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MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Brian McMillan (left), James Turnbull and Richard Lockhart, with Westhaven Menճ Shed, at Westwood Community Church on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. The Westhaven Men’s Shed is an organization that offers a variety of activities for men. For Aaron story. Free Press 2025

Local group providing vital social connections for senior men

Aaron Epp 4 minute read Monday, Nov. 10, 2025

From musician to real estate agent to volunteer, Brian McMillan has done a lot in his life.

“I always joke around that the only thing I was trained to do was be a rock star and when that didn’t work out I had to explore other options,” he says.

The 73-year-old played guitar in a touring rock band in his early 20s before deciding life on the road wasn’t for him.

He became a real estate agent for seven years, started a family and then gave up selling homes to start two businesses: Prairie Studio Glass and Home Instead Senior Care. In recent years, he’s returned to selling real estate.

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Commuter line proposed in rail relocation talks

Scott Billeck 5 minute read Preview

Commuter line proposed in rail relocation talks

Scott Billeck 5 minute read Yesterday at 3:29 PM CST

Public discussions have sparked the idea of building a potential commuter rail corridor between Winnipeg and Gimli as Manitoba’s railway relocation talks continue.

The former federal Liberal transport minister leading Manitoba’s study on railway relocation says recent talks have raised the possibility of reworking the CP Winnipeg Beach subdivision — a stretch of rail line that runs from Winnipeg to Gimli — to transport passengers and light cargo.

The idea wasn’t included in the province’s most recent interim report, released last month. Lloyd Axworthy, who is heading the two-year, $200,000 rail relocation feasibility study announced in October 2024, said the concept surfaced after that report was completed.

“We’ve had some quite important meetings discussing rail line development in the Winnipeg region with a lot of the municipalities,” Axworthy said on Tuesday.

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Yesterday at 3:29 PM CST

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES

A stretch of abandoned rail line near Pacific Avenue West. A previous study found 75 per cent of Winnipeggers live within 800 metres of a rail line.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES A stretch of abandoned rail line near Pacific Avenue West. A previous study found 75 per cent of Winnipeggers live within 800 metres of a rail line.

City asking for input on Garden City library

Free Press staff 5 minute read Preview

City asking for input on Garden City library

Free Press staff 5 minute read 2:01 AM CST

Police seek public’s help to ID suspect

City police are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect connected with an assault outside of a downtown nightclub in June.

Police released surveillance images of the individual they believe is involved with a serious assault involving an 18-year-old man in a parking lot near the nightclub in the 400 block of Main Street as it was closing around 2:30 a.m. on June 28.

Anyone who knows the identity or whereabouts of this suspect is asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 204-986-6219, or anonymously at Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS or winnipegcrimestoppers.org.

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2:01 AM CST
City asking for input on Garden City library

‘We have to remember what it is for’: Winnipeggers gather to honour war veterans

Scott Billeck 5 minute read Preview

‘We have to remember what it is for’: Winnipeggers gather to honour war veterans

Scott Billeck 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:51 PM CST

As Raymond Katchanoski stood in silence alongside his wife, Theresa, at the Remembrance Day ceremony outside Winnipeg’s Minto Armoury on Tuesday, a single tear slipped down his cheek and fell to the pavement, a silent tribute to loss and memory.

Katchanoski’s father served in the Second World War and received the Distinguished Service Cross, first created in 1901, for his “performance of meritorious or distinguished services” before the enemy.

“He was wounded twice, and over time, about 15 years after he came home, he passed away from trauma,” Katchanoski said, as more tears began to well in his eyes.

“You see what’s going on these days in Europe, especially in Ukraine, and it’s hard to take. We have to remember what it is for. Was it all in vain? It can cause a few moments (of emotion). You wonder what’s going to go on next.”

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Updated: Yesterday at 4:51 PM CST

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS
Remembrance Day ceremony at the Winnipeg convention centre Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

Reporter: scott
JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS Remembrance Day ceremony at the Winnipeg convention centre Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Reporter: scott

St. Boniface MLA, family sue insurance company, broker after losing cottage in spring wildfire

Erik Pindera 3 minute read Preview

St. Boniface MLA, family sue insurance company, broker after losing cottage in spring wildfire

Erik Pindera 3 minute read Monday, Nov. 10, 2025

A New Democratic Party politician and his family are suing their former insurance company and broker after their cottage in Nopiming Provincial Park burned in this year’s wildfires.

