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‘The fireman grabbed me… and pulled me out’

‘The fireman grabbed me… and pulled me out’

Survivor recounts horror of losing granddaughter, cousin; within four minutes, small West End fire became fatal inferno

Chris Kitching 5 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026

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‘Thought it was the flu’: more sick after eating at hotel buffet

Kevin Rollason 2 minute read Friday, Feb. 6, 2026

More possible victims of a case of suspected food poisoning at a prominent hotel have come forward.

A provincial government spokeswoman said two more reports came in on Friday after an article was published in the Free Press.

It brings the official total to 17 people who have complained they got sick after eating at a buffet at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre at 1808 Wellington Ave., last weekend.

However, the Free Press heard from others who got sick but didn’t report it.

Mark Blinch / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES

Air Canada announced it halted flights to Cuba due to the ongoing shortage of aviation fuel on the island, saying current projections will exhaust the supply of commercial fuel by Feb. 10.
Mark Blinch / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Air Canada announced it halted flights to Cuba due to the ongoing shortage of aviation fuel on the island, saying current projections will exhaust the supply of commercial fuel by Feb. 10.

Manitobans in Cuba stay calm as airlines cancel trips owing to fuel shortage

Tyler Searle 5 minute read Preview

Manitobans in Cuba stay calm as airlines cancel trips owing to fuel shortage

Tyler Searle 5 minute read Monday, Feb. 9, 2026

As he basked in the sunshine in Varadero, Cuba, on Monday, it was hard for Manitoban Geof Langen to imagine anything might interrupt his vacation — but when news broke that Air Canada had cancelled international flights to the island nation, it gave him pause.

“It’s kind of been the talk of today amongst Canadians. We’re a pretty large group down here, and everyone right now seems pretty calm,” Langen said by phone.

“Mostly, we’re enjoying Cuba and the incredibly gracious and hospitable people and great weather. It hasn’t at this point brought a damper or a sense of concern, beyond just paying attention to what’s going on.”

Air Canada decided to suspend service to Cuba days after Langen arrived in Varadero aboard a WestJet flight late Saturday. He and his partner are staying at a resort with friends, and were expecting a third couple from Manitoba to join them on Monday.

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Monday, Feb. 9, 2026

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JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES

Taiv Inc. CEO Noah Palansky (left) and chief technology officer Jordan Davis.
JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES Taiv Inc. CEO Noah Palansky (left) and chief technology officer Jordan Davis.

Winnipeg-based tech firm Taiv closes US$13M growth round

Aaron Epp 3 minute read Preview

Winnipeg-based tech firm Taiv closes US$13M growth round

Aaron Epp 3 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026

Taiv Inc. may rely on AI, but there’s nothing artificial about the Winnipeg company’s progression.

The tech company has closed a US$13 million growth round fewer than nine months after raising US$10.5 million in series A financing.

The latest round is a combination of debt and equity, and brings the total capital raised to more than US$30 million. The company’s latest valuation is just under US$100 million, said Taiv co-founder and CEO Noah Palansky.

“This is really a growth round,” he said. “It’s about hiring people and really investing in our product. We want to make something that’s amazing.”

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Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS

Rebecca Schneider worked at the Health Sciences Centre between 2009 and 2014.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Rebecca Schneider worked at the Health Sciences Centre between 2009 and 2014.

Health-care ‘frustration’ keeps Manitoba nurse away

Nicole Buffie 5 minute read Preview

Health-care ‘frustration’ keeps Manitoba nurse away

Nicole Buffie 5 minute read Monday, Feb. 9, 2026

A former Manitoba nurse working in Minnesota says despite political turmoil she won’t return home to practise due to the state of the province’s health-care system.

Rebecca Schneider has considered moving back to Manitoba since November 2024, when Donald Trump was re-elected.

As the U.S. has stepped up immigration enforcement raids to seek out undocumented immigrants, Schneider said she feels unsafe in her own city.

“I have felt more unsafe in the last month with all the (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) activity in Minneapolis than I ever felt during COVID, during the riots with George Floyd’s incident in 2020,” she told the Free Press, referencing the Black man murdered by a white police officer. “There’s areas of the city you just can’t go anymore.”

