Stefanson, Manitoba’s first female premier, to leave politics after 23 years

Former premier Heather Stefanson announced in the legislature Thursday she is resigning her Tuxedo seat after 23 years, effective May 6.

The Progressive Conservative MLA, Manitoba’s first female premier with previous top cabinet posts while in government, called it “the honour of a lifetime.”

“These roles allowed me to serve Manitobans and help pave the way for future generations of women in public service,” Stefanson told a surprised house during members’ statements Thursday afternoon.

“Thank you, Manitoba, for the opportunity, the responsibility and the honour,” said the 53-year-old.

Jury selected for accused serial killer’s murder trial

A jury has been selected in the trial of accused serial killer Jeremy Skibicki.

Twenty-one prospective jurors appeared before Court of King’s Bench Justice Rick Saull over the course of 90 minutes Thursday morning; 10 women and four men were ultimately selected for the trial, set to begin hearing evidence in two weeks.

The 14 jurors include two alternates who will step in if any of the other 12 are unable to fulfil their duties.

Skibicki, 37, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in the 2022 killings of four Indigenous woman: Morgan Harris, Rebecca Contois, Marcedes Myran and an as-of-yet unidentified woman Indigenous leaders have named Buffalo Woman.

Elementary students kept indoors after staff member hurt in unprovoked attack on school grounds

A staff member at a Wolseley neighbourhood elementary school was assaulted earlier this week in an unprovoked attack.

Winnipeg Police Service spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said officers were called to Mulvey School at Wolseley Avenue and Maryland Street, at about noon Tuesday.

The educational support worker reported that a man he didn’t know assaulted him while on on the school grounds. No children were present at the time, said McKinnon.

The staffer, who was on a break at the time of the attack, required medical treatment. Police are still investigating the assault and have not yet made any arrests, McKinnon said.

Dene community helps RCMP make arrest in 2021 double homicide

Posters in Dene and an interpreter helped RCMP make an arrest 21/2 years after a double homicide rocked a remote First Nation.

The bodies of friends Brent Denechezhe, 31, and Leona Tssessaze, 24, were found after a fire in a home in Northlands Denesuline First Nation on Sept. 9, 2021.

Leon Paul Mercredi, 22, was arrested in Fond du Lac, Sask., on Monday and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Mounties said at a news conference Thursday that Mercredi is originally from Northlands Denesuline, a fly-in community northwest of Thompson also known as Lac Brochet.

Mounties said Mercredi fled the community after the killings and was staying with people he knew in Fond du Lac. He has no convictions in Manitoba, court records show.

Family-run Vincenzo’s Mercato enters Winnipeg market

Quietly, two chefs cook near a canal in Italy, olive oil at the ready.

If they could look out beyond the TV screen they occupied, they’d see Winnipeg’s version of Italy — or at least its newest market.

Part of the family behind De Luca’s gourmet grocery store has branched off and started its own venture: Vincenzo’s Mercato.

“My dream was to have my own location,” said company namesake Vincenzo De Luca, sitting with his wife and daughters at one of the patio-esque tables inside their new business, near the television.

Councillor wants to extend Whiteout parties to The Forks

A city councillor’s idea to extend the downtown Whiteout parties to The Forks will be considered by council next month.

Coun. Russ Wyatt introduced a motion to broaden the Winnipeg Jets playoff gatherings after the first two parties sold out in less than an hour.

“There’s so many fans who can’t afford to get in the arena or the parties are sold out, so let’s open it up,” Wyatt said.

On Thursday, the motion was referred for consideration at next month’s executive policy committee meeting.

Fence tax credit could stop illegal dumping: councillor

A city councillor hopes a financial incentive to support the addition of six-foot fences could help property owners reduce dumping, though others prefer the city ramp up enforcement instead.

Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) wants the city to explore a potential property tax credit program that would partly reimburse residents and business owners for adding fences around their yards.

“Many properties are being abused by owners and renters from other properties dumping solid waste on lots without proper fencing to protect the victims’ properties … this dumping of solid waste is most prominent in low-income areas of the city where owners cannot afford to build six-foot fences around their backyards,” the motion states.

Eadie is calling for staff to complete a report that determines the price to erect sturdy fences around sample 25-foot wide lots, lists neighbourhoods that would benefit from such a credit, and details how such a program could be put in place.

More fires in vacant houses

Crews extinguished fires in two vacant houses Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Firefighters were sent to a two-storey house on the 1200 block of Alexander Avenue, in the Weston area, at 9:12 a.m. Thursday. The blaze was declared under control at 9:55 a.m.

Emergency demolition was being arranged. The house sustained “severe” fire and water damage, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said.

The house was previously damaged by a fire on the morning of Oct. 6. A person lived there at the time. The WFPS said at the time that early observations suggested the fire was accidental, caused by an overheated battery.

New play explores a Métis-settler romance

Before putting pen to paper on The Comeback, Trish Cooper and Sam Vint had never written a full play together. But for years, the married couple has been gathering the material that made the culture-clash comedy possible: the embarrassing encounters, the confusing conversations and the beautiful moments that undergird the messiness of domestic life in Winnipeg. Aside from their first-ever co-written script finding its way to the John Hirsch Mainstage at Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, the parents of two have already had a banner spring. Their oldest son got accepted into his dream program at Emily Carr University, while their […]

Remembering legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole. Oh baby, what a life

Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90.

Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.

Born June 24, 1933, the St. John's native provided a distinctive soundtrack to Canada's game. He was known for his signature "Oh baby" call, an expression that was not restricted to hockey arenas.

“He’s been saying that around the house as long as I can remember," Megan said in Cole's 2016 autobiography "Now I’m Catching On. My Life On and Off the Air."

Moose season comes to an end in Texas

The Manitoba Moose’s season ended Thursday.

The American Hockey League club was swept in the best-of-three Central Division play-in series after being blanked 2-0 by the Texas Stars at H-E-B Centre.

It was the third season in a row that the club lost in its first playoff series.

Fredrik Karlström scored both goals for the hosts, opening the scoring in the first period and adding some insurance in the third.