Latest news with #Winnipegger
Global News
a day ago
- Global News
Winnipegger, 18, arrested on flight to Japan after discovery of meth: border officials
A Winnipegger is facing drug trafficking charges after being arrested at the Calgary airport en route to Japan, border officials say. The 18-year-old was arrested June 23, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said, when officers searched luggage headed for Narita International Airport. The luggage contained around 30 kg of meth, the CBSA said, and the suspect had to be removed from the overseas flight they had already boarded. A joint operation between RCMP, the integrated border enforcement team, and local police in Calgary investigated the incident, and the accused was charged with possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession for the purpose of exporting, and attempting to export prohibited goods, Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'This seizure demonstrates the dedication and expertise of CBSA's border services officers as they work to prevent illegal drugs from breaching our borders,' said Janalee Bell-Bouychuk, CBSA regional director, in a statement. Story continues below advertisement 'Through our key partnerships with the RCMP and the Calgary Police Service, the CBSA works to disrupt those attempting to smuggle illegal narcotics and hold them accountable.'
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Weekend Muslim conference attracts young adults from across Canada
Muslim youth from across Canada gathered in Winnipeg on the weekend for a conference, the first of its kind in the country. About 60 young adults travelled here for the event, which was sponsored by the Islamic Social Services Association of Winnipeg, to discuss a variety of issues, including legal and civil rights when dealing with the police, gender diversity, finding allies in the fight against Islamophobia and dealing with trauma and mental-health concerns. Association board member and conference moderator Jamie Carnegie said there was a discussion about understanding how the media reports about Islam, and how to find reliable sources of information online. JOHN LONGHURST / FREE PRESS Lila Mansour, who travelled from Ontario to attend the conference, says mental health is 'a very serious issue for Muslim youth now.' 'Muslim youth, like other youth, have many sources of information today,' Carnegie said. 'Our goal was to help them find trusted sources and to understand what is being reported.' One issue that came up was how the media covers Muslim women in sports, especially when it comes to female athletes who wear hijabs. 'Gendered Islamophobia is another layer for Muslim youth to have to navigate,' Carnegie said. The conference also offered stories of spiritual and emotional hope and resilience. 'It's a great way to connect with others from across Canada and learn from them and share ideas,' said Winnipegger Ayesha Sultan, 23, a recent graduate of the University of Manitoba. 'There is so much we can learn from each other.' Aasif Bulbulia, 28, appreciated the opportunity to talk about how to respond to the war in Gaza and the situation facing Palestinian people. 'How do we address that?' asked Bulbulia, who is part of the Youth Leadership Institute at the Darul Falah Islamic Centre in Regina. 'How can we equip each other to resist what is happening when children are starving and being killed?' Bulbulia said he hoped to learn more about how Muslim youth can work with others to build a world based on shared ethical principles that go beyond any one religion. 'We should all be standing with marginalized and suffering people,' he said, adding that, for him, Jesus is an example of how to do that. JOHN LONGHURST / FREE PRESS Winnipegger Ayesha Sultan (right) says the conference was an opportunity to build on ongoing conversations about Islamophobia. Lila Mansour, 26, an articling student at a law firm in Toronto, said hearing a variety of perspectives made the conference worthwhile for her, especially on the topic of mental health. 'That is a very serious issue for Muslim youth now,' she said, adding that many young people wonder how they fit into Canadian society. Young Muslims — particularly women, like her, who wear the hijab — can feel they are misunderstood or ostracized, she said. 'That immediately marks you as different,' said Mansour. 'For some people, there is bias.' Some people assume she is anti-Israel if she voices support for Palestinians. 'It can make things uncomfortable,' she said. 'My very presence is political for them… I am careful about what I say about Gaza.' Manitoba's Minister of Advanced Education and Training Renée Cable delivered an address at the conference, which she said was 'incredibly important.' Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. She praised the 'beautiful minds doing difficult work' JOHN LONGHURST / FREE PRESS Aasif Bulbulia, who travelled from Regina, says he appreciated the opportunity to talk about how to respond to the war in Gaza. 'I want you to know how much I honour, respect and appreciate all of you,' she said during her speech. Noting this is a difficult time for many communities, Cable said the government wants everyone Manitoban to feel seen, welcomed and celebrated. 'There is so much division rooted in misinformation and hate,' she said. faith@ The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba. If you appreciate that coverage, help us do more! Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow us to deepen our reporting about faith in the province. Thanks! BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER John LonghurstFaith reporter John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg's faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News. 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.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg CrossFit athlete Michalyshen hoping third time's the charm at World Games
