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supplied UFA Co-operative Ltd. is building its first Manitoba site in Portage la Prairie at 105 Poplar Bluff Rd. The new hub should look similar to its site in Moose Jaw (pictured), UFA says.

Alberta-based UFA Co-op preps first cardlock, fuel hub in Manitoba

Gabrielle Piche 4 minute read Yesterday at 8:20 PM CDT

An Alberta-based co-op plans to open its first Manitoba gas station later this year.

UFA Co-operative Ltd. has circled Portage la Prairie for a cardlock and bulk petroleum site. Meanwhile, it’s analyzing the keystone province for future locations.

“There is more to come,” Fred Thun, UFA president, said Wednesday.

The co-op counts at least 121 petroleum stations across Alberta and Saskatchewan and 125,000 member-owners. It already ships fuel to bulk customers in Manitoba.

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Business

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Stephen Hua, local nightlife entrepreneur and event promoter, has launched Hostly, a new app designed to connect people in real life while promoting local businesses.

Winnipeg-developed new app Hostly seeks to bring community together

Aaron Epp 5 minute read Preview

Winnipeg-developed new app Hostly seeks to bring community together

Aaron Epp 5 minute read Yesterday at 8:18 PM CDT

Stephen Hua enjoys making connections.

“That’s my calling or my passion here, so to speak: to find ways to bring people together and plan events,” he said.

Over the last 25 years, Hua has pursued that passion as a live events promoter and restaurateur in Winnipeg. He’s the founder of the annual electronic music festival Summer of Sound, he’s organized local concerts by major musical acts such as Drake and Lady Gaga, and he co-owns Commonwealth Kitchen and Bar on Main Street.

Now, Hua is helping people make connections via a new app.

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Yesterday at 8:18 PM CDT

Business

Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS Visitors to downtown Ottawa and Parliament Hill listen as Prime Minister Mark Carney takes questions from journalists outside the Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday.

New U.S. tariffs ‘more bluster than bite’

Gabrielle Piche 5 minute read Preview

New U.S. tariffs ‘more bluster than bite’

Gabrielle Piche 5 minute read Tuesday, Jul. 21, 2026

Manitoba businesses are watching with weary eyes as the United States threatens new 50 per cent tariffs on a variety of Canadian products.

However, should the levies come into effect Aug. 19, the effect on Manitoba’s GDP could be “pretty small,” said Fletcher Baragar, a University of Manitoba economics professor who researches the provincial economy.

Honey, furniture and printing materials leaving the province are among the tariff-exposed. The U.S. administration released a list of items Monday that would be hit by the levy in 30 days’ time.

Across Canada, $28 billion worth of annual exports to the U.S. could be affected, a Bank of Montreal note says. That’s 0.8 per cent of Canada’s economy.

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Tuesday, Jul. 21, 2026

Business

Winnipeg-based software company’s enrolment tracking platform finds receptive audience south of border

Gabrielle Piche 5 minute read Monday, Jul. 20, 2026

Popcorn, spreadsheet stuffies and branded hot sauce have been offered at Aryval’s conference booths.

The Winnipeg company sells none of those. Still, its leadership reports massive growth over the last two years, with expansions on the way.

Aryval is currently using $500,000 from the federal government to build a platform processing independent school enrolments. Forty-four American schools are set to use its product.

It comes as Aryval plans to manage event data — open houses, group tours — for more than 70 private schools across North America.

Business

Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press files WestJet announced new direct flights from Winnipeg to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and to Belize City, Belize.

WestJet adding two new direct flights from Winnipeg to warm-weather destinations

Aaron Epp 3 minute read Preview

WestJet adding two new direct flights from Winnipeg to warm-weather destinations

Aaron Epp 3 minute read Monday, Jul. 20, 2026

Manitobans planning a trip to a warm destination this winter have direct access to two more options.

WestJet announced on Monday it will launch non-stop routes between Winnipeg and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and between Winnipeg and Belize City, Belize. Each will be offered once a week, starting on Nov. 28 and Dec 14, respectively.

