Transit change delivers fear to end-of-the-line stop in North Kildonan

Residents of a once-quiet North Kildonan neighbourhood say a Winnipeg Transit route change that put an end-of-the-line stop in their community, led to safety concerns that have been amplified by bitter winter weather.

The FX4 route begins at Polo Park, passes through downtown and ends at Raleigh Street, where bus operators take a break before changing their routes. The end-of-the-line stop is steps away from a 55-plus condominium complex on Gateway Road and nearby homes.

Several tenants of The Cornerstone Life Lease Estates complex told the Free Press on Monday that some people who get off the bus at route’s end have made their way inside to get out of the cold and sleep in the building’s vestibule.

“That bus is the problem… (operators) kick them out, they come to a warm place,” said one tenant on his way to his suite, who didn’t offer his name.

Three local personalities share their traditions, from embracing kismet to herding everyone to the mall

What’s your holiday tradition?

For some it might be settling on the sofa with a box of chocolates ready to watch Home Alone on the first weekend of the winter break, for others it could be getting started on the holiday baking as soon as December comes round.

There may be families packing their suitcases to escape the frigid temperatures and celebrate with barbecue and potato salad instead of the classic roast turkey and trimmings, and more yet who will be rolling out their Christmas hosting plans with military precision, prepping to receive multiple guests in their homes over the next few weeks.

Whether your traditions are rooted in your own or your partner’s childhood, something you’ve experienced as an adult with your friends or something wholly new to you that continues to evolve every year, the holidays wouldn’t be the same without them.

Homemade Holidays: A sweet daily recipe in December

Homemade Holidays offers a sweet daily recipe in December to inspire your holiday baking. Check out the latest recipe, and submit your own!

Some local brands left out as Kildonan Place renovation shuffles tenant storefronts

“We’ve moved” and “Closed for relocation” signage dots the food court’s perimeter at Kildonan Place.

Retiree bakes, cooks, cleans and makes coffee for families of sick children at Ronald McDonald House

Janet Adam enjoys being in the kitchen so much that family members have quipped she may need help.

“My daughter always says I should go to a support group because I bake so much,” Adam jokes.

Adam channels that love for baking into her volunteer work at the Ronald McDonald House Family Room in the Children’s Hospital.

Operated by Ronald McDonald House Manitoba, the 3,500-square-foot space operates daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s open to all families with pediatric patients, and is meant to be a warm, comforting place where they can rest and take a break from the hospital environment.

2025’s top books by Manitoba authors

From new volumes by seasoned writers to new faces on the local literary scene, 2025 proved to be a banner year for books by Manitoba authors, many of which were bestsellers in the province and beyond.

Whether you’re looking for a last-minute holiday gift or the next pick for your book club, here are 10 notable books by locals from the past 12 months, listed in the order they came out this year.

For the Love of a Son: A Memoir of Addiction, Loss, and HopeBy Scott Oake with Michael Hingston

The legendary local sportscaster’s memoir chronicles son Bruce’s struggles with drugs and addiction until his death at age 25 in 2011, as well as the work Scott and his late wife Anne put in to creating the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre. The book was a national bestseller, and topped sales of all non-fiction titles at McNally Robinson Booksellers for 2025.

Some soundtracks have become synonymous with the season

Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker score isn’t the only one that has become popular outside of its original context.

Hospitality was the cornerstone of restaurateur Perry Ginakes' family business

Perry Ginakes built his life the way many Greek immigrants of his generation did: one restaurant, one long day and one satisfied customer at a time.

Ginakes, who was 83 when he died on Oct. 1, was born in the town of Niata, Greece, on Feb. 21, 1942. He immigrated to Canada at the age of 14 in 1956, following several relatives, including his siblings, who had already immigrated to Winnipeg and Fargo, N.D.

His family had immigrated to North America in waves that started with his great-uncles.

“At that time, many people from the small Greek town of Niata — where my great-grandfather, father and uncles were from — had already immigrated to the U.S. Midwest, often sponsoring relatives to join them,” Ginakes’s nephew Pete said.

Building Blocks, Crumbling Foundation: Child Care in Crisis

A six-part investigation into the state of child care in Manitoba, examining the underlying issues that put kids and families at risk.

Landmarks: Exploring unique and iconic Winnipeg locations

Landmarks is a monthly feature in which columnist Alison Gillmor explores unique and iconic Winnipeg buildings and locations.

Cast of RMTC’s Elf: The Musical weigh in with top picks for Yuletide flicks

The ho-ho-hottest ticket in town this holiday season is Elf: The Musical, on until Dec. 28 at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s John Hirsch Mainstage.

Earlier this week, there were fewer than 10 seats available for four of the remaining 11 performances, including a matinée on Christmas Eve and two shows on Boxing Day.

The show’s popularity with ticket-buyers shouldn’t come as a big surprise.

After all, Elf, the 2003 comedic film the stage adaptation is based upon, routinely ranks alongside 1946’s It’s A Wonderful Life (“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings”) and 1983’s A Christmas Story (“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid”), when the topic of best Yuletide movie, all-time, is raised.

In pictures: Winnipeg blizzard, Dec. 18, 2025

Views around the city as Winnipeggers dig out from the first major blizzard of the winter.

What’s up in Winnipeg on New Year’s Eve: Karaoke, masquerade party, The Leaf after dark, and more

Looking for a fun way to ring in the new year? Keep reading for local revelry recommendations from the Free Press’s arts and life team.