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MORGAN MODJESKI / FREE PRESS One person was found dead after a fire inside a suite in a two-storey apartment building in the 400 block of Ross Avenue, Friday.

Pair of fires leaves one dead, three in hospital

Morgan Modjeski 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 6, 2026

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One person is dead and residents of a Centennial neighbourhood apartment building are reeling after a fire in a second-storey suite Friday, the latest in a tragic string of fatalities connected to fires in Winnipeg in 2026.

At 1:24 p.m. crews were called to a fire at a two-storey apartment building in the 400 block of Ross Avenue, said a Saturday news release from Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.

Firefighters got the blaze under control before 2 p.m., said WFPS, but one person was found dead inside the suite where the fire took place.

Fire officials have not released any information about the person killed, but neighbours present at the building over the weekend said the victim was a man regularly seen around the complex.

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JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS People attend Pride Parade in downtown Winnipeg Sunday, June 7, 2026. reporter: maggie

Thousands march in Winnipeg’s Pride parade

Maggie Macintosh 3 minute read Preview

Thousands march in Winnipeg’s Pride parade

Maggie Macintosh 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 7:31 PM CDT

Surrounded by thousands of rainbow-clad strangers, Mira Kopiova and Jamie Komarniski celebrated their historic wedding — the first of its kind to kickoff Pride Winnipeg Festival — over the weekend.

The pair tied the knot in a surprise ceremony on The Forks main stage on Saturday.

Less than 24 hours later, the newlyweds led the 39th annual parade in celebration of Manitoba’s LGBTTQ+ community.

“We hope we’re going to inspire people — more gay, lesbian and different-identity couples,” Kopiova said as she and her wife fulfilled their grand marshal duties on Sunday.

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Updated: Yesterday at 7:31 PM CDT

Local

THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Negotiations are underway on legislation to create the Manitoba Crown-Indigenous Corp., which will work with Ottawa’s Major Projects Office and Arctic Gateway Group on the proposed expansion of the Port of Churchill.

Legislation to create Manitoba-Indigenous Crown corporation pending as some First Nations express concerns

Gabrielle Piché 5 minute read Preview

Legislation to create Manitoba-Indigenous Crown corporation pending as some First Nations express concerns

Gabrielle Piché 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:46 PM CDT

Legislation to create a new Crown corporation is hung up, in part, on First Nations’ concerns the entity would override the government’s duty to consult individual nations before launching projects.

“We’re having challenges, I think, creating an endorsement or support for… the draft legislation,” said Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization that represents 33 First Nations.

Negotiations are underway on legislation to create the Manitoba Crown-Indigenous Corp., which will work with Ottawa’s Major Projects Office and Arctic Gateway Group on the proposed expansion of the Port of Churchill.

The southern chiefs group is part of a board that meets regularly with the provincial government; Indigenous Futures Minister Ian Bushie deemed the group the interim Manitoba Crown-Indigenous Corp.

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Updated: Yesterday at 4:46 PM CDT

Opinion

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.

Coming sales-tax break a confusing mess

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

Coming sales-tax break a confusing mess

Editorial 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

With less than 30 days to go before provincial sales tax is removed from a broad array of snacks and ready-to-eat meals, there remains little clarity on what exactly the NDP government of Manitoba is trying to achieve.

Grocery retailers — the original target group for Premier Wab Kinew’s confusing affordability measure — are reporting that they are still confused about what should be tax-free starting July 1 and what products will still be subject to the seven per cent PST.

There is a good reason for the confusion: the information available from the province about the new tax policy is incredibly vague.

In response to queries from the Free Press about confusion at the retail level, a provincial spokesperson said all the information needed to implement the changes is available through a three-page document posted on the finance department’s website.

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2:00 AM CDT

Local

Popular Chatfield Exchange to stay open

Maggie Macintosh 3 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

The Chatfield Exchange, a multi-building thrift store, art gallery and popular road trip destination in Manitoba, won’t be closing after all.

