WEATHER ALERT

Technical Vocational Education

Please review each article prior to use: grade-level applicability and curricular alignment might not be obvious from the headline alone.

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Program offers a promising future

Jim Timlick 4 minute read Preview
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Program offers a promising future

Jim Timlick 4 minute read Friday, May. 23, 2025

As soon as Anfernee Clarke learned about the Pre-Apprentice Bricklayer Program being offered by First Peoples Development Inc. he was intrigued.

A decade ago an 18-year-old Clarke started working in the construction industry doing concrete work. He loved the physical nature of the work but a back injury he suffered five years ago forced him to temporarily put that career on hold and seek out other employment opportunities.

Now fully healed, he learned about FPDI’s bricklayer program late last year and wasted no time applying. He was one of 12 people who were part of the program’s initial cohort of students when it was launched this past January.

“I made up my mind pretty quickly (about applying),” he says.

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Friday, May. 23, 2025
Program offers a promising future
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The penny costs nearly 4 cents to make. Here’s how much the US spends on minting its other coins

Wyatte Grantham-philips, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview
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The penny costs nearly 4 cents to make. Here’s how much the US spends on minting its other coins

Wyatte Grantham-philips, The Associated Press 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

NEW YORK (AP) — The impending “death” of the U.S. penny has spotlighted the coin's own price tag — nearly 4 cents to make and distribute each, or quadruple its value.

Months after President Donald Trump called on his administration to cease penny production, the U.S. Mint announced this week that it had made its final order of penny blanks — and plans to stop making new 1 cent coins after those run out.

Coin production costs vary thanks to different raw metals used, complexity of their designs, labor needed and more. Many of those expenses have been on the rise — and the penny isn't the only coin entering our wallets today that costs more to make than it's worth (enter the nickel debate).

Here's a rundown of U.S. Mint production costs from the government's latest fiscal year.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

FILE - Freshly-made pennies sit in a bin at the U.S. Mint in Denver on Aug. 15, 2007. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
FILE - Freshly-made pennies sit in a bin at the U.S. Mint in Denver on Aug. 15, 2007. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
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Toronto Zoo warns of extinctions if Ontario mining bill becomes law

Liam Casey, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview
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Toronto Zoo warns of extinctions if Ontario mining bill becomes law

Liam Casey, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

TORONTO - Species could go extinct if Ontario passes a controversial mining bill that is set to transform its approach to endangered species and the environment, the Toronto Zoo warned the province.

Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, would strike a blow to the recovery of several species the institution has been trying to save, said Dolf DeJong, the zoo's CEO, at a committee hearing at Queen's Park on Thursday.

If and when the bill becomes law, DeJong wants the province to step up with funding so it can dramatically increase its biobank with Ontario species that could die off as a result of the legislation.

"We're concerned this act will result in the erosion of biodiversity and the loss of species at risk," DeJong said.

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Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

A Blanding's turtle is shown in this undated handout photo provided by the Toronto Zoo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Toronto Zoo
*MANDATORY CREDIT*
A Blanding's turtle is shown in this undated handout photo provided by the Toronto Zoo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Toronto Zoo *MANDATORY CREDIT*
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Homeowners spend on renovations and repairs despite the uncertain economy and higher prices

Alex Veiga, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview
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Homeowners spend on renovations and repairs despite the uncertain economy and higher prices

Alex Veiga, The Associated Press 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

LOS ANGELES (AP) — U.S. homeowners are spending more on home renovation projects, bucking a broader pullback by consumers amid diminished confidence in the economy.

Sales at building materials and garden supply retailers rose 0.8% last month from March, the biggest gain since 2022, and were up 3.2% from April last year. At the same time, U.S. retail sales overall rose 0.1%, a sharp slowdown from March.

The trend comes even as prices for home improvement products have been rising.

