News briefs for Friday, February 27, 2026

Province says 186 housed under plan to end chronic homelessness

5:16 PM

The province says 186 people have been housed from encampments, and another 80 from shelters or transitional housing into supported homes since last January when it launched it’s plan to end chronic homelessness.

In a release Friday, Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith said her government has funded 1,640 social and affordable housing units since forming government in 2023, with 252 completed and 718 under construction, while also repairing and reopening 2,183 Manitoba Housing units.

The province has also approved 46 projects through its Rental Housing Construction Incentive, supporting the development of more than 3,000 units, half designated as affordable, and backed by $31 million in tax credits.

Community partners, including N’Dinawemak and End Homelessness Winnipeg, said in the release that progress reflects strong collaboration, while acknowledging more work is needed to address chronic homelessness.

End Homelessness data suggests 917 people are experiencing chronic homelessness in Winnipeg as of January.

Winnipeg water use surged during gold-medal game intermissions

2:02 PM

So many Winnipeggers watched the Olympic gold medal men’s hockey game between Canada and the U.S. on Sunday that bathroom breaks aligned, creating sharp surges in water use.

The City of Winnipeg recorded clear spikes in water consumption during the game’s three intermissions, indicating many viewers took bathroom breaks in the same short time periods.

A city release links the spikes in water use to flushing toilets and handwashing.

The game ended in a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss for Canada.

The city says its water and wastewater systems had no trouble keeping up with the demand.

Missing boy found after Winnipeg police issue Amber Alert

1:12 PM

Winnipeg police say a boy who was taken from a Chesterfield Avenue address Friday morning, resulting in an Amber Alert, has been safely located.

Police issued the Amber Alert Friday afternoon for the two-year-old, saying they believed he was with two women, aged 25 and 30.

Anyone who saw the suspects or the boy was told not to approach them and to call 911 immediately.

At 2 p.m. Friday, police issued an advisory indicating the child had been found.

Police will hold a news conference at 2:30 p.m. Friday to provide an update on the situation.

Garbage, recycling collection suspended

12:56 PM

Garbage and recycling collection has been suspended in Winnipeg after the Brady Road landfill and 4R depot closed at noon due to inclement weather and poor road conditions.

The facility expects to reopen Saturday with garbage and recycling collection continuing that morning, a city news release stated.

Winnipeg residents who were supposed to have garbage and recycling picked up Friday are asked to put out their carts Saturday before 7 a.m.

Perimeter, Trans-Canada among Manitoba highways closed due to poor visibility

11:41 AM

Multiple major highways were closed in southern Manitoba Friday due to blowing and drifting snow.

Recent snowfall and wind gusts up to 80 km/h have reduced visibility in open areas.  Environment Canada forecasters warn travel will “likely be hazardous due to near-zero visibility” and that the conditions may have a significant impact on rush-hour traffic.

As of 12:30 a.m., closed highways included:

• Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway,
• Sections of the Trans-Canada Highway west of Winnipeg,
• Highways 8, 9 and 6 north of Winnipeg,
• Highways 75 and 59 south of Winnipeg.

Updated road conditions and closures are available on the province’s 511 website.

Weather conditions are expected to improve from northwest to southeast through the afternoon and evening.