News briefs for Friday, December 22, 2023

Jets beat Bruins 5-1

9:47 PM

The Winnipeg Jets have entered their holiday break on a high, beating the Boston Bruins 5-1 on Friday night at Canada Life Centre.

Forward Nino Niederreiter led the way with two power play goals along with an assist, while Gabe Vilardi, Josh Morrissey and Adam Lowry had the other goals.

Brandon Carlo was the only Boston player to beat Connor Hellebuyck, who made 24 saves.

Winnipeg improves to 20-9-3, including 8-1-1 in the last 10 games, and sit on top of the Central Division. Boston falls to 19-6-6.

The Jets return to action Dec. 27 in Chicago.

Personal trainer accused of sex assault on Winnipeg client

12:57 PM

Winnipeg police sex crimes detectives have arrested a personal fitness trainer accused of sexually assaulting a client.

The victim, a woman, reported on Dec. 17 that she had gone to a training session at a gym in Winnipeg’s northeast the day prior.

The victim told police she was in a private consultation room when the trainer spoke to her in a “sexually suggestive manner” before sexually assaulting her, police said. She did not need to get medical help.

Joseph Patrick Luna, 26, has been charged with forcible confinement, overcoming resistance by choking and sexual assault. He was released on an undertaking.

Sex crimes detectives are still investigating and ask anyone with information to call 204-986-6245.

Youth support workers at Knowles Centre prepare to strike

11:54 AM

Workers who provide supports to kids aging out of the child-welfare system at the Knowles Centre are set to strike.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union said the 35 workers at the centre’s supported advancement to independent living program could strike as soon as Jan. 8.

The program provides 24/7 supports at four different Winnipeg buildings, where youths live in supervised apartments where they learn life skills.

The MGEU says the workers’ wages have been frozen for more than a decade. The Knowles Centre offered a six per cent increase over 2021 to 2025 at the bargaining table in November, the union said.

The union’s president said the centre should return to the bargaining table with a better offer.

Morden man dies in Highway 14 collision

11:51 AM

A 46-year-old man from Morden died in a collision on Highway 14 on Thursday evening.

RCMP officers from the Emerson detachment rushed to the intersection of Highway 14 and Provincial Road 426 in the Rural Municipality of Montcalm at about 5:30 p.m., Mounties say.

Police determined a northbound vehicle on the provincial road entered onto the highway and hit a vehicle headed west.

The northbound vehicle’s driver, a 55-year-old man from St. Joseph, wasn’t hurt. The highway driver, who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, died at the scene.

RCMP are still investigating.

RCMP reveal new details of Lorette high school threat

11:28 AM

RCMP have revealed new details of an incident on Thursday at a rural high school.

Mounties from the Niverville and St-Pierre-Jolys detachments were called to Lorette Collegiate at 11:40 a.m., where officers arrested a teenage student, just outside the high school. RCMP say the male youth had uttered threats on social media.

Mounties spoke with witnesses then launched an investigation into a second male youth, also a student, who had similarly made threats on social media. Officers arrested the second boy at his home.

RCMP say both will be charged with uttering threats but have been released on undertakings with conditions. Mounties say they’ve parked police vehicles at the school out of precaution.

Second Phantom of the Paradise screening added for Nov. 2

9:53 AM

Winnipeg’s adoration for the 1974 horror musical Phantom of the Paradise knows no bounds.

A second screening and question-and-answer session with cast members Paul Williams, Peter Elbling and others will take place Nov. 2, 2024 at 2 p.m. at the Burton Cummings Theatre. A 7 p.m. screening and Q&A for the same day that was announced Dec. 12 has sold out.

Tickets for the 2 p.m. show, which will sell for $15 plus fees and up, go on sale Dec. 26 at 10 a.m. at ticketmaster.ca.

The film, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its release in 2024, was a hit in Winnipeg and nowhere else, and sparked several locally organized “Phantompalooza” events in the city over the years.