Free Press Head Start for Dec. 19

Good morning.

As COP15 talks begin their final day in Montreal, negotiaters announced the finalization of an agreement to protect 30 per cent of the world’s land, water and marine areas by 2030, helping to preserve biodiversity.

And in Vaughan, Ont., residents who were evacuated from a condo building where a gunman fatally shot five people on Sunday evening can return this morning. The gunman was also shot, and died, according to police.

— David Fuller

Three Savour Manitoba magazine covers promoting a food, drink, and lifestyle publication.

Your forecast

Periods of snow today, up to 2 cm. Expected high is -16 C with a low of -23, and wind chill of -34 this morning.

Today’s must-read

Bus passengers are frustrated by problems with the Winnipeg Transit tracking app, such as when a bus is shown to be arriving soon, but doesn’t come, and then apparently disappears from the schedule. Malak Abas reports.

Erin Riediger uses the Winnipeg Bus Live app. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press)

On the bright side

Winnipeg schoolteacher Scott Templeton, who is too young to remember the final game of Jets 1.0 in 1996, has nevertheless recreated the event in Lego with a model of the old Winnipeg Arena, and has been hearing from fans reminiscing about it. He’s even received a request from a person who attended the game who wanted to send Lego versions of himself and some friends to be placed in the model. David Sanderson has the story.

Scott Templeton shows off his Lego replica of the Winnipeg Arena. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

On this date

On Dec. 19, 1921: The Manitoba Free Press reported Dec. 26 would be observed as a Dominion-wide holiday. The British Antarctic expedition ship called “Quest” left Rio de Janerio following a three-week stay for repairs. In Chicago, 500 people were arrested for violating prohibition law. Search our archives for more here.

Today’s front page

Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Free Press.

Iced drink with lime on a wooden surface's beside the Savour Manitoba magazine cover.

Top news

Maggie Macintosh, Local Initiative Journalism Reporter:

Ojibwa dictionary, app boost language learning

The search for Ojibwa classroom posters — let alone fluent language speakers — proved challenging when Riverbend Community School began to build its bilingual program.

Gabrielle Piché:

‘Surge of life in this community’

Carollers burst into Osborne Village’s Starbucks Sunday afternoon, wearing Santa Claus hats and singing Deck the Halls.

A smile is worth a thousand good deeds

A Sturgeon Creek dentist who has helped thousands of people around the world receive free dental care is being recognized for his efforts.

New in Sports

Mike McIntyre:

Jets running low on fuel

SEATTLE — Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness says there will be no excuses this year. Only solutions.

James Robson, The Associated Press:

Messi, Mbappe give Qatar the perfect World Cup ending

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — When it comes to soccer, money can buy the world. It can pay for the World Cup. And the world’s best players. And it can bundle them all up into a perfe...

Winnipeg Free Press:

No fine issued over arena: Winnipeg Ice, WHL

The Winnipeg Ice and Western Hockey League say no fine was levied against the team for missing a key deadline to build a new arena in the city.

New in Arts and Entertainment

Rachel Ferstl:

On the same page

Tucked away along a fence on Rossmere Crescent sits a wooden blue and white box filled with books. For those who haven’t seen something like it before, it might look a bit out of place. But for many people in the Fraser’s Grove Park area — and others throughout Winnipeg — these charming little libraries are bringing joy and community spirit to their neighbourhoods, one chapter at a time.

Holly Harris:

Handel’s ‘Messiah’ returns to the stage in all its glory

Hallelujah! Handel’s beloved “Messiah” returned to the Centennial Concert Stage in all its glory Saturday night, as the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra presented the Baroque masterpiece with its first packed in-person audience since 2019.

Eva Wasney:

Irmie’s Honey Spice Drops perfect for a cookie party

Are holiday cookie parties still a thing? Because, as Free Press food writer Evelyn Larson attests in 1975, they sound like a great way to reduce time spent baking while increasing the variety of said baking.

New in Business

Gabrielle Piché:

It’s a dirty job…

At Wash Method on St. Anne’s Road, you can treat your dirty vehicle to a European-style cleaning.

Fresh opinions

Editorial:

From hallway medicine to driveway medicine

As political-campaign knockout punches go, there have been few as effectively wielded as the catchphrase employed by Manitoba’s NDP and then-leader Gary Doer back in 1999:

Shelley Cook:

Gift of permission to say no this season

We are so close to Christmas, and I am not ready. At least, I don’t feel like I’m ready.

Brent Bellamy:

A chance to reimagine road safety

Drivers have killed 11 pedestrians on Winnipeg streets in 2022.

Head Start