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Monday, Feb. 9, 2026

St. John’s High School in Winnipeg (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press)
St. John’s High School in Winnipeg (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press)

Online threat forces closure of North End high school Monday

Marsha McLeod 2 minute read Preview

Online threat forces closure of North End high school Monday

Marsha McLeod 2 minute read Monday, Feb. 9, 2026

A North End high school was closed Monday morning after a threat was posted online.

St. John’s High School, located on Church Avenue, was closed “out of an abundance of caution,” said Matt Henderson, superintendent of the Winnipeg School Division.

The Winnipeg Police Service major crimes unit is investigating the threat, Henderson said.

Henderson initially said he was hopeful the school could reopen Monday afternoon, but later said students wouldn’t return for half a day.

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Monday, Feb. 9, 2026

Winnipeg police say an investigation was launched after video surfaced of a security guard beating an alleged shoplifter at a downtown Dollarama. (Chris Kitching / Free Press files)
Winnipeg police say an investigation was launched after video surfaced of a security guard beating an alleged shoplifter at a downtown Dollarama. (Chris Kitching / Free Press files)

Indigenous leaders look for answers after video shared of Dollarama security guard beating shoplifting suspect

Malak Abas 3 minute read Preview

Indigenous leaders look for answers after video shared of Dollarama security guard beating shoplifting suspect

Malak Abas 3 minute read 3:04 PM CST

The Winnipeg Police Services is investigating after a video of a security guard violently beating an Indigenous man at a downtown Dollarama store was shared on social media.

In the video posted on Facebook over the weekend, a man wearing an Impact Security uniform can be seen slamming a man into the floor, while slapping, punching and kicking him. The man being attacked is covering his head in the video and his face is not visible. The security guard swears at the man and bystanders in the store.

Police said Monday they were called to the store Saturday afternoon and arrested a 46-year-old man who had attempted to leave the store without paying for items before being stopped by a 23-year-old on-duty security guard.

While the security guard wasn’t arrested at the time, police said a new investigation with the major crimes unit was launched the next day after the WPS was made aware of the video circulating online.

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3:04 PM CST

City compost, recycling and garbage bins (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files)
City compost, recycling and garbage bins (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files)

Councillors OK garbage-collection contracts

Joyanne Pursaga 2 minute read Preview

Councillors OK garbage-collection contracts

Joyanne Pursaga 2 minute read 12:28 PM CST

A city committee gave a green light to two new private garbage-collection contracts Monday, while also calling on city staff to collect compost throughout Winnipeg in the future.

The water and waste committee approved a $19.7-million annual contract for Municipal Waste Management to collect garbage, recycling and yard waste from one area of the city. It also voted in favour of a $17.4-million annual contract for GFL Environmental to provide the same service in the rest of Winnipeg, pending a final council vote.

The contracts would run from Feb. 1, 2027, to Jan. 31, 2032.

Instead of simply accepting those contracts, however, Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) raised a successful motion to direct city staff to deliver curbside compost collection when that service begins in 2030.

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12:28 PM CST

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Canadians from coast to coast are finding and displaying patriotic pride

TIM SMITH / THE BRANDON SUN FILES A Canadian flag is see affixed to the side of a barn along Grand Valley Road west of Brandon on Thursday. In the wake of U.S. tariffs against Canada and comments by President Donald Trump about Canada becoming the 51st state, Canadian flags and other displays of patriotism have been much more visible in Brandon and across the country. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

The week that was: July 12-18

The week that was: July 12-18

Listen: Niigaan and the Lone Ranger podcast

Niigaan and the Lone Ranger podcast

Old barn reconstructed in Lego, brick by brick

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Jets salute the crowd after the final game at Winnipeg Arena, a 4-1 loss to Detroit. Norm MacIver scored the final Jets 1.0 goal.

Festive feast of children’s books sure to please young readers

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Alexander Heather, 7, (left) and his nine-year-old brother Stewart get into the holiday spirit while poring through some of this year’s books for younger readers.

