Don’t fear reaching out to folks, post-meltdown

Manitoba teen’s assault conviction overturned

A six-year-old girl’s account of being sexually assaulted by a teenage boy at a park was enough to convince a Manitoba provincial court judge to convict the teen. But the judge’s comments about playground sand were enough for the province’s top court to overturn the conviction.

In a decision that shows how difficult it can be to secure a conviction in sexual-assault cases involving child victims, the Manitoba Court of Appeal has reversed the guilty verdict and ordered a new trial for the then-17-year-old male, who had been convicted and sentenced to probation for sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching.

Two out of three judges on the appeal panel decided there was a “miscarriage of justice” because the provincial court judge made legal errors in his analysis of the evidence — namely, whether the accused was telling the truth when he talked about the consistency of sand in the park where the girl was playing.

A third judge disagreed, writing in a dissenting judgment released earlier this month that the teen’s conviction should have been upheld. 

Hydro board members visit First Nation communities to discuss damage from past developments

Members of the Manitoba Hydro board visited Misipawistik Cree Nation and Chemawawin Cree Nation last week to learn more about the impacts of the Grand Rapids Generating Station and strengthen relationships with communities affected by hydroelectric development.

The two-day visit included spending time at culturally significant sites and discussions with leadership and community members, and a tour of generating stations and Grand Rapids fish hatchery, a Manitoba Hydro news release said.

The visit is part of Manitoba Hydro’s ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities affected by hydroelectric development, the release said. In 2024, the Manitoba Hydro board visited Gillam and met with First Nations that partner in the Keeyask Generating Station.

Last week’s visit to Misipawistik and Chemawawin came just weeks after the Federal Court on Sept. 3 ordered Ottawa pay Opaskwayak Cree Nation $27 million over damages suffered due to the construction of the Grand Rapids hydro dam in the 1960s.

Original Sorrento's restaurant still flinging pizzas, pastas after 45 years

The original Sorrento's Italian restaurant is still flinging pizzas, pastas and parmigiana more than 45 years later.

Don’t miss these 10 concerts during a jam-packed season

Shorter days and dipping temperatures also trumpet the launch of another jam-packed arts season, with a full slate of world-class concerts.

Here is a list of Top 10 concerts that have caught our eye from now until the snow flies, listed in chronological order:

1) Da-da-da-daaaah! The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 79th season with one of the most iconic symphonies in the classical canon on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Centennial Concert Hall. The first in its renamed Masterworks series (formerly Saturday Classics) features maestro Daniel Raiskin leading the players through Beethoven’s roiling Symphony No. 5, a.k.a. “fate knocking at the door,” as well as Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. The program that repeats Sunday at 2 p.m. also features Dark Nights, Bright Stars, Vast Universe from WSO’s newly minted composer-in-residence, Kelly-Marie Murphy; the work is inspired by the “night sky and themes of curiosity and discovery.” For further information, see wso.ca.

2) Manitoba has long been hailed as “the singing province,” with Winnipeg’s diverse choral groups promising to enthrall fans once again with their latest offerings. Local a cappella vocal ensemble Dead of Winter joins forces with the Juno-nominated Canadian Chamber Choir (Julia Davids, artistic director/conductor) in Where Waters Meet on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 3 p.m. at the Desautels Concert Hall. The collaborative program features works by founder/composer Andrew Balfour, who has Cree heritage, Carmen Braden (Yellowknife, N.W.T.), Sherryl Sewepagaham (Cree-Dene, Little Red River Cree Nation), and the late Cris Derksen (NorthTall Cree). The matinee performance also includes guest appearances by the University Singers and local Inuit throat singers Aleatra Sammurtok and Zeann Manernaluk. Check out deadofwinter.ca.