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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Gabe Vilardi locked in long-term after career-best season with Winnipeg Jets
Gabe Vilardi knows Winnipeggers love a great deal — and the popular Jets forward hopes his new six-year extension with the hockey club will be exactly that. 'I'd hope to be someone where people are saying, 'Wow, that's a great contract for the Jets,' looking back on it,' Vilardi said Monday morning, speaking with reporters for the first time since putting pen to paper last Friday. The 25-year-old, who became a restricted free agent on July 1, will earn US$7.5 million annually through the end of the 2030-31 NHL season. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES 'We talked about the length and the number a lot. I know everyone has their opinions on numbers. Some people say too high, some people say too low. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions,' said Vilardi, who was coming off a two-year deal paying US$3.44 million per season. 'But I just want to keep growing and developing my game. In terms of my ceiling, I don't really know what my ceiling is. I'm not going to sit here and say it's 50 goals or 60 goals because even if I did achieve that, it's not good enough, as you can always keep climbing.' Vilardi is coming off a career-best season with highs in games played (71), goals (27), assists (34) and points (61) as Winnipeg finished first overall in the regular-season standings. Locking him in long-term was a top priority for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. 'I wasn't involved in much of the conversations. I don't know what Chevy and my agent were barking at each other. But I think everything went pretty smoothly from what I heard,' said Vilardi. 'And I'm glad to hear that. It was never in any question for me. I always wanted to be back in Winnipeg so it was important that we got it done and we didn't get to arbitration and I don't think anybody wanted that. So how it played out was almost inevitable.' 'I wasn't involved in much of the conversations… But I think everything went pretty smoothly from what I heard.'– Jets forward Gabe Vilardi Winnipeg's reputation around the league isn't always flattering, with many players listing the city on their no-trade clauses. So what is it about this place that won over Vilardi, a Kingston native who played junior hockey in Ontario before being drafted 11th overall by Los Angeles in 2017 and spending his first five pro seasons in California? 'The opportunity for us to win in our window here of four or five years is something I'm very excited about and I want to be a part of. And I love Winnipeg. It's a great spot. It feels like home to me,' he said. 'The fans, the team, the organization, everybody has been welcoming to me in Winnipeg since I've been there and it's been great. So it made it a pretty easy decision for me.' Does that make the reality of Winnipeg much different from the outside perception? 'I think the perception is tough,' Vilardi admitted. 'When I played in L.A. and you come to Winnipeg, you're staying on Portage (Avenue), you don't really leave that downtown area and it's freezing cold. So you're like, 'Wow, this is kind of dark.' It's not something that you're looking forward to going out and enjoying a dinner, kind of thing. 'But once you get to Winnipeg and you leave the downtown area and go to your neighbourhoods in River Heights and Tuxedo… whatever it is. For me, personally, it feels like home. I like that.' He noted his girlfriend, Megan Rodgers — who is from southern California — has grown to love their hockey home, too. 'The other part of your question, a lot of it is the group of guys. We have a great team, on and off the ice. I love all the guys,' said Vilardi. 'I grew up watching Jon(athan Toews) and I think him bringing that experience, he has won three (Stanley) Cups and he knows what it takes, I think it is good for us in the locker room and on the ice.'– Gabe Vilardi 'I truly believe that we have a team that can win. On the outside for guys looking in, you have to figure out what you want. Do you want to go live in a warm climate and maybe play on a worse team? At the end of the day for me, it's about hockey. I want to win. That's my top priority in life. So it's easy to overlook the cons and look at the pros for me.' The Jets did lose a key piece this summer in Nikolaj Ehlers, who signed as a free agent with Carolina. But they're adding Winnipeg's own Jonathan Toews, who agreed to a one-year deal to make a comeback after a two-year health hiatus. 'Super excited. I grew up watching Jon and I think him bringing that experience, he has won three (Stanley) Cups and he knows what it takes, I think it is good for us in the locker room and on the ice,' said Vilardi. 'I sent him a text when he signed and I told him how excited the team is to have him. For him missing that time, obviously he is going to have a tough situation coming back and obviously getting back into the groove of things and, hopefully, myself and the guys, we can help him feel comfortable and help him get back going as quick as he can.' The Jets also added free-agent forwards Gustav Nyquist, Tanner Pearson, and Cole Koepke, while losing Mason Appleton and Brandon Tanev in free agency. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES Gabe Vilardi signed a US$45 million extension through the end of the 2030-31 NHL season with the Winnipeg Jets on Friday. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES Gabe Vilardi signed a US$45 million extension through the end of the 2030-31 NHL season with the Winnipeg Jets on Friday. 'We have got the same coaching staff and the core group is still there. Every year there is not going to be the exact same roster, there is going to be change always,' said Vilardi. 