Reckless behaviour signals need for serious help

Local medical scrubs retailer feeling abandoned by U of M, RRC Polytech nursing programs

A Winnipeg uniform store is appealing to medical students to shop locally for scrubs this back-to-school season as it grapples with growing competition online and an apparent shutout by local campuses.

Unimor Healthwear has long ordered uniforms in bulk in navy blue, burgundy and pewter, as nurses-in-training are required to wear those colours based on where they’re enrolled in the province.

“It’s not like it used to be,” Evan Schwartz said about customer traffic to his store at 98 Sherbrook St.

The company’s director estimated he spent about $15,000 to stock up on scrubs in pewter in preparation for the launch of Red River College Polytechnic’s upcoming nursing intake.

Feds warn against non-essential trips abroad

OTTAWA - The federal government is now warning Canadians against all non-essential international travel in the face of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19.

"To those who were planning to travel I say very clearly, now is not the time to travel," Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said Wednesday at a news conference in Ottawa.

"The rapid spread of the Omicron variant on a global scale makes us fear the worst for Canadians that may think of travelling."

Duclos said the highly transmissible variant is now spreading in Canadian communities, and just about everywhere else in the world. He said that people who leave the country risk spreading the virus, and getting stranded abroad.

Pallister vows to get tough with liquor store thieves

Premier Brian Pallister has issued a stern warning to anyone contemplating robbing a liquor store: "We are going to find you."

During a violent robbery at the Tyndall Park liquor store on Wednesday, three employees were assaulted. The suspects also assaulted three women in the adjacent mall. On Thursday, discussions at the Manitoba legislature centred on escalating violence and thefts at retail stores.

"Ultimately, it's just got to be absolutely clear to anyone out there that this kind of behaviour — individuals choosing to act like this — is totally, totally unacceptable. The full force of the law will be brought to bear on people who engage in this kind of behaviour," Pallister said.

Winnipeg police said a 15-year-old male faces a slew of charges, including robbery, assault and uttering threats. Officers continued to look for two more suspects.

Hopeful hints of a post-pandemic return to life in Manitoba

If there’s one thing we have learned about Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer, is he tends to prepare Manitobans for what’s coming next in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether it’s changes to public-health orders or how Manitobans may be expected to rearrange their lives, Roussin often gives hints in advance that something is coming down the pike.

On Monday, Roussin began preparing people for a “post-pandemic Manitoba,” where public-health restrictions will be replaced by recommendations, and where daily reporting of COVID-19 case numbers and test-positivity rates will become a thing of the past.

“We know that all pandemics end and this one will be no different,” said Roussin. “Looking at other jurisdictions that have had high vaccine rates, we can see that perhaps this pandemic’s days are numbered.”

Smiling Shiffrin inspired by US teammates and boyfriend

From Brian Burke at the top to forwards Kasperi Kapanen, Brian Boyle and Leaf-for-a-moment Evan Rodrigues, now centring the top line, the Penguins have been among the league’s surprise successes heading into Saturday night’s home date against Toronto.