Sydney Michalyshen is, quite literally, one of the fittest people on the planet. That's not just a flex — the 25-year-old Winnipegger has the track record to prove it. She first qualified for the World CrossFit Games in 2021, finishing 25th out of 40 of the top female athletes from around the globe. Michalyshen earned her way back in 2022 and placed 31st. Now, she's gearing up for a third appearance, with this year's competition set to take place next week in New York. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Winnipegger Sydney Michalyshen hopes to be crowned the 'Fittest on Earth' at this year's World CrossFit Games. 'Super cool,' Michalyshen told the Free Press this week. 'To get to a spot like that, you're really, really pumped about it.' So what exactly is CrossFit? Think of it like an athletic buffet. 'Everything from running, biking, rowing, swimming, weightlifting, and then all the gymnastics components, too. It's kind of crazy,' she explained. The three-day annual event, which began in 2007, puts athletes through a series of gruelling competitions — many kept secret until the last minute — with the ultimate winner crowned the 'Fittest on Earth.' Competitors have to be ready for anything. 'It's kind of like an Ironman race in that sense,' said Michalyshen. Just getting to the final stage is no easy feat. Thousands of athletes enter the early rounds, but only the top 40 men and women — or, in this year's case, the top 30 — advance through the qualifying gauntlet. Despite her impressive results in 2021 and 2022, Michalyshen came up short in both 2023 and 2024. Any thought that her time had passed was put to rest this past May at the last-chance qualifier. Thirty-four women were in the field that week in Texas, with just two spots up for grabs. Michalyshen finished second. Experience is a great teacher, and she's hoping the third time really will be the charm. She'll be the lone Manitoban, and one of just four Canadian women, competing when the event kicks off Aug. 1 in Albany. 'I think the biggest thing I've learned and am taking away from the first two is there's really no need to be stressed. Like, once you make the Games, you should be really happy that you're there,' she said. 'Yes, you want to do well and, yes, it's very stressful. But I don't think I enjoyed my first two Games as much as I should have kind of looking back.'–Sydney Michalyshen 'Yes, you want to do well and, yes, it's very stressful. But I don't think I enjoyed my first two Games as much as I should have kind of looking back. I think I was too stressed, where if I had a bad event I would dwell on it for a little bit too long.' She's a little older now, a little wiser — and still in peak condition. So where does it all come from? 'I do think a lot of it is genetics. There's a lot of people that work hard, but genetics just won't allow you do to it,' said Michalyshen, who excelled in gymnastics as a child and then began adding strength training as she developed. A friend suggested she give CrossFit a try about seven years ago. It was love at first sight, even though not every discipline came easily. 'I'm not a natural endurance athlete, and I never did like endurance sports growing up,' she said. 'So the gymnastics and strength (competitions) in CrossFit is what I'm pretty good at and what's definitely gotten me to where I am.' Michalyshen played volleyball at the University of Manitoba in 2018 and 2019 while studying physical education. She shifted to full-time athletics around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and now works as a personal trainer and nutrition coach at Undefeated Health & Performance on Waverley Street — where she also trains. 'People always say you need a nice blend of work-life balance — I've got none of that,' Michalyshen said with a laugh. 'But it makes it really cool and enjoyable. When I'm working, I don't even feel like I'm working. And when I'm training, it's done out of one space with a lot of the same people, who talk about it all the time and are super excited for me.' 'I think loving it, enjoying the process, is a huge thing. There's a lot of people who are really good and work super hard, but they don't really like it, to be honest.'–Sydney Michalyshen Her biggest supporters include her parents — many will recognize her father, Jason, as a long-time public information officer with the Winnipeg Police Service — and her younger sister, Paige, who also does CrossFit. 'This is purely a hobby for her. She loves it, but she doesn't have any aspirations to compete. But she's really fit, and really good. We'll go on runs, and she's a much better runner, a much better endurance athlete than I am,' said Michalyshen. 'So she can push me in a lot of the running and rowing and stuff like that.' Her coach, Richard Deschamps, has also played a key role in her journey. 'It honestly means so much to me. Every day I'm reminded of that, with my family helping me out and all the things they've done for me. The support has been absolutely amazing,' she said. Her entire crew will be joining her in New York for the Games. CrossFit competitors typically peak between the ages of 20 and 34, meaning Michalyshen is still very much in her prime. 'I think loving it, enjoying the process, is a huge thing. There's a lot of people who are really good and work super hard, but they don't really like it, to be honest,' Michalyshen said, always striving for more. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Michalyshen will be the lone Manitoban, and one of just four Canadian women, competing when the event kicks off Aug. 1 in Albany. 'And this has honestly set me up for what I want to do after. I know I want to be in the fitness space, how I want to keep living my life. It's helped so much with my emotional well-being, my mental health, learning to do hard things and seeing who I am as a person. I feel like it has made me a much better person.' The 2025 CrossFit Games will be broadcast live on DAZN, a global sports entertainment platform that is available in over 200 countries, including Canada. 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. X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg Mike McIntyreReporter Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike. Every piece of reporting Mike 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
