📌 At a Glance
- 🎒 281,000 Manitoba students return to school
- 🤖 70% support AI literacy in classrooms
- 🚗 Five killed in Labour Day weekend crashes
- 🇨🇦 Canada imposes $28 billion in U.S. counter-tariffs
- 🏥 Dauphin ER reopens after flood closure
- ⛈️ Severe storm knocks out power to 3,000 Winnipeg customers
- 🗳️ Quentin Robinson enters Brandon’s Ward 7 race
- 🌾 Manitoba harvest reaches 11% complete
🎒 Back-to-School Day Across Manitoba
More than 281,000 students are heading back to classrooms and campuses across Manitoba today as the new academic year begins.
About 225,000 K-to-12 students are returning to schools, while another 56,000 post-secondary students are back at colleges and universities. With increased traffic around schools, motorists are being urged to watch for school buses, reduced-speed zones and larger numbers of pedestrians.
A new survey from Liaison Strategies suggests parents are generally more supportive of classroom technology than non-parents, favouring managed use of laptops and tablets rather than eliminating screens altogether.
🏫 Independent Schools Continue Growing
Student growth in Manitoba continues to shift beyond the public school system.
Funded independent schools added hundreds of students last year, pushing total enrolment to approximately 18,000 students, representing about 12 per cent of Manitoba’s overall student population.
🤖 Canadians Support AI Literacy, With Limits
Canadians appear open to artificial intelligence becoming part of the education system, but only to a point.
A new survey shows 70 per cent support mandatory AI literacy education in schools. However, most respondents oppose AI-generated assignments and remain skeptical about using AI tools for grading student work.
🚗 Five Killed in Labour Day Weekend Crashes
Five people died in two separate crashes over the Labour Day weekend, including four teenagers near Winnipeg Beach and a 25-year-old Winnipeg man involved in a head-on collision near Oak Bluff.
The fatalities come amid a troubling rise in road deaths across Manitoba. RCMP report 48 deaths in 43 fatal collisions so far this year, up 23 per cent from the same point last year and 34 per cent higher than the five-year average.
The latest tragedies are renewing calls for improvements at high-risk intersections and increased attention to road safety.
💵 New $20 Bill Coming in 2027
Canada’s redesigned vertical $20 bill featuring King Charles III is expected to enter circulation in early 2027.
The new polymer note will feature upgraded security measures and a modernized design. Following that release, work will continue on the long-awaited Terry Fox $5 bill, which has been approved but remains under development.
🇨🇦🇺🇸 Trade Tensions Escalate
Canada’s trade dispute with the United States intensified overnight as Ottawa imposed $28 billion in retaliatory tariffs on American goods.
The tariffs target products including dairy items, plywood, cosmetics, sunscreen and toilet paper, following the collapse of trade negotiations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to provide greater transparency on the expected costs of the tariffs and how Ottawa plans to mitigate impacts on consumers and businesses.
🏥 Dauphin ER Reopens After Flood Closure
Health officials are celebrating the reopening of Dauphin’s emergency department after summer flooding forced its closure on July 1.
With emergency services restored, planning is now underway to determine timelines for returning additional hospital services to full operation.
🚔 Brandon Police Report
🍽️ Man Charged After Napkin Dispenser Incident
A 39-year-old Brandon man is facing an assault with a weapon charge after allegedly throwing a napkin dispenser at another customer inside a business on 18th Street Sunday morning.
Police located the suspect nearby and lodged him due to his level of intoxication before releasing him with a November 12 court date.
👊 Teen Charged in McDonald’s Assault
A 14-year-old girl has been charged with assault after a 15-year-old reported being attacked by two females at a Brandon McDonald’s.
Police identified the suspect through surveillance footage and later released her to a guardian with a November 17 court date.
🚕 Woman Charged After Taxi Driver Assault
A 20-year-old woman is facing an assault charge after allegedly punching a Brandon taxi driver during a ride early Sunday morning.
Police say the incident occurred in the Louise Avenue area. An 18-year-old male passenger was also arrested and held until sober.
⛈️ Major Storm Batters Winnipeg
A powerful storm left more than 3,000 Winnipeg Hydro customers without electricity Monday, with River Heights among the hardest-hit areas.
Environment Canada reported wind gusts exceeding 80 km/h and rainfall totals topping 100 millimetres. One resident reported the force of the storm was strong enough to lift his vehicle onto a nearby lawn.
🗳️ Former NDP Candidate Joins Brandon Election Race
A familiar political face has entered Brandon’s municipal election campaign.
Quentin Robinson, a former farmer turned minister and past NDP candidate, is seeking election in Ward 7. Robinson says affordability and fair taxation are key priorities, arguing Brandon’s growth must benefit all residents.
He narrowly lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Wayne Balcaen in the 2023 provincial election by fewer than 100 votes.
Candidate nominations close September 22, with voters heading to the polls on October 28.
🌾 Harvest Progress Continues
Manitoba farmers continue making steady harvest progress despite recent rainfall.
Approximately 11 per cent of the provincial crop is now harvested. Spring wheat, barley and oats are coming off at a good pace, while canola harvest is beginning to pick up as fields dry out following recent wet weather in the northwest.
