Local

Local

A memorial is setup during a candle light vigil for Amanda Clearwater, 30, her children Bethany, 6, Jayven, 4, Isabella, two months, and her niece Myah Gratton, 17, in Carman in February 2024. (Brook Jones/Winnipeg Free Press files)

Man accused of killing 5 family members fires 2nd legal team

By Dean Pritchard 3 minute read Preview

Man accused of killing 5 family members fires 2nd legal team

By Dean Pritchard 3 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — A Manitoba man accused of killing five family members is once again looking for new lawyers to represent him at trial.

But Ryan Manoakeesick will stand trial, with or without a lawyer in April 2027, a judge warned him Thursday.

“I want to be clear, Mr. Manoakeesick, that the trial dates that have been set are going to remain,” King’s Bench Justice Candace Grammond told him. “Those trial dates are effectively written in stone.

“You may think that is a long time in the future, but in a trial of this kind you need to make sure you have appropriate representation and you will be ready to attend to the matter on that date.”

Read
2:00 AM CDT

Local

Interim Tory leader Konrad Narth said his party is concerned about the NDP’s record on public safety and affordability three years into a four-year term. (Mike Deal/Winnipeg Free Press)

Kinew uses French to fry interim Tory leader

By Chris Kitching and Maggie Macintosh 3 minute read Preview

Kinew uses French to fry interim Tory leader

By Chris Kitching and Maggie Macintosh 3 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — NDP Premier Wab Kinew took a dig at the Progressive Conservatives’ leadership change while facing off with Obby Khan’s short-term replacement for the first time in question period Thursday.

It came after interim Tory leader Konrad Narth accused the New Democrats of failing to implement “stronger” bail reform and enforcement measures as promised.

“Now we see there is less crime in Manitoba than there was when the Progressive Conservatives were in government. What are they doing now? Well, they found knives and chased their old leader out,” Kinew said, speaking in French.

“We don’t even know who’s going to be the PC leader next month … next year? We don’t know. What we know is that we’re working on making communities safer.”

Read
2:00 AM CDT

Local

Killer of 2 Indigenous women out on release now back in prison

By Erik Pindera 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg man convicted of killing two First Nations women more than a decade ago — with charges stayed in a third slaying — has been sent back to prison less than a year after he left under conditions.

Parole Board of Canada officials revoked 67-year-old Shawn Lamb’s statutory release after a hearing last week.

“Your actions are not beyond your control, yet you continue to wilfully make poor decisions that place the public at risk,” board member Arun Kundu-Thomsen wrote in a decision released this week.

Lamb gained statutory release — a legislated conditional release most federal inmates automatically qualify for after serving two-thirds of their sentence — in November last year and lived in several Ontario facilities for federal offenders.

Tamarack

Local

Swathes of farm land were submerged and municipal roads and provincial highways were washed out by overland flooding from western Manitoba to the Interlake after severe flooding hit several communities in June and July. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)

Province has provided $20M in flood relief so far, minister says

By Chris Kitching 2 minute read Preview

Province has provided $20M in flood relief so far, minister says

By Chris Kitching 2 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — The province has sent out $20 million in relief to Manitobans and municipalities affected by severe flooding in several communities in June and July, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor told MLAs Thursday.

Naylor said the government received more than 2,400 applications for financial assistance from residents and businesses, plus applications from 64 local authorities.

Provincial staff have so far processed more than 2,000 applications, she said.

Manitoba offered financial assistance after many homes and businesses were inundated, swathes of farm land were submerged and municipal roads and provincial highways were washed out by overland flooding from western Manitoba to the Interlake.

Read
2:00 AM CDT

Local

Sports Looking Back: Oct. 2, 2026

1 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

ON TELEVISION

• NHL — Rangers at Red Wings, 5:30 p.m. (SN1); Capitals at Hurricanes, 6 p.m. (SNW); Bruins at Jets, 7 p.m. (TSN3); Blues at Stars, 8 p.m. (SN1); Ducks at Golden Knights, 9 p.m. (SNW)

• CFL — Hamilton at Ottawa, 6 p.m. (TSN5); Calgary at Saskatchewan, 8:30 p.m. (TSN1)

IN LOCAL HISTORY

Local

B.C. RECORDS

1 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Here are the records Brandon posted in their trips through the B.C. Division since the 2002-03 season. Some years, including 2003-04, the team visited the B.C. and U.S. Divisions in mixed trips. Those results are not included.

2024-25 — 3-3-0-0.

2022-23 — 3-2-0-0.

2018-19 — 2-2-0-1.

Tamarack Golf Tournament

Weather

Oct. 2, 6 PM: 14°c Cloudy with wind Oct. 3, 12 AM: 11°c Cloudy with wind

Brandon MB

16°C, Cloudy with wind

Full Forecast

Local

Vincent Massey’s Hannah McGregor saves a tight set with her left hand during the Vikings’ five-set win over the Neelin Spartans in Brandon High School Volleyball League varsity girls’ action on Tuesday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Vikings sweep city matches

2 minute read Preview

Vikings sweep city matches

2 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Hannah McGregor posted 13 kills as the Vincent Massey Vikings beat the Neelin Spartans 3-2 (25-21, 25-27, 25-18, 23-25, 15-11) in Brandon High School Volleyball League varsity girls’ action at Massey on Tuesday.