Chief David Monias (left) says there is a shortage of funding to remediate the hazards in an estimated 1,300 Pimicikamak Cree Nation homes that were damaged after pipes froze and burst due to a days-long power outage two months ago. (John Woods/Winnipeg Free Press files)
Chief David Monias (left) says there is a shortage of funding to remediate the hazards in an estimated 1,300 Pimicikamak Cree Nation homes that were damaged after pipes froze and burst due to a days-long power outage two months ago. (John Woods/Winnipeg Free Press files)

Chief says more funding needed to repair homes after power outage, flooding

Chris Kitching 4 minute read Preview

Chief says more funding needed to repair homes after power outage, flooding

Chris Kitching 4 minute read Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

A northern First Nation hit by a days-long power outage and subsequent water crisis is seeking additional government funds to cover the cost of mould and asbestos removal in homes.

Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias said Friday there is a shortage of funding to remediate the hazards and bring homes with damage up to code so they are habitable.

“We can’t have (residents) return to a situation where there might be some bacteria or moulding issues that will affect their safety, that affect their health, and possibly cause medical issues that will be made worse because they already have existing health issues,” he said during a virtual call.

Pimicikamak’s leaders said an estimated 1,300 homes were damaged after pipes froze and burst two months ago. Water leaked into basements and crawl spaces. The community’s water and sewage plants were also affected.

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Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES

Winnipeg approved more than 1,000 new downtown housing units last year – marking a 15-year high – but the city now needs to assure people the area is safe and convenient enough to call home.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg approved more than 1,000 new downtown housing units last year – marking a 15-year high – but the city now needs to assure people the area is safe and convenient enough to call home.

Mayor encouraged after downtown housing unit approvals reach 15-year high

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Preview

Mayor encouraged after downtown housing unit approvals reach 15-year high

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

The city approved more than 1,000 new downtown housing units last year, marking a 15-year high, while work continues to help entice people to move to the area.

Building permits were issued for 1,040 new downtown dwelling units in 2025, nearly double the 596 issued in 2018 and greatly improved from the 141 granted during the post-pandemic slowdown in 2022, city data show.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said the permit data reflects renewed interest in developing downtown.

“Before the pandemic, Winnipeg’s downtown had a lot of momentum and now we really see that momentum is really strong again,” he said.

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Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS

Dr. Alan Menkis headed the cardiac team as its medical director from 2004 until he retired in 2016.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Dr. Alan Menkis headed the cardiac team as its medical director from 2004 until he retired in 2016.

Kinew hints at funding in budget to get once-lauded St. Boniface Hospital cardiac program beating strongly again

Gabrielle Piché 5 minute read Preview

Kinew hints at funding in budget to get once-lauded St. Boniface Hospital cardiac program beating strongly again

Gabrielle Piché 5 minute read Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Premier Wab Kinew hinted Friday that next month’s provincial budget will revive St. Boniface Hospital’s “gutted” cardiac-care program.

“We’re going to make sure in the future (that) St. B, which functions as our heart hospital in Manitoba, is going to have the resources it needs to take care of people,” Kinew said Friday.

The government will table the budget on March 24. Kinew didn’t provide any funding details Friday.

On the campaign trail in September 2023, he said if elected, Manitoba’s New Democrats would spend $5 million annually to fund positions at Cardiac Sciences Manitoba at St. Boniface Hospital.

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Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

MIKE APORIUS/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - Northwest Airlines plane takes off from the James Richardson Airport Thursday - see Kirbyson story January 31/2008
MIKE APORIUS/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - Northwest Airlines plane takes off from the James Richardson Airport Thursday - see Kirbyson story January 31/2008

Airport land development expected to draw massive investment, create jobs in aerospace, aviation

Tyler Searle 4 minute read Preview

Airport land development expected to draw massive investment, create jobs in aerospace, aviation

Tyler Searle 4 minute read Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Government and industry leaders are banking on a $32-million airport land development to cement Winnipeg as a national leader in economic growth and trade.

In a joint announcement Friday, the federal and provincial governments, alongside the Winnipeg Airports Authority and the City of Winnipeg, outlined a plan to develop 127 acres of land west of the airport into direct-access runways.

“You can think of this as beachfront property. This is very valuable for businesses in key sectors such as aerospace, aviation, trade enabling and logistics that need that direct proximity to air side operations,” said Nick Hays, the WAA’s president and CEO.

“It is very unusual to have an airport… with that scale of land right next to the runway that has not been developed. Today’s announcement is about putting in the investment that services that land to unlock that opportunity.”

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Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

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