Free Press Community Review: East

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Seine River MLA Billie Cross bringing greetings during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at John Forsyth Park, unveiling new and improved outdoor community spaces in River Park South.

Celebrating upgrades at John Forsyth Park

Billie Cross 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

On Sept. 29, I had the pleasure of attending the opening ribbon-cutting ceremony at John Forsyth Park, here in Seine River. The celebration was a wonderful opportunity for our community to gather and showcase the new improvements made to our local park.

Following the renovations, John Forsyth Park features brand new fitness facilities, a paved walkway, and an outdoor classroom to be used by community members and students at École Christine-Lespérance. I look forward to seeing seniors staying active by using the fitness equipment, children learning in the outdoor classroom, and parents enjoying the new pathway.

John Forsyth Park has always been a place where residents of all ages come to gather, play and celebrate. With the new improvements, the park will become an even stronger part of our community here in Seine River.

I want to express my unwavering gratitude for the work of the federal government, the Province of Manitoba, and the City of Winnipeg for turning the dreams of upgrading this park into a reality.

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What Manitoba’s path to net zero means for our community

Mike Moyes 3 minute read Preview

What Manitoba’s path to net zero means for our community

Mike Moyes 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

As your MLA and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, I want to share what Manitoba’s newly released Path to Net Zero Emissions by 2050 means, why it’s so important, and what steps are already taking place right here in our area. Climate change is no longer a distant concern; it’s impacting Manitobans today, and this government’s plan lays out how we intend to respond with both urgency and fairness.

The Path to Net Zero, which can be read online at www.manitoba.ca/netzero is Manitoba’s roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. The plan builds on provincial mandates that emphasize energy efficiency, heat pumps, renewable energy, and cleaner transportation. This will be done with a whole-of-government approach, bringing together government departments to work alongside each other, with communities, Indigenous Nations, industry, workers, and organizations on projects to achieve net-zero.

Deeply inspired by the teachings of Indigenous peoples, the Path to Net Zero emphasizes reciprocity and balance, values that are deeply rooted in Indigenous knowledge.

As we shift to cleaner heat sources (like geothermal heat pumps) and improve insulation and efficiency, households will save money through lower energy bills. Information relating to over 40 programs that enable Manitobans to save can be found on the Efficiency Manitoba website. This includes information on the Affordable Home Energy Program and other offers for homes and businesses.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

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Riel MLA Mike Moyes, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Premier Wab Kinew at launch event for the Path to Net Zero at FortWhyte Alive on Oct. 6.

Getting drug users off our streets safely

Jim Maloway 2 minute read Preview

Getting drug users off our streets safely

Jim Maloway 2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

On Oct. 2, the Manitoba NDP government introduced Bill 48, the Protective Detention and Care of Intoxicated Persons Act, to respond directly to today’s meth crisis.

Bill 48 extends protections to people under the influence of drugs, as well as alcohol. This means that Manitobans affected by meth, opioids, or other substances will have access to a system designed to meet their needs.

Meth-induced psychosis can last well beyond 24 hours. Without a safe place to recover, people in crisis too often end up harming themselves or others. To support recovering individuals, Bill 48 allows protective care centres to keep people for up to 72 hours. If a person remains intoxicated after 24 hours of their stay, they will be assessed by a medical professional, with follow-ups after 48 hours if necessary.

Bill 48 provides police and healthcare professionals with more options for support. As a result, Bill 48 will help alleviate the strain on emergency rooms and keep communities safe. The goal of Bill 48 is safety, dignity, and access to care. Once someone has stabilized, they will be connected to addiction services so they can begin a healthier path forward.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

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Elmwood MLA Jim Maloway and the Hon. Mike Moyes, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Hon. Matt Wiebe, MLA for Concordia and Minister of Justice and Attorney General, at the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program announcement on Sept. 12 at 180 Poplar Ave.

Business improving on St. Anne’s Road

Ryan Palmquist 2 minute read Preview

Business improving on St. Anne’s Road

Ryan Palmquist 2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

St. Anne’s Road has been experiencing a walk-up business rejuvenation.

