News briefs for Friday, July 4, 2025

Province warns of more potential measles exposures at Manitoba hospitals

4:08 PM

The province is warning of more potential measles exposures at a pair of Manitoba hospitals, as local cases continue to rise.

In a news release Friday, the Manitoba government said anyone who was in the waiting room of Winnipeg’s children’s hospital emergency department between June 30 at 11:10 p.m. and July 1 at 1:25 a.m. may be at risk of exposure and should monitor for symptoms until July 23.

People who visited the Boundary Trails Health Centre emergency department, near Winkler, on July 1 from 10:20 p.m. to July 2 at 1:35 a.m. may have also been exposed and should monitor for symptoms until July 24.

The province issued a previous exposure warning for the children’s hospital emergency department on Monday. It advised those who attended on June 29 from 3:45 to 6:05 p.m. to monitor for symptoms until July 21.

The health department is asking anybody who was in those locations at those times to check their immunization records and ensure they are up to date with their measles vaccines.

People who were exposed in those locations and born in 1970 or later, and who have never received a measles vaccine or been infected, should take the vaccine; reduce exposures to others; monitor symptoms; and keep a record of close contacts, the province said.

Infants younger than six months old, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems should not take the measles vaccine. Such people should instead contact their health-care provider, it said.

As of the last weekly update on Wednesday, the total number of confirmed measles cases climbed to 116 in 2025.

Two cats rescued from North End house fire

4:03 PM

Two cats are safe and a home is expected to be a total loss after a blaze on Main Street Friday morning.

Fire crews were called to the 1000 block of Main Street around 10:03 a.m. about a fire in a side-by-side house. Firefighters battled the blaze using an aerial ladder and neighbouring homes were evacuated as a precaution, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said in a news release.

The fire was declared under control by 12:45 p.m. No one was hurt.

Firefighters rescued two cats from the fire. Animal services responded to help the cats.

Eastbound Provencher Bridge to close temporarily Sunday

3:44 PM

The eastbound lanes on the Provencher Bridge will be closed for emergency maintenance on Sunday.

The closure will take effect from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and allow crews to work on lighting structures on the bridge, which links St. Boniface to downtown Winnipeg, the City of Winnipeg said in a news release Friday.

Transit will be temporarily rerouted, the release said.

Man missing from downtown safely located

3:42 PM

A 57-year-old man has been safely located, Winnipeg police said in a news release Friday evening.

A silver alert was issued by police earlier Friday.

Such alerts are used when a vulnerable adult is reported missing.

Firefighters rescue trapped person from window in apartment blaze

1:42 PM

Firefighters used a ladder to rescue a trapped person through a window while a blaze burned inside a high-rise apartment building in the 700 block of Sargent Avenue late Thursday night.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crews were called to the building at about 11:40 p.m.

“At the scene, firefighters found a person who needed immediate rescue from a window,” a news release said.

That person was rescued while other firefighters attacked the blaze, which was brought under control shortly before 12:25 a.m.

One person was taken to hospital in stable condition. Winnipeg Transit provided shelter for residents who were temporarily displaced.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. A damage estimate was not yet available.

Canadian Armed Forces member arrested again, faces child pornography charges

1:41 PM

A member of the Canadian Armed Forces previously arrested on child sex abuse charges is back in police custody, after police say they again caught him accessing child pornography.

City police executed a search warrant at a home on Winnipeg’s Canadian Armed Forces base, also known as 17 Wing, on Wednesday. Police arrested a 31-year-old suspect and seized multiple electronic devices, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Friday.

The suspect, who police are not identifying to protect the identity of the victim, was first arrested and charged in April, after a months-long investigation.

In a previous news release, police said the man coerced a child into sexual activity and took pictures of the victim while undressed. He is accused of sharing the images online. The alleged offences involved a child known to the suspect, WPS said.

The man was charged with four child pornography offences and invitation to sexual touching, then released with conditions prohibiting him from accessing the internet and contacting anybody younger than 18 years old.

His new charges include accessing and possessing child pornography, and seven counts of failing to comply with a release order. He remains in custody, police said.

Teen arrested in Selkirk slaying

1:39 PM

A 15-year-old Gimli girl has been arrested in the slaying of a woman in Selkirk, RCMP announced Friday.

“It is shocking that a 15-year-old has been arrested for homicide, and very tragic that the female has died as a result of her injuries,” Sgt. Laura LeDrew said in a news release.