Michel, Richard and Robert Loiselle filed a lawsuit in Court of King’s Bench late last month, naming Westland Insurance Group and SGI Canada Insurance Services as defendants.

Robert Loiselle is the NDP Member of the Legislative Assembly for St. Boniface.

The Loiselle cabin on Beresford Lake burned in May amid the massive wildfire that swept through large swaths of Nopiming and elsewhere in the province’s east.

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Monday, Nov. 10, 2025

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Robert Loiselle, MLA for St. Boniface, speaks during an announcement at a media conference at the St. Boniface Hospital, that the provincial government will be adding 36 new acute care beds at St. Boniface Hospital as part of a broader plan to reduce wait times in emergency departments and stabilize health-care capacity across Manitoba.
See Carol Sanders story
240110 - Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Robert Loiselle, MLA for St. Boniface, speaks during an announcement at a media conference at the St. Boniface Hospital, that the provincial government will be adding 36 new acute care beds at St. Boniface Hospital as part of a broader plan to reduce wait times in emergency departments and stabilize health-care capacity across Manitoba. See Carol Sanders story 240110 - Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

Searching for a hero: Faces to Graves project hunts for photo of Winnipeg soldier who died in the Netherlands

Kevin Rollason 4 minute read Preview

Searching for a hero: Faces to Graves project hunts for photo of Winnipeg soldier who died in the Netherlands

Kevin Rollason 4 minute read Monday, Nov. 10, 2025

Charles ‘Gordon’ Erickson had already had a hard life when he enlisted in the Second World War.

Born on July 27, 1919, to Frank and Helen in Winnipeg, Erickson died at age 22 on Oct. 27, 1944, about three months after he was wounded, while serving in war-torn Europe with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.

He and his sister, Nancy, were turned over for adoption and when that didn’t work out, were placed with the Children’s Aid Society in 1930.

Two years later, Erickson became a farmhand in the Manitoba community of Holland. He enlisted on Jan. 2, 1940.

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Monday, Nov. 10, 2025
Searching for a hero: Faces to Graves project hunts for photo of Winnipeg soldier who died in the Netherlands

News briefs for Tuesday, November 11, 2025

2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:54 AM CST

A collection of breaking news briefs filed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Two face drug trafficking charges in West Kildonan, Garden City busts

10:51 AM

Two people are facing drug trafficking charges after Winnipeg police searched two homes in West Kildonan and Garden City.

Forget defection, Poilievre should fear resignations

Dan Lett 5 minute read Preview

Forget defection, Poilievre should fear resignations

Dan Lett 5 minute read Monday, Nov. 10, 2025

Although a dramatic defection of a Conservative MP captured Parliament Hill’s imagination last week, a much less dramatic resignation may turn out to be Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre’s undoing.

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Monday, Nov. 10, 2025

Prime Minister Mark Carney walks with MP Chris d’Entremont, who crossed the floor from Conservative caucus to join the Liberals last week. It’s possible we’ll see resignations from Conservatives who want to abandon ship, Dan Lett writes.

(The Canadian Press files)
Prime Minister Mark Carney walks with MP Chris d’Entremont, who crossed the floor from Conservative caucus to join the Liberals last week. It’s possible we’ll see resignations from Conservatives who want to abandon ship, Dan Lett writes. (The Canadian Press files)

Sioux Valley chief accused of sexually assaulting girl under 16 in 1984

Free Press staff 3 minute read Preview

Sioux Valley chief accused of sexually assaulting girl under 16 in 1984

Free Press staff 3 minute read Monday, Nov. 10, 2025

RCMP have charged the chief of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in a sexual assault alleged to have occurred 41 years ago in western Manitoba.

Vincent Tacan, 65, was arrested last Wednesday and charged with sexual assault.

In a statement issued Monday, RCMP said the victim, who was under the age of 16 in 1984, reported the assault to the Virden detachment last May.

Neither the woman’s name nor the specific community where the assault took place are being released, RCMP said, adding the investigation is continuing.

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Monday, Nov. 10, 2025

Tim Smith / Brandon Sun files

Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Chief Vincent Tacan addresses protesters who called for his resignation earlier this year.
Tim Smith / Brandon Sun files Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Chief Vincent Tacan addresses protesters who called for his resignation earlier this year.

News Quiz

The Week that Was: Nov. 2 to Nov. 8

Monday, Nov. 10, 2025

This week's news quiz topics include: Controversial comments, a fall donation drive, Neil Young and more.

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