2023: The year in photos Free Press photographers share their best images from the last 12 months

In a blink of an eye, 2023 has come and gone. But our staff photographers were around the city and province to capture some of the best images of the year.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/01/2024 (1005 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In a blink of an eye, 2023 has come and gone. But our staff photographers were around the city and province to capture some of the best images of the year.

Skaters young and old enjoy the evening as The Forks opened its skating trail early last January. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Skaters young and old enjoy the evening as The Forks opened its skating trail early last January. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Pedestrians and skaters are travel along the river trail in January. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Pedestrians and skaters are travel along the river trail in January. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press files)
From left: Kori-Lynn Hardisty, Nayea Beardy and Evelyn Beardy cry at an April rally at Portage and Main to remember relative Linda Beardy, 33, whose body was found days earlier at Brady Road Landfill. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press files)
From left: Kori-Lynn Hardisty, Nayea Beardy and Evelyn Beardy cry at an April rally at Portage and Main to remember relative Linda Beardy, 33, whose body was found days earlier at Brady Road Landfill. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Cara Lizotte holds a garter snake as she snaps a selfie at the Narcisse Snake Dens in the Interlake in May. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Cara Lizotte holds a garter snake as she snaps a selfie at the Narcisse Snake Dens in the Interlake in May. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
A rider gets tossed at the Professional Bull Riders Canada Bull’s Night Out event in May at Red River Exhibition Park. Dozens of bull riders competed to qualify for the PBR Canada National Finals. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press files)
A rider gets tossed at the Professional Bull Riders Canada Bull’s Night Out event in May at Red River Exhibition Park. Dozens of bull riders competed to qualify for the PBR Canada National Finals. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press files)
The scene of a fiery collision between a bus and semi-trailer — which left 15 seniors dead and 10 seriously injured — on the Trans-Canada Highway north of Carberry in June is viewed from the air. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
The scene of a fiery collision between a bus and semi-trailer — which left 15 seniors dead and 10 seriously injured — on the Trans-Canada Highway north of Carberry in June is viewed from the air. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers player Rasheed Bailey, left, and Brady Oliveira celebrate during a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in June. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers player Rasheed Bailey, left, and Brady Oliveira celebrate during a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in June. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Runner Dawn Neal celebrates winning the women’s title at the 45th Manitoba Marathon on June 18 at IG Field. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Runner Dawn Neal celebrates winning the women’s title at the 45th Manitoba Marathon on June 18 at IG Field. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Protestors hug after the removal of the blockade at Brady Landfill in July. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Protestors hug after the removal of the blockade at Brady Landfill in July. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Fairmont artist-in-residence Charlie Johnston works on his Lewis Carroll-inspired sculpture, On Wonderland Time, in the hotel’s lobby in July. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Fairmont artist-in-residence Charlie Johnston works on his Lewis Carroll-inspired sculpture, On Wonderland Time, in the hotel’s lobby in July. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Thoroughbred trainer Doug Mustard, 80, works with his horse Himelstein early on an August morning at Assiniboia Downs. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Thoroughbred trainer Doug Mustard, 80, works with his horse Himelstein early on an August morning at Assiniboia Downs. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Protesters paint a red dress in the middle of the Portage and Main intersection in early August as part of a call for local landfills to be searched for the bodies of missing Indigenous women and girls. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Protesters paint a red dress in the middle of the Portage and Main intersection in early August as part of a call for local landfills to be searched for the bodies of missing Indigenous women and girls. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Winnipeg singer Kyle Briscoe, who began a master’s degree in opera and voice at McGill University in 2023, poses at Assiniboine Park in August. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Winnipeg singer Kyle Briscoe, who began a master’s degree in opera and voice at McGill University in 2023, poses at Assiniboine Park in August. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
A participant with Naloxone kits and some baseball cards at Sunshine House RV or MOPS (Mobile Overdose Prevention Site) in the parking lot of 631 Main Street in August. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)
A participant with Naloxone kits and some baseball cards at Sunshine House RV or MOPS (Mobile Overdose Prevention Site) in the parking lot of 631 Main Street in August. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet company rehearses a wall-climbing scene for its staging of French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj’s Snow White at the Centennial Concert Hall in August. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet company rehearses a wall-climbing scene for its staging of French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj’s Snow White at the Centennial Concert Hall in August. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Thomas Williams, a resident at Adanac Apartments, looks for his cats as animal services officers remove cats from the apartment building in August. Residents had to vacate the building due to a failed fire-safety inspection. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Thomas Williams, a resident at Adanac Apartments, looks for his cats as animal services officers remove cats from the apartment building in August. Residents had to vacate the building due to a failed fire-safety inspection. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Thomas Williams tends to his cats in his suite at the Adanac Apartments in August, on the same day the city had set for the building’s owners to vacate residents due to a failed fire-safety inspection. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Thomas Williams tends to his cats in his suite at the Adanac Apartments in August, on the same day the city had set for the building’s owners to vacate residents due to a failed fire-safety inspection. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Kicker Maya Turner practises with the University of Manitoba Bisons football team at IG Field in September. Turner became the first woman in U Sports history to dress for and record a point in a regular-season game as she booted a field goal in overtime to defeat the Regina Rams at IG Field on Sept. 23. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Kicker Maya Turner practises with the University of Manitoba Bisons football team at IG Field in September. Turner became the first woman in U Sports history to dress for and record a point in a regular-season game as she booted a field goal in overtime to defeat the Regina Rams at IG Field on Sept. 23. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Windsor Hotel Fire Several Fire crews worked to put out a fully involved fire that engulfed the Windsor Hotel in September. Parts of the south wall of the hotel collapsed onto parked cars next to the building as arial water trucks worked to contain the fire throughout the afternoon. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Windsor Hotel Fire Several Fire crews worked to put out a fully involved fire that engulfed the Windsor Hotel in September. Parts of the south wall of the hotel collapsed onto parked cars next to the building as arial water trucks worked to contain the fire throughout the afternoon. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Julia Vincent, right, a member of the LGBTTQ+ community, and Darrell Shorta, left, a self-described bigot, argue during a trans rights protest and counter rally at the Manitoba Legislature in September. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Julia Vincent, right, a member of the LGBTTQ+ community, and Darrell Shorta, left, a self-described bigot, argue during a trans rights protest and counter rally at the Manitoba Legislature in September. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira takes a moment for himself while preparing for a game at IG Field in late September. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira takes a moment for himself while preparing for a game at IG Field in late September. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Winnipeg Jets centre Cole Perfetti eyes up teammate Alex Iafallo during practice in October. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Winnipeg Jets centre Cole Perfetti eyes up teammate Alex Iafallo during practice in October. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Fred Kelly, former grand chief of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty 3, presents Premier Wab Kinew with a war bonnet at his swearing-in ceremony at The Leaf in October. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Fred Kelly, former grand chief of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty 3, presents Premier Wab Kinew with a war bonnet at his swearing-in ceremony at The Leaf in October. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Police step in as Israeli supporters retrieve a flag taken by Palestinian supporters as the groups clashed outside the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in late October, in the wake of Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Police step in as Israeli supporters retrieve a flag taken by Palestinian supporters as the groups clashed outside the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in late October, in the wake of Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
People walk along the Assiniboine River in late October, with green leaves still hanging onto some trees despite the recent snowfall. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
People walk along the Assiniboine River in late October, with green leaves still hanging onto some trees despite the recent snowfall. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Cyclists compete in a Southwood Circle Cyclocross race at the University of Manitoba in October. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Cyclists compete in a Southwood Circle Cyclocross race at the University of Manitoba in October. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Golfer Kevin Milne took the opportunity to hit the links at Southside Golf Course which opened its course because of the warm November weather. All the course greens were fenced off for the winter, leaving greens with pins set up in the fairways. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Golfer Kevin Milne took the opportunity to hit the links at Southside Golf Course which opened its course because of the warm November weather. All the course greens were fenced off for the winter, leaving greens with pins set up in the fairways. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Nathaniel Sacha Panchuk (in white) and Lucas Klassen compete in the U-16 66kg category during the Judo Manitoba provincial championships at the Canada Games Sport for Life Centre in early December. Klassen defeated Panchuk. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Nathaniel Sacha Panchuk (in white) and Lucas Klassen compete in the U-16 66kg category during the Judo Manitoba provincial championships at the Canada Games Sport for Life Centre in early December. Klassen defeated Panchuk. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Steinbach Sabres players celebrate defeating the Lord Selkirk Royals to win the 2023 Manitoba High School Athletic Association AAAA varsity volleyball provincial title — the school’s first — at the University of Manitoba in early December. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Steinbach Sabres players celebrate defeating the Lord Selkirk Royals to win the 2023 Manitoba High School Athletic Association AAAA varsity volleyball provincial title — the school’s first — at the University of Manitoba in early December. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
University of Manitoba Bisons Bryce Cancilla dives for the volleyball during the Wesman Classic at Duckworth Centre Thursday in December. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)
University of Manitoba Bisons Bryce Cancilla dives for the volleyball during the Wesman Classic at Duckworth Centre Thursday in December. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Thermophysiologist Gordon Giesbrecht (a.k.a. Professor Popsicle) sits in the freezer unit in his office/research lab at the University of Manitoba in December. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Thermophysiologist Gordon Giesbrecht (a.k.a. Professor Popsicle) sits in the freezer unit in his office/research lab at the University of Manitoba in December. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
A pedestrian crosses Portage Avenue during a December snowfall in Winnipeg. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
A pedestrian crosses Portage Avenue during a December snowfall in Winnipeg. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)
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