6 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ogungbemi-Jackson knows what it takes to make it
Despite it being his 10th year in pro basketball, this past season presented challenges that Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson has never faced before. It started out in the Iranian Super League with a club called Tabiat, but with the country's conflict with Israel rising, the Winnipegger made the decision to fly home after just 11 days. 'I just said, 'Man, I don't want to risk it.' I knew my family wasn't going to be comfortable if I'm here the whole time with these things going on, so, I decided to come back home,' said Ogungbemi-Jackson, who played his first nine seasons all over Europe. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson hopes to get back on the court next season after undergoing knee surgery. 'Once you become a father and a husband and you have a family, you have to make those types of decisions. I could've stayed, the team was ready for me to stay and wanted me to stay, but they understood why I wanted to go home.' He wasn't on Canadian soil for long as, two weeks later, the 33-year-old signed in Germany's top tier with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. Ogungbemi-Jackson hit the ground running with them by averaging 19 points per game through the first two contests. But then, two games later, his season was over. 'I just planted wrong and twisted my knee, and that was it,' he said. 'Obviously, I've logged a lot of minutes and a lot of mileage so that was kind of part of it.' Originally, they thought he'd be able to get back on the court after some extensive rehab, but after five months of working on it, it was determined that he would have to go under the knife. He had his surgery in Germany on April 3 and was told he'll need four to six months to make a full recovery. He's at the point now where he can work on things like ballhandling and shooting but still needs more time until he can go full speed. 'I've had injuries in the past, but never anything where I've had to have a surgery or something like that. It's definitely been a challenge, but I think all the experiences that I've had, having my family with me, being older, being more mature, I can appreciate the journey that I've had,' said Ogungbemi-Jackson, who played at the University of Calgary after making a name for himself at Garden City Collegiate. He views the setback as a blessing in disguise. Even though he was on the shelf, Ludwigsburg wanted him to stick around to take on a mentorship role since they had five players who were either rookies or sophomores. 'My whole career I've impacted the game being on the floor, so I wanted to see how I could impact the game being off the floor by just giving my advice to players and I genuinely feel like it was well received,' said Ogungbemi-Jackson. The experience also gave him some time to work on Hoops Vision Consulting, a business he officially launched last week. By offering mentorship, consulting and film breakdown, Ogungbemi-Jackson hopes his new project can help more players, especially Manitobans, reach their goals in the sport. He's had countless young athletes and fellow pros reach out over the years for advice, from everything from training tips to how one should go about finding the right agent. 'I just get so many random questions and I always found so much fulfillment sharing that knowledge, because growing up, I didn't really have that outlet coming from Winnipeg, a small town, which is on the rise in basketball now with a lot more things going on, but back then, we just didn't have those outlets,' said Ogungbemi-Jackson. JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson (right) played for his hometown Winnipeg Sea Bears last CEBL season. 'I feel like this is something that I genuinely want to do, and I genuinely want to help younger athletes, or even pros just like myself, just kind of help guide them on their journey because I know how hard it is, I know how competitive it is, and I know what it takes to make it.' His career has taken him to many places, including Portugal, Spain, France, Finland, Denmark and Belarus, but, last summer, it finally brought him back home to Winnipeg as he signed on with the Sea Bears of the CEBL. The team ended up going 9-11 before getting bounced in the play-in round, and his role fluctuated throughout the season — especially after the Sea Bears added import point guard Justin Wright-Foreman — but Ogungbemi-Jackson still cherishes the fact that he got to suit up in front of his friends and family for the first time in years. He averaged 13.7 points and 3.7 assists in 22.8 minutes over 16 games with the Sea Bears. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'It's still an experience that I can say I'll never forget, and not every professional athlete gets to literally play professionally in their hometown. I don't think it went as good or as great as we would have wanted, but that's part of the game,' he said. 'Not every year is going to be perfect, not every situation is going to be perfect. You might not be in a role that you agree with or that you're happy with, but that's part of the game, part of the business. I think experiences like that help me with the business as well and just give me perspective… Yeah, it was a bit challenging, but it helped me grow.' Getting healthy is the priority right now and, once he is, his agent will find him another opportunity overseas for the 2025-26 campaign. He may be a business owner now, but Ogungbemi-Jackson's playing career is far from over. 'If I can go four or five more years, I will,' he said. 'As long as I'm healthy and I feel good and it makes sense for my family and I, I'll continue to play.' Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor 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
6 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Optometrists refuse to treat urgent cases over fee dispute with province
