Pearson relishing time behind bench

If you asked Ken Pearson when he began his career behind the bench 30 years ago how long he’d last in the business, he wouldn’t have had a clue.

Now, it’s safe to say it’s become more than anything he would have ever expected.

The head coach and general manager of the Neepawa Titans checked off two big milestones on Sunday night after coaching his 1,500th game in the Canadian Junior Hockey League following a 4-2 win over the Dauphin Kings at Credit Union Place. The victory was the Titans 18th of the season and was also the 750th of Pearson’s career in the regular season.

It’s hard to put into words what significance just a pair of numbers means to a person, but for Pearson, it’s rather simple.

Mexico travellers feel abandoned by WestJet

WINNIPEG — Some Manitobans who are or were stranded in Mexico after a burst of drug-cartel violence were frustrated by WestJet’s lack of communication and efforts to get them home.

Customers told the Winnipeg Free Press they felt abandoned after flights were cancelled, and they called on a federal regulator to ensure airlines comply with their legislated obligations to provide regular updates and get passengers on their way as soon as possible following a disruption.

Winnipeg resident Trent McPhail, who is in Puerto Vallarta with his wife and two children, ages three and five, said WestJet wouldn’t help because the family booked with a third-party website.

“Why does WestJet get to wash their hands of not getting us home in a reasonable time?” he said.

Tory legislature event broke election rules: report

WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s elections commissioner has found the Progressive Conservatives broke election laws by conducting a partisan event in the Golden Boy Room at the legislature in 2023.

Commissioner Bill Bowles launched an investigation in relation to an event in May of that year, in which the Tories were accused of making “explicitly partisan remarks” during a speaking engagement with University of Manitoba students.

His report, released Thursday, says the party applied to host a speaking engagement in the Golden Boy Room. The space can be reserved free of charge by people with permanent offices in the legislature, but the rules prohibit campaigning in the legislature.

Former premier Heather Stefanson and former cabinet minister Sarah Guillemard were listed as the speakers on the event application, but the PC caucus allowed the co-chair and campaign director of the party’s 2023 election campaign to address the students. They encouraged them to become involved with the Tory campaign.

Conditional discharge for chiropractor who placed hidden cameras in clinic

WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg chiropractor, who pleaded guilty to voyeurism for recording patients with hidden cameras in what a judge called a “very misguided attempt” to catch potential theft, has been handed a conditional discharge.

Robert Stitt, 67, was charged with eight counts of voyeurism in 2024 after Winnipeg police searched his clinic, Natural Wellness Chiropractic Centre on Portage Avenue, and seized electronics and cameras that were hidden in ceiling tiles. He pleaded guilty to one of the charges in October, while the others were stayed.

He was found to have recorded videos of eight patients, who were in states of undress, via a camera hidden in one of the treatment rooms from late 2023 until early 2024.

Crown prosecutor Boyd McGill and Stitt’s lawyer, Richard Wolson, said Wednesday the recordings were not made for a sexual purpose. They jointly recommended Stitt be given the conditional discharge, which requires him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for a year. Provincial court Judge Timothy Killeen accepted the recommendation.

Fight to the finish

Vincent Massey Viking Iman Ahmed, left, and Crocus Plainsmen Kate Hiebert chase a loose ball during Game 1 of the varsity girls basketball city final on Tuesday. The game ended after deadline, following a long JV girls’ contest, which the Plainsmen came from behind to win 57-49. Tonight, the Viking boys host the Plainsmen in JV and varsity city final Game 1 action. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun

NO STOPPING THIS ONE

Luke Mistelbacher of the Brandon Wheat Kings wraps the puck around goalie Joshua Ravensbergen of the Prince George Cougars to score a goal during WHL action at Assiniboine Credit Union Place on Tuesday evening. See story on Page B1. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Rally calls on Canada to oppose Cuba blockade

WINNIPEG — Tears streamed down Tim Gordienko’s face Saturday afternoon as he spoke about the people of Cuba.

“The people are so genuine — genuinely friendly,” he told a reporter. “We’re like the same people, like brethren. It’s not fair, what (the United States is) doing to these people.”

Holding a sign that said, “Trump: Hands off Cuba,” Gordienko was one of the approximately 60 people who gathered outside the U.S. Consulate in Winnipeg, close to Portage and Main.

Organized by the Manitoba-Cuba Solidarity Committee, the event was one of several held across the country to bring awareness to Cuba’s plight and call on the Canadian government to help the Caribbean country.

Court urged to throw out moose-hunt lawsuit

WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is arguing a northern First Nation’s lawsuit over moose hunting on its traditional territory should be tossed out of court.

Misipawistik Cree Nation filed its statement of claim in the Court of King’s Bench in September, arguing licensed moose hunting on its traditional lands northwest of Lake Winnipeg infringes on the community’s treaty rights to hunt moose for food amid dwindling populations of the big game animal.

But in a recently filed statement of defence, the province argues it has upheld its duties.

“Manitoba denies that there have been any unjustified infringements of Treaty No. 5, that it has failed to act honourably toward the plaintiff, or that any court intervention or other remedy is required,” reads the government court filing.