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CBC
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Smoke chokes out activities in Winnipeg, prompts warnings from health organizations
Smoke from wildfires ravaging northern Manitoba has impacted thousands of people in Winnipeg as poor air quality has forced the cancellation of numerous activities and performances. Some 10,000 students, staff, elders and knowledge keepers were supposed to be at a powwow Thursday afternoon but the Winnipeg School Division's largest annual event — a day honouring Indigenous cultures, languages, teachings, and student achievement — was postponed in what superintendent Matt Henderson said was a "tough decision." "It's always a magical day in the division and everybody looks forward to it," he said, but the division "realized that it wouldn't be safe for not only the dancers, but for kids and elders to be out there for significant amounts of time." Shakespeare in the Ruins cancelled its Thursday opening of Macbeth — an outdoor performance at the Trappist Monastery Heritage Provincial Park in St. Norbert — for the same reason. "The health and safety of our artists, crew and audiences will always come first — even when the witches protest!" the theatre company posted on social media. "The show will go on … just not tonight." Air quality warnings and a grey haze have hovered over the Winnipeg region for much of the week, prompting school divisions to cancel outdoor recess and field trips. "At recess, kids like to run around, and that means their cardiovascular systems are going to be working harder than they normally would. And so we ask schools to just have indoor recess," Henderson said. "We have excellent ventilation in the Winnipeg School Division, particularly since COVID. So we're putting those systems to the test." School staff are being asked to keep a close eye on kids who might have respiratory issues, he added. "This is the reality that we're faced with. This is new territory," Henderson said. "It's only the beginning of June and we're already experiencing this." The 10-point air quality health index has soared to the "high risk" to "very high risk" (eight to 10+) range this week. The rating is impacted by wind direction and can change quickly. On Wednesday, for example, the index was a three (low risk) at 9 a.m., but 10+ by 10 a.m. That day, students in the Louis Riel School Division were supposed to attend Valour FC and Goldeyes games, but those plans were promptly scrapped. And on Friday, the Manitoba High School Athletic Association cancelled the provincial track and field provincial championships. The index was again 10+ in the morning. The event, scheduled for June 5-7, brings together 1,500 of the province's best high school athletes at the University of Manitoba. Henderson hopes the weekend's events can proceed. "The smoke is supposed to clear for tomorrow, so we don't necessarily anticipate any cancellations. It's really an hour-by-hour decision sometimes," he said Friday. Plans are also underway to hold a smaller version of the powwow indoors at the University of Winnipeg sometime in the next couple of weeks, which will be just for the grads, rather than all students in the division, said Henderson. "We wanted to make sure that we honoured our grads, particularly our Indigenous grads, and send them off in a good way." Smoke expected to clear According to Environment Canada, which issued an air quality warning for nearly the entire province on Friday morning, the smoke should move out of the Red River Valley and Interlake region later in the day and drop the air quality index to a three. Poor conditions, however, will continue in the north, closer to the fires. Wildfire smoke is dangerous because it contains fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause inflammation and irritation, according to Health Canada. "There's no known safe level of exposure for some of these pollutants. This means that smoke can impact your health even at very low levels," the agency says. The air quality Manitoba is seeing is dangerous for even the healthiest person, the Manitoba Lung Association says. "You don't necessarily know what's in that smoke that's travelling, whether it's trees burning, standing structures — you just don't know what kind of chemicals or particulate matter [it contains]," said spokesperson Adam Anderson. The Canadian Ophthalmological Society is urging people to also take care of their eyes, which can be affected by smoke even if a person is far from an actual blaze. Those near the front lines could get airborne particles in their eyes that need to be flushed out with sterile solution, or may need to see an eye professional to get the object removed without damaging the cornea, said society spokesperson David Plemel, an eye surgeon in London, Ont., and an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Western University. Even people hundreds or thousands of kilometres away can experience irritation from allergens and the smoke, he said. People who experience red, irritated or burning eyes should consider staying indoors and using air purifiers, said Plemel.
