Boozy, besotted parents upstage bride and groom

As much as I cling to hope, I recognize the ominous circumstances and questionable future that our young people stand to inherit.

Youth are navigating a world plagued with the existential dangers of climate change, artificial intelligence, political polarization and rising military armament, among other disconcerting trends. While schools cannot entirely ameliorate these issues, I am inspired by the words of Amina Mohammed, the United Nations deputy secretary-general, who declared teachers to be the “guardians of our future.”

Our future integrally depends on the learning, healthy development and empowerment of young people. With the upcoming Manitoba school board elections, I invite readers, voters and prospective candidates to consider how to support the practices of these guardians so we may ensure a brighter tomorrow.

First, I believe we are in — or entering — a community mental-health crisis. There is a resounding body of peer-reviewed research outlining the declining trends in the mental health of youth, parents and teachers. In May 2026, Doctors Manitoba stated its concern that the technology consumption habits of youth rivalled the health detriments of drinking and smoking. Many parents are stressed, economically struggling and need assistance. How might schools mitigate these precarious developments?

A model canoe took its maiden voyage Wednesday — into the arms of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s executive director.

Stephanie Scott and her team received the miniature wooden canoe during a ceremony at Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg.

They also left with a freshly signed corporate declaration of action, where national companies pledged their commitment to reconciliation.

“Your commitment, your courage is so important,” Scott told a room of roughly 15 people in the Pavilion. “It is a very long journey that we’re all on.”

On diet and humanity

Re: “Maybe ASI will need us” (Letters, Oct. 5)

Mr. Martin, humans eating animals is not part of the circle of life. Many cultures with abundant plant resources, or for religious beliefs, have historically subsisted on largely or strictly vegetarian diets. Likewise, in extreme environments such as the Arctic, Inuit rely heavily on animal products due to the near-absence of arable land. Humans adapt locally to their environments and do not have a single ancestral diet.

Clearly vegetarian or vegan diets are not fringe, as evidenced by plant-based products on main-stream grocery store shelves. To suggest the Free Press is morally endorsing a fringe diet is rubbish, (the newspaper) merely gives the public a platform for diverse opinions, thus generating individual, thought-provoking ideas and conversations — a practice that is desperately needed these days.

A call for digital revolution

Re: MPI on new path after Project Nova debacle (Oct. 6)

Computer scientist Melvin Conway once stated, “Any organization that designs a system (defined broadly) will produce a design whose structure is a copy of the organization’s communication structure.”

This is seen clearly in the Manitoba government’s online service. The Manitoba government has a “Data MB” portal to view government data sets, but data about vehicle collisions is only accessible from Manitoba Public Insurance’s Manitoba Collision Dashboard. If you need to find information on a Manitoba surgeon, that information is on Shared Health’s website, but if you need surgical wait times, that’s on the main government website.