The cost of home repairs and remodeling climbed by nearly 4% in the first quarter from a year earlier, according to Verisk’s Remodel Index. The strategic data analytics firm tracks costs for more than 10,000 home repair items, from appliances to windows.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

FILE - A Home Depot logo sign hands on its facade, Friday, May 14, 2021, in North Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
FILE - A Home Depot logo sign hands on its facade, Friday, May 14, 2021, in North Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
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En 2025, des Jardins St Léon encore plus tournés vers le local

Jonathan Semah 4 minute read Preview
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En 2025, des Jardins St Léon encore plus tournés vers le local

Jonathan Semah 4 minute read Saturday, May. 3, 2025

Les Jardins St-Léon, le marché extérieur situé sur St Mary’s, ouvre ses portes au public ce 30 avril. Colin Rémillard, copropriétaire, fait le point sur la saison qui s’en vient.

Même si la création des Jardins St-Léon remonte à 1979 par Lise Mulaire et Denis Rémillard, l’excitation est toujours la même quand la date de l’ouverture est connue. Cette année 2025 ne fait pas exception au regard de toutes les réactions enchantées sur les réseaux sociaux quand la compagnie a annoncé son retour pour ce 30 avril.

À l’image des internautes, Colin Rémillard, copropriétaire des Jardins St-Léon a hâte d’accueillir le public et travaille avec son équipe de 55 personnes sur les dernières préparations.

“Tout se passe bien, nos étagères sont déjà bien remplies et nous continuons de les remplir. On a quelques nouveaux employés, mais aussi beaucoup de retours d’anciens, ce qui est toujours un bon signe. La météo a l’air de bien s’annoncer. L’année dernière a été plus occupée que l’année précédente et l’on verra ce qui va passer cette année.”

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Saturday, May. 3, 2025

Archives La Liberté

Colin Rémillard, copropriétaire des Jardins St-Léon, a repris l’affaire en 2016.
Archives La Liberté Colin Rémillard, copropriétaire des Jardins St-Léon, a repris l’affaire en 2016.
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Sauver la Maison Hourie, le vote est ouvert

Marie Wielgocki 4 minute read Preview
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Sauver la Maison Hourie, le vote est ouvert

Marie Wielgocki 4 minute read Saturday, Apr. 12, 2025

Organisée par la Fiducie nationale du Canada, la compétition Next Great Save offre un financement et de la visibilité aux lieux historiques menacés partout dans le pays. Cette année, la maison Hourie de Portage-la-Prairie fait partie des douze finalistes. Les gagnants sont choisis par vote du public, qui est ouvert jusqu’au 17 avril.

Sauver l’un des bâtiments emblématiques de l’histoire du Manitoba. Voilà l’objectif du musée de Fort la Reine à Portage-la-Prairie, qui a inscrit au concours l’une de ses bâtisses: la Maison Hourie. C’est sur le site nextgreatsave.ca que le public, seul juge de la finale de cette compétition nationale, est invité à voter pour sauver son patrimoine favori. Parmi les finalistes, la Maison Hourie est le seul édifice situé au Manitoba.

Restaurer la maison Hourie

Les règles sont simples: pour sauver son patrimoine, chaque finaliste mène sa campagne de sensibilisation pour récolter le maximum de soutien. Parrainé par Ecclesiastical Insurance, ce concours s’inscrit dans les missions de la Fiducie nationale du Canada, créée en 1973. Principal organisme de bienfaisance national, la Fiducie a contribué depuis sa création à la protection de plus de 835 lieux partout au Canada.

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Saturday, Apr. 12, 2025

Gracieuseté

La Maison Hourie, à Portage-la-Prairie.
Gracieuseté La Maison Hourie, à Portage-la-Prairie. Supplied La Maison Hourie de Portage-la-Prairie
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Sirop d’érable, le trésor de Saint-Pierre-Jolys

Lucille Dourlens 5 minute read Preview
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Sirop d’érable, le trésor de Saint-Pierre-Jolys

Lucille Dourlens 5 minute read Saturday, Apr. 5, 2025

L’incontournable Festival du Temps des sucres se prépare à revenir au village de Saint-Pierre-Jolys les 5 et 6 avril. Prenant place dans la Cabane à sucre, une extension du musée, les visiteurs pourront festoyer et célébrer ce fameux sirop local aux teintes ambrées.

Le temps se fait plus doux dans le village de Saint-Pierre-Jolys où les récoltes de sirop d’érable ont doucement commencé depuis la semaine du 17 mars.

