Columnists

The true heart of sport and community

Rebecca Chambers 5 minute read 2:00 AM CST

I’m scanning the horizon at Windsor Park Nordic Centre, looking for a particular orange parka to reappear. It’s an absolutely perfect day for this cross-country skiing event, the temperature is just -14 C with a slight breeze. I’m standing among people I’ve never met, yet they’re all shouting my son’s name, calling him toward the finish line. In front of me, someone else’s kid falls down and is struggling to get back up. I bend over and hook my arm under his and put him back on his skis. I know his name, too, because it was shouted with similar enthusiasm by the same crowd that shouted my son’s name.

I am struck by how instantaneously this community has coalesced in just a few hours on the snowy golf course. The acceptance and inclusion through sport is immediate, especially with this group.

Sport, for me, had always been associated with high performance. I had a family member who competed at the university level, and we would gather around the TV for Winnipeg Jets and Blue Bombers games when I was growing up. We even had a couple of Don Cherry’s Rock’em Sock’em Hockey videotapes. But I was never much of an athlete myself. I was the kid sitting down in the middle of the soccer pitch braiding a dandelion crown while the game roared around me. I found my home in the arts, in dance and music, and later, in writing.

Sport, and especially professional sport, seems inextricable from politics, masculinity and capitalism, and events of recent weeks have only served to underscore this. Throughout the week, the top stories on the Free Press website have been ones criticizing the behaviour of Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s post-Olympic behaviour. From the locker room to the White House, our hometown pride fizzled into skepticism and then dismay.

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Family friction can be too real for some reality TV

Maureen Scurfield 4 minute read 2:00 AM CST

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My man and I get a kick out of watching reality TV shows about people searching for their biological birth parents, estranged half-siblings and other relatives. But can you explain why we only see stories that have been cherry-picked for happiness and feel-good results?

That’s simply not realistic! I’d prefer to see the whole situation — the good, the bad and the ugly stuff.

— Feeling Ripped-Off, St. Norbert

Dear Feeling Ripped-Off: You have to remember that these shows do feature real-life people, in real situations, even if they are somewhat staged at times for dramatic effect. It would be cruel and painful to feature family meetups that went badly or were hurtful and sad for everybody involved.

Here’s where to stop and sip awhile in weeks ahead

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Here’s where to stop and sip awhile in weeks ahead

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read 2:00 AM CST

Winnipeg whisky lovers have been enjoying drams all over town this week in the lead-up to the Winnipeg Whisky Festival, which wraps up tonight at the RBC Convention Centre.

But fret not, lovers of beer and wine — there are plenty of events on tap in the days, weeks and months to come that are sure to please even the pickiest of palates…

Fans of New England IPAs would be wise to pop by Barn Hammer Brewing Co. (595 Wall St.) today, as the brewery celebrates its 66 Hazy New England IPA all day (the 66th day of the year). A small-batch trio of variations of Barn Hammer’s 66 will be tapped at noon until they’re gone.

On Tuesday, the gang at Ellement Wine + Spirits (The Forks Market) heads over to Low Life Barrel House (398 Daly St. N.) for the ninth edition of its natural wine party. Ellement will be bringing bottles of minimal-intervention vino — organic, unfiltered and all that jazz — and Low Life will be slinging some of its own natural wines as well. Guest chefs Emily Butcher and Stefan Lytwyn will be serving up some special dishes as the wine flows from 5 p.m. to close. There’s no cost to attend (other than buying the food and drink, of course).

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2:00 AM CST

JUSTIN SAMANSKI-LANGILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Brian Westcott of Barn Hammer Brewing Company pours a sample Saturday at the Flatlander’s Beer Festival at the MTS Centre. 170610 - Saturday, June 10, 2017.

JUSTIN SAMANSKI-LANGILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Brian Westcott of Barn Hammer Brewing Company pours a sample Saturday at the Flatlander’s Beer Festival at the MTS Centre. 170610 - Saturday, June 10, 2017.

Chalamet’s comments about art asinine

Jen Zoratti 4 minute read Preview

Chalamet’s comments about art asinine

Jen Zoratti 4 minute read 2:00 AM CST

Actor Timothée Chalamet recently participated in a discussion about keeping movie theatres alive at a University of Texas event when he mysteriously decided to say this:

“I don’t want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though, like, no one cares about this anymore.’ All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there.”

Yes, I feel the respect radiating from this flippant, pointless comment. As do his fellow artists. The backlash from people working in ballet and opera has been all over my social media feeds.

No one cares. Oh, really? Then why is there — and this is real — a full, multi-chapter work of Heated Rivalry fanfic set at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet during Nutcracker season, written by someone who isn’t even from here?

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2:00 AM CST

Jordan Strauss / Invision Files

Timothée Chalamet

Jordan Strauss / Invision Files
                                Timothée Chalamet

Farmers again caught in geopolitical crossfire

Laura Rance 4 minute read Preview

Farmers again caught in geopolitical crossfire

Laura Rance 4 minute read 2:00 AM CST

A week ago, things were looking up for Prairie farmers.