The Alberta-based airline did not respond to an interview request. In a news release, John Weatherill, executive vice-president and chief commercial officer, said the new routes support the growing demand for Latin Caribbean options.

“We are excited to offer more ways for guests to trade their snow boots for sandals in the destinations that matter most to them, and we look forward to the travel stories that will take off from these exciting new options,” he said.

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Monday, Jul. 20, 2026

Opinion

Magnific Many people name their spouse attorney-in-fact, but they also should name an alternate — who should definitely be aware they’re being nominated for the job.

Bearing other people’s burdens

Joel Schlesinger 6 minute read Preview

Bearing other people’s burdens

Joel Schlesinger 6 minute read Saturday, Jul. 18, 2026

It might feel like an honour to have a family member or friend place tremendous trust in you to be their voice when they can no longer speak for themselves.

Whether they’re physically or mentally unable to do so, or deceased, being in charge of fulfilling their wishes often can’t be fully grasped by those taking on the roles of executor of their will or power of attorney.

These important jobs may not be the most onerous on the planet, but for the uninitiated, they probably involve more twists and turns than anticipated.

There’s not many playbooks on how to be an executor or serve as the attorney-in-fact named in the power of attorney document, says Philippe Richer, lawyer and principal at TLR Law Office in Winnipeg.

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Saturday, Jul. 18, 2026

Opinion

MAgnific Creating an ethical workplace isn’t about assuming people will never make mistakes. It’s about creating an environment where doing the right thing is expected and supported.

Ethics isn’t about big scandals it’s about little decisions made each day

Tory McNally 6 minute read Preview

Ethics isn’t about big scandals it’s about little decisions made each day

Tory McNally 6 minute read Saturday, Jul. 18, 2026

I’m determined to enjoy summer, but even while trying to unplug, I can’t help noticing just how often workplace ethics are making headlines. For instance, Bell Canada made headlines after terminating employees who allegedly manipulated office attendance records by swiping into the building and immediately leaving.

Ethical failures don’t always involve millions of dollars or make international headlines. Sometimes, they look like an employee manipulating attendance records, exaggerating an expense claim or taking credit for someone else’s work. The dollar value may be small, but the damage to trust can be enormous.

As an HR consultant, I spend a surprising amount of time talking about ethics. Not because organizations are filled with bad people, but because good people sometimes make poor decisions when they are stressed, feel misplaced entitlement or are convinced “everyone else does it.”

That’s one of the biggest dangers. Once questionable behaviour becomes common, it starts to feel normal.

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Saturday, Jul. 18, 2026

More Business

Business

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Chad Celaire, co-owner of Bee2gether Bikes, at the Winnipeg rental company’s new FortWhyte Alive location.

Bee2gether Bikes out of The Forks after lease confusion

Gabrielle Piché 5 minute read Preview

Bee2gether Bikes out of The Forks after lease confusion

Gabrielle Piché 5 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 15, 2026

Tandem bike rentals aren’t on offer at The Forks this summer — and the longtime company behind them is claiming financial loss, calling the change unexpected.

For nearly two decades, people have zipped around The Forks on Bee2gether Bikes’s tandem and buggy rides.

Owner Chad Celaire said he planned for another season of downtown Winnipeg rentals. He said he emailed The Forks leadership in the spring, checking when Bee2gether could set up.

Celaire said he was “blindsided” when he received a May 19 email from property management saying The Forks wouldn’t grant a 2026 lease to Bee2gether Bikes.

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Wednesday, Jul. 15, 2026

Agriculture

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES The Port of Churchill will ship grain this summer.

Grain latest Port of Churchill shipment

Free Press staff 2 minute read Preview

Grain latest Port of Churchill shipment

Free Press staff 2 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 15, 2026

Prairie grain will soon ship out of the Port of Churchill for the first time in at least five years.

Starting Friday, grain will be moved to the northern Manitoba port from The Pas, via the Hudson Bay Railway. Few details were provided Wednesday.

A global agricultural company, based in Canada, will send its grain to international markets via the deep-water port. The first ship should leave Churchill at the end of August or beginning of September, said Chris Avery, president of Arctic Gateway Group, the port’s owner.

