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Cassidy Dankochik / The Carillon Forward Connor Rieger (centre) and the rest of the Winkler Flyers were off the pace set by the Steinbach Pistons last Friday as the puck dropped on the MJHL’s regular season.

Flyers, Monarchs look to bounce back after dropping opening-season bids

Cassidy Dankochik 5 minute read Preview

Flyers, Monarchs look to bounce back after dropping opening-season bids

Cassidy Dankochik 5 minute read 1:27 PM CDT

The Flyers are hoping to improve after an unusual down season by their standards in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Winkler finished fourth in the East Division and were swept in the first round of the playoffs by Niverville.

Head coach and general manager Matt Melo is in his third season with the Flyers and anticipates his team growing throughout the year.

“We’re a young group, I think we’re a strong group, but certainly there’s lots to clean up,” Melo said following a pair of defeats to Steinbach this past weekend to open their season.

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1:27 PM CDT

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2 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Sandy Bay drug trafficking

WINNIPEG — Two women are facing drug trafficking charges after the Manitoba First Nations Police Service launched an enforcement operation in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation amid a recent increase in overdoses in the community.

The MFNPS’s Crime Reduction and Enforcement Unit carried out the operation Tuesday, arresting several people and seizing illicit drugs and proceeds of crime.

Police said officers seized about 48 grams of methamphetamine, approximately $2,000 in cash and a digital scale believed to be connected to drug trafficking.

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Hunters being turned away near Bloodvein: MWF

By Nicole Buffie 4 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — The Manitoba Wildlife Federation says hunters are again being refused access to land near Bloodvein River First Nation, a year after leadership told court it would let them through.

The senior policy adviser for the Manitoba Wildlife Federation said he has had five reports of hunters being turned away at a checkstop the First Nation set up last year to stop the flow of drugs and alcohol into the community.

“(Checkstop officers) said they’re not allowing hunters through,” Chris Heald said. “They made that clear, and that was the end of it. This is just a rinse and repeat of last year.”

The wildlife federation took the First Nation to court last year after several hunters were refused access to Crown land during hunting season. The federation argued the checkpoint was unlawful and impedes access to hunters, who have the right to be there under the province’s Wildlife Act.

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Ukrainian groups mark major milestones

Ukrainian groups mark major milestones

By Abiola Odutola 4 minute read Preview

Ukrainian groups mark major milestones

By Abiola Odutola 4 minute read Monday, Sep. 21, 2026

Two Ukrainian organizations in Brandon marked major milestones Saturday, celebrating a century of community and cultural activity and 75 years of service to their parish and the wider community.

The Ukrainian Reading Association Hall of Brandon celebrated its 100th anniversary, while the Canadian Ukrainian Men’s Club marked 75 years since its founding in 1950.

The anniversary celebrations included a special church service, speeches, dinner and a concert, with about 150 to 200 people, including volunteers, in attendance.

The hall was established in 1926 by Ukrainian newcomers as a gathering place and a school for children, Reading Association Hall president Nestor Zemliak, who has held the position since 2022, said.

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Monday, Sep. 21, 2026

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A QUICK LOOK AT THE WHEAT KINGS

2 minute read Friday, Sep. 18, 2026

BRANDON WHEAT KINGS

• Last season: 40-26-2-0, fifth in conference, ninth overall.

• General manager: Marty Murray (fifth season).

• Head coach: Marty Murray (fifth season).

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Corrections

1 minute read Friday, Sep. 18, 2026

The craft sale and market taking place today that was included in Thursday’s “Let’s Do Something” feature has changed venues and will now be held at the Riverview Curling Club (420 Maryland Ave.) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A headline on Page A3 of the Sept. 17 paper should have read: “NCR defence rejected over lack of evidence, denial.” The original acronym was incorrect.

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PREVIOUS HOME OPENERS VS. SASKATOON

1 minute read Friday, Sep. 18, 2026

Previous Brandon Wheat Kings home openers against the Saskatoon Blades.