Ella VanDaele and Hollie Brugger posted eight kills each for Massey (2-0), with Kennedy Hong adding seven.

Middle blockers Elli Pomehichuk and Jayda Davidson had nine and eight kills, respectively, for Neelin (0-1).

In the boys’ match, the Vikings (2-0) won 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-14).

Read
Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Local

Crocus Plains running back Dustin Douglas turns up field on his way to scoring a touchdown while quarterback Jackson Penner blocks Max Shields of the Vincent Massey Vikings during the game at Vincent Massey on Tuesday. Douglas scored two touchdowns on offence and one on defence during the contest. (Rowan McCarthy/The Brandon Sun)

Douglas runs over Vikings in JV clash

By Rowan McCarthy 7 minute read Preview

Douglas runs over Vikings in JV clash

By Rowan McCarthy 7 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Dustin Douglas dominated on both sides of the ball as the Crocus Plains JV football team ran over the Vincent Massey Vikings, winning 42-24 in the “Brandon Bowl” on Tuesday.

“If you know anything about Brandon football in the last 20 years, (Vincent Massey) has definitely had our number,” said Crocus Plains head coach Mason Kaluzniak. “We’ve worked really hard in the last five years to try to shift things our way, and it’s really starting to come … I believe in what we are doing. I believe in the development of our players, and I really feel we are going to be dangerous moving forward.”

The Plainsmen dominated the first half of the game and seemingly could do no wrong. The defence got things going with an early fumble recovery on the opening drive that set the tone. Though the offence ended up punting, the energy on the Plainsmen’s side of the field was high.

After going back and forth for the majority of the opening frame, Crocus Plains quarterback Jackson Penner found Reyes Monge for a 69-yard catch-and-run with 2:31 remaining in the quarter to open the scoring. After the successful extra-point attempt, the Plainsmen led 7-0.

Read
Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Local

Bobcats to showcase bright volleyball future

Bobcats to showcase bright volleyball future

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

Bobcats to showcase bright volleyball future

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Your first look at Brandon University’s next hopeful national title contender is tonight.

The Bobcats men’s volleyball team hosts the McMaster University Marauders at the Healthy Living Centre at 7 p.m., following the University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg’s match at 5 o’clock to open BU’s pre-season tournament.

This isn’t to say Brandon’s about to go from a 7-13 season and first-round exit to a nationals appearance in a year after losing its two best players in outside hitters Tom Friesen and Liam Pauls.

Rather, it’s an endorsement of the team’s young corps and what it could become in a few years.

Read
Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Local

Due to drought conditions slashing its hydroelectric generation, Manitoba Hydro had to buy electricity and had less power to sell outside the province, forcing the Crown corporation to post a $446-million loss in 2025-26. (Ruth Bonneville/Winnipeg Free Press files)

Hydro reports $446M loss in 2025-26

By Scott Billeck 3 minute read Preview

Hydro reports $446M loss in 2025-26

By Scott Billeck 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — Manitoba Hydro posted a $446-million loss in 2025-26, as drought conditions slashed hydroelectric generation, forcing the Crown corporation to buy more power while leaving it with less electricity to sell outside the province.

The loss was $666 million worse than the $220-million profit Hydro had budgeted. The utility posted a $63-million loss the previous year, according to the utility’s annual report released Tuesday.

Hydro said the 2025-26 fiscal year, which ended on March 31, marked its fourth low-water year in the past five years, among the worst stretches of water-flow conditions in its recorded history.

Hydroelectric generation fell 23 per cent to 24 billion kilowatt-hours from 31 billion the previous year, leaving Hydro a net importer of electricity.

Read
Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Local

Wildcats pick up weekly honours

1 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

A pair of Westman Wildcats earned nods from the Manitoba Female Hockey League U18 AAA for their play during the first week of the regular season.

The defender of the week is Ava Snyder, a Grade 11 student from Melita who scored the game winner in a 4-0 victory over the Pembina Valley Hawks on Saturday.

The goalie of the week is Indigo Stone, a Grade 12 student from Boissevain who made 17 saves for the shutout.

The top forward is rookie Sienna Cotroneo of the Winnipeg Avros, who had a goal and three assists in her debut, a 4-0 victory over the Central Plains Capitals.

Local

Correction

1 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2026

Grady McNish is currently playing for the Waywayseecappo Wolverines in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, while Colin Melnyk is playing for the Yellowhead Chiefs of the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League. Incorrect information appeared on Page B2 of Thursday’s Sun and Page B3 on Friday.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

LOAD MORE LOCAL ARTICLES

Opinion

LOAD OPINION ARTICLES

Sports

LOAD SPORTS ARTICLES

Westman this Week

LOAD WESTMAN THIS WEEK ARTICLES