Arctic Gateway Group is talking with other companies also looking to ship grain, Avery added.

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Wednesday, Jul. 15, 2026

Food & Drink

Ruth Bonneville / Free Press From left: Kemashalini Kirusnaruban, Maria de Los Angeles Garofalo and Sherwin Santiano came up with Rooties chocolate bars, which contain more protein and fibre than other bars.

U of M students add malt barley roots to chocolate for nutritious treat

Tiago Resko 4 minute read Preview

U of M students add malt barley roots to chocolate for nutritious treat

Tiago Resko 4 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 15, 2026

The brewing industry isn’t known for being health conscious but, for a team of University of Manitoba students, it was the key to creating a chocolate bar that combines nutrition and indulgence.

Rooties is a proposed product by food sciences students at U of M that upcycles leftover malt barley roots used to brew beer. The malt increases the chocolate bar’s protein and fibre content, making it a more nutritious option for consumers, said Sherwin Santiano, one of four team members who worked on the product.

“It has a chewy sweet layer, and it has malt barley rootlets infused into the chocolate, similar to a Mars Bar,” he said.

Rooties is a finalist in an international food development competition run by Mars Snacking in partnership with the Institute of Food and Technologies Student Association. The annual event, called IFT First, selects groups of students from around the world to develop a product and present it to a panel of judges in Chicago.

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Wednesday, Jul. 15, 2026

Business

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Members of CUPE Local 8125, which represents approximately 4,400 WestJet flight attendants across Canada, take part in a ‘Day of Action’ at the departures entrance level at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport on Tuesday.

WestJet cabin crews issue warning

Gabrielle Piché 5 minute read Preview

WestJet cabin crews issue warning

Gabrielle Piché 5 minute read Tuesday, Jul. 14, 2026

Travellers leaving Winnipeg got an unexpected view Tuesday — a line of silent WestJet flight attendants, wearing sunglasses and holding signs protesting unfair wages.

“Ready to Strike” and “Unpaid Work Won’t Fly!” boards faced passersby hurrying into the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport’s departures level.

Some 66 Manitoba-based WestJet workers stood silently outside the terminal for a half-hour, before noon.

Elsewhere, their colleagues cast strike votes. Some 4,400 flight attendants across Canada began voting July 9; the vote closes today.

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Tuesday, Jul. 14, 2026

Business

Community Review shuttered in local ad flyer delivery shift

Gabrielle Piché 5 minute read Monday, Jul. 13, 2026

The Free Press’s parent company is shuttering its weekly community paper and flyer distribution in what some expect to be a wave of closures to hit the Canadian newspaper industry.

As of July 24, the Free Press will no longer deliver flyer inserts to 200,000 Manitoba households and mark the last edition of the Free Press Community Review.

Layoffs are happening this week and next. FP Newspapers chief executive officer Mike Power didn’t provide a final number Monday, but said the layoffs will impact various departments.

The company’s other newspapers — Free Press, Brandon Sun and Carillon — will continue production as normal. Layoffs won’t impact those newsrooms.

supplied UFA Co-operative Ltd. is building its first Manitoba site in Portage la Prairie at 105 Poplar Bluff Rd. The new hub should look similar to its site in Moose Jaw (pictured), UFA says.

Alberta-based UFA Co-op preps first cardlock, fuel hub in Manitoba

Gabrielle Piche 4 minute read Preview

Alberta-based UFA Co-op preps first cardlock, fuel hub in Manitoba

Gabrielle Piche 4 minute read Yesterday at 8:20 PM CDT

An Alberta-based co-op plans to open its first Manitoba gas station later this year.

UFA Co-operative Ltd. has circled Portage la Prairie for a cardlock and bulk petroleum site. Meanwhile, it’s analyzing the keystone province for future locations.

“There is more to come,” Fred Thun, UFA president, said Wednesday.

The co-op counts at least 121 petroleum stations across Alberta and Saskatchewan and 125,000 member-owners. It already ships fuel to bulk customers in Manitoba.

Read
Yesterday at 8:20 PM CDT

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