'We are going to welcome the new guys in and we are still a very good team.' He figures to once again be on the right side of Winnipeg's top line this coming season along with top centre Mark Scheifele — who is also signed for six more years — and Kyle Connor, who will be entering the final year of his contract but is already in extension talks. 'I believe in our group. I think this past year we obviously showed what we're capable of in the regular season,' he said. 'And obviously the playoffs didn't end up our way, but I think we competed there and I think just the opportunity of this window we have where I truly believe we have a great opportunity to win and I want to be a part of that and I think we can accomplish that.' Vilardi admits a US$45 million contract to play the sport he's loved since he was a little kid brings a wave of feelings — with gratitude at the top of the list. 'Looking back, I always wanted to be a hockey player. I always worked really hard and I always knew this (reaching the NHL) was going to happen. In terms of the money, I'm grateful. I can help my family and make sure that everyone's set,' he said. 'I'm glad I'm sticking around for a while longer.'– Gabe Vilardi 'A lot of people have helped me get to this point, obviously, but it doesn't change much. I still feel like I have a lot to prove and I want to keep getting better. But obviously it does feel good and I'm super grateful to a lot of people that have helped me.' Those emotions extend to the blockbuster 2023 trade that brought him to Winnipeg alongside Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and a draft pick (used to select Alfons Freij) in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois. 'I'm super grateful that they acquired me, took a chance on me and I've been given a lot of opportunities since I've come to Winnipeg that I'm super grateful for,' said Vilardi. 'I love the group of guys we have, I'm super grateful for the relationships that have been made over the past two years. Yeah, I'm happy with how that all played out and I'm glad I'm sticking around for a while longer.' 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
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Crankshaft comes to Winnipeg
School is out, and cranky bus driver Ed Crankshaft is headed on a road trip — to Winnipeg. Crankshaft and his son-in-law Jeff Murdoch — who for the better part of the last decade has sported Winnipeg Blue Bombers sweatshirts and tuques in the Crankshaft comic strip — are set to begin a daily month-long story arc where they visit the Manitoba capital to see a football game. The story begins today and can be read in the Free Press and nearly 500 other newspapers that carry the strip, including the Los Angeles Times, Denver Post, Dallas Morning News and Seattle Times. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Ohio-based Crankshaft comic illustrator and avid Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan Tom Batiuk, who is finally in Winnipeg to see a Bomber game and do research on the city for a future comic strip, at Portage and Main on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. For Nicole story. Winnipeg Free Press 2024 MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Ohio-based Crankshaft comic illustrator and avid Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan Tom Batiuk, who is finally in Winnipeg to see a Bomber game and do research on the city for a future comic strip, at Portage and Main on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. For Nicole story. Winnipeg Free Press 2024 Along the way, Winnipeggers will delight in seeing some familiar faces and places. 'It worked out really well,' creator Tom Batiuk said during a recent phone interview from his home and office in Ohio. 'It really is enjoyable when we can take Crankshaft through a real-life experience. As a kid, reading comics in the paper, I always liked it when they touched on real events and real people.' Batiuk visited Winnipeg last summer to research the city and took in a game at Princess Auto Stadium, as a guest of the Bombers. He even ran out on the field with the team before the game. The 78-year-old writes his storylines about a year before they run in newspapers and admits this series and its real-life characters had him sweating for months. 'I was holding my breath hoping anybody mentioned in the strip doesn't get traded,' he said. Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea features in three of the strips, and mascots Buzz and Boomer make an appearance in another. 'It's a real honour to be featured in Crankshaft — especially knowing Tom Batiuk is such a passionate supporter of the club,' said O'Shea, whose honours include six Grey Cup rings — including two as Bombers coach — and player awards as the CFL's most outstanding rookie and most outstanding Canadian. 'When you coach in a place like Winnipeg, where the fans, the history and the community mean everything, it's pretty special to see that spirit captured in something as iconic as a comic strip.' Cody Chomiak, Travel Manitoba's vice-president of marketing, said having Winnipeg featured in a comic strip is the kind of publicity you can't buy. 'This is marketing gold for us,' Chomiak said. 'Getting organically featured in pop culture, whether it's a movie, series, comic or otherwise, can be just as impactful as traditional advertising. 'We love that this piece highlights such an important sports team and integrates our iconic skyline — what a great way to shine a spotlight on Winnipeg and Manitoba.' Starved for football when the NFL locked out its players in 2011, Batiuk began flipping television channels and came across the Blue and Gold in action. He loved the name of the team's quarterback — Buck Pierce, now head coach of the B.C. Lions — but he also fell in love with the team and the Canadian style of football. Batiuk has continued to follow the Bombers long after the NFL labour strife ended. It's why, for years, Batiuk has added Bombers logos onto shirts worn by some of the characters. 