Hamilton Spectator
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Free Press to lead media literacy project
The Manitoba government is turning to Western Canada's oldest newspaper to teach students how to debunk misinformation and master other necessary skills for the digital age. The department of education is partnering with the Free Press and Winnipeg School Division to launch a media literacy platform with lessons on the tenets of journalism, algorithms and related subjects. 'A media literacy refresh' is necessary to respond to massive changes in how and where Manitobans consume information, said Tracy Schmidt, minister of education and early childhood learning. 'Kids are really at the forefront of that change, and I can attest to this as a mom,' Schmidt said, noting she's had to personally intervene and re-educate her own three children on topics they've 'learned about' via YouTube celebrities and other corners of the internet. Local teachers are designing the platform — with input from multimedia journalists and information technology experts — for their colleagues in kindergarten-to-Grade 12 classrooms. The free curriculum-based resource will be available via . A beta version is anticipated to launch in early 2026. The final product is anticipated to include multiple web pages to simplify lesson planning, help schools launch newspapers of their own, and offer a self-study media literacy course to teachers. The minister said the new partnership is a fitting one, given her department and the Free Press have similar goals in that they both educate the population and want to build media-literate citizens. The work officially got underway in September, under the direction of Schmidt's late predecessor. Nello Altomare, 61, was a career educator and news hound who followed current events closely until his death on Jan. 14. The provincial government and the largest school division in Manitoba have each hired a certified teacher. The duo has set up an office in the Free Press newsroom in Winnipeg. 'We live in an age where there's more media than ever and yet less media literacy,' said Mike Power, chief executive officer of FP Newspapers Inc. 'The Free Press is delighted to be part of this important initiative, which will use our journalism as a teaching tool to inform and empower Manitoba students so they are better equipped to navigate an increasingly difficult digital landscape.' The platform is being designed to host a database of ready-to-use learning experiences that match relevant news stories to curriculum outcomes. The former will not be exempt from a paywall. These interdisciplinary packages, dubbed 'resource bundles,' are being organized under media literacy topics, such as data and privacy, propaganda and responsible use of artificial intelligence. Teachers will eventually be able to screen explanatory videos hosted by local journalists and assign students to read articles and whose contents can be translated into any language and adjusted to accommodate their reading level. A student newspaper incubator will, through a customizable template, allow students to create their own media outlets and have their stories published on the platform. The third and final element is a micro-credential in media literacy for educators. Successful graduates will earn a digital badge. The project is inspired by Journalism for All, an initiative to bring journalism education to all high schoolers in New York, as well as , and the New York Times Learning Network. The local partners have applied for a $100,000 community grant to carry out their vision to expand on the Free Press 101 resource. 'This is a project urgently needed to disrupt the momentum of misinformation and strengthen Winnipeggers in their personal agency and ability to discern truth, restoring trust and confidence in institutions of media, government, democracy and education,' they wrote in a submission to the Winnipeg Foundation. Schmidt said her hope is that Manitoba students will hone their critical thinking and media analysis skills, as well as understand how they can personally produce media in a responsible manner. 'If you talk to any kid these days and you ask them what they want to be when they grow up, they'll tell you they want to be a social media content creator,' the minister said. 'Knowing that's what kids want to do, we need to make sure that they are being responsible actors.'
