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Winnipeg Votes 2026: Live updates

Staff 1 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026

The latest updates from Winnipeg's races for mayor, city councillors and school trustees.

testing council TJI

Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old.

Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source.

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MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
Canada’s Minister of Finance and National Revenue, François-Philippe Champagne, speaks at a Winnipeg Chamber event Tuesday morning at the Delta Hotel.

“Winnipeg model” on homelessness touted

1 minute read Preview

“Winnipeg model” on homelessness touted

1 minute read 4:51 PM EST

Ottawa is floating the “Winnipeg model” of tackling homelessness in other provinces.

Federal Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Tuesday he’s been having conversations with provincial finance ministers about “what we’re doing here in Winnipeg.”

Budget 2026 includes $1 billion to tackle homelessness in Manitoba. Part of that funding will funnel to a Winnipeg-based centre for mental health and addictions.

Champagne wouldn’t say which provinces might replicate the approach.

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4:51 PM EST

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(Matt Goerzen / The Brandon Sun files)
A young puppy named Ryder looks through a chain link fence at the Brandon Humane Society.

Pet food bank at Winnipeg Humane Society sees spike in demand as costs rise

Kelly-Anne Riess 4 minute read Preview

Pet food bank at Winnipeg Humane Society sees spike in demand as costs rise

Kelly-Anne Riess 4 minute read 3:36 PM EST

Some Winnipeg pet owners are skipping meals to feed their animals as rising costs put pressure on families and force more people to surrender their pets.

The Winnipeg Humane Society says its pet food bank continues to see high demand, with more than 300 clients accessing the service in September, roughly double the number of families it typically serves in a month.

Kendra Zielke, a member of the WHS’ community outreach food bank team, recalled one client telling her. ‘“I’ve been going without food for the last few days just to feed my cat.’

“People will put their pets before themselves.”

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3:36 PM EST

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RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS
Adam Manveiler, who manages the Koats for Kids program at United Way Winnipeg, says donations are urgently needed.

Warm weather crimps donations to city shelters

Sam Creary 3 minute read Preview

Warm weather crimps donations to city shelters

Sam Creary 3 minute read 3:35 PM EST

Winnipeg’s unusually warm fall has created an unexpected problem for some of the city’s shelters and non-profit organizations: fewer donations of winter supplies such as jackets and gloves.

“Folks aren’t pulling out their cold weather gear because there’s been no need to,” said Margot Ross, interim director of development at Siloam Mission. “There’s not a sense of urgency right now.”

Siloam Misson typically starts gearing up for winter right after summer and has a steady stream of people who donate every October. Ross said the low number of winter donations overall is concerning because potentially extreme winter weather could be right around the corner.

“We know this weather can’t last,” she said. “When it’s going to hit, it’s going to hit hard.”

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3:35 PM EST

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(Mike Deal / Free Press)
Inspector Josh Ewatski speaks during a press conference at police headquarters, on Tuesday.

Police seize nearly $1 million in drugs from Manitoba-Ontario trafficking network

Scott Billeck and Erik Pindera 4 minute read Preview

Police seize nearly $1 million in drugs from Manitoba-Ontario trafficking network

Scott Billeck and Erik Pindera 4 minute read Updated: 3:21 PM EST

Nine people from Winnipeg and southern Ontario have been arrested and a large amount of illicit drugs was seized following an investigation into an interprovincial drug network.

The Winnipeg Police Service organized crime unit launched their probe in December 2025 by focusing in on individuals believed to be bringing cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine and prescription opioid pills into Manitoba.

“What they uncovered was a sophisticated distribution network that exploited legitimate transportation and commercial services to move illicit drugs across provincial boundaries,” said Insp. Josh Ewatski.

“This was an organized criminal network operating across provincial boundaries, with infrastructure, resources and connections necessary to move significant quantities of illicit drugs into our communities.”

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Updated: 3:21 PM EST

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BRANDON SUN FILES
The emergency department at Dauphin Regional Health Centre reopened in early September.

Kinew reports progress in restoring services at Dauphin hospital

Free Press staff 2 minute read Preview

Kinew reports progress in restoring services at Dauphin hospital

Free Press staff 2 minute read 3:21 PM EST

The provincial government says several services have been restored at the Dauphin hospital, which was badly damaged during severe flooding in the summer.

The emergency department at Dauphin Regional Health Centre reopened in a temporary location on Labour Day after a closure of just over two months. Extensive renovations throughout the hospital are ongoing.

In a statement Tuesday, Premier Wab Kinew said there’s been significant progress made on repair work in recent weeks.

“Restoring health services in Dauphin remains a top priority for our government,” said Kinew.

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3:21 PM EST