News briefs for Friday, September 26, 2025

Illegal gun fired in downtown back lane, man charged

4:35 PM

Police say a man fired a sawed-off shotgun downtown Tuesday morning.

Officers were sent to the area of Kennedy and Deacon streets shortly after 7 a.m. about a man firing shots. Police did not find the man.

Investigators learned the man pulled the gun out, then loaded and fired it in a lane behind the 300 block of Kennedy, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Friday. There were no reported injuries or damage.

Police arrested a 39-year-old man outside an apartment complex on the 300 block of Qu’Appelle Avenue shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday. After obtaining a warrant, police searched a suite in the complex and seized a shotgun and multiple shells, the WPS said.

The man has been charged with four firearms charges and nine charges related to violating a prohibition or release order. He was also warranted on four warrants.

He was detained in custody.

Thief hit west Portage Avenue store six times: police

3:15 PM

Police arrested a man on a bus after he allegedly stole clothing from the same store six times.

The first incident happened at the retail store on the 3100 block of Portage Avenue on July 7. About $1,150 in clothing was stolen in total, including more than $350 on July 10.

In the last incident, staff members said the man stole $200 worth of items at about 9:10 a.m. on Sept. 18. They reported seeing him getting on a bus.

Police arrested a 29-year-old man on a bus at Portage Avenue and Moray Street shortly after 9:30 a.m. Officers recovered clothing from the store, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Friday.

The man has been charged with six counts of theft under $5,000. He also faces charges of failing to comply with a release order and probation, and of failing to attend court. He was detained in custody.

Province warns of three measles exposure sites in Winnipeg

3:01 PM

The provincial government is notifying the public of three more locations, all in Winnipeg, where people might have been exposed to measles.

The locations are:

• Carpathia School, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. from Sept. 16 to Sept. 19
• UrbanPulse Medical Clinic, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Monday
• The McDonald’s at 1440 Ellice Ave., noon to 3 p.m. Monday

Public health officials asked anyone who was in those locations during those times to check their immunization records and ensure they are up to date with measles vaccines.

Unit makes six more arrests

2:15 PM

A specialized Manitoba police unit tasked with finding wanted offenders arrested six more Wednesday.

The Manitoba integrated violent offender apprehension unit, which pairs officers from the WPS and Manitoba RCMP, went to more than 35 places. Three people were arrested in Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation, and three were arrested in Skownan First Nation.

RCMP officers from the Winnipegosis and Yellowhead detachments, the police service’s drone unit, and Manitoba First Nation Police Service officers from Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation helped in the effort.

The unit has arrested 850 offenders since it was formed in May 2023.

Two arrested in drug investigation

1:09 PM

Police say officers seized more than $20,000 worth of cocaine after a drug-trafficking investigation that began this month.

The Winnipeg Police Service’s guns and gangs unit identified a suspect, and police made a traffic stop on the 200 block of Belmont Avenue shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Officers arrested the man and seized bear spray and nearly $4,000. After obtaining a search warrant, police raided a home on the same block less than an hour later and arrested a woman.

Officers seized 288 grams of cocaine, another $340, electronic scales, drug packaging and other drug paraphernalia, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Friday.

A 31-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman are both charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000. The man faces another count of the latter offence, and single counts of possession of a weapon and taking a motor vehicle without consent.

The man was detained in custody, while the woman was released on an appearance notice.

J.W. Dafoe Book Prize finalists revealed

12:09 PM

The short list for the 2025 J.W. Dafoe Book Prize has been announced, with two Manitoba-published books making the group of five finalists.

The prize, named after the former Manitoba Free Press/Winnipeg Free Press editor, is given to an author for a book of non-fiction about Canada, Canadians and the nation in international affairs. This year marks the 41st anniversary of the prize.

In contention for the $12,000 prize: Mark Bourrie for Crosses in the Sky: Jean de Brébeuf and the Destruction of Huronia; Crystal Gail Fraser for By Strength, We are Still Here: Indigenous Peoples and Indian Residential Schooling in Inuvik, Northwest Territories; Winnipeg’s Gerald Friesen for The Honourable John Norquay: Indigenous Premier, Canadian Statesman; Ken McGoogan for Shadows of Tyranny: Defending Democracy in an Age of Dictatorship; and Jody Wilson-Raybould and Roshan Danesh for Reconciling History: A Story of Canada.

Both By Strength, We Are Still Here and The Honourable John Norquay were published by University of Manitoba Press.

The winner of the 2025 J.W. Dafoe Book Prize will be announced Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Parking time limits to increase in Exchange District 

10:40 AM

On-street paid parking time limits will increase from two hours to three in some areas of the Exchange District starting Oct. 1.

One area, around Red River College Polytechnic’s Exchange District campus, includes the east and west sides of Adelaide Street between Elgin and William avenues. The time limit will also be increased on the west side of Princess Street between the same avenues.

The other area is around the Manitoba Centennial Centre. That includes the east side of Lily Street between Elgin and Rupert avenues, and the west side between Market and Rupert avenues. Parking times will also be increased on the north side of Rupert between Main and Lily streets, and on the south side of Market between Main and Rorie streets.

The change will be in place for one year to measure impacts on parking availability. The option to extend parking an additional 30 minutes will continue.

“One of the most frequent complaints we hear about is parking time limits in the Exchange District,” Coun. Vivian Santos (Point Douglas). “We’re pleased to introduce these extended limits in select areas so that visitors can spend a bit more time enjoying the incredible amenities the District has to offer.”

Section of St. Anne’s Road closed this weekend

10:15 AM

Northbound St. Anne’s Road will be closed between Fermor Avenue and St. Mary’s Road starting Friday evening.

The closure, for street repaving, is slated to begin at 6 p.m. and end at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Drivers will still be able to turn east and west onto Fermor.

The Real Canadian Superstore and the St. Vital Curling Club will remain accessible to northbound traffic via the lane on the far right, but drivers will not be able to go past the parking lot’s entrance.

Sidewalks will remain open, with pedestrian crossings at Kingswood, Varennes and Imperial avenues, and at St. Mary’s.