Winnipeg Free Press
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Free Press to lead media literacy project
The Manitoba government is turning to Western Canada's oldest newspaper to teach students how to debunk misinformation and master other necessary skills for the digital age. The department of education is partnering with the Free Press and Winnipeg School Division to launch a media literacy platform with lessons on the tenets of journalism, algorithms and related subjects. 'A media literacy refresh' is necessary to respond to massive changes in how and where Manitobans consume information, said Tracy Schmidt, minister of education and early childhood learning. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Education minister Tracy Schmidt says with many kids wanting to be content creators, 'we need to make sure that they are being responsible actors.' 'Kids are really at the forefront of that change, and I can attest to this as a mom,' Schmidt said, noting she's had to personally intervene and re-educate her own three children on topics they've 'learned about' via YouTube celebrities and other corners of the internet. Local teachers are designing the platform — with input from multimedia journalists and information technology experts — for their colleagues in kindergarten-to-Grade 12 classrooms. The free curriculum-based resource will be available via A beta version is anticipated to launch in early 2026. The final product is anticipated to include multiple web pages to simplify lesson planning, help schools launch newspapers of their own, and offer a self-study media literacy course to teachers. The minister said the new partnership is a fitting one, given her department and the Free Press have similar goals in that they both educate the population and want to build media-literate citizens. The work officially got underway in September, under the direction of Schmidt's late predecessor. Nello Altomare, 61, was a career educator and news hound who followed current events closely until his death on Jan. 14. The provincial government and the largest school division in Manitoba have each hired a certified teacher. The duo has set up an office in the Free Press newsroom in Winnipeg. 'We live in an age where there's more media than ever and yet less media literacy,' said Mike Power, chief executive officer of FP Newspapers Inc. 'The Free Press is delighted to be part of this important initiative, which will use our journalism as a teaching tool to inform and empower Manitoba students so they are better equipped to navigate an increasingly difficult digital landscape.' The platform is being designed to host a database of ready-to-use learning experiences that match relevant news stories to curriculum outcomes. The former will not be exempt from a paywall. These interdisciplinary packages, dubbed 'resource bundles,' are being organized under media literacy topics, such as data and privacy, propaganda and responsible use of artificial intelligence. Teachers will eventually be able to screen explanatory videos hosted by local journalists and assign students to read articles and whose contents can be translated into any language and adjusted to accommodate their reading level. A student newspaper incubator will, through a customizable template, allow students to create their own media outlets and have their stories published on the platform. The third and final element is a micro-credential in media literacy for educators. Successful graduates will earn a digital badge. The project is inspired by Journalism for All, an initiative to bring journalism education to all high schoolers in New York, as well as and the New York Times Learning Network. The local partners have applied for a $100,000 community grant to carry out their vision to expand on the Free Press 101 resource. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. 'This is a project urgently needed to disrupt the momentum of misinformation and strengthen Winnipeggers in their personal agency and ability to discern truth, restoring trust and confidence in institutions of media, government, democracy and education,' they wrote in a submission to the Winnipeg Foundation. Schmidt said her hope is that Manitoba students will hone their critical thinking and media analysis skills, as well as understand how they can personally produce media in a responsible manner. 'If you talk to any kid these days and you ask them what they want to be when they grow up, they'll tell you they want to be a social media content creator,' the minister said. 'Knowing that's what kids want to do, we need to make sure that they are being responsible actors.' Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. 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.
Winnipeg Free Press
23-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Indecent exposure allegations a lesson for parents: police
A man accused of exposing himself to students in a West End schoolyard on Tuesday afternoon was arrested milling around the area the next day. Staff at General Wolfe School, which has students from grades 7-9, called city police about the incident at about 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Winnipeg School Division superintendent Matt Henderson said in a statement. Staff told officers a man had entered the Banning Street school's grounds and exposed himself to several children and made an 'inappropriate request' of the victims, police said. Staff quickly intervened and got the man off the property before calling for law enforcement, said Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Stephen Spencer. Child abuse investigators took over and identified a suspect before arresting him shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday on Banning Street. 'It's concerning for the children at the school that may not know exactly how to handle it,' said Spencer of the incident. 'Luckily there was teachers on site there to take over the situation and deal with it and make sure it ended as quick as it could.' Spencer said the incident serves as a reminder for parents to have conversations with their kids about safety, so they can have plans in place when danger arises. The suspect is known to hang around in the area of the school. 'From what I understand, the individual is known to the students and the teachers,' said Spencer. Kevin Tibay Maliwanag, 33, is charged with invitation to sexual touching and indecent exposure to a person under 16. He was released on court conditions that include no contact with anyone under 18, lest he face further charges. Maliwanag has a minor criminal record with prior convictions for forcible entry, mischief to property and breaching court orders. Court heard at a 2021 sentencing hearing he had been homeless for several months and an addiction to methamphetamine had been a 'long-standing' issue for him for about five years at the time. 'When he is high… he hallucinates (and) is a completely different person and unpredictable,' a Crown prosecutor said a family member told her. The statement from the school division's superintendent did not address questions posed by the Free Press, including whether counsellors or other supports were brought in for students and if officials plan to review security of the school grounds. 'All students and staff were safe,' said the statement. 'WSD encourages all our families throughout the school year to discuss safety protocols with their child while walking to and from school.' — with files from Dean Pritchard Erik PinderaReporter Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik. Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. 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.
