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RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES Trade Minister Jamie Moses speaking at the event. Federal and Provincial governments announce funding for airside development at the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport for trade infrastructure Friday. Federal minister, Dr. Doug Eyolfson, Trade Minister Jamie Moses, Mayor Scott Gillingham, Nick Hays, president and CEO, Winnipeg Airports Authority and Carly Edmundson, CEO of CentrePort Canada Inc. gathered with other key players to speak about the development at the airport at the event. See story. Feb 27th, 2026

Manitoba to open India trade office

Gabrielle Piché 4 minute read Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

Instead of being stationed on Broadway, a Manitoba government employee will set up their own office — in India.

The New Democrats will today announce their plans to open a trade office in the South Asia country.

“We’re going to be continuing to expand our global presence,” said Business Minister Jamie Moses.

Government has slated $150,000 for the trade office, including the representative’s salary. A request for proposal will be posted online Tuesday, Moses said.

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NHL

RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed Friday morning that the club is open to trading its star netminder Connor Hellebuyck.

Cheveldayoff open to Hellebuyck trade

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Preview

Cheveldayoff open to Hellebuyck trade

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has confirmed the organization is open to trading superstar goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and currently listening to offers.

There’s just one problem.

“Obviously what I’ve been hearing hasn’t made me act,” Cheveldayoff said Friday morning in a Zoom call with media. “I guess the best answer is: I’m still listening.”

How, exactly, did we get here? Cheveldayoff, who normally holds his cards tight to the vest, was slightly more revealing than usual — perhaps in an attempt to juice the offers rival GMs might ultimately present to him.

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Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

Local

John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES

Rural resident wins court battle against ban from council meetings

Kevin Rollason 3 minute read Preview

Rural resident wins court battle against ban from council meetings

Kevin Rollason 3 minute read Monday, Apr. 20, 2026

A Manitoba judge has told a rural municipal council it can’t issue a blanket ban on people attending council meetings.

Justice Sadie Bond, of the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench, said the Rural Municipality of Alexander has to allow resident Aaron Wiebe to attend council meetings.

“The banning resolutions are neither an exercise of the RM’s authority under the (Municipal) Act, nor under the RM’s procedures bylaw,” Bond said in her 14-page decision, which was released on Monday.

“In passing them, the council acted in excess of its jurisdiction… I find that the council’s interpretation of its authority to pass banning resolutions is both incorrect and not reasonable.”

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Monday, Apr. 20, 2026

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JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES City council’s community services committee is set to revisit fireworks restrictions next March.

Councillors push decision on new fireworks restrictions to next spring

Malak Abas 4 minute read Preview

Councillors push decision on new fireworks restrictions to next spring

Malak Abas 4 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

Fire prevention officers will meet with cultural groups and fireworks sellers to talk about conducting safe celebrations, but the city won’t impose any bans or create new bylaws before next year.

City council’s community services committee heard from the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service Tuesday and from speakers arguing both for and against additional fines, enforcement or restrictions around the sale and use of fireworks.

The committee was split on how to approach new fireworks bylaws and eventually voted to revisit the issue next March, promising to create a working group to explore the issue further, in the meantime.

“I think it’s a very complicated file, and it’s important that we’re able to hear from the councillors on what direction they want this to take for the city,” Lisa Gilmour, the WFPS’ assistant chief of community risk reduction, said after Tuesday’s meeting.

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Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

Local

Wally Daudrich has decided to leave the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party. He was accused by the party executive of violating its constitution and making “repeated disparaging comments regarding current and former Progressive Conservative MLAs.” (Mikaela MacKenzie/Free Press files)

‘Abandoned’ former Tory leadership candidate Daudrich quits party

Carol Sanders 5 minute read Preview

‘Abandoned’ former Tory leadership candidate Daudrich quits party

Carol Sanders 5 minute read 6:38 PM CDT

Longtime Progressive Conservative party board member and leadership candidate Wally Daudrich is leaving the Tories and looking for a new political home.

“I am by my nature a very loyal person and I have now concluded that while I would never quit the conservative movement, the PC party has completely abandoned me and all conservatives like me,” Daudrich said in a letter sent Saturday to the party leadership obtained by the Free Press.

He was informed by the party earlier this month that he would not be allowed to seek the nomination in Turtle Mountain, where PC incumbent Doyle Piwniuk has decided not to seek re-election in the next provincial vote, which must take place on or before Oct. 5, 2027.

Daudrich was accused by the party executive of violating its constitution and making “repeated disparaging comments regarding current and former Progressive Conservative MLAs.”

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6:38 PM CDT

Local

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Councillor Brian Mayes announces that he will not seek re-election to council, and will instead run for school trustee, at a press conference at St. Vital Park on Monday.

Longtime St. Vital councillor cites difficulty working with mayor among reasons he won’t seek re-election

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Preview

Longtime St. Vital councillor cites difficulty working with mayor among reasons he won’t seek re-election

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read 6:26 PM CDT

St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes will not run to keep his city hall seat after nearly 15 years in the role, opting to seek a school trustee position instead.

During an emotional news conference at St. Vital Park Monday, the councillor announced he’s decided to leave city hall.

“This has been a dream job in many ways and a very difficult final term,” he said, his voice at times breaking with emotion.

Mayes said his key accomplishments included securing $11 million of improvements at St. Vital Park and helping expedite the city’s target date — from the 2090s to 2045 — to complete a master plan to reduce combined sewer overflows.

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6:26 PM CDT

NHL

Nick Wass / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES It would be something for the Winnipeg Jets to pick up Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine.

Long to-do list for Jets

Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Preview

Long to-do list for Jets

Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe 8 minute read 6:22 PM CDT

They have holes to fill, money to spend and questions to answer.