En effet, des gelées la nuit combinées à des températures plus élevées le jour créent les conditions propices à la saison des récoltes. Ce type de météo permet d’exercer une pression à l’intérieur de l’arbre favorisant ensuite l’écoulement de “l’eau sucrée” comme aime l’appeler Roland Gagné, le gérant de la Cabane à sucre du village.

“Grâce à Mère Nature, l’eau remonte des racines jusqu’en haut de l’arbre. Ça permet de nettoyer les veines de l’érable et ensuite le liquide s’écoule.”

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Saturday, Apr. 5, 2025

Marta Guerrero

Roland Gagné s’occupe de l’érablière de Saint-Pierre-Jolys depuis près de 14 ans.
Marta Guerrero Roland Gagné s’occupe de l’érablière de Saint-Pierre-Jolys depuis près de 14 ans.
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Red River course focuses on Indigenous cooking techniques, ingredients

Eva Wasney 6 minute read Preview
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Red River course focuses on Indigenous cooking techniques, ingredients

Eva Wasney 6 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2025

With the lunch rush over, the kitchen takes a collective sigh of relief. Jokes are cracked while the flattop is scraped clean and smiles float around the room as prep stations are tidied for the next day’s service.

Gabriel Nanacowop, who had some nerves about overseeing Wiisinin Diner as chef-of-the-day, is feeling particularly satisfied.

“It was good, fast-paced,” says Nanacowop, one of 11 students enrolled in Red River College Polytechnic’s Indigenous Culinary Skills program.

Red River has been offering the yearlong certificate program for nearly a decade. In it, Indigenous students are given a crash course on food preparation, kitchen safety and business basics, with a focus on cultural ingredients and cooking techniques.

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Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2025

Ruth Bonneville / Free Pres

Gabriel Nanacowop (left) and Kendrah Sinclair finish preparing lunch with their classmates for guests at Wiisinin Diner.
Ruth Bonneville / Free Pres Gabriel Nanacowop (left) and Kendrah Sinclair finish preparing lunch with their classmates for guests at Wiisinin Diner.
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Employees aim for the stars at Magellan Aerospace

3 minute read Preview
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Employees aim for the stars at Magellan Aerospace

3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

When making a major career course correction, Julie Robichaud did the math. She calculated that a job at Magellan Aerospace, Winnipeg would give her wings to soar to new and higher professional goals.

“I had just come out of 10 years in hospitality and decided to switch gears, so I started at Magellan at three days a week and they quickly moved me to five days,” says Robichaud.

“It’s been great. The company is very good about giving me the educational and other supports I need to succeed and to grow.”

Magellan Aerospace is a global company that designs, engineers and manufactures aeroengine and aerostructure components for the aerospace and space markets. Located in Winnipeg, the company’s employees build everything from complex aircraft assemblies to satellite buses.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Astronaut Jeremy Hansen visits Magellan Aerospace, Winnipeg, to discuss the upcoming Artemis launch with the team.
Astronaut Jeremy Hansen visits Magellan Aerospace, Winnipeg, to discuss the upcoming Artemis launch with the team.
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Quand le froid gèle la collecte de sang

Hugo Beaucamp 5 minute read Preview
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Quand le froid gèle la collecte de sang

Hugo Beaucamp 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 8, 2025

Les intempéries hivernales ont parfois des impacts insoupçonnés. Alors que les déplacements ont été rendus difficiles à travers le pays, la Société canadienne du sang doit combler les pertes causées pour répondre à un besoin toujours plus important.

Le temps hivernal s’est montré quelque peu extrême le mois dernier. S’il n’est pas nécessairement évident de faire le lien entre les deux, et bien les aléas météorologiques ont un impact direct sur la collecte de sang au Manitoba et plus largement dans tout le pays.

Aujourd’hui, il faut savoir que, la branche manitobaine de la Société canadienne du sang (SCS), ne compte pas moins de 30 cliniques mobiles. Ces dernières se déplacent trois fois par semaine dans les communautés rurales de la province. Entre autres, Brandon, Portage la Prairie ou bien Selkirk.

Or les intempéries ont provoqué l’annulation de plusieurs centaines de rendez-vous, comme l’explique Rayna Porter, responsable du développement communautaire pour la SCS ici, à Winnipeg.

