News briefs for Sunday, May 21, 2023

Fire breaks out on Macoun Place

9:32 AM

Two cats died and two firefighters were injured in a fire which broke out in a single-family bungalow on Macoun Place Saturday afternoon.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service was called to the location at 4:39 p.m. where the crew found heavy smoke coming from the house. The fire was tackled from inside and brought under control at 5:26 p.m.

Occupants of the house self-evacuated. Two cats died in the fire. Two firefighters sustained injuries at the scene who were assessed by paramedics.

Initial investigation suggest the fire was accidental, caused by unattended cooking.

Police seek help to identify suspect in Portage Avenue assault

10:50 AM

The Winnipeg Police Service is seeking public’s assistance to identify a suspect accused of assaulting a woman in the 800 block of Portage Avenue on April 19.

The incident took place in the afternoon when a woman in her 40s was getting into her car in a parking lot on Portage Avenue when the suspect unexpectedly entered the passenger side and began assaulting her, police said. She managed to escape the car and was thrown to the ground, where the attack continued.

A passerby intervened by shouting at the suspect, who then fled. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment.

The suspect was last seen eastbound towards Broadway between the houses near Picardy Place. He is described as a white male in his 40s-50s with a thin build, shaggy reddish salt/pepper-coloured hair and beard, police said in a news release. He has blue eyes and decayed/stained teeth. He was last seen wearing red slip-on sandals.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Major Crimes Unit investigators at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

MPI appoints Marnie Kacher as interim president and CEO

2:01 PM

Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) announced Marnie Kacher as interim president and CEO of the Crown corporation on Sunday. The appointment takes effect immediately.

Previously, Kacher held the role of Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at MPI.

In a news release today, Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen, minister responsible for MPI, thanked Kacher for taking on the interim role.

“MPI is an important Crown corporation and I want to thank Marnie Kacher for taking on this new leadership role as it transitions from the former president and CEO,” said Goertzen. “With more than a decade of experience as a senior leader at MPI, most recently serving as vice-president of operations and chief operating officer, she is well suited to provide leadership to the corporation at this important time.”