New mixed use buildings along the Fermor to St. Mary’s corridor has created quality commercial spaces along with new residential units for families in the apartments above.

EspressoVIBE is one of them, which opened its doors in August, by couple Elias and Ina.

Ina, originally from Ukraine, met husband Elias in Dubai, where he gained experience working in restaurants and the service sector. The two have been dreaming of starting their own business for the last five years.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

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EspressoVIBE, located at 113 St. Anne’s Rd., opened its doors in August.

Planting the seed

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read Preview

Planting the seed

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

For the past 10 years, the Mennonite Central Committee of Manitoba has been bringing urban residents and rural farmers together to help address global food insecurity.

“Grow Hope is an annual food security program of MCC,” said Darryl Loewen, MCC Manitoba’s executive director. “The proceeds are … distributed broadly in the category of food security: one would be food acute food security, and the other would be crisis relief.”

Since 2015, Grow Hope in Manitoba has raised $1.92 million for the MCC’s account at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Each year, the federal government matches donations at a minimum 1:1 ratio, though at times the federal contribution has gone as high as 4:1.

“With a partial count for this year, we’re at $124,000, and hope to get to about $150,000 in donated dollars,” Loewen said.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Photo by Sheldon Birnie
Mary Anne Isaak (pictured) is a pastor at River East Church (755 McLeod Ave.). For the past 10 years, River East Church has contributed to MCC Manitoba’s Grow Hope campaign, which connects urban residents with farmers, in order to support growing crops for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, in order to help address food insecurity globally.

LRSD Ward 3 trustee byelection set for Oct. 25

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read Preview

LRSD Ward 3 trustee byelection set for Oct. 25

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

The upcoming byelection for the vacant trustee position in Louis Riel School Division’s Ward 3 will be held on Oct. 25. Three candidates are in the running.

Peter Bjornson, 61, is an instructor and the co-ordinator of practicum for the Access Program in the Faculty of Education at the University of Winnipeg. He previously taught at Gimli High School, was the MLA for Gimli, and served in several cabinet roles in the provincial NDP government, including Minister of Education and Advanced Learning.

“I have 30 years of experience in public service and education, and these have always been passions of mine,” said Bjornson, who lives in River Park South in Ward 3 and whose three children attended LRSD schools.

“As education minister, I visited more than 500 schools, and I bring a wealth of experience in that regard.”

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Local educator attends international STEM expo

Janine LeGal SPECIAL TO FP COMMUNITY REVIEW 4 minute read Preview

Local educator attends international STEM expo

Janine LeGal SPECIAL TO FP COMMUNITY REVIEW 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, also known as STEM, is an umbrella term used to group together those distinct, but related, technical disciplines in the context of education policy or curriculum choices in schools. And, it’s an exciting area of study for students willing to explore and discover whole new worlds.

Passionate about advancing STEM education and equity, Dr. Anju Bajaj is a STEM educator and advisor at Holy Cross School and Manitoba Catholic Schools, and the founder and chair of the Bison Regional Science Fair. She has spent over 15 years mentoring students and building community-based science programs.

Recognized nationally for her leadership, Bajaj, who holds a Ph.D. in life sciences and has a background in health research and education, recently represented Canada at the MILSET Expo-Sciences International 2025 in Abu Dhabi. MILSET (Mouvement International pour le Loisir Scientifique Et Technique) is a non-governmental, non-profit and politically independent youth organisation, which aims at developing scientific culture among young people.

There, she attended advanced AI workshops with global leaders focused on integrating artificial intelligence into education. Her mission is to empower youth to innovate, collaborate globally, and create positive change.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Supplied photo
Dr. Anju Bajaj (pictured, centre) recently represented Canada at the MILSET Expo-Sciences International 2025 in Abu Dhabi.

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East edition news in brief — week of Oct. 15, 2025

FP Community Review staff 2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Pop-up book sale coming to St. Vital Centre on Oct. 18

Literature lovers will once again have the chance to pick up some bargains while supporting a good cause.

