News briefs for Friday, August 11, 2023

WSD appoints new chief superintendent

9:59 AM

A local champion of hands-on learning and student internships is assuming the top leadership position in Manitoba’s largest school division.

On Friday, the Winnipeg School Division announced Matt Henderson is the incoming chief superintendent of the board overseeing 79 schools in and around the inner city.

Henderson, an assistant superintendent in the Seven Oaks School Division, was the founding principal of Maples Met School — an alternative high school that focuses on “big-picture learning.”

The seasoned administrator has taught Grades 5 to 12 students, as well as adults at the University of Winnipeg, and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Manitoba.

Henderson will start with WSD on Aug. 22, and officially become the organization’s chief executive officer on Sept. 7.

Thompson RCMP investigate suspicious townhouse blaze

12:36 PM

RCMP in Thompson are investigating a townhouse fire, that immediately followed a break-in on Thursday, as suspicious.

Mounties raced to a home on Brandon Crescent in the northern city at about 3:25 p.m., where a caller advised that a man was kicking in a door, RCMP say.

Officers found the home fully engulfed in flames and found their break-in suspect in the yard. The man, 34, was arrested.

Mounties began evacuating the adjacent townhouses, while Thompson firefighters extinguished the flames. RCMP say two homes were damaged.

The provincial Office of the Fire Commissioner is assisting RCMP with their investigation.

Two arrested in Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation baseball bat attack

12:39 PM

Two residents of Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation in the province’s north were attacked with a baseball bat in a home last week, leaving one victim with “life-altering” injuries.

Norway House RCMP were sent to the house on Niska View in the First Nation, where the two had been attacked. The victims went to a neighbour’s home to call police.

Mounties said officers found the victims, a 36-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman, injured. Both were taken to hospital, where the woman was treated and released. The man was flown to Winnipeg with serious injuries.

Two suspects, women aged 31 and 29, were found at the scene and arrested, Mounties said. They were released on an undertaking until an October court date in Norway House for two counts each of aggravated assault.

City wading pool closures to begin next week

1:19 PM

Summer may not be over yet but City of Winnipeg outdoor pools, wading pools and spray pads will begin to gradually close for the season next week.

Staggered closures are slated to take place between Aug. 15 and Sept. 4.

Most wading pools will close between Aug. 15 and 25, though those located at the Central, Dakota, Ducharme, Keenleyside, McKittrick and St. John’s parks will remain open until “end-of-day” Sept. 4, according to a city press release.

The Happyland, Windsor Park and Provencher outdoor pools will be open until end-of-day Sept. 1, while the Fort Garry Lions outdoor pool will close on Sept. 3. The Freight House, Kildonan Park, St. Vital, Transcona Aquatic Park and Westdale outdoor pools will close after regular hours on Sept. 4.

City spray pads are expected to remain open until 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 4.

All but two Manitoba Liquor Marts set to close over weekend

3:32 PM

All but two Manitoba Liquor Mart locations will be closed this weekend, as the provincewide strike by 1,400 workers continues to drag on.

The strike by Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union entered its fourth day Friday, after several weeks of rotating job action and distribution disruptions.

Five locations in Winnipeg and two outside the capital city have remained open daily since the provincewide strike began Aug. 8.

Early Friday, the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corp. website listed every Liquor Mart as closed on Saturday and Sunday.

However, a spokesperson for MLL said Friday afternoon the Crestview and St. Vital Square retail locations in Winnipeg would be open on the weekend.

The Crestview, Garden City Square, Grant Park, Hargrave at Ellice and St. Vital Square locations in Winnipeg are open Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., along with the Brandon Victoria Avenue location and the Thompson Liquor Mart.