Arts & Life

Faith

Supplied Khalid Mahmood received the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Advancement of Interreligious Understanding on March 26 from Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville.

Interfaith bridge-builder Khalid Mahmood honoured

Sharon Chisvin 5 minute read Saturday, Apr. 4, 2026

Khalid Mahmood is in good company.

In proudly accepting the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Advancement of Interreligious Understanding on March 26 from Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville, he joined an elite group of Manitobans who received the award in the past.

Like all those past recipients — among them Free Press faith writer John Longhurst, radio host and newspaper columnist Rev. Karen Toole, synagogue lay leader Bill Weissmann, former Winnipeg Police Service chief Devon Clunis and Ojibway Métis elder Mae Louise Campbell — Mahmood was recognized for his commitment to encouraging and promoting harmony, bridge building and interfaith dialogue between diverse religious communities in the province.

When Mahmood immigrated to Canada in 1974, he became one of the first Pakistanis and one of the first Ahmadiyya Muslims to choose Winnipeg as home. His activism on the part of Ahmadiyya Muslims, who, he explains, are discriminated against in Pakistan, and his interest in interfaith initiatives began soon after he was settled. Building relationships between different groups and service to humanity are, he explains, essential elements of the Ahmadiyya Muslim faith.

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Music

Ali Vandale photo Leah Magnan’s debut EP as Earth Angel, Blue Hour, is being launched tonight.

Winnipeg artist’s EP inspired by twilight moments

Ben Waldman 3 minute read Preview

Winnipeg artist’s EP inspired by twilight moments

Ben Waldman 3 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Earth Angel’s Leah Magnan loves to find and finds to love.

Last summer, the Edmonton-raised, independent maker of what she refers to lovingly as “dyke rock” was browsing at a second-hand corporation’s brick-and-mortar outpost when she spotted an EKO bass pedal on the shelf, negotiating with the thrift gods to procure the valuable tool for just $20.

She didn’t feel bad about walking away from Value Village with an honest-to-goodness grail. And as soon as she took the pedal home, she set out to feature it on her debut EP, Blue Hour, released this week and recorded at Winnipeg’s Collector Studio.

“It produces a really cool, deep synth bass sound, and so we used it on House on Fire, which is probably the most produced song on the album: that was the only one we didn’t do live-off-the-floor,” says Magnan, a music therapist who works with Artists in Healthcare.

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Arts & Life

Supplied Greg Pester co-owned the Royal George Hotel for 26 years and died April 6 at the age of 70.

Street renaming to honour late Transcona musician

Tiago Rekso 3 minute read Preview

Street renaming to honour late Transcona musician

Tiago Rekso 3 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Friends and family of a late Winnipeg country musician are pushing to rename a street after him to honour his legacy and its lasting impact on the city’s music scene.

A motion to rename a street after Greg Pester, who co-owned the Royal George Hotel for 26 years and died April 6 at the age of 70, was passed by the Lord Selkirk-West community committee Tuesday.

The motion, made by Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) was sent to the property and development committee to be reviewed. After that, it will go to the Transcona community committee for the final vote.

If finalized, the block of Regent Avenue West where the Royal George is located would be changed to Greg Pester Way.

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Miss Lonelyhearts

Laugh yourself to a sounder summer sleep

Maureen Scurfield 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I have a wicked time trying to get to sleep, and when the sun stays up so long, it’s worse! I lie awake in the half-light and finally fall into a fitful sleep with creepy dreams.

Some people might like to be scared to death, but I don’t! It’s gotten so I stay up watching TV, trying to dodge the deeper dreaming that lies ahead. Do you have any ideas that can help me?

— Summer Nightmares, downtown

Dear Victim of Summer Nightmares: A dear friend of mine who almost lost her life, but finally regained her health, has been the recipient of lots of restorative sleep advice.

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Jordan Strauss / Invision Files Office Space star Ron Livingston is 59 years old today.

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

MOON ALERT: Avoid shopping (except food and gas) and important decisions after 2 p.m. today. The moon is in Aquarius.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Listen to the advice of someone older or more experienced because this could be beneficial for you. Nevertheless, you might get in a dispute with a friend or member of a group about money, possessions or financial matters. Perhaps the cost of something? Stay chill.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

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