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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘He's just getting going'
Two provincial teams, a Zone 4 AA championship and, most recently, an invitation to the Canadian U16 Men's National Team training camp roster — Kaj Willms is building quite the resumé just a year and a half into his basketball career. The 15-year-old out of Rossendale — a small community nestled southeast of Portage la Prairie — stands taller than all of his teammates at Westpark School at 6-11 and is also standing out in the national team program. Willms took up basketball after Grade 8, encouraged by his uncle and Westpark Royals head coach Dave Britton, which eventually led him to try out at the National Team ID camp hosted by Canada Basketball in September. SUPPLIED Rossendale's Kaj Willms already has two provincial teams, a Zone 4 AA championship and a National Team training camp invitation on his resumé. From there, Willms was invited, along with 32 other hopeful hoopsters, to the U16 Men's High Performance National Team Assessment Camp over Easter weekend in Toronto. It was at that camp where Willms was told that he was selected to attend the U16 National Team's training camp at the end of May. 'It was pretty crazy to me that, me being from where I'm from, from my little school, that I would make it all the way to be selected to this camp,' said Willms. 'That was just shocking to me.' Willms was the lone Manitoban at the camp, who tried out with 15 other athletes to represent Canada in the FIBA U16 Men's AmeriCup 2025, going June 2-8 in Juárez, Mexico. Although Willms did not make the final 12-player roster, he says the experience was good for his development. 'It was great to match up against some of the best guys in the country, well, the best guys in the country,' Willms said. 'I could see myself improving every practice and so could the coaches, and they made sure to let me know that I was doing very well and that I was improving a lot.' Willms is now back at home and will continue training with the U17 provincial team as a roster player, coached by Dan Becker. 'He has been instrumental in Kaj's development,' said Corey Willms, Kaj's father. 'He saw him at the junior academy a year and a half ago, and then invited to play on his club team in Winnipeg. That was a great experience for Kaj.' Becker supported Kaj as he tried out for his first provincial team last year with the U15s and says the young player is developing at a fast rate. 'He was tall,' said Becker, recalling his first impression of the Rossendale native. 'He was very tall for his age. He moved quite well for his age, he had good hands, and he listened well and was competitive.' SUPPLIED Rossendale's Kaj Willms has only being playing basketball for a year and a half. In addition to making provincial teams and attending national camps, Willms also helped his Westpark Royals varsity basketball team win the Zone 4 AA championship in February, defeating the Roseau Valley Raiders 82-70. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'He's hit a lot of milestones,' said Becker. 'His strengths are aggressiveness, rebounding the ball and finishing near the rim. He actually has a nice shooting touch, too.' Willms says he wants to keep working on his offensive game and hopes to one day play NCAA Division I basketball in the U.S. 'He's got to build the confidence and experience just for the game to come naturally, the shooting in the games,' said Becker. 'But he has that ability so I expect to see that come into play in the next year or so.' 'He's just getting going.'
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Dalnavert shines during Doors Open Winnipeg
West End I really enjoyed touring Dalnavert House during Doors Open Winnipeg. There were many interesting and historic locales welcoming visitors during Heritage Winnipeg's annual weekend event (held May 24 and 25) but Dalnavert House didn't disappoint. The museum, which includes an attached visitor centre, is nestled downtown at 61 Carlton St. The grounds are verdant and the garden is blooming. The gothic-looking Victorian mansion was built for Hugh John MacDonald, the son of Sir John A Macdonald, and his family in 1895. (At that time many well-to-do Winnipeggers lived just south of Broadway.) Volunteers in period costume imparted interesting facts and anecdotes about life in the house from the moment my group stepped onto the faithfully restored veranda. Photo by Anne Hawe The coal stove in the kitchen at Dalnavert is one reminder of how different life was more than a century ago. Hugh John was a notable Manitoban. A lawyer and politician, he was premier of the province for a very short time before becoming Winnipeg's magistrate. Although he took a hard line against strikers during the Winnipeg general strike in 1919, he was also known to let women and children sleep in the basement instead of being sent to Vaughan Street jail for stealing. History is complicated and the museum doesn't sugarcoat it. The jewel-toned carpet and wallpaper, the narrow hallways, and the beautifully appointed rooms on the first floor were atmospheric. The icebox and the cumbersome coal-burning stove in the kitchen illuminated how hard the cook and the maid would have worked to put food on the table — all with only half a day off, on Sundays. The white doorknobs in the kitchen? They were there to ensure the help washed their hands in case typhoid, influenza or Spanish flu lurked. After Hugh John died in 1929, his wife, Agnes, couldn't afford the upkeep. The house sat empty before being converted into a rooming house. The Manitoba Historical Society bought it from a developer then spent several years painstakingly renovating it before opening it as a museum in 1974. The doors closed in 2013 but the newly formed Friends of Dalnavert Museum non-profit re-opened it in 2015. The vibrant and community-minded organization brings history to life at the museum. lists Victorian themed workshops and events coming up this month. There is everything from a flower pressing workshop to watercolour painting in the garden while sipping mimosas to a foodie tour featuring Victorian snacks. Mondays A weekly look at news and events that matter in your communities. Perennially popular tours listed include Dalnavert on Drugs which explores Victorian drug culture, and Behind the Ropes which offers a closer look at Dalnavert's many rooms. Only the visitors centre and the first floor are accessible so there is a virtual tour of the house on the site. And admission is always free on the second Saturday of every month with family-friendly activities included. Anne HaweWest End community correspondent Anne Hawe is a community correspondent for the West End. She can be reached at annie_hawe@ Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pride Winnipeg disappointed with PCs after Official Opposition skips out on parade
