Man shot dead by police during hostage incident turned to drugs, crime after dad’s slaying

A man shot dead by police following a hostage taking at a Winnipeg home last week slid into a life of drug addiction and crime following the violent killing of his father over 20 years ago, the Free Press has learned.

Multiple sources have identified the man killed by police as 34-year-old Matthew Craig Gibson.

Gibson “has struggled with an addiction his entire adult life,” his lawyer, Aaron Braun, told court at a January 2025 hearing where his client was sentenced to one year in jail after he was caught driving a stolen car and in possession of shotgun shells.

“He went through something when he was 12 years old that he never quite recovered from,” Braun said.

Manitoba Tories say former leadership candidate can’t run under party banner in Turtle Mountain

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservatives won’t allow the man who nearly won the party leadership in 2025 to seek the nomination in Turtle Mountain.

“The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba has advised Wally Daudrich that he will not be permitted to seek the party’s nomination in Turtle Mountain,” the party said in a brief statement issued Wednesday night.

Daudrich, who owns a home near Morden, Lazy Bear Lodge in Churchill and the former PC headquarters on Kennedy Street next door to the Legislative building was seeking the PC nod in the western Manitoba constituency.

The next provincial election must be held by Oct. 5, 2027.

Councillors identify weakness in homeless camp enforcement

Two Winnipeg councillors say there must be close co-ordination with railways to deal with homeless camps on rail property because the sites fall outside city jurisdiction.

“Despite our encampment policy clearly identifying these locations as unsafe and requiring action, there was a lack of response from the city, including limited participation in efforts to connect individuals with appropriate supports and services,” said Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre).

The city centre committee passed a joint motion by Gilroy and Sherri Rollins (For Rouge - East Fort Garry) last week that calls for a review of the city’s response to camps on railway-owned land.

While the encampment bylaw prohibits camps from being located within 50 metres of a rail line, the city has limited authority to act when those encampments are on railway property, which is considered private land.

One week, six crashes, seven Manitobans killed

Seven Manitobans have been killed in as many days in crashes on highways or streets, prompting grief in communities and concern from road-safety advocates.

Arborg residents were mourning two people who died in a collision near the Interlake town May 29.

“This is going to be carried by the families and friends for the rest of their lives,” Mayor Peter Dueck said. “It was a tremendous loss, an unimaginable loss for the entire community.”

The seven deaths occurred in six collisions, mainly on highways in rural areas or at controlled intersections, between May 27 and Tuesday. Three crashes happened in municipalities policed by Manitoba RCMP, which did not reveal potential factors amid ongoing investigations.

Uniform decision takes military out of Pride march

Pride Winnipeg’s president says 17 Wing Winnipeg’s decision not to send a military contingent to this year’s pride parade because of a ban on uniforms shows the military’s true colours.

Ahead of Sunday’s annual parade, Pride Winnipeg said it had banned military personnel in uniform based on community consultations and feedback. President Barry Karlenzig said the ban was supposed to apply only for this year’s march, and military members were welcome to come wearing everyday clothes, including branded T-shirts or golf shirts.

In response, 17 Wing Winnipeg pulled out of its participation in the parade.

“It has me sit back and say, ‘Is the military in the parade for the right reasons?’ Same as what we ask with police, same as what we ask with corporate partners, is you should be there for the community and to support the community. Are you there to support the community or are you there for the photo ops?” Karlenzig said Wednesday.

Self-described ‘pedo’ sentenced to 25 years in prison

A man who made and distributed videos in which he sexually abused two of his young foster children received a 25-year prison sentence on Tuesday.

Poilievre might want to tone down glee over slumping economy

The constant rush to assign political blame to every problem is not just bad for public debate, it’s ultimately bad for the Conservative party.

Bail plans being drawn up after fatal crash

The truck driver accused in connection with a multi-vehicle collision in Brandon that resulted in the death of a 49-year-old woman remains in custody.