'The strips are a quarter inch from my real life,' Batiuk said. 'When you are doing daily newspaper comic strips — and at one point I was doing three at once — you scratch at all parts of your life for it. When the Bombers invited me to run out onto the field, I was immediately thinking Crankshaft could do that.' Batiuk said he took plenty of photographs when he was in Winnipeg with his wife, Cathy. Although he is the creator of Crankshaft, which began in 1987 as a spinoff from his comic strip Funky Winkerbean, he doesn't draw the cartoon. 'I wanted (illustrator) Dan Davis to have lots of references,' he said. 'He really nailed it. Dan does terrific work.' As to whether Crankshaft will ever return to Winnipeg, Batiuk doesn't know. 'I would certainly love to come back sometime,' he said. 'The Bombers organization treated us well. It was just great. 'And the game was amazing, too — it was really exciting. At the last minute, the pass was into the end zone and they won. 'I would come back just for that.' 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.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Encampments and personal responsibilities
Opinion Some parts of Winnipeg have a noxious problem on their hands. Among behaviours by the residents of homeless encampments causing consternation among other Winnipeggers near the sites, the act of burning cable and wires in order to cash in on the metallic components is, literally, a toxic one. It's a problem firefighters have had to contend with, and one local authorities seem ill-equipped to address. Wire burning poses serious short-term and long-term health risks; the burning wires release carcinogens into the atmosphere and those exposed are at a higher risk of developing cancer. BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS An encampment on the bank of the Red River along the North Winnipeg Parkway Winnipegger Howard Warren told the Free Press he has asked residents of an encampment near his home to cease burning wires, but says his requests have been rebuffed. Warren pointed out that, were he to do the same in his own yard, his neighbours would likely complain and he may face penalties under the law. He's right, and the double-standard reveals a major problem, one with which those sympathetic to the encampments will have to contend. In late June, this paper shed light on an element of encampment life which put to the test the common stereotype that residents of homeless encampments are there because they have no other choice. Some residents, the June 25 story revealed, prefer to live in encampments. 'These are the people I trust, instead of somebody I don't trust or don't know,' one encampment resident, identified as Joseph, told the Free Press. He was unimpressed by provincial plans to end homelessness by 2031. 'And why? We don't have to pay rent. Why would I pay $600 for someone to tell me how to live when I could pay nothing and live how I want to live?' It's a whimsical notion, and one easy to be sympathetic to. Modern life is fraught with high costs and irritating obligations. And some people are not well-equipped or inclined to take part in the 21st-century rat-race. So let's indulge that thought for just a moment, that encampments in the city could be treated as permanent settlements for those who are not calibrated to the 'ordinary,' way of living. And let's narrow the focus to those who do have the choice, and not those who live in encampments because mental health issues or addictions leave them little choice. What does this idealized arrangement demand of everybody involved? Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. Without wanting to besmirch the character of the aforementioned Joseph, let's zoom in on one comment he made: why should he want to pay rent 'for someone to tell me how to live…?' That's the sticking point, here: for all the talk among some encampment residents and their advocates about how the encampments provide protective, tight-knit communities for their residents, there is a distinct antisocial streak within them, one which makes the encampments dangerous and antagonistic to the rest of the city around them. Even in a world without all of the expectations which come with modern living, there is still such a thing as the social contract — a set of expectations placed on the individual which, while varying between cultures, is a fact of life across human civilization. In the distant past, one might have been free to pitch one's tent wherever worked, but there remained a social requirement to behave in a way that was not burdensome or dangerous to everyone else. While encampments may be a preferred way of life for some, they cannot and should not be a way to opt out entirely from the social contract. Encampments are not going to be a sustainable reality for the people living in them if their establishment is followed by trash littering the area, unsafe and toxic fires burning through the night, and other disruptive or criminal activities. Some people may be willing to look at those choosing the encampment life and say 'live and let live,' — but it's not going to happen if encampment residents can't figure out how to be better neighbours.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘He really walked the talk'
