News briefs for Friday, June 6, 2025

Winnipeg Free Press

12 hours ago

A collection of breaking news briefs filed on Friday, June 6, 2025
9:45 PM
The losing streak continues for the Winnipeg Sea Bears.
The city's professional basketball team dropped its fifth consecutive game Friday in a 81-74 road loss to the Brampton Honey Badgers. It was the first win of the year for Brampton as they entered the contest at 0-6. The defeat drops Winnipeg to 1-5.
The Sea Bears led 63-60 after three quarters but were outscored 21-11 in the final frame.
Former Toronto Raptors guard Jalen Harris, who signed with the Sea Bears earlier this week, made his season debut and led Winnipeg in scoring with 17 points in 36 minutes. Forward Emmanuel Akot chipped in 13 points and point guard Terry Roberts had 12.
The arrival of Harris gives the Sea Bears five imports and CEBL teams are only allowed to dress four. Backup big Solomon Young was scratched owing to the new addition.
Brampton guard Koby Mcewen led all scorers with 23. The Honey Badgers outrebounded the Sea Bears 48-30.
The Sea Bears are back in action today down the road in Scarborough to take on the Shooting Stars (3-1). Winnipeg returns home Wednesday to host the Montreal Alliance at the Canada Life Centre.
— staff
3:34 PM
A 12-year-old boy has gone missing from his 'temporary residence' in the Rural Municipality of West St. Paul.
RCMP say Charlie Bird was reported missing at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night from the location on Masters Avenue.
Bird was last seen headed east on Grassmere Road near Highway 8. Mounties think he might be in Winnipeg.
He's 5-2 and 110 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. He was last wearing a black sweater and black pants and might have a large bruise on his neck.
RCMP are asking anyone with information to call the Red River North detachment at 204-667-6519 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
2:04 PM
Provincial infrastructure officials are warning motorists to be extra cautious Saturday while crews of volunteers clean the roadsides of Manitoba highways.
Manitoban 4-H clubs will send out young members in crews to roadsides across the province from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting. If it rains, crews will instead go out June 14.
The volunteers will wear safety vests and the areas being cleaned up will be marked by signage.
'Motorists are reminded to be aware of the added foot traffic alongside Manitoba's highways and roads, keep a safe distance between their vehicles and any traffic barriers, trucks, equipment and volunteers, slow down in marked cleanup areas and remove all distractions to ensure they are paying attention to the road,' the province said in a news release Friday.
1:27 PM
Following four days of feedback and debate, Winnipeg city council has approved sweeping changes to zoning bylaws that aim to attract more home construction.
Council ultimately voted overnight in favour of the changes, which will allow up to four housing units to be built on a single lot in most residential areas, and permit fourplexes up to 12 metres tall within 800 metres of high-frequency transit stops.
In a news release, the mayor's office said the changes will ensure more than $450 million of federal funding flows through to Winnipeg. The federal government made the significant zoning changes a requirement to claim housing, sewage and transit funding.
'These changes are about the future of our city,' said Mayor Scott Gillingham, in the release. 'We're growing fast, and we need to make sure there's room for everyone — young workers, families, and older adults alike. These updates will help ensure Winnipeg stays affordable and competitive while making the best use of our existing infrastructure.'
Council will vote on a bylaw to implement the changes next week.
1:21 PM
The province's police oversight agency says no charges are warranted against Winnipeg officers in a December incident in which a man fell on ice and broke his leg after police used a Taser on him.
The Winnipeg Police Service notified the Independent Investigation Unit of the incident on Dec. 20 last year.
City police said officers were called at about 2:40 a.m. on Dec. 19 about an intoxicated man armed with a knife trying to stab someone around the 400 block of Furby Street. Police found him brandishing the weapon and instead of dropping it as told, he walked toward them, the IIU said. An officer then used the Taser.
The man was taken to hospital, where doctors found he had two broken bones in his right leg.
The IIU said Friday no charges would be laid against any police, after conducting a number of interviews with witnesses and the man whose leg was broken.
12:58 PM
A mother and her two children were threatened and assaulted at gunpoint in their McCreary home in the early morning hours on Thursday.
Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP were called to the home on 4th Avenue in McCreary, which is about 140 kilometres northwest of Brandon, at about 2:45 a.m.
Mounties were told by the homeowner that a woman she knew assaulted her and her kids inside the home and threatened them with a gun. The victim, 30, ran with her kids to a neighbour's home to call police, RCMP say. No one was seriously hurt.
Local RCMP, along with the police dog and drone units, searched for the suspect and found her outside a home on Broderick Street. Officers on the ground then arrested the suspect, but did not find the gun.
Lacey Campbell, 38 of McCreary, is charged with pointing a firearm, assault, uttering threats, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and a court order breach.
11:47 AM
Snow Lake residents have been ordered to leave the northern Manitoba community by noon Saturday due to an out-of-control wildfire that is burning in the region.
The town of about 1,100 residents announced a mandatory evacuation order Friday.
'You must leave because of the danger to your health and safety,' a notice published on the town's Facebook page said.
A state of local emergency and a 48-hour evacuation notice were previously declared.
Mayor Ron Scott previously said a mandatory evacuation would be ordered if the fire moved closer to town.
11:40 AM
Manitoba public health officials are warning people may have been exposed to measles at two locations in the province late last month.
Officials said anyone who was at Green Valley School at 212 Oak Ave. in Grunthal on May 20 between 8:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. should monitor for symptoms of the highly infectious disease until June 11.
Anyone who was at the Manitoba Museum at 190 Rupert Ave. in Winnipeg on May 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. should also monitor for symptoms until June 11, officials said.
The public health department has reached out to the Grunthal school to notify staff, volunteers and families of students to provide advice, including with letters, officials said.
Anyone who was at either location should check their records and make sure they're up to date with the measles vaccine.
10:56 AM
The Assiniboine Park Zoo is welcoming a new addition with the recent arrival of a pack of five grey wolves.
The addition of Chinook (male, seven years), Gigi (female, seven years), Comet (male, three years), Stella (female, three years), and Virgo (female, three years) comes after the passing of Bear, the last member of the zoo's original wolf pack, in March.
The wolves arrived from the Greater Vancouver Zoo on Thursday.
'Grey wolves are an iconic Canadian species that can be found across the country, including right here in Manitoba,' said Dr. Chris Enright, Senior Director of Zoological Operations, Assiniboine Park Zoo. 'Unfortunately, fear and misunderstanding have led to instances of human-wolf conflict and, in some cases, overhunting. Educating people about the critical role keystone species like wolves play in their ecosystems and why they should be protected is an important part of what we do here at the zoo.'
The grey wolves are the latest in a long string of new animals to be introduced to zoo visitors since last fall, including three red pandas, a great horned owl and and scarlet ibis, among many others.
The zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
10:31 AM
Drivers will need to find an alternate route around Portage Avenue East at the start of next week.
A city press release notes a two-day closure to all traffic will begin at 7 a.m. on Monday, June 9 to allow for paving.
The city expects to reopen the street, with some restrictions, after dusk on June 10.