Home care, transit update, nursing numbers, Samberg signs, advertising tech
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Home care, transit update, nursing numbers, Samberg signs, advertising tech
Plus: Read to the end for a faithful friend who follows every fare
Good evening. Here's a look at what our newsroom has been working on today:
'One commendation for every 100 complaints'
Malak Abas:
Transit overhaul's first month a bumpy ride
Cut to late-night service main issue as councillors take riders' concerns, complaints to one of citywide bus system transformation's architects Read More
'Bickering about the numbers'
Carol Sanders:
Nurses union got wrong information from province: health minister
'Still much, much more work to do,' but number of net new hires at least 732, Asagwara says Read More
'There's no downside to it'
Aaron Epp:
Winnipeg-based TV ad delivery firm Taiv switches on at home
A small gong sits in the middle of Taiv Inc.'s headquarters in Winnipeg's Exchange District office. Whenever there's an achievement to celebrate at the advertising technology company, staff pick up a mallet and strike it. Read More
One last thing...
The Associated Press:
A rickshaw driver and his dog are winning hearts in Nepal's Kathmandu
In the heart of Kathmandu's tourist hub, Thamel, Babu Tamang's rickshaw comes with an added twist: a wagging tale and tufts of orange and white fur that delight his passengers. Read More
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CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Folklorama, Ukrainian Festival and more: What's on this weekend in Manitoba
Representatives from the Chinese pavilion perform at a kickoff event for Folklorama on August 1, 2024. (Joseph Bernacki/CTV News Winnipeg) Here are a list of some of the events taking place in Winnipeg and across Manitoba between August 1 and 4, 2025. August 3-16 Travel the world in your own backyard at 43 pavilions over two weeks. Selo Ukraina, Dauphin August 1–3 A celebration of the culture and heritage of Ukrainian Canadians, featuring dancing, music, food, and more. Icelandic Festival of Manitoba Gimli August 1-4 Íslendingadagurinn marks the 150 years since Icelanders settled along Lake Winnipeg with Viking combat reenactments, concerts, a strongman competition and more. Cartwright August 1-3 Live entertainment, an outdoor market, Belgium bowling, bed races and fireworks are among the highlights of Ponderosa Days in Cartwright. Lac du Bonnet August 1-3 A celebration of musicians, artists, side show performers and more on two outdoor stages. Minnedosa August 1-3 The fields will be rockin' with the sounds of Glass Tiger, Headstones, Loverboy, I Mother Earth, Trooper, Bif Naked and more. Kenora August 1-3 Shawn Desman, Fefe Dobson and Tim and the Glory Boys are among the musicians set to take the stage at this long weekend festival. This event is 19+. Mennonite Heritage Village, Steinbach August 2 Explore the history of Mennonites in Manitoba with demonstrations, live music, food and more. McCreary August 1-3 Museum tours, petting zoo, art displays, a parade, car show and more highlight the McCreary Homecoming. Souris Fun Day Victoria Bowl Park, Souris August 3 A fun filled of grass volleyball, corn hole and family friendly games make up this fundraiser for a pool liner. Lake Manitoba Narrows Family Fun Day Lake Manitoba Narrows August 2 There's something for everyone, including kids activities, bounce houses, a fishing derby and BBQ. Pembina Threshermens Museum, Stanley August 2 Enjoy a day of demos and more, including corn grinding, rope making and barrel trains. WAG-Qaumajuq August 2, 8:30 p.m. The second annual Black Garden features a night of culture and music on the WAG rooftop. Exchange District August 1 Explore the Exchange District with free fun on the first Friday of the month. Naija Summer Fest 2025 Riverbank Discovery Centre, Brandon August 2 Discover Nigerian culture with traditional music, authentic African food, cultural dances, games and storytelling. Keystone Centre, Brandon August 1-3 A 3-day celebration of automotive excellence, including the return of the Super Run. WAG-Qaumajuq August 1, 8 p.m. A rooftop screening of French New Wave filmmaker Jacques Demy's work. Lower Fort Garry August 2, 12 p.m. Lower Fort Garry August 3 A commemoration of Treaty One. Prince of Egypt Manitou Opera House August 1-3 Candlewick Players present a Broadway musical based on the film 'Prince of Egypt.' Corydon Ave. & Hugo St. N. August 1, 7 pm Band: Holly Davidson Corydon Ave. & Lilac St. S. August 2, 7 pm Band: Amici Enjoy live music and the other sights and sounds of Corydon Avenue. Winnipeg Beach August 2, 7 p.m. Band: San Carlos Band Enjoy an evening of music steps away from the Winnipeg Beach boardwalk. Summer Entertainment Series Assiniboine Park Concert Series Lyric Theatre August 3, 7 p.m. Band: Clyde Heerah and the Paradize Band curated by Folklorama