The president of Pride Winnipeg says he's disappointed the Manitoba Progressive Conservative caucus did not participate formally in Sunday's Pride parade after taking part in every parade since 2017. Pride Winnipeg president Barry Karlenzig said PC Leader Obby Khan and other PC MLAs did not sign up as an entry in the annual parade. "It's disappointing to me because when the PCs were in power, we did receive the provincial grants to start Manitoba Pride Alliance and we were told they support the queer community," Karlenzig said Monday. "This shows wholeheartedly that that was just speech. They don't support the community. If they supported the community, they would have been there to celebrate our diverse community." The PCs formally entered all but one parade when Brian Pallister served as premier, both parades when Heather Stefanson was premier and in 2024, when interim leader Wayne Ewasko led the party. Obby Khan, who won the PC leadership race in April, said Sunday's Pride parade "looked like it was a great time" but did not offer an explanation why he and his caucus did not walk in it. "MLAs are free to attend if they want to attend. I don't know what every MLA's schedule was. I know my schedule was what it was," Khan said. "Also, you know, I had a prior commitment. I wasn't invited and I don't want the story to be about me attending Pride. This is about communities, about a celebration. It's about communities about the rights and that's what we want to focus on." WATCH | Manitoba Progressive Conservatives did not attend Winnipeg Pride parade: Karlenzig said the PCs did not need an invitation to sign up for the parade. The only formal invitations were sent to the premier, mayor, prime minister and the grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, he said. Karlenzig noted Stefanson even walked in the parade the one year she was asked not to speak at the Pride rally. Khan said it's important to note the former PC government's financial support for both Pride Winnipeg and the Rainbow Resource Centre. Earlier this spring, when he was running for PC leader, Khan also said he was not aware the term "parental rights" could have been perceived as a transphobic dog whistle during the 2023 provincial election campaign, when he served as the face of a PC "parental rights" campaign platform promise he described as an effort to combat bullying in schools. "I was aware after the campaign, actually, that some people would use that as a dog whistle. It was not my intent at all. I don't believe in that at all," Khan said in an interview on March 7. Khan said as a member of a visible minority, he has faced and continues to face discrimination and he feels strongly about the rights of every Manitoban.
Global News
4 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
ANALYSIS: Could hometown hero Toews finish NHL career in Winnipeg?
Five Manitoba-born players have suited up for the Winnipeg Jets in the 14-year history of the 2.0 version of the franchise. There is a genuine opportunity for that number to grow to six in season 15. The last Manitoban to wear a Jets jersey in an NHL regular-season game was Winnipegger Adam Brooks in 2021-22. Story continues below advertisement Cody Eakin is the only homegrown product to appear in the post-season for Winnipeg — and that was the play-in series versus Calgary in the Edmonton Bubble in 2020. Quinton Howden, Eric Fehr and Derek Meech are the only others with a Manitoba birth certificate of the group of 160 players who have played for the 2.0 Jets. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy But there is every reason to believe that come July 1, or maybe even sooner, it won't be a reach that Jonathan Toews could become the next made-in-Manitoba product to join that list. And without a doubt, there would be the expectation — both from himself and the hockey club — to make the biggest impact. Toews, through his agent Pat Brisson, has made it clear he's ready to return to the National Hockey League. I'm not sure there would be a better fit than his hometown Jets. Story continues below advertisement There is no doubt the three-time Stanley Cup champ wouldn't be putting himself out there if he didn't believe he could still be an effective NHL player. Even after a more-than-two-year absence. And even at the age of 37. Forget about the sentimental aspect of 'Captain Serious' finishing a Hall of Fame career in front of his family and friends. The Jets are a legitimate Cup contender. They are deep up front, so Toews doesn't need to be 'the guy.' But there is still a big enough role available at second-line centre to provide plenty of appeal to a very proud player. Winnipeg will not be the only team interested. But the Jets just might offer the opportunity that turns out to be the most interesting for Toews. 4:25 John Shannon on the Jets: Looking to the offseason
Canada Standard
6 days ago
- Climate
- Canada Standard
Wildfire smoke leads to air quality alerts across Canada
OTTAWA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Wildfire smoke has triggered air quality alerts in six provinces and territories across Canada, according to Environment Canada's weather information published on Friday. The agency issued air quality alerts in two neighboring provinces, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where states of emergency were declared one day apart. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe declared a 30-day provincial state of emergency on Thursday, saying that at least 15 communities, mostly in the northern region, have been evacuated. Over 40 structures have been destroyed, he added. His Manitoban counterpart, Wab Kinew, did the same on Wednesday, while issuing mandatory orders to evacuate about 17,000 people. "Smoke is causing very poor air quality and reduced visibility. As smoke levels increase, health risks increase," Environment Canada warned. "Limit time outdoors. Consider reducing or rescheduling outdoor sports, activities and events," it said, urging those in affected areas to keep windows and doors closed, use air filters inside, and wear a mask when outdoors. Warm and dry conditions continue to support wildfire activity as the weekend approaches. The smoke will linger for a prolonged period near the source region of the fires, it said.