But the biggest one heading into July 1 hangs over the Winnipeg Jets like the dark clouds that have become a fixture around here lately: Is Connor Hellebuyck staying or going?

Clarity on that potentially stormy situation will shape much of general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff’s summer to-do list.

Hellebuyck made it clear during his year-end media availability that he needs to see significant roster improvements around him, seemingly putting enormous pressure on Cheveldayoff to begin delivering when free agency opens Wednesday.

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6:22 PM CDT

Local

Supplied The Browns’ century-old home before the tornado hit.

Tornado destroys couple’s home in Rossburn

Tessa Adamski, Nicole Buffie and Chris Kitching 7 minute read Preview

Tornado destroys couple’s home in Rossburn

Tessa Adamski, Nicole Buffie and Chris Kitching 7 minute read 5:46 PM CDT

Brian Brown grabbed his wife, Bernadine, and pulled her to the floor with him as a tornado demolished part of their brick farmhouse south of Rossburn on Sunday night.

Bernadine had been putting clothes in a dryer in the northeast corner of the house when her husband noticed a large tree fall outside a window at about 8 p.m.

“I just yelled at her to get away from the windows, and I grabbed her and threw her on the floor,” Brian said from the couple’s property Monday.

The tornado ripped the roof off the century-old house and tore apart the second floor, snapped large trees and flipped vehicles in the Browns’ yard. It was one of two Rossburn-area homes to be damaged by the tornado.

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5:46 PM CDT

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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.

Local

RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Vietnamese Association of Manitoba spokesperson Quanhai Tonthat, (right) with Vietnamese community members and residents of Saigon Centre in the multi-purpose room they use regularly.

Saigon Centre residents fear loss of Vietnamese cultural space after Manitoba Housing takeover

Malak Abas 5 minute read Preview

Saigon Centre residents fear loss of Vietnamese cultural space after Manitoba Housing takeover

Malak Abas 5 minute read Yesterday at 9:10 AM CDT

Longtime tenants of a social housing project built in Winnipeg for Vietnamese refugees nearly 40 years ago fear its takeover by Manitoba Housing will ruin their main-floor cultural centre.

Saigon Centre at 458 Balmoral St., which was run by the Vietnamese Non-Profit Housing Corp. since opening in 1989, was put up for sale in March because it was $3 million in arrears on its mortgage.

Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corp. took over the 54-unit building and the government department is working on integrating it into the provincial housing portfolio, a spokesperson confirmed recently.

While rent levels are protected under a caveat that was enacted when the building opened, residents say they’re about to lose access to their cultural centre. The large room on the main floor is used for community gatherings, health and wellness activities for seniors, festivals, language-learning classes and other events over the last four decades.

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Yesterday at 9:10 AM CDT

Local

Wildfire sparks mandatory evacuation order for Lynn Lake

Wildfire sparks mandatory evacuation order for Lynn Lake

Tyler Searle 7 minute read Preview

Wildfire sparks mandatory evacuation order for Lynn Lake

Tyler Searle 7 minute read Saturday, Jun. 27, 2026

Residents of a northern Manitoba community twice evacuated last summer were once again ordered to leave their homes Saturday as an out-of-control wildfire burned nearby.

Mayor Brandon Dulewich said a mandatory evacuation order is in place for the town of Lynn Lake, located about 780 kilometres north of Brandon.

A wildfire ignited Thursday is raging south of the town and rapidly advancing. By Friday, the blaze had grown so extreme that it spawned a lightning storm — a natural phenomenon that occurs as a result of intense fire conditions, the Town of Lynn Lake said in a social media post.

“It’s terrible. It’s the worst nightmare come true and something we certainly didn’t anticipate,” Dulewich said Saturday morning, moments before announcing the evacuation.

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Saturday, Jun. 27, 2026

Local

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Seven of the top 10 highest paid City of Winnipeg employees in 2025 were police officers.

Seven of city’s 10 best-paid employees work for police

Tyler Searle 3 minute read Preview

Seven of city’s 10 best-paid employees work for police

Tyler Searle 3 minute read Saturday, Jun. 27, 2026

The City of Winnipeg’s 2025 compensation disclosure document, released Friday, shows seven of the top 10 highest paid employees are police officers.

Winnipeg Police Service Chief Gene Bowers earned $313,467 during his first year in the position, coming second only to an unnamed police superintendent who took home $491,926.

Collectively, WPS members earned $2.1 million of the total $2.9 million paid to the city’s highest earners, equivalent to about 72 per cent. That includes a constable ranked No. 8 in the top 10 after earning $260,234 — more than outgoing Winnipeg Fire Paramedic chief Christian Schmidt (No. 9) at $255,036.

Schmidt’s successor, Ryan Sneath, who was appointed chief this week, earned $247,432 last year.

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Saturday, Jun. 27, 2026

NHL

Matthew Merkel / FREE PRESS Nervous moments gave way to joy for Carson Carels, on the family farm near Cypress River, when the Calgary Flames called his name and the champagne started flowing.

Pride of Cypress River drafted sixth overall by Calgary Flames

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Pride of Cypress River drafted sixth overall by Calgary Flames

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

CYPRESS RIVER — It began like any other day for Carson Carels: Up at the crack of dawn, feeding his baby goats, driving a herd of hungry cattle and then heading to the rink for a quick workout.

But by the time Friday was over, it was one he would never forget.

Carels was drafted sixth-overall by the Calgary Flames, sharing the experience with more than 100 family members and close friends in an outdoor viewing party held on the family farm here in southwestern Manitoba.

“Just awesome. I’m still shaking right now,” the 18-year-old defenceman told the Free Press moments after hearing his name announced during the television broadcast by Flames legend Lanny McDonald.

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Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

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Homes for Sale: 48 Cuthbert Cove

48 Cuthbert Cove

$237,400

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