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Saturday, Mar. 8, 2025

Marta Guerrero photo

Rayna Porter, responsable du développement communautaire pour la SCS ici, à Winnipeg
Marta Guerrero photo Rayna Porter, responsable du développement communautaire pour la SCS ici, à Winnipeg
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Le logo d’un francophile de cœur

Camille Harper 4 minute read Preview
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Le logo d’un francophile de cœur

Camille Harper 4 minute read Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025

Originaire du quartier Tyndall Park à Winnipeg, c’est pourtant à Saint-Boniface que l’anglophone Jonato Dalayoan a choisi de s’installer il y a 22 ans. “C’était mon premier domicile, et depuis je suis toujours resté ici avec ma femme et mes enfants.”

Lui-même d’origine philippine, et sa femme germano-philippine, ils ont pleinement embrassé Saint-Boniface, sa culture francophone, et bien sûr son Festival du Voyageur. “Mes enfants vont à l’école d’immersion française et parlent couramment le français, affirme-t-il avec fierté. Je les appelle mes francopinos! En fait, ils parlent très bien le français mais pas du tout le filipino.”

Le Festival du Voyageur, la famille Dalayoan y a donc passé de nombreuses journées à travers les années. Jonato Dalayoan raconte: “Je vis proche du parc Provencher et je me souviens que dans mes premières années à Saint-Boniface, il y avait des sculptures de neige du Festival dans le parc Provencher. C’était toujours quelque chose que j’avais très hâte d’aller voir.

“Aujourd’hui, on va souvent au parc du Voyageur avec les enfants. Le Festival a beaucoup changé dans les cinq à dix dernières années, il y a beaucoup de nouvelles activités, de nouveaux spectacles, de nouvelles musiques, c’était vraiment cool pour toute la famille!”

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Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025

Gracieuseté Marie Miller-Dalayoan

Jonata Dalayoan est le dessinateur du logo du 56e Festival du Voyageur.
Gracieuseté Marie Miller-Dalayoan Jonata Dalayoan est le dessinateur du logo du 56e Festival du Voyageur.
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Recruitment and retention: a health-care challenge

Niall Harney 5 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025

Manitoba’s government was elected in October 2023 with a strong mandate to “fix health care.” Central to this commitment is resetting the relationship with Manitoba’s health-care workers.

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Manitoba surpasses goal of hiring 1,000 health-care workers, says health minister

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview
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Manitoba surpasses goal of hiring 1,000 health-care workers, says health minister

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

WINNIPEG - Manitoba's NDP government has surpassed its goal of hiring 1,000 health-care workers since taking office more than a year ago, but the news is receiving mixed responses from some groups who represent health-care staff.

The province announced on Friday that from last April to the end of December it hired 1,255 net-new health-care workers, including nurses, physicians and midwives, to work within the public system.

"Each and every one of these 1,255 frontline health-care workers have joined our system because they want to care for their neighbours, their fellow citizens (and) their community members," Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara told news reporters.

The NDP government committed to hiring 100 doctors, 210 nurses and 600 health-care aides as part of its 2024 budget.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

The Manitoba NDP government says it has surpassed its goal of hiring 1,000 health-care workers since taking office more than a year ago. The exterior of the Manitoba Legislature is seen in Winnipeg, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
The Manitoba NDP government says it has surpassed its goal of hiring 1,000 health-care workers since taking office more than a year ago. The exterior of the Manitoba Legislature is seen in Winnipeg, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
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Le rêve sucré de Linh Tran

Jonathan Semah 4 minute read Preview
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Le rêve sucré de Linh Tran

Jonathan Semah 4 minute read Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025

Avec Rêverie, une boulangerie sans gluten, Linh Tran voit un projet qu’elle a en tête depuis plusieurs années se concrétiser. Si elle s’est lancée dans le sans gluten, c’est avant tout pour des raisons personnelles. Mais, elle observe une demande en hausse année après année.

Tartes, cookies, beignets, gâteaux, desserts et biscuits, en parcourant la page Instagram et le site web de Rêverie, difficile de résister à la tentation face à toutes ces douceurs. Mais pour en arriver là, il a fallu des années d’essais et de pratique à Linh Tran.

