News briefs for March 16, 2020

Winnipeg YMCAs will close all of the facilities—except childcare centres—until April 13.

That includes the YMCA health, fitness and aquatic centres, community initiative programs, and the North Y Youth Centre program.

While the majority of its childcare centres remain open, it will be closing its childcare facilities in the Lord Selkirk School Division.

“We are doing our best to serve our community while balancing the unprecedented, ever-changing world that the coronavirus has placed us in,” reads a written statement from the organization.

A recent death in Winnipeg that led to the temporary closure of a Transcona fire station was not COVID-19 related.

The fire hall was closed as a precautionary measure after concerns were raised that a sudden death the WFPS and the Winnipeg Police Service responded to on March 12 was related to the virus.

The WPS said in a written statement Monday that the investigation has ruled out COVID-19 involvement in the death.

One additional presumptive positive case of COVID-19 has been identified in Manitoba, for a total of eight cases. 

It appears all cases were exposed to the virus through recent travel.

The case announed Monday is a man in his  80s who lives in Winnipeg. Patient contact and public health investigations are ongoing.

Public health officials are strongly advising all Manitobans, including health-care providers, to cancel or postpone any non-essential international travel. They are also recommending all international travellers self-isolate and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days after returning to Canada.

As of Monday, the Winnipeg Film Group and Cinematheque will be closed at least until April 6 as a precautionary measure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are planning to re-open Monday, April 6, 2020, but will be monitoring public health updates and might need to revise these plans," said Cinematheque programmer Dave Barber, who said updates would be found at www.winnipegfilmgroup.com.

"I will evaluate the program guide," Barber said of the Cinematheque calendar, which includes anticipated films such as Michael Apted’s documentary 63 Up and the Alan Zweig doc Coppers. "My sense is that I will try to find a new spot for 63 Up and Coppers," Barber said. "So I might know more by April 6."

Dauphin RCMP have recovered a number of stolen snowmobiles and ATVs after executing a search warrant at a residence in Grandview last week, according to a press release.

On the morning of March 11, Dauphin RCMP conducted a traffic stop on a pickup truck carrying a snowmobile. Due to the large number of snowmobile thefts in the area over the past two months, RCMP conducted a check and found the snowmobile had in fact been stolen, the release said.

This led to a search warrant for a residence in the rural municipality of Grandview, and on March 13 the newly formed CREST unit recovered 11 stolen snowmobiles, two stolen ATV’s, unsafely stored firearms and a small quantity of methamphetamine, RCMP report.

A 17-year-old man was arrested in connection to the March 11 traffic stop. RCMP arrested 21-year-old Jordy Clyde Robertson at the residence on March 13 and a 22-year-old male from Roblin has since been arrested. The men face various charges, including possession of stolen property and trafficking in property obtained by crimes.

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Manitoba’s NDP Oppostion continued to block the government’s legislative agenda this afternoon.

The NDP is stalling house business by raising matters of privilege.

The Opposition party offered the government the opportunity to present its budget without introducing other bills, but it refused.

Before that occurred, the three political parties agreed to a motion that would allow them to vary and extend legislative sitting days, by consensus, during the coronavirus emergency.

A collision on Highway 1 near Barren Lake has left one man dead and another with serious injuries, RCMP report.

According to a press release, Falcon Beach RCMP responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 1 in Whiteshell Provincial Park around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. 

Early investigation indicates that a red pickup truck travelling west crossed the centre line and collided head-on with a black pickup truck that was moving east, according to the release. Icy roads are believed to be a factor in the accident, RCMP said.

The driver of the black pickup truck, a 29-year-old man from Kenora, Ontario, was pronounced deceased at the scene, while the driver of the red pickup truck, a 37-year-old male from Kenora, Ontario, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, RCMP report.

The union that represents 16,000 public school teachers across the province is calling on the province to suspend classes immediately.

In a letter penned to Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen on March 16, Manitoba Teachers’ Society president James Bedford called on the province to suspend classes as soon as possible — and no later than Wednesday.

Last week, Bedford told the Free Press MTS is in support of "what’s best for the students in the province of Manitoba and making sure they’re safe."

The province announced Friday public school students will be out of class starting March 23, for three weeks. Government officials cited the importance of giving families and teachers a week to prepare for the unexpected suspended classes.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 within Manitoba remain at seven Monday morning, chief provincial public health officer Brent Roussin said. 

At the province’s daily briefing Monday, Roussin reiterated the need for people to be tested only if they are symptomatic and recently travelled internationally, or if they are symptomatic and have come in contact with confirmed cases. 

Licenced child care facilities will also remain open at this time, Roussin said. 

Roussin said the public should be aware of phishing scams that have surfaced in the wake of the virus. Scams where callers claim to be from Manitoba Health and request credit card information have been reported. 

Winnipeg Jewish Theatre has cancelled the upcoming run of Narrow Bridge by Daniel Thau-Eleff. The play will instead get its world première in the company’s 2020-2021 season. Narrow Bridge will replace the previously announced production of Trayf by Lindsay Joelle from March 4 to 14, 2021. 

The theatre is offering full refunds, but is encouraging patrons to lessen the financial impact on artists and operations with the following options:

• Converting the ticket purchase into a credit towards subscriptions or single tickets for next season.

• Conveting the ticket purchase into a donation (a tax receipt will be issued for the full amount).

See wjt.ca for further details. 

Organizers of the Winnipeg Wine Festival have postponed the annual event until fall 2020 due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

The festival’s public tastings, which were slated to take place May 1 and 2 at the RBC Convention Centre, typically draw thousands of guests as well as producers and winery representatives from numerous countries. All of the festival’s smaller ancillary events, which take place at various locations during the week leading up to the public tastings, have also been postponed.

Tickets already purchased for the festival, which is one of the primary annual fundraisers for Special Olympics Manitoba, will be honoured for the rescheduled dates, which are yet to be determined.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

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Police have safely located 11-year-old Lailani Currie, according to a release.

Currie, described as Metis, 5-foot-4 in height, with a slim build and dark brown shoulder-length hair, had last been seen in the Unicity area of Winnipeg on the evening of March 10, police said.