News briefs for Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Firefighter suffers minor injury in Sherbrook Street blaze

8:44 AM

Firefighters battled a blaze on Sherbrook Street for nearly two hours late Tuesday night and early Wednesday.

Crews were sent to the two-and-a-half-storey home in the 400 block of Sherbrook at 10:49 p.m. Tuesday and declared the blaze under control at 12:41 a.m. Wednesday.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was treated by paramedics at the scene, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said.

Everyone inside the home had evacuated before firefighters arrived.

Fire crews evacuated eight people from neighbouring homes until it was safe to return. The City of Winnipeg’s emergency social services helped two people find temporary living arrangements.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Brandon homicide victim found in burnt vehicle: RCMP

10:13 AM

RCMP major crimes investigators now say a Brandon man who was slain in October was found dead in a burned-out vehicle in a rural area outside of the western Manitoba city.

Mounties found the body of James Vernon Giesbrecht, 37, in the trunk of a Honda Accord on Oct. 13 south of the intersection of Road 108 West and Road 51 North in the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis, RCMP said Wednesday. The vehicle had earlier been stolen in Regina and RCMP had previously asked the public for tips on who was seen driving the vehicle and where it had been.

RCMP said investigators and a Brandon University forensic anthropologist have completed a forensic examination of the sedan. Mounties found physical evidence that they’ve sent for DNA testing.

Investigators have conducted “additional searches” in the case, collecting further evidence, but are again asking for the public to call in any tips on the slaying to 1-431-489-8110.

Surgical, diagnostic backlogs reduced by about 30 per cent: task force

12:16 PM

Manitoba’s Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force said it has reduced the total pandemic backlog for surgical and diagnostic procedures by about 30 per cent.

The task force was struck in December 2021 to come up with a plan to address thousands of cases that had been delayed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday, task force chair Dr. Peter Macdonald said the total surgical backlog was reduced by 32 per cent and the total diagnostic backlog was reduced by 31 per cent, representing about 26,500 cases.

The task force said backlogs had been eliminated for cataract surgery, CT scans, ultrasound tests, oral surgery and dentistry, and six other services lines.

However, waitlists still exist, the task force acknowledged. It is now adjusting its focus to increase health system capacity, according to the province.

Surgical lead Dr. Ed Buchel said capacity is being added by way of new operating rooms, additional physicians, and expanded technology.

Elm Creek’s Schroeder named PHF goalie of year

2:12 PM

Boston Pride netminder and Elm Creek product Corinne Schroeder has been named the Premier Hockey Federation’s goaltender of the year for the 2022-23 season.

It’s the second time she’s been feted this spring after recently being named the top rookie of the women’s pro league.

Schroeder set three single-season records, including 19 wins, seven shutouts and 761 total saves. Her overall record of 19-1-1 helped the Pride finish in first place in the league’s regular-season standings.

The 23-year-old Manitoban registered six games with 40 or more saves, including a career-high 50-save performance on Jan. 21 in a 5-0 win over Montreal. She led all goalies with a goals-against-average of 1.67 and a save percentage of .955.

She remains a finalist for the PHF’s most valuable player and outstanding player of the year awards.

Jets organization retains Toninato’s services

4:01 PM

Veteran forward Dominic Toninato is sticking with the Winnipeg Jets organization.

The 29-year-old Duluth, Minn., product has signed a two-year, two-way contract with the NHL club, which carries an annual salary of US$775,000 if he plays with the big club.

Toninato played the majority of the 2022-23 season with the Manitoba Moose, scoring 19 goals and adding 16 assists.

He has also played 84 games with the Jets since ’20-21, including 77 last year.

Thompson Mounties search for Lynn Lake woman missing since March

4:21 PM

RCMP are searching for a Lynn Lake woman who was last seen in Thompson in late March.

Jocelyn Sullivan, 39, was reported missing to Thompson RCMP on Tuesday. She last spoke with family on March 26 and was last spotted in Thompson on March 30.

Mounties said she hasn’t been in contact with family since, which is unusual for her, while officers haven’t been successful in finding her.

RCMP said she is 5-6 and 105 lbs, with long red-brown hair and blue eyes. They ask anyone with information on her whereabouts to call the Thompson detachment at 204-677-6909 or 204-677-6911, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.