Artist Anthony Nelson took to social media last week to announce the indefinite closure of the Interlake-area establishment known for its maximalist decor.

The Rural Municipality of Armstrong “has asked us to cease all operations,” the business owner wrote in a post on Thursday.

Nelson said the request was sparked by complaints lodged by residents in the rural community located about 130 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

Local

SUPPLIED Denis and Wilma Keating have volunteered together at non profit organization Mennonite Disaster Service for more than two decades.

Manitoba couple has answered calls to help when disasters have befallen communities both near and far over the past 21 years

AV Kitching 4 minute read Preview

Manitoba couple has answered calls to help when disasters have befallen communities both near and far over the past 21 years

AV Kitching 4 minute read 6:00 AM CDT

Landmark residents Denis and Wilma Keating have been volunteering together at non-profit organization Mennonite Disaster Service for 21 of the 57 years they’ve known each other.

The couple, who celebrate their golden wedding anniversary next month, recently returned from Denare Beach, Sask., after a week-long stint rebuilding homes destroyed by the wildfire that tore through the community last June.

An arm of the Mennonite church, MDS deploys volunteers from its vast network of helpers in cleaning up, making repairs and rebuilding homes of the most vulnerable disaster survivors in Canada and the U.S.

The charity works with local community representatives to identify families lacking resources such as insurance, skills and funds.

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6:00 AM CDT

News Briefs

News briefs for Sunday, June 7, 2026

2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:31 PM CDT

A collection of breaking news briefs filed on Sunday, June 7, 2026

Two taken to hospital following rooming-house fire

1:14 PM

One rooming-house resident and a firefighter were taken to hospital after a fire in a two-storey rooming house in the 300 block of Redwood Avenue Saturday.

Arts & Life

Dwayne Larson photo Burton Cummings, right, and Randy Bachman perform with The Guess Who at Canada Life Centre Friday in Winnipeg as part of the band’s Takin’ It Back Tour.

Guess Who’s back?

1 minute read Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

Local

KEN GIGLIOTTI / FREE PRESS FILES A new report recommends city council add 30-kilometre per hour school zones to the route that winds around St. Vital Park and connects St. Vital Road, Abinojii Mikanah and St. Mary’s Road.

Speed reduction proposed for River Road after child hit

Maggie Macintosh 5 minute read Preview

Speed reduction proposed for River Road after child hit

Maggie Macintosh 5 minute read Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

Six months after a child was struck on River Road, the city’s public service has endorsed 30-kilometre per hour school zones along the route in south St. Vital.

A new report recommends city council make changes to the road that winds around St. Vital Park and connects St. Vital Road, Abinojii Mikanah and St. Mary’s Road.

The proposal would delay snow clearing while allowing for reduced speed limits outside both Minnetonka School and St. Amant School.

“It’s a trade-off, but I think it’s a worthwhile trade off,” Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) said.

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Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

Local

MORGAN MODJESKI / FREE PRESS Behailu Sebreszabher, co-owner of Raei Convenience and Halal Meat Ltd. on Notre Dame Avenue, says he feels payments coming from Canada’s Groceries and Essentials Benefit will help Canadians struggling with rising costs.

Federal help to buy groceries hailed by some, but not nearly enough for others

Morgan Modjeski 3 minute read Preview

Federal help to buy groceries hailed by some, but not nearly enough for others

Morgan Modjeski 3 minute read Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

Cash from Canada’s Groceries and Essentials Benefit is officially landing in bank accounts across the country and one Winnipeg business owner said the one-time payment will “of course” help people deal with rising prices.

About 460,000 Manitobans will receive the cash in amounts varying based on household — from $267 for a single adult with no children to $533 for a couple with two kids.

Behailu Sebreszabher, who owns Raei Convenience and Halal Meat Ltd. with his brother, said the federal cheques will ensure customers keep coming through the door.

“The way I’m busy now, I’m just happy if customers are getting more,” he said.

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Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

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