Winnipeg Free Press
30-04-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Grant Park removes advanced-placement test due to student stress
Manitoba's largest school division has removed a rare entry exam used to sort graduating elementary students into different academic streams. Grant Park High School had asked incoming students to take the test at the end of Grade 6 to determine whether they could register in its advanced program. Principal Jamie Hutchison said an overhaul at Grant Park, which operates both a middle years wing and grades 9 to 12 courses, was initiated in response to concerns about students' well-being. Hutchison said he and his colleagues started noticing 'ever-increasing levels of anxiety' among students from feeder schools when in-person classes resumed after the initial COVID-19 disruptions. 'The testing piece and the anxiety associated with that was extremely troubling to us as educators, post-pandemic,' he said. Hutchison described the pre-registration assessment on the campus, located at 450 Nathaniel St., as 'high stakes.' Eleven and 12-year-old test-takers had to meet a specific and undisclosed threshold to secure a seat outside the general entry program at Grant Park. At the time, their three options were general, flexible or 'flex,' as its known among students, and advanced Grade 7. Flex was made for students who are self-motivated and excel at group projects. Advanced was created for those interested in studying subjects in-depth and at an accelerated pace. (The advanced stream is different from Advanced Placement, an internationally recognized program that is offered later on in a student's career at Grant Park and allows them to earn university-level credits. It is not an official prerequisite for AP, although both are for independent students seeking academic enrichment.) Grant Park administration has combined the general and flex streams ahead of the 2025-26 school year. They had become increasingly similar in recent years, with emphasis on student inquiry, project-based learning and interdisciplinary education, Hutchison said. Also new for next year is the ability for families to choose their preferred stream — as is the status quo elsewhere in the Winnipeg School Division. 'When we place students and we categorize them, that can create some negative self-images and that can be very detrimental,' said Matt Henderson, superintendent of the division responsible for roughly 30,000 students in inner-city and central Winnipeg. Henderson said this change at Grant Park — an outlier in WSD in that the school ran these point-in-time tests until recently — marks a new era. 'Parents are the experts of their children and we want the kids to have agency, too, and determine what type of learning environment they would like – and I think that's recognized as good practice throughout North America and that's something we fully endorse,' he said. There are no such exams required to enter French immersion, vocational schools or other options, the superintendent noted. Michael Holden, an assistant professor of education at the University of Winnipeg, questioned why students need to be streamed, be it via test or their personal choice, so early. Holden cited 2012 recommendations from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development that warned against grouping students before 'upper secondary.' Early selection has a negative impact on students assigned to lower-level academic tracks and exacerbates inequities because children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to be placed in them, per the report. 'It worries me – asking parents to make that decision if they don't know the long-term consequences of those choices,' said Holden, who researches classroom assessment at U of W. The academic said he's curious what data, if any, WSD has on graduates from general and flex moving onto high-level academic courses and post-secondary education. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. 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.
