Premier Wab Kinew is asking Manitobans to change their plans for the long weekend because of the ongoing wildfire situation – and to NOT to set any fires. There have been about 80 wildfires so far this season, nearly double
the average for this time of year. Thursday, Whiteshell Provincial Park was evacuated and closed due to nearby fires.
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The couple who died in a wildfire in the Lac du Bonnet area this week have been identified as Richard and Sue Nowell. They were trapped by the fire, and emergency crews were not able to reach them. The victims’ son and his girlfriend managed to escape, but were injured. 28 cottages and homes in the rural municipality were destroyed.
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Assiniboine College’s ‘Prairie Innovation Centre’ is getting a $120-million boost from the Manitoba government. Premier Wab Kinew announced the funding Thursday during his State of the Province Address to the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. $40-million goes to the centre with $20-million for a new daycare inside the building that’ll have 216 spaces. The other $60 million is to get construction going by the end of the year.
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About 100 people walked through downtown Brandon on Thursday with a message to stop violence against women and children. The Moose Hide Campaign walk was organized by Assiniboine College and the Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples Council. The Indigenous-led campaign started in B.C. in 2011.
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A group of Carberry residents plans to protest a safety design option for the intersection of Highway 1 and 5 they say is impractical. There are three options to upgrade the intersection after a deadly crash in 2023, and locals
don’t like the RCUT design. They say to cross the Trans-Canada – farmers, for example, would have to weave their equipment over the highway to a special U-turn lane. A rally is planned for next Thursday.
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Hudson’s Bay is getting a second life with a new owner. Canadian Tire says it’ll pay $30 million for intellectual property belonging to the Bay. This includes the overarching Hudson’s Bay brand, its iconic, multicoloured stripes motif, its coat of arms – and other brand trademarks. The deal allows products under those names to be sold by Canadian Tire including houseware brands like Distinctly Home, and the Hudson North apparel line.
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Small businesses and shipping firms are preparing for a possible Canada Post strike as early as next week. A report today says mom-and-pop stores and e-commerce companies have started making alternative plans to get packages to consumers and clients – but these courier services typically charge more.
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A Winnipeg company has created the ‘JetsBot’ – a robot that celebrates every time the Winnipeg Jets score a goal. Eascan Automation says when the team scores – the robotic Jets fan raises his hands, waves a flag, and spins a towel. They hope the JetsBot gives team little more support.
