News briefs for Friday, September 12, 2025

Bombers lose in Hamilton

9:05 PM

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers fell 32-21 Friday night in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats.

The Bombers have now lost three straight and are 6-7 on the season. The win improves the Ticats to 8-5.

The Bombers are in Ottawa next Saturday to face the Redblacks.

Fifteen Manitobans hospitalized with measles this year

4:18 PM

Fifteen people, including 12 children, have been sent to the hospital with measles this year.

The numbers, which range from Jan. 1 to Sept. 6 and were provided by a provincial spokesperson, include two admissions to the intensive care unit. Fourteen of the 15 hospitalized people were not immunized; provincial officials do not know the immunization status of the 15th.

“The province continues to encourage immunization as the only means for protecting people from measles and adverse effects of the disease,” the spokesman wrote in an email.

Most hospitalizations happened in June, July and August. Ten of the cases came from the Southern Health region.

The Manitoba government announced seven new confirmed cases of measles Wednesday, for a total of 198 since February.

Public tree fund moving forward 

4:18 PM

A call to impose fines on developers who fail to replant or make space for trees when constructing infill housing is moving forward.

Council’s property and development committee advanced a proposal Friday to add a fine of $1,000 per tree for developers who fail to meet city tree-planting requirements.

The proposal will be considered in an upcoming city zoning bylaw review.

If approved, the fine revenue would fund tree planting on private properties in high-poverty neighbourhoods and help the city buy land to expand natural stands of trees.

Portage and Main concourse decision not expected until 2027 

4:16 PM

A city council decision on the future of the Portage and Main underground concourse will likely arrive no earlier than 2027.

Council’s property and development committee voted Friday to seek a full cost-benefit analysis and complete more consultation before deciding how best to deal with the property.

If council approves, that information — along with options to repair or shut down the site — is expected in January 2027, Coun. Evan Duncan, the committee’s chairman, said.

The vote comes after a consultant found it would cost about $11 million to fully decommission the Portage and Main underground concourse.

When a street-level reopening at the intersection was initially proposed in March 2024, Mayor Scott Gillingham called for the underground mall to close, based on an estimate that it would cost $73 million to repair a leaking membrane under the street.

Council voted to first require an assessment of the full cost and traffic impact of repairing the space before any closure.

Motion to build new Louise Bridge fails

4:13 PM

A motion to replace the Louise Bridge, instead of repairing it, has failed.

Council’s public works committee voted Thursday against a motion to refer a plan for a new bridge with at least four lanes for consideration in the city’s 2026 budget process.

The 115-year-old bridge, a major link that connects Point Douglas to Elmwood, was shut down for much of the summer to allow for repairs.

Council approved a $40-million preliminary rehabilitation design last year that aims to extend the bridge’s life by at least 30 years. It called for construction no later than 2030.

Public works committee chairwoman Coun. Janice Lukes said that plan is sufficient to handle current traffic levels.

A 2024 city report estimated a new Louise Bridge could cost $142 million for four lanes or $179 million for six lanes.

Omand’s Creek bridge to close next week

4:04 PM

The pedestrian and cycling bridge over Omand’s Creek at Omand Park will be closed for repair work Monday to Friday next week.

The closure will allow crews to repair the bridge and embankments, the City of Winnipeg said in a news release Friday.

A study to determine the future of the aging pedestrian bridge is ongoing, the release said.

Manitoba government announces $20M for National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

2:18 PM

The province is giving $20 million to build a permanent home for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, Premier Wab Kinew announced Friday.

“The NCTR is a place where we as Manitobans can gather to honour survivors and keep moving forward on the path of reconciliation,” he said in a news release.

The project has also received funds through the federal government and the Winnipeg Foundation. The facility will be located at the University of Manitoba, on the former Southwood Golf and Country Club grounds. The university gifted the land to the centre.

The site will be open to the public and will feature exhibits, and indoor and outdoor ceremonial spaces. It will offer places to deliver educational programming and conduct ongoing research.

The centre, established in 2015, operates out of a temporary location at the U of M’s Fort Garry campus.

The Mastercard Foundation announced Tuesday it is giving $25 million to the NCTR for education programs. The foundation is giving $235 million to 30 post-secondary institutions and national Indigenous organizations across Canada, including $5 million each to the U of M, the University of Winnipeg and University College of the North in The Pas.

Man sought in Portage la Prairie assault now in custody

11:01 AM

A man Mounties were searching for has turned himself in to the Winnipeg Police Service.

RCMP said in a news release Friday that Burton (Cody) Campbell, 39, of Ebb and Flow First Nation, is now in custody.

Mounties asked for the public’s help Thursday in finding Campbell after he allegedly broke into a woman’s Portage la Prairie home and assaulted her early on Sept. 3.

He is facing charges of breaking and entering with intent; assault while choking, suffocating or strangling; and four counts of failing to comply with a condition of a release order.

Clothing donation bins set up at recycling depots.

9:54 AM

Clothing can now be donated at the city’s 4R recycling depots.

“The donations will go directly to local charities helping people in need in our community. We ask you to only donate gently used clothing items,” the City of Winnipeg said in a news release Friday.

Collection bins are set up at the three depots, at 1825 Brady Rd., 1120 Pacific Ave. and 429 Panet Rd.

The city also reminded residents not to put clothing or other textiles in home recycling carts because they can cause issues with sorting equipment.