Harold Dyck wasn't a rich man, but if there was any one quality that defined who he was it was his tireless devotion to enriching the lives of Winnipeggers who experienced poverty. He died in February at the age of 72, surrounded by friends and family. In 1998, Dyck founded what came to be known as the Low Income Intermediary Project. The program advocated for the better treatment of recipients of Employment and Income Assistance, also known as provincial welfare, and helped them receive the benefits to which they were entitled. It was essentially a one-man crusade led by Dyck that helped people access benefits they likely would have been denied. In many cases, he would represent the individuals he worked with all the way to the Social Services Appeal Board, which had the final say on such matters. During its nearly 25-year history, the project represented hundreds of people and Dyck's deep-rooted understanding of the welfare system was responsible for helping them collect tens of thousands of dollars in benefits the system would have otherwise denied them. What's remarkable about his efforts is that Dyck never collected a single dime from any of the people he represented. The work was all done pro bono and the project received no government grants or private funding. His passion for fighting the system didn't come as much of a surprise to those who knew Dyck. He had experienced poverty first-hand and knew how inhumane it could be. 'That was what I found so inspirational about him,' says his daughter, Jen Dyck-Sprout. 'He really walked the talk in a way where he really believed this stuff and he wasn't going to give up his beliefs to go get a job, even though it would have obviously been more comfortable and he was in really deep poverty himself struggling to make ends meet.' Like many of the people he represented, Dyck never expected he would have to contend with poverty. He had a solid career as an inspector with Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health and later at Boeing Winnipeg. But he eventually found himself out of work; his situation was compounded by bouts of depression and a subsequent divorce. Journalist and former city councillor Donald Benham first became acquainted with Dyck in the late 1990s when he was a host and producer of the CBC Radio program Questionnaire. Dyck was asked to appear on the show as a guest to talk about what it was like to live in poverty. Benham was blown away by his guest's knowledge and insight. Harold Dyck's passion project was the Low Income Intermediary Project, which helped people on social assistance get the benefits they were entitled to. 'He had this amazing capacity for information and he had a great way of putting things so that people who weren't in the system could understand it,' he recalls. The two men became reacquainted several years later when they were both working at Winnipeg Harvest. At one point they shared a cubicle while the food bank was undergoing renovations and forged an enduring friendship that lasted until Dyck's death. The irony of that friendship didn't escape either man. Benham is a Progressive Conservative, while Dyck was a proud Marxist who ran unsuccessfully in several provincial elections for the Communist Party of Canada's Manitoba chapter. 'That was no problem and was no barrier to any communication between us at all,' he says. 'We both agreed on all the important stuff, which is poverty is wrong and unjust and we need to change it. Those were things we could agree on completely … although we were coming at them from different ends of the political spectrum. 'I guess the basis of our friendship was that we enjoyed a sense of humour together,' Benham adds. 'He was great at poking fun at all kinds of things and especially people in power. Even more important than that was what I learned from him. He was always reading.' Ah, yes, reading: maybe the one thing Dyck was even more passionate about than his anti-poverty work. Growing up on the family farm in Birds Hill with his younger siblings, Marlene and Leonard, the shy young man could often be found in his room with his nose stuck in a book. 'He was so well read,' Marlene recalls of her brother. 'Honestly, you could bring up any kind of topic and he would know something about it. He was very knowledgeable and absorbed everything. 'Even though he had his strong beliefs, he never pushed them on you. He was a great debater. He really liked to talk to people and get their view on things.' From left: Shelley Burns, Uri Maxima, Jen Dyck-Sprout, Teo Maxima, Dyck and Nelson Sprout in 2024. Although he was generally reluctant to discuss his upbringing with Jen or her brother Nelson, Dyck's daughter believes those early years played a huge role in developing her dad's political views. As a young man, he studied briefly in Cuba and Russia, where he learned about Marxism and came to see capitalism as oppressive. That sojourn cemented many of the beliefs he developed working on the family farm, where they raised minks. 'He didn't like that,' she says. 'He really empathized with the animals and talked about how cruel he felt it was that they were being killed to make coats and hats for wealthy people. I think that was some of his early … radicalizing around class.' Dyck's efforts to help others weren't restricted to those dealing with poverty. In the early 1980s at Boeing, he helped spearhead efforts to organize the first union at the company's Winnipeg plant. Several years later, while working at Harvest, Dyck was instrumental in changing the way the faculty of medicine at the University of Manitoba accepts students. Prospective doctors are required to spend one day each year at Harvest to sort potatoes and other food items. Dyck was asked to speak with them one day and immediately asked how many of them had experiences with poverty or the welfare system. Of course, no one raised a hand, something that was duly noted by one of their professors, Dr. Joe Kaufert. Kaufert went back to his colleagues, told them the story and a discussion ensued about how the gap Dyck had exposed could be corrected. Harold Dyck, seen here in 2011, died in February at the age of 72. