewage per day.

The building that houses them may look modest, but it was made with as much concrete as half of the Canada Life Centre, with still some to go.

“We’ve got at least double that in the balance of the facility in other areas,” said Rob Black, the project director for the upgrade of the North End sewage treatment plant on Main Street North.

Manitoba to study food prices

The Manitoba government has followed through on its promise to conduct a study on groceries in a bid to lower food costs.

Project leads will investigate whether differential pricing — in which shoppers are charged different prices by the same retailer based on customer segment, location, time or demand — is occurring in Manitoba.

Antitrust and anti-competition policies, supply chain vulnerabilities and geographic food deserts will also be probed, the government said Wednesday.

“We know Manitobans are struggling with the price of food, and we know that the prices of food continue to grow in ways that are very concerning,” Finance Minister Adrien Sala told reporters.

Kraft Heinz pauses plans to split into 2 companies, says its problems are ‘fixable’

Kraft Heinz said Wednesday it's pausing its plans to split into two companies.

Steve Cahillane, a former Kellogg Co. chief who became CEO of Kraft Heinz on Jan. 1, said he wants to ensure that all of the company's resources are focused on profitable growth.

“I have seen that the opportunity is larger than expected and that many of our challenges are fixable and within our control,” Cahillane said in a statement.

The company's shares were flat in morning trading Wednesday as Kraft Heinz reported lower quarterly and annual results. Investors are likely concerned that Kraft Heinz believes its businesses aren't strong enough to stand on their own, said Robert Moskow, an analyst with TD Cowen, in a research note.

Focus on local ‘fertile ground’ at 3rd annual MbTech Week

A weeklong tech “festival” is ready to celebrate made-in-Manitoba innovation later this month.

U.S.-Canada bridge brouhaha deepens as White House says Trump could amend a permit for the project

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Donald Trump has the right to amend a permit for a new bridge between Canada and Michigan, prolonging the latest dispute between the U.S. and its northern neighbor hours after its prime minister signaled there could be a detente.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, which would connect Ontario and Michigan and would be a vital economic artery between the two countries, is scheduled to open in early 2026. But Trump has now threatened to block the bridge from being opened, calling for Canada to agree to a litany of unspecified demands as the two nations prepare to renegotiate a sprawling trade pact later this year.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier Tuesday that he spoke with Trump and expressed confidence that the spat would be resolved. But a White House official later Tuesday said the ownership structure of the bridge remains unacceptable for the U.S. president.

Canada paid for the bridge, named after a Canadian-born Detroit Red Wings hockey star. Construction has been underway since 2018.

Vote to crack down on ‘nuisance’ protests set for city council

City council will soon vote on the proposed ban on “nuisance” protests and intimidation within 100 metres of schools, places of worship, hospitals and other “vulnerable social” locations.

Conservatives table motion on refugee claims in response to extortion wave

OTTAWA - The Conservatives introduced a motion Tuesday calling on the government to bar non-citizens convicted of serious crimes from making refugee claims.

The motion introduced in the House of Commons also urges the government to prevent asylum claims from people whose cases are still working their way through the courts.

One legal expert questioned the value of the proposed changes, and noted that people found guilty of serious crimes can already be barred from attaining refugee status under Canada's immigration law.

"This is not really about solving a real problem," said University of Toronto law professor Audrey Macklin. "This is about sending some kind of get tough message."

Class-action suit against care home, WRHA can proceed, judge rules

A Manitoba judge has certified a class-action lawsuit against the owners of Maples Personal Care Home and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, more than five years after 56 residents died during a COVID-19 outbreak at the north Winnipeg facility.

Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Associate Chief Justice Shane Perlmutter said the suit, put forward by Lawrence Lewsey and Eddie Calisto-Tavares, who each lost a parent during the outbreak, is the best way to deal with the allegations that both defendants were negligent.