Manitoba optometrists have been refusing to handle urgent cases out of frustration with the provincial government, which hasn't signed a deal with them in years. Since March, the optometrists have referred all non-routine eye care cases, as well as patients who had surgery within the past three weeks, to the Misericordia Eye Clinic. They've been directed to do so by the Manitoba Association of Optometrists. The result is that Manitobans are taking the brunt of the job action because the clinic has become jam-packed with patients, forcing the clinic to scramble and enlist the help of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority to find more staff. PAT MCGRATH / FREE PRESS FILES Since March, Manitoba optometrists have been refusing to handle all non-routine eye care cases out of frustration with the provincial government, which hasn't signed a deal with them in years. PAT MCGRATH / FREE PRESS FILES Since March, Manitoba optometrists have been refusing to handle all non-routine eye care cases out of frustration with the provincial government, which hasn't signed a deal with them in years. 'Patients are who the system is intended to serve and they are the most vulnerable,' said Winnipegger Mike Ellery, who learned about the labour dispute. The optometry services contract expired on March 31, 2019, during the third year of the Pallister government. Ellery admits he was confused when, back in May, his optometrist sent him to the Misericordia Eye Clinic for an issue when he had been treated for the same condition by that specialist a few years earlier. Ellery said there were so many patients waiting when he went in to the clinic one morning that, after he was not seen by the afternoon, he had to leave. He returned the next day and was treated. He said he wasn't the only one who left without being seen by an optometrist. 'Patients are who the system is intended to serve and they are the most vulnerable.'–Mike Ellery But Ellery said, before returning to the clinic, he spoke to the president of the association who confirmed job action was being taken. He said Dr. Averi Van Dam told him that optometrists had gone six years without a contract. 'I also learned that optometrists get paid shockingly little for providing urgent care and they have had no opportunity to renegotiate their contract.' Ellery said he told the association president it was not only 'inexcusable' for the province not to renegotiate a new contract, but the association's job actions were also 'both irresponsible and ineffective.' He said he hoped now that the public knows what is going on, the situation will be resolved. 'Avoiding harms to patients must always be our top priority… now that the secret's out, maybe we can all start the work needed to heal the desperately unwell health care system for which we are responsible.' Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. The association did not provide a statement about the contract issue before deadline, despite being told the government response and being sent a list of questions about the dispute. A Doctors Manitoba spokesman said physicians are concerned about the ongoing dispute and the effect on patients. 'We understand optometrists are withholding certain services from patients while they seek a new contract, and we're hearing from physicians who have seen more patients seeking urgent care for eye issues, and longer wait times too,' the spokesman said, adding it's hoped the two sides can resolve the dispute quickly so care can be restored. Mike Deal / Free Press files Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara. Mike Deal / Free Press files Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said the government 'has been actively working with optometrists over the past several months. 'The previous government refused to even take a meeting with optometrists and this understandably caused frustration,' Asagwara said in a statement. The minister said the contract covers optometric services, including eye exams and post-operative care, with optometrists being paid with a set tariff per service. As well, they said optometrists can also bill third-party insurers for additional services. 'We are aware of the increased demand for same-day eye care services at the Misericordia Eye Centre,' Asagwara said. 'In response, the WRHA has implemented temporary solutions, including reallocating staff and bringing in additional physicians.' Noah Schultz, provincial director of the Manitoba Health Coalition, said patients can't afford more delays. 'We're in a system-wide staffing and physician crisis in Manitoba health care,' Schulz said. 'We need more health care professionals across the board, including specialists like optometrists and ophthalmologists. Patients in Manitoba already face year-long wait lists for essential procedures like cataract surgery. 'The previous government refused to even take a meeting with optometrists and this understandably caused frustration.'–Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara 'This puts Manitobans on such wait lists at risk and weakens trust in public health care.' Schulz said Manitobans need quicker health care, not delayed. 'Eye care is health care and should be accessible to all Manitobans,' he said. 'We need expanded, fully public eye care services, and must push governments to provide more access, not less.' While Progressive Conservative Health critic Kathleen Cook didn't address the lack of contract negotiations during the previous Tory government, she took aim at the current government for not settling it. 'Over the last two years, Manitobans and health care professionals alike have been increasingly disappointed by the NDP's broken promises,' Cook said. 'Optometrists are joining other health care providers, from home care attendants to nurses, who have found that the NDP's words don't always match their actions. She said she had written to Asagwara twice to work with the optometrists association and resolve the dispute. Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin 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.