Jazz Concerts Leo Mol Statue Garden August 3, 12 p.m. Band: Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra Ensemble Movies in the Park Lyric Theatre, Assiniboine Park August 1 6:30 p.m. - Lion King (1994) 8:45 p.m. - Mufasa Alison Krauss & Union Station Arcadia 2025 tour Centennial Concert Hall August 1, 7:30 p.m. Fans can expect songs from the bluegrass and roots band's 2025 release, Arcadia, alongside fan favourites. Cameron Whitcomb Burton Cummings Theatre August 2, 8 p.m. A Canadian singer-songwriter best known for hits like 'Quitter', 'Medusa' and 'Hundred Mile High'. Babbu Maan Burton Cummings Theatre August 3, 8:30 p.m. One of the biggest artists in Punjabi music, Babbu Mann has a catalogue stretching more than 20 years. Ali Macofsky Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club July 29-August 2 Ali Macofsky started her comedy career at 7 and has since been featured at the Just for Laughs Festival, the Comedy Store and more. Monty Scott The Basement Comedy Lounge August 1-2, 8:30 p.m. A beloved Canadiam comedian, Monty Scott is best known for his album 'The Abyss Stares Back, which received a Juno nomination. Winnipeg Sea Bears vs Saskatchewan Rattlers Canada Life Centre August 1, 7:30 p.m. Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Toronto Argonauts Princess Auto Stadium August 1, 7:30 p.m. Provincial Park Events Movie Night: Anaana's Tent Birds Hill Amphitheatre August 1, 9 p.m. Enjoy the children's television show about a girl and her husky who share songs and stories with the help of Inuit performers. Art in the Park Birds Hill Amphitheatre August 3, 10:30 a.m. Create a Treaty Relations medallion as you discover our connection with Canada's Treaties. Riding the Rails Campfire Talk Camper's Cove Beach, Clearwater Lake Provincial Park August 2, 7 p.m. Learn about the importance of Canada's railway history, culture and landscape. Bring a chair. Curious Crevices and Caves Guided Hike Caves self-guiding trail, Clearwater Lake Provincial Park August 3, 10 a.m. Explore Clearwater Lake's caves as you hike along cliffs with a park interpreter. Bring water, snack, bug spray and suitable footwear. Bear Encounters Presentation Grand Beach Amphitheatre August 2, 8 p.m. Learn about bears and what to do if you find yourself face to face with one. BioBlitz Family Program Grand Beach Cross Country Ski Trails August 3, 10:30 a.m. Discover and document the species found in the park or make try out a craft. Download the iNaturalist app beforehand. A.I.S. Family Program Hecla Fish Station Museum August 2, 7 p.m. Take part in some interactive games and activities to learn how you can stop the spread of zebra mussels and spiny water fleas. Hecla Village Days Parade Hecla Village Self-Guiding Trail August 3, 1 p.m. Catch the wacky annual parade put on by Hecla staff and locals. Bring a chair. Stubborn, Mysterious Sands Presentation Spruce Woods Visitor Centre August 1, 8 p.m. Enjoy a short film about Spirit Sands and then dive deeper into the unique life that exists in the dunes. Fungi and Friends Family Program Spruce Woods Visitor Centre August 2, 2 p.m. Learn about the world of mushrooms, including their distinct characteristics, and then create your own fungi necklace. Missing Mouse Presentation St. Malo Amphitheatre August 2, 7 p.m. Help a park detective solve the disappearance of Marvin Mouse and learn about food webs and the animals who call St. Malo home. Tall-grass Prairie Guided Hike St. Malo Provincial Park Campground Office August 3, 10 a.m. Hike through a tall-grass prairie and learn about the importance or the endangered ecosystem. Wear sturdy shoes and bring insect repellent and water. Uniquely Ungulate Campfire Talk William Lake Interpretive Program Area, Morton August 2, 7 p.m. Explore the different species of animals that live in the park. Guided Paddle Adam Lake Beach, Turtle Mountain Provincial Park August 3, 10 a.m. Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP board for a paddle on William Lake and learn more about the waters of Turtle Mountain from a park interpreter. Bring lifejackets, paddles and Transport Canada safety equipment. Critter Dipping Adam Lake Beach, Turtle Mountain Provincial Park August 4, 9 a.m. Examine the many critters to be found in the lake. Whiteshell Trivia Campfire Talk West Hawk Lake Campground August 2, 7 p.m. Test your knowledge of the Whiteshell. Wolf Howl Guided Hike Sturgeon Falls Trail, Pinawa August 2, 7 p.m. Hike to Sturgeon Falls and howl for wolves. Bring drinking water, insect repellent and sturdy footwear. Bears, Books and Crafts Family Program Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary, Rennie August 3, 10 a.m. Enjoy stories about bears and make a bear inspired craft to take home. Conversations at Bannock Point: Guided Walk Bannock Point Petroforms August 3, 10 a.m. Learn about petroforms and why the site should be respected. Bring water and sturdy footwear.