Canola prices were rising on news China would follow through on its promise to reduce its 75.9 per cent anti-dumping tariff on canola seed after Canada eased steep tariffs on imported EVs.

Those canola tariffs have now dropped to 5.9 per cent, plus the nine per cent standard import tariff already in place. While not zero, tariffs of just under 15 per cent make it possible to restore trade flows and maintain China as Canada’s second-largest canola customer.

As well, Canada’s prime minister was in India on another diplomatic defrosting mission with positive implications for agricultural exports. Any time the world’s largest exporter of pulse crops such as peas, lentils and chickpeas can make inroads into the world’s biggest market for those commodities, the sun shines a little brighter.

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2:00 AM CST

Show her the money

Joel Schlesinger 6 minute read Preview

Show her the money

Joel Schlesinger 6 minute read 2:00 AM CST

Slogans and even legislation only go so far in a world in which cash rules everything around us.

That remains true today, especially for women on the eve of International Women’s Day, commemorating the long fight for equality, rights and liberation.

Society has made strides, including legislation ensuring women receive equal pay for equal work.

It must also be recognized — especially on the financial ledger — more work needs to be done. Financial inequality remains a glaring sore spot.

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2:00 AM CST

International Women’s Day spotlight on invisible work

Tory McNally 6 minute read Preview

International Women’s Day spotlight on invisible work

Tory McNally 6 minute read 2:00 AM CST

As I watch my daughter celebrate another birthday, I find myself thinking about work in a different way.

Not the headlines about promotions, pay gaps or glass ceilings (although those still matter), but about the quiet work that keeps organizations running. The work that rarely shows up on a resumé, that does not earn awards or headlines, but without which everything else starts to crumble.

In HR, I see it all the time. There are women in every organization who keep the gears turning, often without recognition. They remember everyone’s birthdays and make sure the new hire feels welcomed. They notice when tensions are brewing between colleagues and take small steps to prevent confrontation. They keep institutional memory alive, quietly teaching the new generation how things work, sharing lessons learned. They fix problems before anyone even notices there was an issue.

This is invisible labour, and it is work. Emotional labour, relational labour, the work that goes into making a workplace humane, functional, and often even enjoyable. It does not show up in org charts. It is rarely celebrated at awards banquets. And yet, it is the glue that keeps workplaces together.

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2:00 AM CST

What do you do when your best is not enough?

Tim Kist 5 minute read Preview

What do you do when your best is not enough?

Tim Kist 5 minute read 2:00 AM CST

Last year at the 4 Nations Face-off hockey tournament, Team Canada was “saved” by Jordan Binnington’s brilliant goaltending against Team USA in the championship game. It was one of those games where every player gave everything. One team celebrated; the other skated away stunned.

At this year’s Winter Olympics, Canada and the United States met again in the gold-medal men’s hockey game. Another tight contest; another display of elite talent. This time, goalie Connor Hellebuyck stood tall for the Americans and Canada lost.

The result had flipped. So, what happens next?

From my time as a CFL player, the answer was never to simply try harder. Effort is assumed. The real work begins after the final buzzer or the final play. Coaches and players review the tape, examine their systems and players, question their decisions and adjust accordingly.

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2:00 AM CST

War in Iran further exacerbates logistics of 2026 World Cup

Jerrad Peters 6 minute read Preview

War in Iran further exacerbates logistics of 2026 World Cup

Jerrad Peters 6 minute read Yesterday at 2:46 PM CST

Earlier this week, FIFA World Cup countdown clocks passed from three to two digits. There’s now just 90-odd days until the event — set to take place in Canada, Mexico and the United States — kicks off in Mexico City.

But what if it was scheduled to start, say, tomorrow? It’s a frightening exercise.

Only a week ago, a World Cup co-host attacked a World Cup-qualified nation that posed no imminent threat. (It’s a wretched way to describe the United States’ military strike on Iran, but one that’s going to be increasingly germane as that countdown approaches zero.)

The war — and yes, it’s a war — has since seen at least 13 additional countries sustain bombardments, mostly from retaliatory Iranian missiles. Three of them (Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) will be sending their senior men’s soccer teams to North America this spring.

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Yesterday at 2:46 PM CST

VAHID SALEMI / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES

Iran’s Mehdi Taremi (center) scores his side’s second goal against Uzbekistan during the World Cup qualifying match in Tehran last year. The Iranian soccer team booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup with the draw against Uzbekistan last March.

VAHID SALEMI / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
                                Iran’s Mehdi Taremi (center) scores his side’s second goal against Uzbekistan during the World Cup qualifying match in Tehran last year. The Iranian soccer team booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup with the draw against Uzbekistan last March.

It’s great to have a family doctor; it’s even better to get a quick appointment

Tom Brodbeck 5 minute read Preview

It’s great to have a family doctor; it’s even better to get a quick appointment

Tom Brodbeck 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:07 PM CST

Governments love a good statistic. Especially the kind that can be packaged neatly into a news release and used to suggest progress is being made.

So it’s not surprising the Manitoba government was quick to highlight new survey results showing this province leads the country in access to family doctors or other forms of primary care.