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. As a result, the faculty now anonymously asks each applicant if they grew up in a family that experienced welfare, hunger, poverty or homelessness. Eight seats that had previously been reserved for out-of-province students are now filled by students who answer yes, something Benham says likely wouldn't have happened without his good friend's insight. Dyck had been ill for some time prior to his death, suffering from both diabetes and liver disease. While she mourned his demise, his sister Marlene says she will never forget his fighting spirit or desire to make the world a better place. 'He wanted to change the world. He helped a lot of people and he thought if everybody else could say the same, it would be a lot better of a world.' fpcity@
CBC
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Fringe Fest play shines spotlight on If Day, when 'Nazis' invaded Winnipeg
On a cold February day more than 80 years ago, Winnipeggers got a chilling glimpse of what the city would look and feel like if the Nazis won the Second World War. "This was 1942 — the war wasn't going very well," said Gilles Messier, a Winnipeg-based history writer and playwright. "[There was] an idea — 'hey, why don't we pretend to be invaded by Germans, and show people what it's like in Europe, and bring the war home, and the reality of what they're fighting for, what could happen if we lose.'" So on Feb. 19, 1942, during the height of the war, the City of Winnipeg staged "If Day," an elaborate one-day simulated Nazi invasion and occupation of the Manitoba capital. It was intended to boost the sale of war bonds, which funded war efforts at the time. The massive stunt included more than 3,800 volunteers dressed in Nazi uniforms who rolled in tanks right through downtown Winnipeg. It also included a staged firefight, mock German aircraft flying overhead, the "arrest" of prominent politicians to be taken to internment camps, the takeover of newspapers and radio stations, and public burning of books. Messier said that from all accounts, If Day painted an eerie picture for Winnipeggers and North Americans of how European nations were experiencing real-life Nazi takeovers at the time. The staged invasion of Winnipeg is the inspiration for Messier's new play If Day, a fictional and humorous take on the events of Feb. 19, 1942, running at this year's Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, which features shows from Winnipeg and around the world. "It's a fictionalization, because the actual event went exactly as they planned," Messier said. "But I've written a sort of a farce, a comedy of errors, where it goes horrifically wrong. "But the setup of it, the basic premise, is based on reality." 'A real worldwide success' Messier said the play features a range of characters, and examines how each of them would react to seeing If Day play out, blending both humour and more serious moments. And while the stories in the play are made up, Messier said the production is also a chance for audience members to learn about a real part of Winnipeg's wartime history that many might not know about. "I find it so fun to integrate as much fact into these fictional narratives as possible, where you can't tell where one begins and the other ends," he said. WATCH | A March 2025 report on the day fake Nazis 'invaded' Winnipeg: That time fake Nazis 'invaded' Winnipeg 5 months ago On Feb. 19, 1942, people in Winnipeg woke up to a simulated Nazi invasion, with fake German soldiers marching in the streets. The CBC's Trishla Parekh shows how If Day became one of Canadian history's most elaborate fundraising events. Bill Zuk, a Winnipeg-based historian and the secretary of the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society, plans to take in Messier's show this week at the Fringe Fest. He said while the play shows a comical version of things going wrong on If Day, accounts indicate the actual event couldn't have gone better, with widespread media coverage of the event, including major Canadian and U.S. newspapers and newsreel companies filing stories. "It became a real worldwide success," said Zuk. "People around the world heard about If Day in Winnipeg." Zuk said once the Fringe Festival wraps up, a professional film crew is scheduled to record the live show in a local studio, and there are plans for a free screening of a film version of the play at Winnipeg's Caboto Centre on Sept. 24. The screening will be part of multiple events in Winnipeg that Zuk and others have been organizing this year to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the Allied victory. The anniversary should also serve as a reminder to Canadians about what can happen when dictators and authoritarian regimes gain power, he said. "I think we're once again in a very perilous time," said Zuk. "But one thing the Second World War taught us is that we have the ability to come out of this on the right side of it." Despite themes of war and military takeovers, Messier said he wants people to remember that above all else, his play If Day is meant to make people laugh. "It's got something for everybody," he said. "If you want to learn a little bit of history, I pride myself on putting together really accurate sets and costumes. "And if you want to laugh, if you want to see a good old-fashioned farce, go see If Day." Messier's production is one of the more than 140 shows now running in venues around central Winnipeg as part of this year's Fringe Festival. If Day runs at Venue 6 — the Tom Hendry Warehouse Theatre — with performances at various times until July 27, the last day of the festival.
