Two more northern Manitoba communities are getting ready to evacuate residents due to wildfires. St. Theresa Point and Wasagamack First Nations have declared local states of emergencies in the last 24 hours. As of last Friday, there were 107 active fires across the province.
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The Manitoba government’s province-wide state of emergency remains in place today. It was declared last week to help facilitate evacuations and find shelter for those fleeing wildfires. In total, about 12,600 people are out of their homes. The government has also given notice that it intends to use Winnipeg’s Convention Centre to house more evacuees.
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The Manitoba government is providing a $95,000 grant to help improve the water quality in Oak Lake. The Souris River Watershed District will install an aeration system to improve the water’s oxygen levels. This will aid
in reducing algae blooms and support fish populations.
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Hundreds turned out to watch the annual Peacock Calling Competition in Souris over the weekend. The 4th annual contest brought out 83 participants who tried their best to imitate the squawking sound the birds make. Organizers say the competition has grown steadily over the years, and has become a favourite attraction of the town’s Peacock Days.
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The province’s history is now available on an app. You can now learn about nearly 10,000 of Manitoba’s historical sites on ‘MHS InSite’, a free mobile app created by the Manitoba Historical Society. It includes a map to find historic locations including buildings, cemeteries, monuments, and museums.
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Manitoba’s police watchdog is investigating an incident in Brandon last month. The Independent Investigations Unit is examining details related to the arrest of a boy with an edged weapon on June 10th. A taser was used in his arrest, and a second ‘use-of-force encounter’ reportedly happened when he was in Brandon police custody. June 10th was the date of the sword attack at Neelin High School.
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Obesity rates in Canada increased during the pandemic faster than the previous decade. A new report says obesity rose likely due to public health restrictions that included the closure of gyms, schools and workplaces. This led to an absence of structure, extra screen time – and closeness to the fridge.
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More and more Canadian employers are cutting down on working from home. Big banks including RBC, Scotiabank and BMO have mandated at least four days in the office starting in September, while Canaccord Genuity is moving to five. Experts say culture is a big part of it; trying to get all employees to be better aligned with the company.
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The happiest people in Canada live in Quebec. A new poll found Quebecers rated their happiness at 72.4 out of 100 – well above the national average. New Brunswick was next. Prince Edward Island and Manitoba finished at the bottom. Women reported slightly higher happiness levels than men.
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Ya wanna buy a rock? There’s a 25-kilogram one going up for auction in New York this week, and it’s expected to fetch around $4-million. The meteorite is the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth. It was discovered in the Sahara by a meteorite hunter in 2023. The auction is part of Sotheby’s ‘Geek Week 2025’ and features 122 items including other meteorites, fossils and gem-quality minerals.