Alors qu’elle a quitté son emploi au Centre de santé Saint-Boniface il y a quelques mois, la pâtissière est maintenant totalement concentrée sur Rêverie.

Une passion dès l’enfance

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Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025

Marta Guerrero photo

Linh Tran avec certains des biscuits à trouver sur sa boutique en ligne.
Marta Guerrero photo Linh Tran avec certains des biscuits à trouver sur sa boutique en ligne.
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Province invests $17M in Magellan Aerospace to create additional jobs, training

Martin Cash 5 minute read Preview
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Province invests $17M in Magellan Aerospace to create additional jobs, training

Martin Cash 5 minute read Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025

The NDP government is continuing its aggressive support of Manitoba’s aerospace industry, announcing Thursday a significant investment in Magellan Aerospace.

The province is providing Magellan with an $8 million grant and a $9 million loan (to be repaid over 12 years). The investment expects to lead to the creation of more than 60 positions at Magellan. (Its current workforce is about 650.)

The financial assistance will leverage additional capital investment from the company. It is a global player in the aerospace industry, with head offices in the Greater Toronto Area. In addition to its Winnipeg plant, Magellan has three manufacturing operations in Ontario, six in the U.S, six in Europe and two in India.

The Winnipeg plant has been around for close to 100 years. In addition to being a centre of excellence for the company when it comes to machining aero-engine parts, it is also Magellan’s space centre, having manufactured five satellites currently orbiting the Earth.

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Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES

The Magellan Aerospace building in Winnipeg.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES The Magellan Aerospace building in Winnipeg.
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Slow fashion houses embrace made-to-order to reduce waste

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview
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Slow fashion houses embrace made-to-order to reduce waste

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

TORONTO - On occasion, fashion designer and clothier Katelyn Woodburn is accused of running a scam.

When a customer makes a purchase without reading the "about" section on her website or following her on social media, they might send an email a week or two later saying something like: "Where's my order? It hasn't even shipped yet? What's going on?" Woodburn recounted from her Vancouver studio.

"Which is a totally reasonable response," she added. Consumers are conditioned to expect instant gratification when it comes to clothes shopping, but that's not really how Woodburn does things.

"I'll say, 'Oh, your shirt is being cut out. We're going to sew it tomorrow.' I tell them the whole process of what's happening. And 100 per cent of the time, I get a response going, 'Oh my gosh, I didn't even realize. This is so cool, no rush at all.'"

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Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

Fashion designer and clothier Katelyn Woodburn poses in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Victoria Black *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Fashion designer and clothier Katelyn Woodburn poses in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Victoria Black *MANDATORY CREDIT*
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Les Petits Amis seront plus nombreux

Ophélie Doireau 4 minute read Preview
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Les Petits Amis seront plus nombreux

Ophélie Doireau 4 minute read Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024

La garderie Les Petits Amis de Sainte-Anne connaît un agrandissement qui va lui permettre d’accueillir jusqu’à 48 nouveaux enfants. Une bonne nouvelle malgré la liste d’attente encore très longue.

Depuis le 2 décembre, de nouveaux locaux de la garderie Les Petits Amis de Sainte-Anne accueillent 48 bambins pour le plus grand plaisir de la communauté qui avait besoin de cet agrandissement.

Syvelie Mesidor Vaneus, directrice de la garderie, rappelle que “c’est la seule garderie francophone qui existe à Sainte-Anne et c’est aussi la seule qui accueille des bébés. Nous manquions d’espace alors que la liste d’attente ne faisait que grandir.”

En date de son entrevue avec La Liberté, il y avait 84 bébés inscrits sur la liste d’attente et 102 enfants d’âge préscolaire.

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Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024

Marta Guerrero photo

Syvelie Mesidor Vaneus est la directrice de la garderie Les Petits Amis de Sainte-Anne.
Marta Guerrero photo Syvelie Mesidor Vaneus est la directrice de la garderie Les Petits Amis de Sainte-Anne.
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Gabrielle Roy, une saison 3 pour aller encore plus loin

Jonathan Semah 4 minute read Preview
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Gabrielle Roy, une saison 3 pour aller encore plus loin

Jonathan Semah 4 minute read Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024

C’est à partir du 5 décembre que la saison 3 de la série Le monde de Gabrielle Roy sera diffusée sur ICI TOU.TV. Cette saison raconte le départ de l’écrivaine du Manitoba pour l’Europe, notamment Paris et Londres. Une période essentielle pour sa construction professionnelle et personnelle.

