News briefs for Thursday, January 15, 2026

MPI changing service centre hours

4:48 PM

Manitoba Public Insurance is changing the operating hours at its locations across the province starting in early April.

All but three locations in Winnipeg, and all sites outside the city, will be open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays as of April 6. The Gateway (40 Lexington Park), Bison (15 Barnes St.) and Main Street (1284 Main) locations will be open between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays.

Saturday service will cease at the Bison and Main Street locations.

“These changes align with customer demand around claims and estimating appointment needs,” the Crown corporation said in a Thursday news release.

The introduction of a new road-testing requirement has eased pressure on wait times and improved weekday appointment availability, MPI said.

The public insurer’s contact centre will remain open Saturdays.

MPI ended Saturday estimating appointments in 2020.

Sisler student recovering after assault, robbery

4:07 PM

Police are searching for answers after a high school student was attacked and robbed outside his house late Wednesday.

“Physically, he’s fine, but it’s a pretty scary thing, and it looks to be random at this point,” Winnipeg School Division superintendent Matt Henderson told the Free Press Thursday.

The student, who attends Sisler High School, was robbed in front of his home at about 9:30 p.m., Henderson said.

He said police were at the school Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation and that school administration is in communication with the boy’s family to provide support.

The Winnipeg Police Service confirmed officers were sent to the 1300 block of Redwood Avenue after a reported robbery. The major crimes unit is investigating.

Missing girl, 13, last seen at Rivers home

3:49 PM

RCMP are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing 13-year-old girl.

Sydnee Pratt-Clearsky was last seen at a home in Rivers at 3 a.m. Wednesday. She was reported missing to Brandon RCMP shortly before 10:15 a.m. that day.

Sydnee is described as 5-6 in height, about 130 pounds, with red hair and brown eyes. She might have been wearing white pants and dark clothing when she left the home, Manitoba RCMP said in a news release Thursday,

Police asked anyone with information about the teen’s whereabouts to call Brandon RCMP at 204-726-7522 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

City seeks affordable housing partners

3:24 PM

The City of Winnipeg is seeking partners to build affordable housing on city-owned residential lots.

The Small Lots for Affordable Housing initiative will focus on what the city calls “missing middle” housing, referring to multi-unit homes that fit within existing neighborhoods.

The deadline for interested developers to respond to the expression of interest is Feb. 19.

The initiative will rehabilitate vacant lots, create affordable housing and promote neighbourhood revitalization, a Thursday news release said.

An information session will be held at city hall on Jan. 27. Details of the expression of interest and the information session are available online.

Items stolen in Manitoba Hydro station break-in

3:12 PM

Police are searching for three males who broke into a Manitoba Hydro station and stole items worth more than an estimated $14,000.

Morden RCMP were notified about the break-in at the site — on Road 18 North, off Highway 3 in the Rural Municipality of Stanley — shortly after 4 a.m. on Dec. 28.

The investigation has determined the men were there for less than 10 minutes. They made off with several ground chains, spare electrical fuses specific to Manitoba Hydro and other items.

Police released images of three males. One was wearing a dark blue jacket or hoodie with white cursive writing on the front and a circular decal on the left arm, a grey hood, a black cap and grey winter boots. Another was wearing a dark black/blue jacket and black boots. The third male was wearing a dark grey jacket with a white square decal on the left chest area and black boots.

Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call Morden RCMP at 204- 822-4476 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Eight arrested after St. James drug raid

1:53 PM

Eight people, including three from Calgary, are facing charges after a drug raid at a St. James home Wednesday.

Police began an investigation into drug trafficking involving a home on the 300 block of Rutland Street, at the southwest intersection with Ness Avenue, last month. Officers learned there might also be guns there.

After obtaining a search warrant, police seized 13 grams of crack cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $1,000, four grams of cocaine worth about $300, 11 Percocet pills, a loaded .22-calibre rifle, a loaded .40-calibre handgun, ammunition, two sets of bow and arrows, scales and packaging materials, and about $10,000.

Police arrested several people at the home and in other parts of Winnipeg.

A 27-year-old woman, a 22-year-old man, an 18-year-old man, a 17-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy from Winnipeg are facing firearms or drug charges, or both.

Three Calgary men, ages 25, 23 and 18, also face charges.

Three of the Winnipeggers were released on undertakings to appear in court at a later date.

SUV hits RCMP cruiser, two arrested

12:16 PM

Two people from Dakota Tipi First Nation are facing charges after an SUV hit a police cruiser in Portage la Prairie on Tuesday evening.

The driver of the Chevrolet Equinox failed to stop when police tried to pull the vehicle over on Crescent Road at 6:15 p.m., Manitoba RCMP said in a news release Thursday. Shortly after, the driver of an unmarked RCMP vehicle on 3rd Street Northeast saw the SUV lose control, with the Equinox hitting a curb and nearly going onto a sidewalk.

The Mountie followed the SUV to the former Manitoba Developmental Centre site and tried to pull it over in a roundabout. The Equinox struck the unmarked cruiser while going the wrong way in the roundabout, and the driver sped away, RCMP said.

A short time later, the SUV went through a red light at 3rd Street southeast at Saskatchewan Avenue, hitting a parked truck with no one inside. Both vehicles sustained significant damage, RCMP said.

The two people in the SUV were arrested and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A 21-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman are both facing charges.

Police to crack down on drug-impaired driving

11:51 AM

City police, partnering with Manitoba Public Insurance, will be targeting drug-impaired drivers until March 1.

“The enforcement initiative will see an increased number of officers focusing on drivers who may be under the influence of cannabis or other drugs,” the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Thursday.

During the previous such enforcement project, in early 2025, police made 302 traffic stops, with 97 drivers testing positive for recent cannabis consumption. Officers issued 86 tickets, including for unlawful storage of cannabis in a vehicle and for consuming cannabis in a vehicle as a passenger.

An awareness campaign — #DontDriveHigh — funded by Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries will accompany the increased enforcement.

Two missing girls believed to be in Winnipeg

11:08 AM

RCMP are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing teen who is believed to be in Winnipeg with another girl who went missing days earlier.

Sophie Martin, 15, was last seen leaving her home on Highway 9 in the Rural Municipality of Gimli on Monday afternoon and was reported missing to Gimli RCMP that day. She is described as 5-3 in height, 110 pounds, with black shoulder-length wavy hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a black FX jacket, a black top and camouflage pants.

Sophie is believed to be with Nevaeh-Lee Michelle-Richard, 16, Manitoba RCMP said in a news release Thursday. That teen was last seen leaving school shortly before 4 p.m. on Jan. 9 and did not return to her Gimli home. She was reported missing shortly after.

Michelle-Richard is described as 5-8 in height, 120 pounds, with braces. She has long black hair with teal streaks in the front and hazel eyes, Manitoba RCMP said in a previous news release.

Police asked anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of either teen to call Gimli RCMP at 204-648-5106 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Man arrested after weapons trafficking investigation

9:51 AM

A Winnipeg man is facing charges after Mounties were told he was using someone else’s firearms licence to buy guns, and buying illegal weapons from outside Canada.

Selkirk RCMP launched an investigation into weapons trafficking after learning about the allegations in late September. After obtaining search warrants, police raided three properties in Winnipeg and the rural municipalities of St. Andrews and Armstrong on Jan. 8, seizing multiple guns.

A 43-year-old male was arrested and released on conditions. He will be facing charges that include weapons trafficking, unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon knowing its possession is unauthorized and possession of a gun knowing its possession is unauthorized.

Selkirk Mounties continue to investigate, with the help of the RCMP’s national weapons enforcement support team.