Shift in setting could help escape painful cues

Knit wit: self-taught knitter quit school, job to stitch together new career

It’s the coldest night of the year and inside a cosy North Kildonan cafe, knitter Janine Myska is spinning her yarn.

Not the woolly kind, as one might expect from an expert knitter, but the proverbial sort that details exactly how the charming, 24-year-old Winnipeg entrepreneur went from crafting simple tuques on a loom to operating her own successful online-based knitwear and pattern company.

Seated at a table for two, Myska sets forth that her flourishing company, Knits N’ Knots — knitsnknots.ca. — got off the ground three years ago when the then-21-year-old was a student of Food Science at the University of Manitoba. Around that time, her mother bestowed upon her a plastic, circular knitting loom on which she speedily churned out roughly 50 simple woolly tuques.

“They turned out really nice,” recalls the milliner, who instantly began posting photographs of the double-brim toques on her Instagram account for all of her 20 followers to admire. (Her first @knitsnknotswpg Instagram post on Feb. 18, 2016 shows her sporting a chunky white tuque with a large pom-pom and black stripe; it garnered 109 “likes.”)

CFL's Edmonton Eskimos speed up name review

The Edmonton Eskimos promised to speed up a review of its name and provide an update at the end of the month after at least one of its sponsors announced it plans to cut ties with the Canadian Football League team unless it changes its name.

Other corporate sponsors, meanwhile, say they are watching closely for the results of the review.

National car-and-home insurance provider Belairdirect, one of the team's 13 premier partners, said Tuesday it is rethinking their relationship.

"In order for us to move forward and continue on with our partnership, we will need to see concrete action in the near future including a commitment to a name change," company spokeswoman Jennifer Beck said in an email.

Proposed Transcona development — which could add 20,000 people — gets thumbs down from residents

Dozens of Winnipeggers fear plans to make way for up to 20,000 more people to live in south Transcona would dramatically alter their neighbourhood and tie hefty fees for new services to their property titles.

If city council adopts the proposed South Transcona secondary plan, all future development applications would need to conform to its goals. The affected area is located south of Dugald Road, north of St. Boniface Road, east of Plessis Road and west of Murdock Road.

Homeowner Virginia Page Jähne fears the plan could add a massive tab to the title of her 4.3-acre property to cover services required for the development.

“My main concern is that they are wanting to put $1.4 million onto my title to pay for this. Now, they say that I will not have to pay it unless I subdivide. But if a person comes by and wants to buy from me … and they see that $1.4 million … what’s the first thing (they’re) going to do?” said Page Jähne, in an interview.

Can we have a G20 without Russia? Chrystia Freeland sounds ready to give it a try

“It is the case that the G20 can’t function effectively with Russia at the table, and with Russia in the room. It’s an absurd situation,” said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.

City set to seize derelict hotel

The city is poised to seize the derelict St. Charles Hotel, which will uncork pent-up interest from developers, the head of Heritage Winnipeg hopes.

Cindy Tugwell said the Exchange District hotel is structurally sound, in a great location and has nearby parking.

"I really don't think that building is going to struggle with a developer," said Tugwell, who has already fielded several calls from builders interested in renovating the 100-year-old hotel.

Monday marks the beginning of the end of the five-year saga of the St. Charles Hotel. That's the day councillors on the downtown development committee will vote whether to take title to the building under the vacant and derelict building bylaw.