2007-08

Brandon 5, Saskatoon 2

• Date: Sept. 21, 2007

Local

Tobi Morakinyo, a resident in the College of Family Physicians of Canada emergency medicine training program, has expanded her skills by working in northern Manitoba communities. (Mike Deal/Winnipeg Free Press)

U of M adds capacity to emergency medicine program for family doctors

By Carol Sanders 4 minute read Preview

U of M adds capacity to emergency medicine program for family doctors

By Carol Sanders 4 minute read Thursday, Sep. 17, 2026

WINNIPEG — Manitoba is training more family doctors in emergency medicine to help strengthen the pipeline of emergency physicians for communities across the province.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced Wednesday that the University of Manitoba is increasing the number of annual training seats to 17 from 11. The family medicine enhanced skills program provides physicians with an additional year of specialized emergency medicine training after completing a family medicine residency.

“Emergency physicians do incredibly important work for Manitobans and we need more of them,” Asagwara said at a news conference at University of Manitoba’s Health Sciences Centre campus.

The province is investing in training more doctors, providing more physicians with the opportunity to build their careers in Manitoba and strengthening the workforce that emergency departments rely on, the minister said. The 17 residents began their training on July 1.

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Thursday, Sep. 17, 2026

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Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says private lab services company Dynacare is expected to treat its 350 workers fairly. (Mikaela MacKenzie/Winnipeg Free Press files)

Dynacare must treat workers fairly: Asagwara

By Carol Sanders 3 minute read Preview

Dynacare must treat workers fairly: Asagwara

By Carol Sanders 3 minute read Thursday, Sep. 17, 2026

WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s health minister defended the government’s contract with Dynacare, saying the for-profit company is expected to treat its workers fairly — but wouldn’t say if that expectation was spelled out in the deal.

The 350 private lab workers, who are represented by the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, have been without a contract since March 31 and went on strike on Sept. 8.

The Manitoba Labour Board ordered them back to work and they returned to the job one day later.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara was asked Wednesday about the lack of an essential services agreement and why the government didn’t intervene in March, knowing that a labour dispute could interrupt community lab services.

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Thursday, Sep. 17, 2026

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1,300 hectares of prairie grassland protected

1,300 hectares of prairie grassland protected

By wendy king 3 minute read Preview

1,300 hectares of prairie grassland protected

By wendy king 3 minute read Thursday, Sep. 17, 2026

More than 1,000 hectares of prairie grassland in the Rural Municipality of North Cypress-Langford is now protected to combat ongoing threats against one of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada.

In a partnership between the RM and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), 1,300 hectares of native prairie land — mostly in the eastern region of the municipality — is now under a conservation designation that prohibits future industrial or commercial development.

North Cypress-Langford Coun. Rob Van Kommer (Ward 1) says he is proud to have been part of this project.

“I want to make sure it’s sustainable and that we’re helping sustain our municipality the way it is,” Van Kommer said in an interview Thursday.

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Thursday, Sep. 17, 2026

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Cyclist hits truck

1 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 16, 2026

A cyclist was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after she hit a truck in Dauphin on Monday, Mounties say.

Dauphin RCMP responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision involving a cyclist shortly before 5 p.m., RCMP said in a news release on Tuesday.

The incident occurred on the corner of Fourth Avenue Southwest and Main Street when a truck was turning right and was struck by a cyclist riding on the wrong side of the street, RCMP said.

The cyclist, 33, was taken to hospital and a 39-year-old woman who was driving the truck was uninjured, police said.

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Zebra mussel larvae detected

1 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 15, 2026

WINNIPEG — The province has launched its invasive species early detection response protocol after zebra mussel veligers, or larvae, have been found in Lake Winnipegosis and Waterhen Lake.

A local fisher reported zebra mussels attached to their boat in Lake Winnipegosis, the province said in a news release Monday.

Analysis of veliger samples taken before the fisher’s report found the larvae in both lakes, which will be monitored in the next few weeks to determine the severity of the invasions.

Anyone using either lake will be required to decontaminate their watercraft and any water-related equipment before entering another body of water.

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