Don’t prolong charade with unsuited ‘match’

Canada urged to create anti-Islamophobia strategy

OTTAWA - The federal government hasn't gone far enough in addressing Islamophobia in Canada despite the rise of anti-Muslim hate in recent years, a Wilfrid Laurier University professor said.

Jasmin Zine said the London, Ont., attack that left four members of a Muslim family dead is another episode in a series of attacks that targeted Muslim Canadians across the country in the last few years amid lack of concerted government action to tackle the rise in Islamophobia.

Zine said she is working with a group of researchers on a study that will come out in the fall to document how a network of associations, groups, activists and donors has been promoting anti-Muslim hate in what she calls an "Islamophobia industry."

"We're inspired to act, to do this kind of work because of tragedies like the Quebec massacre, this horrible terror attack in London, the stabbing of a Muslim caretaker at a (Toronto) mosque (last year) and all of the other incidents and issues of Islamophobia that happen on a daily basis," she said.

Seven of city’s 10 best-paid employees work for police

The City of Winnipeg’s 2025 compensation disclosure document, released Friday, shows seven of the top 10 highest paid employees are police officers.

Winnipeg Police Service Chief Gene Bowers earned $313,467 during his first year in the position, coming second only to an unnamed police superintendent who took home $491,926.

Collectively, WPS members earned $2.1 million of the total $2.9 million paid to the city’s highest earners, equivalent to about 72 per cent. That includes a constable ranked No. 8 in the top 10 after earning $260,234 — more than outgoing Winnipeg Fire Paramedic chief Christian Schmidt (No. 9) at $255,036.

Schmidt’s successor, Ryan Sneath, who was appointed chief this week, earned $247,432 last year.

Wearing the Maple Leaf lived up to the hype for DeMelo

When Dylan DeMelo stepped into the dressing room and saw his name and number on the back of a Team Canada namebar, that’s when things really sunk in.

The Winnipeg Jets defenceman was already excited about the prospect of suiting up for his country in an international event for the first time of his career at the age of 33 before he even got overseas for the 2026 IIHF men’s world hockey championship, but the experience definitely lived up to the advance billing.

“It was kind of like a dream come true feeling,” DeMelo said on Tuesday after the Jets held a captain’s skate. “I never had that chance ever. For me, it was super cool.

“It was an amazing experience and it just gave you a boost of confidence coming into the year.”

New TV shows help home hibernators

We’ve made it. It’s the middle of January, the month I affectionately refer to as the armpit of the year (November is the other one).

Many of you are in full-on hibernation mode, which means you need things to watch.

The latest instalment of Don’t Sleep on This — a semi-regular series in which the Free Press Arts & Life department provides (spoiler-free) recommendations of the TV shows you should watch — is brought to you by the letter S. We look at a soapy figure skating drama, a life-affirming comedy and a banter-filled crime drama.

No reason to panic about city’s projected $29-M shortfall: councillor

The City of Winnipeg expects to end this year with a nearly $29-million shortfall in its tax-supported operating budget, as costs for fuel, snow-clearing and other expenses pile up.

The financial outlook is based on data up to June 30 and projects a deficit that is $8.5 million larger than the city’s first-quarter forecast.

“It’s obviously going in the wrong direction but … I wouldn’t necessarily consider it (reason for) panic at this point. It’s not surprising with fuel prices, in particular, being higher than forecast,” said Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan), city council’s finance chairman.

Traditionally, the city’s finances often improve in later months of the year, though there is no guarantee that will happen.

CFL greats open up about full effects of concussions

He remembers the four Grey Cup wins. He remembers his Hall of Fame teammates. He even remembers single plays he authored that changed the history of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers franchise and which fans still talk about more than 50 years later.

But what Canadian Football Hall of Fame quarterback Ken Ploen no longer remembers is what he did yesterday. The greatest Bombers player who ever lived has been diagnosed — like an alarming number of his aging CFL teammates — with dementia.

“He’s still in great health otherwise. We just had our checkups and the doctors say he has the heart of a 16-year-old,” says Janet Ploen, his wife of 55 years.

“He’s still able to get out and he’s still able to do things. It’s just that he doesn’t remember the experience the next day.”