“Broadly, the allegations relate to alleged failures to adequately plan for, and respond to, the COVID-19 outbreak at Maples,” Perlmutter wrote in a 24-page decision released last week.

“I am satisfied that the proposed class action would be a fair, efficient, and manageable method of advancing the claim and is preferable to other reasonably available procedures to resolve the common issues.”

Harlequin Costume seeks to sell building, ‘staggering’ collection; dancewear store to continue under same name

Looking to buy a building in downtown Winnipeg? Get in touch with the owners of Harlequin Costume.

If you’re interested in purchasing thousands upon thousands of costumes, you’ll want to talk to them, too.

Scott and Jan Malabar are selling their building at 375 Hargrave St., where the husband and wife have operated their costume, dance and formal wear business since the 1980s.

The asking price for the building, which sits a few blocks south of the Exchange District and a short walk from Central Park, is $995,000.

Newcomers to Canada take skating lessons at camp in Headingley

Abenezer Massore has newfound respect and admiration for the Olympians who are lacing up to compete in Milano Cortina.

The 15-year-old newcomer is no stranger to sports; he grew up swimming and playing soccer and basketball in South Africa.

But he said he had no idea just how challenging it would be to learn to stay upright on skates — one of his bucket list items — for the first time.

“It’s a lot harder than it looks; I have terrible balance,” Abenezer said during an outing to Camp Manitou in Headingley on Sunday.

Clear Lake group withdraws review against Parks Canada

Fairness for Clear Lake has decided to withdraw its judicial review against Parks Canada following a court delay that pushed the 2025 boat ban hearing to May.

West Broadway winter carnival sets the standard, says volunteer

Children and adults in West Broadway celebrated winter with games, skating and even horses on Saturday.

The 22nd annual West Broadway Snoball Winter Carnival brought dozens of area residents together both outdoors and indoors at the centre and park just south of Broadway at Young Street.

“It is definitely a joyful activity,” Kelly Frazer, executive director of the West Broadway Community Organization, said on Saturday.

“Winter can be isolating for people. We want people to get out and see their neighbours and enjoy their time. This is a great event because everything is free. You can come and ride in the horse-drawn carriages, you can get a good meal, you can play lots of games, and everything is free.”

Building new foundations in world of trade

It wasn’t so much the deals that emerged that signalled a significant shift in Canada-China relations after Prime Minister Mark Carney’s meeting with People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping last month.

It was the fact their working lunch ran long, just like the 20-minute meeting scheduled between the two world leaders in October in South Korea ran for 43 minutes, “which is quite unusual for the Chinese,” said Chris White, Beijing-based president and CEO of the Canadian Meat Advocacy Office, during a webinar this week.

“Not every world leader who has that opportunity to meet with President Xi gets both a working lunch and then that (gets) extended.”

White has been the Canadian meat sector’s boots on the ground in China for less than a year, but his presence underscores a growing recognition among industry leaders that being present in key markets matters — even more so when the relationships are complicated.

Report sheds light on critical incidents in Manitoba health care

The failure to recognize and intervene when a patient’s health has deteriorated continues to be a leading cause of death and injury in Manitoba’s health-care system.

Eight people died and 24 others suffered major medical consequences between Jan. 1 and March 31 of 2025, says the province’s latest critical incident report. That’s a slight decline in the number of critical incidents compared to the final quarter of 2024, when Manitoba logged 28 major incidents and eight deaths.

The provincial nurses union said the chronic staffing shortage is a factor.

“One critical incident a year is too many, but I am just seeing more and more incidents that have to do with issues that are preventable, which tells me loud and clear that we do not have enough nurses to monitor and oversee our patients,” Manitoba Nurses Union president Darlene Jackson said.

Canada and France open consulates in Greenland following tensions over US push for control

NUUK, Greenland (AP) — Canada and France opened diplomatic consulates on Friday in the capital of Greenland, showing support for NATO ally Denmark and the Arctic island in the wake of U.S. efforts to secure control of the semiautonomous Danish territory.

