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Premier Wab Kinew is an imported Manitoban, born in Kenora and raised on Onigaming First Nation in Treaty Three (in northwestern Ontario) before his family moved to Winnipeg. He’s the son of well-known Anishinaabe leader and traditional knowledge keeper Tobasonakwut Kinew and Kathi Kinew.

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Mayor 2 puts positive spin 3 on city’s less-than-edsfxpected share of federal housing fund

The city will receive $122 million in federal government housing money, falling about $70 million shy of the municipal government’s original request. However, Winnipeg’s mayor stressed the amount is substantial and should leverage millions of dollars of additional investment.

Economic growth would go down tubes if sewage-plant project left unfinished: city report

The City of Winnipeg is warning it could run out of sewage capacity for new development by 2032, while urging senior governments to fund the final phase of a mega project that would alleviate the risk.

The city has called on the provincial and federal governments to each cover a third of the cost for the third and final phase of the $3-billion Main Street sewage treatment plant upgrade, which would boost sewage capacity.

The city previously warned it would run out of capacity to process sewage sludge within four to six years, if the project’s second phase to create new biosolids facilities isn’t completed first.

On Thursday, a new city report predicted the construction of new homes and businesses will not be possible by the year 2032, if the sewage upgrade isn’t completed first.

Vacant home demolished after burning fourth time since August

Relief washed over Danielle Pahpasay after a vacant rooming house, which had been struck by arsonists three times, was razed Thursday.

“Finally. Wow. That’s good news,” said Danielle Pahpasay, who lives next door to 539 William Ave., which was ablaze again on Thursday. “The kids were pretty confused. They didn’t know what was going on — then they saw all the fire trucks.”

Pahpasay said firefighters knocked on her door around 12:30 a.m. and instructed her to gather her children and a few essentials and evacuate — the first time her family has had to leave despite the string of recent fires.

The two-and-a-half-storey house, vacant before the first fire on Aug. 18, also burned on Sept. 26 and Oct. 31.

Thousands of fare evaders denied bus rides since crackdown began in September

Thousands of would-be bus passengers have been turned away since September, when the city started cracking down on people who don’t pay.

Since then, 7,614 people were either denied rides (4,944) or they walked away before being prompted to pay, the city said Wednesday.

The city said 931 warnings have been issued and that 359 riders paid after being asked. The warnings were issued by transit safety officers for fare-related issues.

Winnipeg Transit inspectors have made more than 6,800 fare checks since September, and safety officers have spent more than 1,400 hours enforcing issues.

Rare red auroras dazzle as part of Manitoba light show

Solar storm chasers, rejoice: 2025 was an excellent year for aurora borealis, and the remainder of the year could be just as active.

Tuesday night’s dazzling display of crimson northern lights grabbed the attention of sky gazers across Manitoba, no matter where they were in the province.

“The colours were striking even from inside the city,” said Scott Young, an astronomer at the Manitoba Museum Planetarium. “It was one of the brightest red auroras that I remember in my lifetime.”

Young noticed a grey haze in the sky but didn’t think it was the northern lights, which were forecast to appear the following evening.

Stegall credits faith for getting him through grief of losing son

At a Salvation Army luncheon filled with laughter and nostalgia on Wednesday, it was Milt Stegall’s poignant football analogy about faith — and the loss of his son this past summer — that quieted the room and touched every heart at Canad Inns Polo Park.

Stegall, 55, shared how his faith was shaken after his 20-year-old son, Chase, died unexpectedly from epilepsy in June. Chase was found in his dorm room at DePaul University in Chicago, where he was a member of the school’s soccer team.

In the weeks that followed, Stegall said he pleaded with God for answers — and fast ones.

“(God) told me he was going to tell me in football terms that he knows I’ll understand,” Stegall said, recalling how about 60 to 70 per cent of plays an offensive co-ordinator calls fail for one reason or another. “But God said, ‘I’m the life offensive co-ordinator, and every single play I call has always been right. It’s never wrong. It’s worked every single time. You might not like the play I am calling, but it’s for the betterment of the team.’”

Merry and bright: more than 40,000 expected for annual Santa Claus Parade

Linda Hamilton often had to tiptoe to catch a good view of the jolly old elf at Winnipeg’s Santa Claus Parade, so when she she saw volunteers in the middle of the action, she knew she had to sign up.

“It’s a front row seat to the parade, and you get to help keep everybody safe… It’s a perk of the job,” said Hamilton, whose volunteer duties include keeping the streets clear and safe for floats and spectators.

“Just being surrounded by kids and kids at heart — it’s addictive.”

Saturday’s annual Santa Claus Parade is expected to draw more than 40,000 people downtown, organizers say. It will feature Santa and the Grey Cup, which will be contested Sunday between the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders.