News briefs for Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Jets struggle defensively in 6-2 loss to Canucks

11:34 PM

VANCOUVER – The Winnipeg Jets weren’t as sharp as usual in the defensive zone as they missed an opportunity to become the first NHL team to hit the century mark for points this season.

Thanks to some uncharacteristic coverage errors and poor puck management, the Jets fell 6-2 to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday at Rogers Arena to snap a three-game winning streak.

With the loss, the Jets slip to 47-18-4 for the season and they’ll close out a three-game road trip on Thursday agains the Edmonton Oilers.

Nikolaj Ehlers and Alex Iafallo scored the goals for the Jets, who got 16 saves from Connor Hellebuyck as he made his league-leading 52nd start of the season.

NDP keeps Transcona in byelection

8:44 PM

Voters in Transcona have chosen another educator to fill the seat of the late Nello Altomare.

Shannon Corbett, 53, vice-principal of Transcona Collegiate Institute, will represent the constituency held by Altomare, the education minister who died Jan. 14.

Progressive Conservative candidate and former Winnipeg city councillor Shawn Nason, 56, finished second.

Of the 57 seats in the legislature, the governing NDP has 34 seats, the Tories 21, and there are two independents (Liberal Cindy Lamoureux and former NDP caucus member Mark Waysliw).

Stolen truck slams into pole, vehicles

2:31 PM

Two men are facing charges after a stolen pickup truck struck a hydro pole, parked vehicles and a fence before coming to a stop behind a home.

Police were notified at about 8 p.m. Monday that a 2004 Dodge Ram had been stolen from a parking lot on the 1100 block of Main Street. Patrolling officers saw the truck’s driver make an illegal left turn in the back lane between Hespeler and Hart avenues at about 11:45 p.m., the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release.

The driver continued westbound at a high rate of speed before losing control, and the truck came to a stop behind the home in the first 100 block of Hespeler, the WPS said.

The police helicopter was called to help officers find the suspects. Two were arrested in the area a short time apart. The alleged driver, a 35-year-Winnipeg man, and a passenger, a 33-year-old Little Saskatchewan First Nation man, are facing charges. Both were released on undertakings.

GroundSwell concert postponed

2:06 PM

Owing to unforeseen circumstances, Thursday’s concert from new music organization GroundSwell in collaboration with the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq has been postponed.

GS4: North/South was to feature throat singers Nikki Komaksiutiksak and Caramello Swan performing with local violists and a percussionist on a program of music inspired by seven artworks from the gallery’s Inuit Sanaugangit: Art Across Time exhibition.

The show’s new date has yet to be determined. Any questions can be sent to info@gswell.ca.

Executive policy committee set to vote on $160 garbage fee hike

1:39 PM

A hefty garbage fee could be fully charged this year after an initial plan to reduce it has been trashed.

Neither Mayor Scott Gillingham nor Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) planned to raise a previously promised motion to reduce the fee hike.

Council’s executive policy committee will instead be asked sometime Tuesday to approve raising the annual per-home garbage fee from $93 to $254 in 2025. The amount is prorated to $190.50, as it would take effect April 1.

When this year’s property tax hike and sewer rate increase are added in, the combined cost increase to a home will be at least $386.50 more this year, if the proposal isn’t altered before city council casts the final vote on the sewer and garbage fees.

Ottawa gives nearly $4M for rural transit

1:23 PM

The federal government is providing nearly $4 million for transit-related improvements in the south Interlake area.

Money from the Rural Transit Solutions Fund will support the purchase of two electric buses, six charging platforms, 12 chargers and garage upgrades in Teulon and the rural municipalities of Rockwood and Woodlands.

“These investments will enhance door-to-door transportation services for seniors and individuals with mobility challenges, improving accessibility and service reliability,” a Tuesday news release said.

Missing teen ‘at risk of exploitation’ found

1:12 PM

RCMP said Tuesday afternoon that a missing teenager they were searching has been found and is safe.

Police asked for the public’s help in finding Marika Flett, 17, on March 11 after she went missing for the second time in just over a week.

Marika Flett, 17, had last been seen at a home in northwest Winnipeg at about 8 p.m. on March 8. She was reported missing early on March 9.

Police were told on March 1 that Marika had last been seen at a home in West St. Paul on Feb. 28. RCMP asked for the public’s help in finding her on March 5 and announced March 7 that she had been found.

City launches green-space survey

9:57 AM

The City of Winnipeg is asking residents to complete an online survey on what they value most about city green paces and natural areas.

Feedback will be considered as part of a new green-space plan and biodiversity policy. They are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

“Green spaces and natural corridors are any areas within Winnipeg with grass, trees and other planted or natural vegetation. Examples of these areas can include riverbanks, parks, golf courses, cemeteries, forests, yards, retention ponds, trails, schoolyards, boulevards, meadows or wetlands,” a Tuesday news release said.

The survey is available until April 15.

Crews extinguish fires in two vacant houses

9:47 AM

Crews fought fires in two vacant houses in the North End early Tuesday.

Firefighters were sent to a one-and-a-half storey house on the 400 block of Burrows Avenue at 3:29 a.m. and declared the fire there under control 30 minutes later. The house was also vacant when it was damaged in a fire early on Sept. 3, 2022.

Earlier Tuesday, at 12:27 a.m., crews were sent to a two-storey house on the 600 block of Pritchard Avenue and declared the fire there under control at 1:15 a.m.

On Monday evening, at 6:46 p.m., crews were sent to a suite in a three-storey apartment building on the 600 block of Ellice Avenue. Firefighters declared the fire there under control at 7:14 p.m. The City of Winnipeg’s emergency social services team was sent to the scene to help affected residents.

Transcona voters head to polls in provincial byelection

9:08 AM

A provincial byelection is being held in Transcona on Tuesday to elect a new MLA for the east Winnipeg constituency.

Four candidates are vying to fill a seat that became vacant when former NDP education minister Nello Altomare died in January.

Shannon Corbett, a high school vice-principal, is the NDP’s candidate. Former city councillor Shawn Nason is running for the Progressive Conservatives. Brad Boudreau, a federal policy analyst, is the Liberal candidate. Former Olympic speedskater Susan Auch is running as an independent.

Polls are open until 8 p.m.

Elections Manitoba said 2,418 voters cast their ballots during advance voting.