Alors que le public s’apprête à découvrir déjà cette troisième saison, pour Renée Blanchar, réalisatrice et scénariste, c’est toujours la même excitation avant un lancement. “La durée de cette série apporte une réelle profondeur que ce soit devant et derrière la caméra. Ça fait donc trois rendez-vous qu’on se donne avec le Manitoba pour raconter cette histoire-là, et au lieu de s’essouffler, elle se bonifie.”

Renée Blanchar définit cette troisième saison, toujours co-produite par Les Productions Rivard et Zone 3, comme un vrai “tour de force.” Pourquoi? Car les équipes de production ont réussi à tourner toutes les scènes de cette série qui a lieu à Paris et à Londres… au Manitoba. “Cette saison raconte donc le voyage en Europe de Gabrielle Roy entre 1937 et 1939, à l’aube de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Et tout a été tourné ici, au Manitoba. C’était un beau casse-tête. Sur ça, je tiens à féliciter l’équipe de Réjean Labrie, concepteur artistique, pour son travail. Donc l’architecture ici nous a permis de recréer un théâtre, un appartement parisien, on a pu aussi donner l’illusion d’être à Londres. Et tout ça a été complété avec des archives de l’époque.”

Un vrai défi de production

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Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024

Gracieuseté

C’est toujours Romane Denis qui incarne Gabrielle Roy dans cette saison 3.
Gracieuseté C’est toujours Romane Denis qui incarne Gabrielle Roy dans cette saison 3. Supplied Gabrielle Roy
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Husband-and-wife food bloggers show how two chefs can navigate the home kitchen and stay happy

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview
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Husband-and-wife food bloggers show how two chefs can navigate the home kitchen and stay happy

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press 5 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

NEW YORK (AP) — Husband-and-wife food bloggers and podcasters Sonja and Alex Overhiser have a new cookbook that uses a simple step to keep the kitchen a less heated place for two chefs: clear, alternating roles.

“A Couple Cooks: 100 Recipes to Cook Together” lays out ingredients and directions for a wide array of dishes, like any other cookbook, but also divides the cooking tasks — one home chef is designated a square, the other a triangle — so neither is overwhelmed or resentful.

“Everything is more fun together, we think. And so we found that about cooking,” says Sonja Overhiser from their home in Indianapolis. “You’ll stay doing it if you’re doing it with someone else.”

So to make their Meatballs with Fire-Roasted Marinara, one chef preheats the oven and then starts to make the marinara sauce, while the other prepares the meatballs. They come together at the end to coat the cooked meatballs with the sauce and add Parmesan cheese and basil.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

The cover image for "A Couple Cooks: 100 Recipes to Cook Together" by Sonya and Alex Overhiser, left, appears with a portrait of the authors. (Chronicle Books via AP, left, and Shelly Westerhausen via AP)
The cover image for
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New Jenna Rae cookbook focuses on bakers’ favourite home recipes

Eva Wasney 6 minute read Preview
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New Jenna Rae cookbook focuses on bakers’ favourite home recipes

Eva Wasney 6 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024

There’s a sweet new edition on the way.

Sisters Jenna Hutchinson and Ashley Kosowan are expanding their successful local bakery business with a new cookbook venture. Jenna Rae Cakes at Home: Our Favourite Recipes to Enjoy with Family and Friends hits bookstores Oct. 8 and features more than 100 colourful, family-friendly recipes.

The cookbook is a followup to their first release, Jenna Rae Cakes and Sweet Treats, and is a labour of love that brings together the twins’ individual interests.

“Ash was meant to make cookbooks,” says Hutchinson, whose passion for cake design prompted the entrepreneurial siblings to open their first Jenna Rae Cakes shop in 2014.

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Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024
How sweet it is
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Almond Nail Bar digs into expansion mode

Gabrielle Piché 4 minute read Preview
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Almond Nail Bar digs into expansion mode

Gabrielle Piché 4 minute read Friday, Aug. 30, 2024

Winnipeg’s newest export is packing its polish.