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Vancouver Sun
More American couples are turning to Italy's 'dolce vita' in a quest for memorable weddings
FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — James Atkinson and Samantha Fortino toured a Tuscan vineyard and learned to make pasta and a Bolognese sauce alongside their family and friends in Florence. Atkinson discovered a penchant for chianti, while Fortino fell for Italy's hugo spritz — a cocktail that posed no risk of staining her wedding dress on July 24. Italy has hosted a number of star-studded weddings in the past decade, most recently Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's extravaganza in Venice. Away from the spotlight, tens of thousands of ordinary Americans have set their sights on the country for their special day in recent years. 'Weddings in America can be a little too grand and a little bit too big and it ends up not really being about the couple,' said Fortino, 28, a neonatal nurse from Skaneateles, New York. 'We both just really wanted something intimate and meaningful.' Plan your next getaway with Travel Time, featuring travel deals, destinations and gear. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Travel Time will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Over 15,000 foreign couples wed in Italy last year, up 64% from 2019, the year before the pandemic, according to market research from the Center of Tourist Studies of Florence. Growth was led by U.S couples, who account for almost one-third of that total. Italy was the top international destination for American couples after Mexico, according to Maryland-based wedding planning website The Knot. For many Americans, Italy embodies the simple, beautiful romance of a bygone era. Weather is balmy and its varied landscapes, from the sea to the mountains, stunning. The food is familiar and crowd-pleasing. But perhaps the biggest driver of the recent uptick is ample opportunity for a range of outings, which together with the wedding event are alluring for those on a quest for unique, memorable moments — part of a consumer trend termed 'the experience economy.' 'In the United States, everything is just more expensive for one night and we wanted to make an experience, so we did two nights here,' said Atkinson, 31, who owns a concrete company. 'It just seemed like way more worth it to us to do that and make a trip out of it with our family, our loved ones.' One guest who had never visited Italy was ecstatic about the invite, and took advantage to tack on side trips, first to Venice and then with the wedding crew to Cinque Terre. Another, Gary Prochna, nearly didn't attend because of work piling up at his paving company. He eventually came around and was floored by the venue — a 15th-century villa with a sweeping view over Florence and its famous Duomo. 'I got married in the United States and our venue was very nice. I thought — until this moment — we had the best wedding,' said Prochna, 68, adding that he now hopes his daughters will get hitched abroad. More than half of Americans surveyed by Mastercard in January 2024 said they prefer to spend their money on memory-making experiences, and more than a third said they'd plan a whole trip around one particular experience. Marcy Blum, a prominent luxury event planner based in Manhattan, said almost 90% of the weddings she plans abroad are in Italy. 'The reason Italy is so popular is because that's where your guests want to go,' she said. 'You send an invitation that you're getting married in Capri or Positano and everybody comes. Everybody. They want to come. Nobody cancels.' Jack Ezon, CEO of Embark Beyond, a luxury travel and destination event service also based in Manhattan, said 60% of his company's events were outside the U.S. before the pandemic. Today it's almost 90%, nearly all split evenly between Italy and France. The threat of tariffs under President Donald Trump has given destination weddings a boost. Ezon has moved six events from the U.S. to Europe this year, because people were afraid tariffs on alcohol would cause their bar bill to explode. The shift to destinations has benefited planners with networks across Italy and local vendors. According to Wedding Italy, the husband-and-wife team who put on the Atkinson wedding, American clients spend three times as much as Italians, due to more elaborate wedding decor and other events in their multiday lineup. Average spend on hometown weddings in the U.S. was $32,000 last year, according to The Knot. By comparison, foreigners' weddings in Italy cost an average 61,500 euros ($70,600) and typically have dozens fewer guests, the Center of Tourist Studies of Florence's data showed. In the garden where the Atkinsons held their service, cypress trees swayed in the wind as the bride emerged from the chapel, beaming in her lace mermaid-silhouette gown. She walked down the aisle as speakers played the theme song to Star Wars. It was her sneaky trick to make the groom cry, and it worked like a charm. Before the exchange of rings, before the lovebirds threw their arms around one another, their officiant said: 'Traditionally I would ask: Is there any reason why this couple shouldn't be married? But for goodness' sake — we all flew to Italy and can't get our points back! So instead I'll ask: Who here approves of this union?' Cheers all around.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