Selkirk RCMP were called to a business on Manitoba Avenue on Monday at 1:50 p.m. after a report of a stabbing. A 39-year-old woman was found at the scene with critical injuries and was taken to hospital. She died shortly thereafter.

RCMP said Friday the accused and victim did not know each other.

“The RCMP is working diligently to provide necessary support to all involved, and we extend our condolences to the family and friends of the victim,” LeDrew said. “We are grateful and thank the community for their assistance, as we continue with the investigation.”

New MPI tow program aims to unite drivers, vehicles quicker

12:52 PM

Manitoba Public Insurance says a new program it launched will make it easier for Winnipeggers needing a tow after a collision.

MPI announced on Friday its new Trusted Tow program began in the city on June 30.

MPI says it has chosen five tow-truck services — instead of a single vendor like it did previously — that Winnipeggers can choose from either by calling the insurer or going directly to the company itself. The Crown corporation has already contracted towing companies for its rural Brandon customers.

“This new diversified towing model will significantly benefit Manitoba-based business by supporting the province’s repair trade industry,” MPI’s vice-president and chief claims officer John Bowering said in a statement.

“We appreciate how difficult it can be to not have your vehicle after a collision. The aim of Trusted Tow is to increase efficiency, so vehicles are getting back to their owners faster.”

The tow companies chosen in Winnipeg are Champion Towing, Bison Towing, Sprinter Towing, Hi-Way Towing, and Dr. Hook Towing.

Norway House RCMP make arrest in serious stabbing

10:10 AM

Mounties from Norway House have a suspect in custody after a stabbing in Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation.

Police responded to a home in the community, located about 456 kilometres north of Winnipeg, shortly before 5 p.m. on June 27. Officers found a 21-year-old man with multiple stab wounds, Manitoba RCMP said in a news release Friday.

Investigators learned a fight broke out between the victim and suspect, leading to the stabbing. The suspect then fled the scene on foot, police said.

Officers located the suspect later that evening and arrested him without incident. The victim was airlifted to Thompson and later to Winnipeg with life-threatening injuries. His condition has since been upgraded to stable, police said.

Kinosao Sipi man Barren Osborne, 19, has been charged with aggravated assault. The investigation is ongoing, RCMP said.

Three arrested after Pinaymootang stabbing

9:57 AM

Three suspects are in custody after a man was stabbed on Pinaymootang First Nation late last month.

Manitoba RCMP issued a news release Friday, announcing arrests in the June 30 stabbing, which left a man severely injured near a cemetery in the community, located about 240 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

Officers responded to reports of a stabbing in the area around 10 p.m. and provided emergency first aid to the victim before he was taken to the hospital, where he remains in stable condition, RCMP said.

The victim told police the suspects fled in a vehicle, and efforts to locate them in the area were unsuccessful, the release said.

The investigation continued until Canada Day when, around 4 p.m., police executed a search warrant at a home on School Road. Police arrested three people and seized two machetes and various firearms, RCMP said.

Police charged Gerald Sinclair, 29, and Wendy Cook, 45, both from Lake St. Martin, with a slate of crimes ranging from aggravated assault to unsafe storage of a firearm. Greyson Ryle, 32, of Fairford, is facing similar charges.

All three suspects remain in custody and the investigation is ongoing, RCMP said.

Police search for missing man

9:43 AM

City police are asking for help finding a man who has been missing from Winnipeg since Wednesday.

Rustie Raquin, 35, was last seen around 10:45 a.m., wearing a black shirt, grey sweatpants and black/brown work boots near Portage Avenue and Sturgeon Road. He is described as 5-6 tall with a heavy build, short brown hair and brown eyes, the Winnipeg Police Service said.

Officers are concerned for Raquin’s well-being and ask anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact police at 204-986-6250.

Man shot during walk in park, police searching for suspect

8:57 AM

City police are investigating after a man was shot from behind while walking in St. John’s Park on Canada Day.

The victim, in his 30s, was walking along the riverbank toward the Redwood Bridge around 8 p.m. when he was confronted and shot by an unknown man. The victim ran to Main Street before calling police, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Friday.

The victim did not see the suspect. He was taken to hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The WPS asks anyone who was in the area at the time and may have information to call  investigators at at 204-986-6219, or submit a tip anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477 (TIPS) or winnipegcrimestoppers.org