The latest pop-up used book sale in support of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba will be held at St. Vital Centre (1225 St. Mary’s Rd.) on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors will be able to find titles in a wide range of genres, including fantasy and science fiction, horror, paranormal romance, children’s books, the occult, and Halloween and Christmas titles, organizers say.

City news in brief — week of Oct. 15, 2025

FP Community Review staff 2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Mully Children’s Family Choir to perform locally this month

From Oct. 17 to 20, Mully Children’s Family Mission Choir will perform a number of concerts across Manitoba.

On Oct. 17, the choir is scheduled to sing O Canada on CJOB at 10:35 a.m. and another song on CHVN at 11:35 a.m. It holds a concert at the Acadia Hutterite Colony that evening. On Oct. 18, the choir will sing the national anthems before the Winnipeg Jets game against the Nashville Predators on Hockey Night in Canada.

On Oct. 19, Mully Children’s Family Mission Choir appear at two morning services at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church, (1315 Gateway Rd.). That evening, the choir will perform a full concert at Gateway North Church (745 Kapelus Dr.) in West St. Paul, beginning at 6:30 p.m. While admission is free, donations are accepted.

Meet Titus

Manitoba Mutts 2 minute read Preview

Meet Titus

Manitoba Mutts 2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Hi. I’m Titus.

I’m a shy and gentle boy who loves quiet spaces, soft beds, and the company of patient humans.

I am working on being housetrained and working on crate training. It’s very easy to put me into my crate, but I don’t like staying in my crate too long. I need a crate to help me feel safe as I build confidence. My foster mom teases me and calls me Houdini, because I like to escape from my crate and pen.

I live with my foster brother Tucker and we play great together. I might be more suited to a home with another dog to teach me how to become more confident. I like to play rough, but I don’t like overly energetic or pushy dogs, because they can be overwhelming for me.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

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Titus is a shy and gentle boy who loves quiet spaces, soft beds, and the company of patient humans.

Comment vous remercier, Mr. Dryden

Adriano Magnifico 3 minute read Preview

Comment vous remercier, Mr. Dryden

Adriano Magnifico 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

When Ken Dryden passed away in September, his death struck me harder than I thought it would, and I’ve been reflecting on why.

I was 10 years old when I witnessed the rookie keeper backstopping the underdog Canadiens to an exciting seven-game victory in the first round of the 1971 playoffs over the mighty Boston Bruins, with superstars Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito.

Some will never forget the day school life in Canada stopped cold to broadcast that final heart-stopping final eighth game of the epic 1972 Canada-Russia Summit Series. Dryden was the goalie.

He was an enigma — a towering 6-foot-4 goaltender in an era when goalies were smaller and more compact. That ghostlike fiberglass mask with oval-shaped cutouts for the eyes and small slits for the nose and mouth had a slasher-movie feel. His leather leg pads didn’t seem to fit his lanky legs, one of which miraculously came out of nowhere to stop a sure Jim Pappin goal in the seventh game of that ‘71 Stanley Cup final game. I still get shivers thinking about that save.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

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In 1995, community correspondent Adriano Magnifico stood in line to get his copy of Ken Dryden In School signed.

Committee approves $12,000 for Transcona pipe band

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

The East Kildonan-Transcona community committee held a regular meeting on Oct. 3.

During the regular meeting, plans were approved for a number of projects, including: a new bank building at 1555 Regent Ave. W; a new self-storage warehouse within the the existing commercial building at 175 and 179 Stadacona St., and 335 Tweed Ave.; as well as exterior alterations at 212 Regent Ave. W.

A $12,000 community fund grant from the Transcona ward allowance was approved for the Transcona and District Pipe Band, following a presentation from Dave Stewart, on the challenges the long-running community band has faced, post-COVID.

Additionally, a $4,000 communities fund grant for the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation’s Winter Fun Day was approved, along with a $500 community fund grant for the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association’s fall cankerworm banding campaign.

