News briefs for Monday, August 10, 2026

Ransomware incident at Health Sciences Centre affects door access, HVAC systems

5:43 PM

Health Sciences Centre says patient care will continue uninterrupted after a ransomware incident at Manitoba’s largest hospital.

A news release Monday afternoon said a ransomware attack had affected a number of facility maintenance systems, including the HVAC system and door access.

“If anyone needs to attend to HSC for care, they should do so,” the statement said. “Clinical services continue uninterrupted, and based on the investigation conducted to date, there is no indication that patients have been affected.”

HSC said it has launched an investigation into the cause of the breach and has “engaged with expert third parties to resolve the incident as soon as possible.”

The province has been notified about the incident.

“The site is accessible to patients and staff,” a Shared Health spokeswoman said in an email Monday afternoon. “We will provide more information when we are able.”

No further details were provided.

The Free Press reached out to the Winnipeg Police Service late Monday but did not receive a response by end of day.

A sign in front of one of the hospital’s side entrances noted it was closed and directed people to the hospital’s main doors at 700 William Ave.

Several of the outdoor entrances to the facility opened without issue Monday evening. It’s unclear if door access inside the building has been affected.

City announces downtown road closures ahead of Burt Block Party

4:20 PM

The city is closing parts of several downtown streets from Wednesday to Monday to accommodate the Burt Block Party outdoor concert series.

Smith Street from Ellice to Notre Dame avenues will be entirely closed to traffic.

The curb lane on westbound Ellice from Garry to Donald streets will be closed, while the median lane will remain open.

The median lane of westbound Notre Dame between Arthur and Donald streets will be closed, while the other lanes will remain open.

Donald’s median lane from Notre Dame to Cumberland Street will be closed, but other lanes will remain open.

The closures will be in place from 9 a.m. Wednesday to 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17.

RCMP search for missing Thompson man

3:06 PM

Thompson RCMP are searching for a man who has been missing since the weekend.

Toban Apetagon, 41, was last seen leaving his home on Robinson Way in the northern city on Saturday evening. He was reported missing to RCMP on Sunday evening.

Mounties have conducted an extensive search, aided by an aerial drone, but have not yet been able to find Apetagon.

RCMP say the man’s family is concerned for his wellbeing.

Apetagon is 6-1 tall with a slim build and long black hair. He was last seen wearing a black sweater, blue jeans and black shoes.

RCMP ask anyone who has seen him or may know where he is to call to the Thompson detachment at 204-677-6909 or 204-677-6911.

Suspect sought in break-in of business in Richer

2:02 PM

Steinbach RCMP are searching for a suspect who broke into a business on Highway 1 in Richer on Sunday morning.

Mounties were called to the business just after 9 a.m. on Sunday. Surveillance cameras captured video of a man crawling into a narrow window on the building. The suspect broke the ground-level window and bent security bars to get inside.

The man appears to be more 6 feet tall and slim. He was wearing blue jeans, a black hoodie, a mask, white gloves and carried a dark-coloured duffle bag with a white logo during the break-in.

RCMP ask anyone with information on the break-in to call the Steinbach detachment at 204-326-4452 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

Louise Bridge closed today until Aug. 17

11:58 AM

A key Winnipeg transportation link has begun a weeklong closure.

The Louise Bridge shut down at 6 a.m. Monday and is expected to remain closed until Aug. 17 to allow road resurfacing.

The 116-year-old structure’s west sidewalk will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists. However, motorists must find alternate routes, such as the Disraeli Bridge or Provencher Bridge.

The road work comes after the Louise Bridge shut down for months last year. The bridge had closed May 23, 2025 for an annual inspection and maintenance and was originally expected to reopen May 27.

Instead, crews discovered more extensive repairs were needed and did not reopen the bridge until Aug. 22 that year.

City council has approved a $40-million preliminary design that aims to extend the Louise Bridge’s life by at least 30 years.

One injured in ‘serious incident’ on Langside Street early Saturday

11:52 AM

Winnipeg police are investigating an assault on Langside Street early on Saturday that sent one person to hospital.

Winnipeg Police Service officers were called about the “serious incident” on Langside, between Cornish and Westminster avenues, at about 7 a.m. Saturday.

The individual, whose age and gender was not made public, was taken to hospital in stable condition, police said.

Major crimes detectives are investigating.

Oversight agency investigating after Winnipeg police cruiser hits cyclist

11:45 AM

The province’s police oversight agency is investigating after a Winnipeg Police Service cruiser struck a cyclist downtown on Friday night.

The officers were responding to a call for service at about 8:50 p.m. on Friday. As the officers drove west on Portage Avenue toward Garry Street and entered the intersection on a green light, their cruiser collided with a woman riding a bicycle north into the intersection in the bike lane on Garry Street, said the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba on Monday.

The woman, 37, was knocked to the ground and injured. Police said the officers stopped and gave the woman first aid, before she was taken to hospital in stable condition. The IIU said she was left with a fractured clavicle and bruising.

The IIU, which probes all serious incidents involving police in the province, has begun an investigation. The agency has asked any witnesses to the incident, or anyone with potentially useful information or video footage, to call its office at 1-844-667-6060.