The first out-of-province Almond Nail Bar has quietly opened in Burnaby, B.C. Chinh La, the franchise owner, is preparing for a big unveiling in September.

His shop’s opening will be followed by one in Ontario and two more in British Columbia. Back in Manitoba, locations in Niverville and Steinbach are brewing.

In Winnipeg — where La and his wife own two locations — things are “very busy.”

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Friday, Aug. 30, 2024

NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS
Almond Nail Bar is expanding across Canada. It's opened its flagship store in St. Vital, which is its biggest yet.
240830 - Friday, August 30, 2024.

Reporter: Gabby
NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS Almond Nail Bar is expanding across Canada. It's opened its flagship store in St. Vital, which is its biggest yet. 240830 - Friday, August 30, 2024. Reporter: Gabby
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Bringing dental care to kids in schools is helping take care of teeth neglected in the pandemic

Michael Casey, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview
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Bringing dental care to kids in schools is helping take care of teeth neglected in the pandemic

Michael Casey, The Associated Press 6 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Tucked away inside the teachers lounge at a New Hampshire elementary school, Amber Warner was having her teeth checked out for the first time.

The 5-year-old sat back on what looked like a beach chair and wore a pair of dark sunglasses as certified public health dental hygienist Mary Davis surveyed Amber's teeth and then with a tiny syringe applied traditional dental sealants, which had the consistency of nail gel.

“Close down and bite your teeth together, bite down like you are biting down on a hot dog or a cheeseburger," Davis told Amber, to ensure the sealants were done properly. After that, Davis flossed all of the “popcorn and the chicken, pizza between your teeth.” The whole visit took 15 minutes.

“Look at you. You are a pro on your first dental visit. I am so proud of you,” Davis said to the kindergartener, who got up from the chair and was hugged by a teacher's assistant.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Clayton Warner holds a mirror as dental hygienist Mary Davis examines his teeth at the Christa McAuliffe School in Concord, N.H., Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Clayton Warner holds a mirror as dental hygienist Mary Davis examines his teeth at the Christa McAuliffe School in Concord, N.H., Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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Pride and passion stitched right in

AV Kitching 5 minute read Preview
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Pride and passion stitched right in

AV Kitching 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 23, 2024

Surrounded by vibrant textiles, Oluwayemisi Josephine Ogunwale, or Yemz, as she likes to be referred to, sits at her sewing machine, brow furrowed in concentration as she stitches the hem of a dress.

The tools of her trade within easy reach — fabric scissors, measuring tapes, cottons of various shades — Ogunwale is in her happy place: creating beautiful and wearable works of art for her loyal clientele.

The dressmaker has always been interested in fashion. As a child she would sew doll clothing from scraps of material her mother discarded. This progressed to altering her own clothes: modifying hems, adjusting frills, loosening or tightening waistlines.

“Sometimes I would destroy the clothes because of how many changes I made to it,” she laughs.

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Saturday, Mar. 23, 2024

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS

Dressmaker Oluwayemisi Josephine Ogunwale sports one of her pieces.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Dressmaker Oluwayemisi Josephine Ogunwale sports one of her pieces.
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Leaving auto repair life in the rear-view

Gabrielle Piché 5 minute read Preview
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Leaving auto repair life in the rear-view

Gabrielle Piché 5 minute read Thursday, Jul. 7, 2022

For decades, Cadillacs, Mustangs and Audis have overnighted in the Exchange District for repairs and transformations.

Now, a Winnipeg mechanic envisions a new use for his shop — one that sees it filled with milk and produce instead of wrenches and tires.

“There’s no groceries down here,” said Andy Baranowski, owner of J.W. McDonald Auto Service. “Where are you going to get your milk?”

The 189 Bannatyne Ave. building has been an auto repair garage for almost a century — since 1923, according to the Manitoba Historical Society.

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Thursday, Jul. 7, 2022

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Andy Baranowski, owner of J.W. McDonald Auto Service, by one of his cars, a 66 Thunderbird Landau.
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Andy Baranowski, owner of J.W. McDonald Auto Service, by one of his cars, a 66 Thunderbird Landau.