News briefs for Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Winnipeggers wanting to enrol their kids in swim lessons will have to wait after the city’s online Leisure Guide went down.

The city says on its website that the service is experiencing “technical difficulties” and the system has been temporarily suspended.

”Please stay tuned for updates on when registration will commence,” a city statement says.

”We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.”

 

Winnipeg police have released new details on the arrest of a 15-year-old accused in two slayings and an aggravated assault in Point Douglas last week.

The teenage male, whose name can’t be published, was arrested on Saturday by Manitoba First Nations Police Service officers in Long Plain First Nation, which is about 116 kilometres west of Winnipeg. The service then turned him over to Winnipeg homicide investigators.

The teen is accused, along with another 15-year-old male, in the killings of Danielle Dawn Ballantyne, 36, on Jarvis Avenue and Marvin William Felix, 54, in a lane behind the 600 block of Main Street, as well as an aggravated assault in the same area on Aug. 22.

Both teens are charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one of aggravated assault. Homicide detectives are still investigating the string of attacks and ask anyone with information to call the unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

The city says Winnipeggers will be able to register for Leisure Guide activities — including swim lessons — at noon after the system crashed in the morning.

The city said a nation wide technical issue with the third party vendor, which operates the website used for Leisure Guide activities, caused many users not to be able to get on to the system.

The city says registration will begin again at noon.

As well, the city says residents can book through 311 or in person at 395 Main St., or at any indoor pool, except for the Cindy Klassen Recreation Complex and the St. James Civic Centre, during operating hours. Registration at the Seven Oaks Pool is today only from noon to 3 p.m.

 

A six-year-old boy has died after he was struck by an all-terrain vehicle while riding his scooter Monday evening.

Pembina Valley RCMP officers were called to a private roadway about 16 kilometres north of Pilot Mound for the reported collision at 7:20 p.m. Monday.

The initial RCMP investigation suggests the boy was riding his scooter when he came around a blind corner, where he was struck by the ATV, which was operated by a 19-year-old man.

The child was taken to hospital in critical condition, where he later died. Local RCMP are still investigating the incident.

The Manitoba government will spend $6.5 million to support students and teachers returning to in-person learning this fall.

“This year, schools will offer the full kindergarten-to-Grade-12 curriculum and all the extracurricular activities that bring the school experience to life,” Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko said in a release on Tuesday. “Sports, recreation, tournaments, band and choir are just a few examples of what can be expected for the coming year.”

According to the province, $2 million will be spent on strengthening student learning and supports through after-school programming provided by the Manitoba Remote Learning Support Centre; a Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Survey;  Kids Help Phone, 24/7 counselling and crisis supports; online resources and video-streaming services; and research to understand the effects of the pandemic on learning outcomes.

In addition, $4.5 million in federal funding will be spent on more than 300 ventilation projects, such as CO2 monitor installations and air filter upgrades, the province stated.