News briefs for Monday, March 27, 2023

House fire in Fort Garry

8:44 AM

The cause of a house fire in the Fort Garry area is under investigation.

Fire crews were sent to the bungalow in the 900 block of North Drive at 2:15 a.m. and declared the fire under control at 3:10 a.m.

No one was inside the house. The bungalow sustained smoke, fire and water damage, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said Monday morning.

House burns on Ross Avenue

8:46 AM

Firefighters spent nearly seven hours battling a blaze on Ross Avenue beginning late Sunday night.

Crews were sent to a two-and-a-half-storey home in the 400 block of Ross Avenue at 10:16 p.m. Sunday.

Firefighters initially fought the fire from inside, but they exited because of deteriorating conditions. The fire was declared under control at 5:07 a.m., the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said.

Everyone inside the home evacuated before fire crews arrived. The City of Winnipeg’s emergency social services helped seven people find temporary accommodations.

Firefighters found two cats inside the building and reunited them with their owners. No one was injured, the WFPS said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The home sustained significant damages from smoke, fire and water.

Public warning ended in Selkirk

11:45 AM

RCMP have arrested a man in Selkirk and ended a public advisory warning people away from the area of a local hotel.

RCMP are only saying one male is in custody and they will announce details later.

Earlier Monday RCMP were warning the public to stay away from the Lord Selkirk Hotel at Manitoba Street and Eveline Street in Selkirk.

Possible homicide in Opaskwayak Cree Nation

12:40 PM

Manitoba First Nations Police Service is investigating a possible homicide after a man died of his injuries at Opaskwayak Cree Nation on Saturday.

RCMP said on Monday MFNPS began investigating after a 37-year-old man died after being rushed to hospital when found inside a residence on the reserve at about 11 p.m.

The death is considered a homicide pending an autopsy.

The MFNPS is looking for two people who helped the man get medical care from EMS the night before at about 1:30 a.m.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Manitoba First Nations Police Service at 204-623-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com

Bombers hand out community service awards to Jefferson and Oliveira

1:23 PM

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced Monday that defensive end Willie Jefferson and running back Brady Oliveira have been named the recipients of the team’s community service awards.

Jefferson has been acknowledged as the Ed Kotowich ‘Good Guy Award’ winner, which goes to a player with excellent on-field skills, a leader in the locker room, and shows outstanding effort in the community.

A year-round resident with his wife and two daughters, Jefferson has immersed himself in the community and often makes public and charitable appearances on behalf of the football club.

Oliveira is the recipient of the Cal Murphy ‘Heart of a Legend Award,’ presented to the player who shows outstanding sportsmanship and dedication to the CFL and community.

Outside of football, Oliveira, a Winnipegger and product of the North Winnipeg Nomads and Oak Park Raiders before playing his college ball at the University of North Dakota, is a dog rescuer with K9 Advocates in Manitoba, and has gone on rescue trips to Mexico and Bali.

Child dies in house fire on Sioux Valley Dakota Nation

1:57 PM

An 11-year-old boy is dead after a fire broke out in a house at the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation on Saturday night.

Virden RCMP said on Monday the child was pulled out of the residence and rushed to hospital, but died of his injuries.

Four adults and two other children were inside the house when the fire started at about 6:50 p.m., but only two people were hospitalized: the 11-year-old and a 65-year-old woman who was injured while trying to rescue him. The woman is still being treated for her injuries in hospital.

Law enforcement and the Office of the Fire Commissioner are investigating the cause of the fire.

Missing woman found dead

3:10 PM

A teenager missing from Pimicikamak First nation for three days has been found dead.

Cross Lake RCMP said on Monday the body of an 18-year-old woman was found near the lake on Friday at about 12:35 p.m. The woman, last seen on March 21, was reported missing about three and a half hours before she was found.

RCMP said an autopsy will be done but it is believed the woman was “outside for a period of time.”

Man spotted with pellet gun in Selkirk hotel window: RCMP

4:09 PM

Selkirk RCMP say a man was spotted leaning out of a hotel window with a long gun Monday morning in the small city north of Winnipeg.

Earlier Monday, Mounties had sent out a public notice asking people to avoid the Lord Selkirk Hotel as officers contained the area and cleared the hotel.

A suspect went to the roof of the building, but officers were able to get into contact with him. He then came down from the roof and Mounties arrested him without incident, RCMP said.

Officers seized a long-barrel pellet gun from a room in the hotel. No one was hurt. RCMP have not said if the man arrested has been charged.

Cindy Klassen Recreation Complex pool back in swim April 2

4:21 PM

The pool at the Cindy Klassen Recreation complex will re-open on April 2.

The city says the pool is re-opening after the complex received $1.55 million in upgrades including replacing the building’s air handling unit and fire dampers.

The pool closed last June and was originally expected to re-open last December, but the city decided to keep it closed longer to allow for more maintenance work and the hiring and training of more lifeguards.