Explosion forces residents to evacuate Kennedy Street Manitoba Housing complex

Residents of an inner-city high-rise say they were forced to evacuate Monday afternoon after explosions blew out a window on the eighth floor.

Darrell Klassen, who lives on the top floor of the 16-storey Manitoba Housing apartment complex at 444 Kennedy St., said he heard several blasts before noticing the smell of smoke.

“The elevators were shut down, so we had to take the stairwells,” Klassen said. “Both stairwells were full of smoke, so I had to mask up and put a wet cloth over my face.”

Klassen said the incident marks the seventh fire in as many years, adding that many are linked to drug activity.

Convicted former teacher fights for appeal as uncle grilled in legislature

As Chasity Findlay’s lawyers fought to overturn her sexual assault conviction in court Monday, Tory MLA Greg Nesbitt, her uncle who posted her bail, sat in question period and endured verbal barbs from Premier Wab Kinew.

At the Manitoba Court of Appeal, lawyers for the former high school teacher convicted in 2024 of sexual assault against a then-15-year-old student, argued text messages provided to police by the victim shouldn’t have been admitted into evidence at trial. Her lawyers argued the trial judge erred by accepting evidence of Findlay’s sexual history and erred in her analysis of Findlay’s credibility.

Findlay, who was 30 at the time of the offences, remains on bail as the province’s highest court mulls its decision. She was originally sentenced to five years in prison in September 2024.

Nesbitt, MLA for Riding Mountain, did not comment on his niece’s case during question period, though it was repeatedly brought up by Manitoba’s premier.

Crown appeals stay of proceedings against man accused of killing his mother

The Manitoba Prosecution Service is appealing a judge’s decision staying a second-degree murder charge against a man who went to trial two times accused of killing his mother when he was a teenager.

Manitoba summit to explore solutions to chronic truancy

Winnipeg teachers are cutting class on Thursday to strategize how to improve student attendance and remove barriers so more children show up for lessons on a regular basis.

Poll shows slim majority of Canadians in support of Churchill port expansion

More than half of Canadians support expanding the Port of Churchill, although the proposed mega-project faces environmental concerns and a lack of public awareness outside Manitoba, a new poll suggests.

Woman whose partner set motorhome aflame, put her in hospital for months, says her ‘breakdown’ caused fire

A Manitoba woman who suffered burns to 35 per cent of her body after she was trapped in a motorhome her partner was found guilty of setting ablaze told a court Friday she caused the fire and took aim at police and justice officials who had previously ordered that the two stay apart.

“I (had) a complete breakdown and caused a fire,” the 50-year-old woman told court, reading from a prepared victim impact statement. “I was grateful to survive my accident and was grateful to have a voice to clear up what happened.”

“I am unable to function properly on a daily basis … until we get the justice we deserve,” she said.

Adam Bujak, 51, was convicted after trial earlier this year of arson to property, aggravated assault and two counts of breaching a no-contact order in the April 2024 fire.

Peguis First Nation starts flood evacuation

Peguis First Nation said high-priority residents had been identified for immediate evacuation owing to the flood risk from the Fisher River as the spring melt intensified Monday.

As of Monday, people with disabilities, complex medical needs and pregnant women near their delivery date were being targeted for evacuation, said Doug Thomas, director of communications at Peguis.

A post on the First Nation’s official Facebook page noted that sandbagging efforts were winding down as of Monday evening. Peguis had been given more than 500,000 sandbags and 11,000 super sandbags to protect homes in the community in the Interlake, 180 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

The community remains under a state of emergency, and while flood mitigation efforts are ongoing, some who have lived through flooding in the past said they’re ready for anything.