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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

Opposition house leader Derek Johnson, right.
Opposition house leader Derek Johnson, right.

Health care at heart of spring session as MLAs head back to legislature

Carol Sanders 4 minute read Preview

Health care at heart of spring session as MLAs head back to legislature

Carol Sanders 4 minute read 2:00 AM CST

Health care bills top the NDP government’s legislative agenda as MLAs return for the spring session Wednesday.

Premier Wab Kinew said Tuesday that a patient safety charter, nurse-to-patient ratios “and then ending mandatory overtime” are his government’s priorities.

“Those are the ones I really want to see,” Kinew told reporters Tuesday, echoing messages contained in November’s throne speech.

The Manitoba Nurses Union said it supports bills to strengthen health care but isn’t sure how and when they can be enforced.

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2:00 AM CST

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

KEN GIGLIOTTI / FREE PRESS FILES

A city councillor wants the province to pressure the city to explore green technology when replacing combined sewage systems.
KEN GIGLIOTTI / FREE PRESS FILES A city councillor wants the province to pressure the city to explore green technology when replacing combined sewage systems.

Require green sewer upgrades: councillor

Julia-Simone Rutgers 5 minute read Preview

Require green sewer upgrades: councillor

Julia-Simone Rutgers 5 minute read 2:00 AM CST

A Winnipeg councillor is calling on the province to use its powers under the Environment Act to require the city to seek out more green technology and innovative solutions as it overhauls its sewage system.

In a letter to Environment Minister Mike Moyes, Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) asked whether the province is enforcing a clause in the environmental licence for combined sewer overflows that requires the city to use “green technology and innovative practices” when designing and building new sewage infrastructure.

“If the city is not implementing measures to meet the ‘green technology’ and ‘innovative practices’ requirements, it is important to understand how the province interprets these terms and how compliance … is being evaluated and enforced,” Mayes wrote.

“The mandatory wording of the licence suggests these provisions are not discretionary.”

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2:00 AM 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.

John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE
John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE

Lawyer defending slaying victim’s son keeps her co-worker on hot seat in courtroom

Dean Pritchard 5 minute read Preview

Lawyer defending slaying victim’s son keeps her co-worker on hot seat in courtroom

Dean Pritchard 5 minute read Yesterday at 6:41 PM CST

Lawyers defending a man on trial for killing his mother continued their grilling of one of the woman’s co-workers Tuesday, alleging he was guilty of “gaslighting” the victim and his own wife when they accused him of violent or inappropriate behaviour.

Defence lawyer James Lockyer questioned the man about a number of violent incidents with his wife that resulted in police dispatched to their Winnipeg home, alleging the man falsely accused his wife as being the aggressor.

“You described your family life as being somewhat chaotic,” Lockyer put to the man.

“I imagine just like any other family,” the man said.

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Yesterday at 6:41 PM CST

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES

Coun. Cindy Gilroy said she’s disappointed people are still camping at a community garden at 609 Langside St.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Coun. Cindy Gilroy said she’s disappointed people are still camping at a community garden at 609 Langside St.

Councillor raises concern about community garden homeless encampment

Joyanne Pursaga 3 minute read Preview

Councillor raises concern about community garden homeless encampment

Joyanne Pursaga 3 minute read Yesterday at 3:40 PM CST

Months into the city’s ban on encampments in many public spaces, such as schools and playgrounds, a city councillor fears a persistent one still poses a danger to its residents and neighbours.

Coun. Cindy Gilroy said she’s disappointed people are still camping at a community garden at 609 Langside St.

“It’s a place where we (have previously had) multiple open fires… and drug (use). It’s concerning to me that we have this (policy) now and we’re not enforcing it,” said Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre), during a community services committee meeting Tuesday.

In an interview, Gilroy said she is concerned winter conditions further raise the risk of injuries, due to some bitterly cold temperatures and fires set by people trying to keep warm in tents.

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Yesterday at 3:40 PM CST

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS

City police and firefighters responded to a blaze in a home at 682 Nassau Street South around 11:30 p.m.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS City police and firefighters responded to a blaze in a home at 682 Nassau Street South around 11:30 p.m.

House fire claims ‘interesting, eccentric’ 81-year-old gardener

Tyler Searle 4 minute read Preview

House fire claims ‘interesting, eccentric’ 81-year-old gardener

Tyler Searle 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:40 PM CST

A Winnipeg man who died in a house fire Saturday night is being remembered as a friendly, intelligent and eccentric character, who was passionate about horticulture and nature.

Neighbours have identified the victim as 81-year-old Jim Russell.

“He was a great person,” said Peggy Mercer, who lived next door to Russell for roughly 40 years. “He was very knowledgeable about many things, but very dedicated to nature.”

City police and firefighters responded to a blaze in a home at 682 Nassau Street South around 11:30 p.m. They were unable to enter “due to the intensity of the fire,” the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Tuesday.

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Updated: Yesterday at 4:40 PM CST

RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS

From left: Premier Wab Kinew along with former NFI adviser Paul Soubry, and John Sapp, newly appointed president and CEO.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS From left: Premier Wab Kinew along with former NFI adviser Paul Soubry, and John Sapp, newly appointed president and CEO.

New Flyer’s bus-building expansion a Canadian answer to global instability, say premier, federal industry minister

Malak Abas 3 minute read Preview

New Flyer’s bus-building expansion a Canadian answer to global instability, say premier, federal industry minister

Malak Abas 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:24 PM CST

New Flyer Industries cut the ribbon on its new bus manufacturing facility Tuesday, which is set to build buses from start to finish for Canadian distribution for the first time in more than a decade.

The new facility was celebrated by federal, provincial and municipal leadership Tuesday morning. The last time a bus was assembled entirely in Canada was 15 years ago, said former NFI president and CEO Paul Soubry, now an adviser for the company.

“This expansion means really good jobs, advanced manufacturing skills, supply-chain investment and long-term economic impact right here in Manitoba that reinforces what we use now,” he said.

Soubry said the manufacturing facility takes up 150,000 square feet, with the rest of the Kernaghan Avenue’s 600,000 sq. ft. facility devoted to other New Flyer operations.

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Updated: Yesterday at 3:24 PM CST

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