News briefs for Thursday, September 28, 2023

Police save boy, 6, nearly submerged in Red River

10:29 AM

Winnipeg police say a river patrol officer saved a six-year-old boy who had run off and nearly ended up submerged in the Red River this week.

Police were called about the boy, who had gone missing from the 600 block of Oakenwald Avenue in the Wildwood neighbourhood on Tuesday.

Police say the service sent out patrol officer, river patrol officers, cadets and drones to help search for the boy, who was known to like water, in the area and on the nearby riverbank.

River patrol officers found him in the Red River near the 600 block of South Drive, before one got in the water and rescued him. Police say it appeared he was a moment away from being submerged.

The boy was returned to his caregivers, police say.

MMF acquire former Wawanesa Insurance building downtown

11:18 AM

The Manitoba Métis Federation has acquired the former Wawanesa Insurance building at 200 Main St.

The self-governing nation has also acquired 165 Fort St.

MMF departments and affiliates will cover more than half the former Wawanesa building. The site will also include a culturally-focused Red River Métis child care centre.

Maya Turner honoured as U Sports Player of the Week

11:41 AM

Maya Turner’s historic kick still hasn’t landed.

The University of Manitoba Bisons kicker won U Sports special teams player of the week honours after her monumental performance that ended with a 21-yard game-winning field goal in overtime to give the Bisons a 27-24 victory over the Regina Rams last week.

Turner, a 21-year-old product of Maple Grove, Minn., became the first woman in U Sports history to dress and score in a regular season football game.

She amassed nine points in her debut, finishing a perfect 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra-point tries.

Turner has gained attention internationally since her historic performance, appearing on ESPN and the National Football League’s social media channels.

Tories promise improved transit on city outskirts

12:06 PM

The incumbent Progressive Conservative party has pledged to spend $8.8 million to expand Winnipeg Transit services in neighbourhoods on the city’s outskirts, if re-elected Oct. 3.

The funding, which would be provided in $2.2 million allotments over four years, would support the Aurora and Castlebury Meadows transit lines in northern Winnipeg, as well as Prairie Pointe and Waterford Green transit lines in Waverley West.

Andrew Smith, PC candidate for Lagimodière, promised the funding Thursday while speaking at Aurora Park.

The pledge builds on a Tory investment of $32 million over two years, announced in 2020, to target transit shortfalls in municipalities across the province.

Liberals pledge burnout benefits for health-care workers

1:11 PM

A Manitoba Liberal government would expand the Workers Compensation Act to address burnout among health-care professionals, party leader Dougald Lamont said in a release Thursday.

If elected Oct. 3, the party would review the act and introduce “burnout benefits,” including a 20 per cent tax credit for health-care workers to purchase shoes and scrubs.

The Liberals would also ensure child-care centres are located near hospitals, clinics and access centres, Lamont promised.

“Until we can restore the physical and mental health of those in charge of providing the care for all of us, the system will never get better,” he said.

Homicide detectives investigating after woman dies on Victor Street

2:22 PM

Homicide detectives are investigating after a woman who was found with serious injuries on Victor Street died.

Patrol officers were called to the 600 block of Victor, near Sargent Avenue, at about 3:45 a.m. on Thursday, police said.

They found the injured woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Her death marks the 27th slaying in Winnipeg this year.

The victim’s name and age have not been released. Homicide investigators are in the process of notifying her family of her death.

Police have asked anyone with information or video surveillance in the area to call detectives at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

Winnipeg man charged for indecent act at elementary school

3:28 PM

A Winnipeg man is in police custody after committing an indecent act on the grounds of an elementary school in the Glenlawn neighbourhood.

The Winnipeg Police Service issued a release Thursday, saying officers had arrested and charged a suspect, 21, in relation to an incident on the grounds École Varennes Elementary School that occurred Tuesday.

Around 9 a.m. that day, school staff found a man outside of a school door committing an indecent act. The suspect, a white man in his 20s with a thin build and unkempt appearance, fled before police arrived.