Winnipeg Transit extends transfer window

FP Community Review staff 1 minute read Preview

Winnipeg Transit extends transfer window

FP Community Review staff 1 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

Riders on Winnipeg Transit can now stretch their journeys by another 15 minutes at no extra cost.

According to a City of Winnipeg news release, bus transfers will now be valid for 90 minutes instead of 75 minutes.

In light of the recent overhaul of the city’s bus network, Winnipeg Transit is making the change based on passenger feedback, officials say.

“We’re continuing to make changes to transit based on what riders tell us,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham in the release. “Extending the transfer window is one more step in a series of improvements to make the system more convenient and reliable for Winnipeggers.”

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Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

Free Press file photo/Ruth Bonneville
Riders on Winnipeg Transit can now stretch their journeys by another 15 minutes, as bus transfers will now be valid for 90 minutes instead of 75 minutes.

Fostering a better future

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Preview

Fostering a better future

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

A Winnipeg teacher has arrived in Sierra Leone to help provide hands-on help and guidance to members of a local community.

Jen Nicholson is a member of the Sierra Leone Action Mission (SLAM) – a charitable organization comprised of a number of local volunteers who have, most recently, fundraised and supported the building a new orphanage in Koidu in the West African nation.

SLAM falls under the umbrella of several initiatives of Accountable Development Works, a registered Canadian charity based in Winnipeg. The organizers of each initiative of ADW do their own fundraising.

Nicholson – who became a SLAM committee member last year – is looking forward to spending time in a community that includes the orphanage, which was built on the site of a school. Both were previously built with the support of SLAM. Nicholson has previous experience volunteering in Africa, having spent a year in South Sudan teaching geography, chemistry, and biology more than a decade ago.

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Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

Photo by Emma Honeybun
West End resident and Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute teacher Jen Nicholson recently arrived in Sierra Leone to help youth with vocational training.

Zine provides platform for trans creators

Emma Honeybun STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read Preview

Zine provides platform for trans creators

Emma Honeybun STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

Jordan Anglin saw C.R.A.Z.Y., the 2005 film directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, for the first time when it was presented in her Grade 9 French immersion film class. Although, at the time, she had always known she was queer, she assures that the film — and its story, following a young man as he navigates internalized homophobia and family turmoil caused by his sexuality — changed her life. It was shown to the class near the end of that school year, and she came out as transgender less than a year later.

Now, at 21, Anglin is hoping to create a similar effect for more local trans youth through Of The Moths, a collaborative zine project containing art and poetry from 11 artists — from Winnipeg, Manitoba and Ontario — depicting the personal highs-and-lows of the trans experience.

“It’s the result of many things,” she said, adding that, due to the zine being inspired by her own life and identity, it’s something only she could have orchestrated. “Because of my public speaking and being very open about being trans, I’ve had many people come up to me and go, ‘I didn’t know anyone else experienced that — thank you so much. I thought I was just weird!’ … I really needed to do something beyond my own experiences, to let people know they’re not alone.”

The zine is inspired by Anglin’s academic focus of history, which introduced her to the work of several Irish poets, active during the 19th century, which was often a crucial part of local newspapers.

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Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

Photo by Emma Honeybun
Jordan Anglin (pictured) is the editor behind Of The Moths, which includes work from 11 transgender artists based in Manitoba and Ontario.

Let’s do the Time Warp again!

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 2 minute read Preview

Let’s do the Time Warp again!

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

It’s been 50 years since The Rocky Horror Picture Show, by Richard O’Brien, was released in 1975 as a film — and all these years on, the iconic story maintains a passionate and far-reaching cult fan base. The stage production, The Rocky Horror Show, premiered in 1973.

To celebrate, the Dramatic Theatre Company will present The Rocky Horror Show live onstage at The Asper Centre for Theatre and Film, which is located at 400 Colony St. at the University of Winnipeg.

Just in time for Halloween, there will be performances on Oct. 31 at 8 p.m.; Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.; and Nov. 2 at 2:30 p.m.

The show is co-directed by Justin Joseph, Laurie Fischer, and Alana Penner.

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Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

October 19, 2025