News briefs for Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Province warns of another measles exposure site in Steinbach

4:13 PM

The province notified the public Tuesday about another location where people might have been exposed to measles.

Anyone who was at the Shoppers Drug Mart in Steinbach from 9 a.m. to noon on Dec. 23 should watch for symptoms until Jan. 14, the Manitoba government said in a news release.

Public health officials asked anyone who was there during that time to check their immunization records and ensure they are up to date with measles vaccines.

Selkirk man charged after drug investigation 

1:15 PM

A Selkirk man has been charged after an investigation into drugs being smuggled from Winnipeg to northwestern Ontario.

Ontario Provincial Police began the investigation, working with the Treaty Three Police Service and the Winnipeg Police Service, earlier this month. Officers tried to stop a vehicle on Highway 17 near Kenora on Dec. 10. The driver pulled over but then sped away, the OPP said in a news release Tuesday.

The driver was arrested at a Keewatin home. Police searched the home and seized suspected illegal drugs: 640 grams of cocaine, 70 grams of crack cocaine and 610 grams of magic mushrooms. The suspected drugs are worth an estimated $90,000, the OPP said.

A 50-year-old man is charged with possession of cocaine and psilocybin for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, flight from police and dangerous driving.

Man hurt in random assault by trio 

1:05 PM

A man was taken to hospital after he was randomly attacked at a downtown bar on Boxing Day.

Police were sent to the Hotel Royal Plaza lounge at 330 Kennedy St. about 2:30 p.m. after the victim, in his 20s, was confronted by three strangers who began punching, kicking and choking him. The attackers fled when staff members said they had called police.

The man was taken to hospital in stable condition.

Police arrested a 36-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man Sunday. Both are charged with aggravated assault, at least one drug offence and failing to comply with conditions of probation or release. Both were detained in custody.

The Winnipeg Police Service asked anyone with information about the attack to call 204-986-6288 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS).

The Burt sets performance, attendance records in banner year

12:21 PM

In a year when many of Winnipeg’s performance venues faced economic uncertainty, the Burton Cummings Theatre posted record numbers of performances, sellout shows and audiences in 2025. 

From January through October, 90,355 tickets were sold to live events at the historic downtown venue, which hosted a record 115 events this year. Of those, 27 were sellout shows.

October was a banner month for the Burt, with 17 shows (seven of which were sellouts) and 20,000 tickets sold, beating a previous monthly attendance record set in March 2024. 

That October record was already smashed in November, which saw 18 shows (nine of which were sellouts), and a paid attendance of 21,977. 

These figures put the Burt in the top five theatres for ticket sales in Canada, 75th in North America, and 92nd globally, according to Pollstar, an entertainment industry trade publication.

True North Sports + Entertainment has invested more than $2 million in the 1,579-seat theatre since assuming its management in 2014 and ownership in 2016. Recent upgrades include the installation of a new sound system, a stage replacement and backstage renovations.

Pistol seized during traffic stop behind Redwood Avenue 

9:59 AM

Police say a man is facing four firearms charges after officers seized a handgun during a traffic stop.

Officers stopped the vehicle behind the 600 block of Redwood Avenue at about 1 a.m. Sunday. The driver got out and walked through a backyard while three passengers remained in the vehicle.

Police found a warrant had been issued for the man’s arrest, and seized a loaded 9-mm pistol and ammunition.

The man, 26, was released on an undertaking. The other people in the vehicle were not charged.

Police stop 10 impaired drivers in fourth week of checkstop campaign

9:48 AM

The Winnipeg Police Service stopped 272 vehicles during the fourth week of its annual holiday checkstop campaign.

Ten of the drivers stopped between Dec. 21 and Sunday were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the WPS said Tuesday. Two were given an immediate roadside prohibition for failing a breathalyzer, while eight were given a warning based on their blood-alcohol level.

All the numbers are down significantly from the previous weeks of the program, which will continue until New Year’s Day. Officers stopped 613 vehicles in Week 1, 547 in Week 2 and 1,183 in Week 3. Of those drivers, 20, 22 and 36, respectively, were found to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, police said previously.

Every driver stopped at a checkstop is required to provide a breath sample, while drug-screening equipment will be used to check for cannabis impairment, the WPS said.