Canada's maple-leaf flag went up and dozens of people sang “O Canada” as Foreign Minister Anita Anand officially opened the country's consulate in Nuuk, which is also the largest city of the icy Arctic island.

“The significance of raising this flag today and formally opening the consulate is that we will stand together with the people of Greenland and Denmark on many issues,” she said.

Anand cited deepening ties on defense, security, climate change, economic resilience and Arctic co-operation.

Greenland’s foreign minister hails new Canadian consulate as ‘historic’

NUUK - The Canadian flag was raised and dozens of people joined in a spontaneous version of O Canada on Friday as Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand officially opened the new consulate in Nuuk, Greenland.

"The significance of raising this flag today and formally opening the consulate is that we will stand together with the people of Greenland and Denmark on many issues," Anand said, citing deepening ties on defence, security, climate change, economic resilience and Arctic co-operation.

"The co-operation between Denmark, Greenland and Canada will continue, not just in the short term, not just in the medium term, but in the long term."

Canada announced plans for the new diplomatic mission in December 2024, before U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his threats to annex the Danish territory.

Danielle Smith plays separation carrot-and-stick

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is beginning to look like something of a separation arsonist.

Exhibition digs into colonial ideas, societal pressures and resource use of lawns

Carrie Allison has thought a lot about lawns.

Specifically, the Halifax-based multidisciplinary artist thought about the time, money, resources and energy spent on the endless pursuit of the perfectly manicured, kelly-green squares in front of suburban houses; the colonial ideas about value, virtue, class and wealth lawns uphold; and the pressures exerted by societal expectations and full-on city bylaws to control what is a living thing.

It’s those ideas that inform we tend to care, a touring solo exhibition curated by Franchesca Hebert-Spence. The Winnipeg iteration of the show will be presented across two venues — Urban Shaman and within WAG-Qaumajuq’s permanent collection galleries — in collaboration with Marie-Anne Redhead, assistant curator of Indigenous and contemporary art at WAG-Qaumajuq.

“Lawns and grass are very much associated with that sort of, I would say, propaganda of what we value in society,” says Allison, 39, who is of nêhiýaw/Métis/mixed European descent. “They are used to tell people what they should value and how they should use their time.”

Hampers help spread ‘Ramadan warmth’

In a small building on St. Anne’s Road, packages of dried chickpeas, dates and rose water are stuffed into cardboard boxes.

The boxes are neatly packed along an assembly line with about a dozen items before being handed off to a table of young women who wrap them in clear cellophane adorned with polka dots and seal it with a purple ribbon.

“We want to make it feel a little special and make it look nice and put together. Because we could just give them a basket, but we want to make sure it looks nice,” said volunteer wrapper Sumha Ali.

The group of 16 volunteers hope to pack 175 food hampers in just two hours. After all, there’s no time to waste: Ramadan is only two weeks away and they want to get hampers in the hands of families well before it begins.

A Muslim-owned thrift shop blends modest fashion, faith and sustainability

NEW YORK (RNS) — Kadjahtou Balde has a hard time parting with some of the vintage gems that make it into her Harlem thrift shop — a silk skirt adorned with traditional Palestinian embroidery, a pink wool sweater and an embellished blazer in perfect condition.

“Look at the level of detail on this abaya,” she said while unfurling a black dress handstitched with turquoise geometric designs, a type of garment often worn by Muslim women. “It’s so beautiful, I kind of wish I could keep it.”

Balde has long been an avid thrifter and sustainable fashion enthusiast. But even in a city with a bounty of vintage and thrift shops, she couldn’t always find pieces that fit her needs as a Muslim woman who dresses modestly — and fashionably. So when her father asked for help revamping his struggling Harlem gift shop last year, Balde knew a thrift store that celebrated modest fashion could become a much needed space.

“My dad told me that he was tired,” Balde said. “I decided that I want to help him, but I want to do it in a way that aligns with my values: Islam and sustainability.”