According to a recent OurCare national survey led by University of Toronto researchers, 88.8 per cent of Manitobans report having a family doctor, nurse practitioner or regular primary-care setting. That’s well above the national average of 82.8 per cent.

On the surface, that sounds like good news. And it is.

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Yesterday at 2:07 PM CST

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES

Among Manitobans who do have a primary-care provider, only 28.5 per cent said they could get a same-day or next-day appointment for urgent medical issues.

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES
                                Among Manitobans who do have a primary-care provider, only 28.5 per cent said they could get a same-day or next-day appointment for urgent medical issues.

Don’t have to settle for first person you meet

Maureen Scurfield 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CST

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My new lady friend is lively and full of herself, and a lot of fun to be around.

My recently deceased wife was quiet and sweet, and not interested much in socializing. It wasn’t a passionate marriage, but more a cheerful friendship. My new woman, on the other hand, likes a good argument, as it revs her up in every way.

Not all of my friends like her and that is a bit of a problem. To try to get rid of her, my drinking buddies are now clumsily trying to introduce me to different women.

In my age group, there are starting to be widows, more divorcees and also a few singles, but I’m not an enthusiastic dater. I’m a bit shy.

Good news exposes a lot of bad in overwhelmed justice system

Tom Brodbeck 5 minute read Preview

Good news exposes a lot of bad in overwhelmed justice system

Tom Brodbeck 5 minute read Thursday, Mar. 5, 2026

It doesn’t happen very often in Manitoba’s justice system that Crown prosecutors and criminal defence lawyers see eye to eye.

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Thursday, Mar. 5, 2026

Deputy Chief Cam Mackid speaks at a news conference in February. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files)

Deputy Chief Cam Mackid speaks at a news conference in February. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files)

Line up counselling help before you leave family

Maureen Scurfield 4 minute read Thursday, Mar. 5, 2026

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’ve had it. My unemployed husband and my lazy son, who is in his first year of university, stay in bed while I go to work at the hospital for the day. Half the time my son doesn’t even get up to make it to his morning classes.

Today, I finally lost it and tipped my son’s mattress so he fell out on the floor. Then I yelled at him and handed him a list of undone chores to be completed by the time I got home.

As for my husband, he and I had it out last night about him not even looking for a job. He said he was depressed. I said, “Boo-hoo. It’s time to man up.”

I was not always like this. I used to be a really nice person — a loving wife and mother. But now I feel so used and abused, I just can’t take it anymore. While it’s true I make good money, that doesn’t excuse the two of them from pulling their weight.

NDP’s unforeseen budget expenses legitimate; so is bloated deficit

Dan Lett 5 minute read Preview

NDP’s unforeseen budget expenses legitimate; so is bloated deficit

Dan Lett 5 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2026

By the time government budget season is over this spring, the country will be awash in fiscal red ink.

From coast to coast, the federal and provincial governments are reporting astronomical budget deficits, almost all of them larger than forecasted in last spring’s budgets. Almost all of them will offer the hope of a dramatic turnaround within a couple of years.

Three at the most. OK, maybe four or five years.

Some of the numbers being posted are eye-popping, with four provinces posting 11-figure budget shortfalls: Quebec ($13.6 billion); Ontario ($13.5 billion); British Columbia ($11.2 billion) and Alberta ($10 billion).

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Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2026

The legislative assembly during the first session of the 43rd Manitoba legislature at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim

The legislative assembly during the first session of the 43rd Manitoba legislature at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim

Cool familiarity will help you cope with ex

Maureen Scurfield 4 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2026

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: Nothing could be worse. My ex-wife has come back to Winnipeg from another city, as she got her old job back with the company where I work, plus a fat promotion according to our office gossip.

I was shocked. They didn’t used to do rehires, but I guess she was special. They chased her and got her back because she is “the best in the world at what she does.” At least, that’s what she told me today.

I don’t want her back here, even though it’s a big company, because the truth is I never really got over her. It took a couple of years before I stopped missing her and thinking about her. My family knows how hard the breakup was for me.

But this company doesn’t care. I just have to bite the bullet because she will help the big boys make more money. Any suggestions?

Survey results crystal-clear: transit system overhaul a disaster

Tom Brodbeck 5 minute read Preview

Survey results crystal-clear: transit system overhaul a disaster

Tom Brodbeck 5 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 3, 2026

When more than eight in 10 of your core customers say you’ve made things worse, that’s not a minor hiccup. That’s a collapse in confidence.

And it’s exactly where Winnipeg Transit finds itself after its sweeping network overhaul launched last year.

The redesign was billed as a bold modernization — a smarter, more efficient system built around frequent primary routes and timed connections.

Instead, it has produced a level of dissatisfaction among downtown riders that is as striking as it is alarming.

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Tuesday, Mar. 3, 2026

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS

Buses run downtown on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ commissioned a survey, which found that the vast majority of downtown bus riders are unhappy with the new system. For Gabby story. Free Press 2026

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
                                Buses run downtown on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ commissioned a survey, which found that the vast majority of downtown bus riders are unhappy with the new system. For Gabby story. Free Press 2026

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