News briefs for Tuesday, November 18, 2025

WestJet announces non-stop flights to Iceland

11:18 AM

Weekly WestJet flights between Winnipeg and Reykjavik will begin in 2026.

The airline announced the direct flights Tuesday, among others, as part of its summer schedule. The flights, from Winnipeg and Edmonton, are slated to begin June 27.

“The non-stop routes reinforce WestJet’s commitment to maintaining strong global connections for Canadians, while focusing on smart and sustainable growth,” a news release said.

WestJet is also set to launch three-times-per-week flights between Winnipeg and London, Ont., on May 17. The airline is also expanding flights between Winnipeg and Cancun to year-round.

Police arrest 32 in exploitation sweep 

10:46 AM

Police arrested 32 men, including at least one who was 75 years old, in a joint sweep by the Winnipeg Police Service’s counter-exploitation unit and the RCMP human-trafficking unit.

The arrests were made in multiple locations in Winnipeg between Nov. 12 and Saturday. All the men were released on undertakings to appear in court at later dates. The youngest was 18.

Fifteen vehicles were seized under the Highway Traffic Act in the sweep, which “aimed to disrupt street-level and online sexual exploitation activities.”

Manitoba Justice’s criminal intelligence centre helped with the sweep.

“This operation reflects the continued commitment of Manitoba law enforcement to proactively combat sexual exploitation and human trafficking,” the release said.

Twenty-five people working in the sex trade were offered help, the WPS said in a news release Tuesday.

Police asked anyone with concerns about sexual exploitation to call the WPS unit at 204-986-3464, the RCMP unit at 431-335-5685, Winnipeg Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477 (TIPS) or Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Manitoba Avenue house fire extinguished

9:55 AM

The cause of a fire in a multi-unit house on Manitoba Avenue is under investigation.

Crews were sent to the building on the 500 block shortly after 6:20 p.m. Monday and declared the fire under control 25 minutes later.

The City of Winnipeg’s emergency social services team was called in to help displaced residents.

Emergency alert test set for Wednesday

9:51 AM

An emergency alert test message will be sent Wednesday, the province’s Emergency Management Organization announced Tuesday.

The test will be sent to TV, radio and compatible wireless devices through the national public alerting system at 1:55 p.m.

Not everyone will receive the test alert on their mobile devices because of device compatibility, connection to an LTE network, cell-tower coverage, and device software and settings, the Manitoba government said.

Two hurt in Trans-Canada Highway crash near Falcon Lake

9:10 AM

Two drivers were hurt in a crash west of Falcon Lake on Monday.

Falcon Lake RCMP were sent to the two-vehicle collision on the Trans-Canada Highway at Falcon Creek Road shortly after 5:40 p.m.

One driver, a 68-year-old man, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital by STARS ambulance. The other driver, a 40-year-old woman, suffered minor injuries.

The highway reopened early Tuesday. The collision is still under investigation.