More American couples are turning to Italy's ‘dolce vita' in a quest for memorable weddings
FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — James Atkinson and Samantha Fortino toured a Tuscan vineyard and learned to make pasta and a Bolognese sauce alongside their family and friends in Florence. Atkinson discovered a penchant for chianti, while Fortino fell for Italy's hugo spritz — a cocktail that posed no risk of staining her wedding dress on July 24. Italy has hosted a number of star-studded weddings in the past decade, most recently Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez 's extravaganza in Venice. Away from the spotlight, tens of thousands of ordinary Americans have set their sights on the country for their special day in recent years. 'Weddings in America can be a little too grand and a little bit too big and it ends up not really being about the couple,' said Fortino, 28, a neonatal nurse from Skaneateles, New York. 'We both just really wanted something intimate and meaningful.' Over 15,000 foreign couples wed in Italy last year, up 64% from 2019, the year before the pandemic, according to market research from the Center of Tourist Studies of Florence. Growth was led by U.S couples, who account for almost one-third of that total. Italy was the top international destination for American couples after Mexico, according to Maryland-based wedding planning website The Knot. For many Americans, Italy embodies the simple, beautiful romance of a bygone era. Weather is balmy and its varied landscapes, from the sea to the mountains, stunning. The food is familiar and crowd-pleasing. But perhaps the biggest driver of the recent uptick is ample opportunity for a range of outings, which together with the wedding event are alluring for those on a quest for unique, memorable moments — part of a consumer trend termed 'the experience economy.' 'In the United States, everything is just more expensive for one night and we wanted to make an experience, so we did two nights here,' said Atkinson, 31, who owns a concrete company. 'It just seemed like way more worth it to us to do that and make a trip out of it with our family, our loved ones.' 'Nobody cancels' One guest who had never visited Italy was ecstatic about the invite, and took advantage to tack on side trips, first to Venice and then with the wedding crew to Cinque Terre. Another, Gary Prochna, nearly didn't attend because of work piling up at his paving company. He eventually came around and was floored by the venue — a 15th-century villa with a sweeping view over Florence and its famous Duomo. 'I got married in the United States and our venue was very nice. I thought — until this moment — we had the best wedding,' said Prochna, 68, adding that he now hopes his daughters will get hitched abroad. Marcy Blum, a prominent luxury event planner based in Manhattan, said almost 90% of the weddings she plans are in Italy. 'The reason Italy is so popular is because that's where your guests want to go,' she said. 'You send an invitation that you're getting married in Capri or Positano and everybody comes. Everybody. They want to come. Nobody cancels.' Jack Ezon, CEO of Embark Beyond, a luxury travel and destination event service also based in Manhattan, said 60% of his company's events were outside the U.S. before the pandemic. Today it's almost 90%, nearly all split evenly between Italy and France. The threat of tariffs under President Donald Trump has given destination weddings a boost. Ezon has moved six events from the U.S. to Europe this year, because people were afraid tariffs on alcohol would cause their bar bill to explode. Cost comparison The shift to destinations has benefited planners with networks across Italy and local vendors. According to Wedding Italy, the husband-and-wife team who put on the Atkinson wedding, American clients spend three times as much as Italians, due to more elaborate wedding decor and other events in their multi-day lineup. Average spend on hometown weddings in the U.S. was $32,000 last year, according to The Knot. By comparison, foreigners' weddings in Italy cost an average 61,500 euros ($70,600) and typically have dozens fewer guests, the Center of Tourist Studies of Florence's data showed. In the garden where the Atkinsons held their service, cypress trees swayed in the wind as the bride emerged from the chapel, beaming in her lace mermaid-silhouette gown. She walked down the aisle as speakers played the theme song to Star Wars. It was her sneaky trick to make the groom cry, and it worked like a charm. Before the exchange of rings, before the lovebirds threw their arms around one another, their officiant said: 'Traditionally I would ask: Is there any reason why this couple shouldn't be married? But for goodness' sake – we all flew to Italy and can't get our points back! So instead I'll ask: Who here approves of this union?' Cheers all around.
