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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

Reimer named Canada’s top doc

WINNIPEG — The physician who became a face of Manitoba’s COVID-19 response has a new title — Canada’s top doc.

Joss Reimer has been named Canada’s next chief public health officer. It’s a role once filled by Theresa Tam, who wore the shoes while Reimer was medical lead of Manitoba’s COVID-19 vaccine implementation task force.

Reimer will start on April 1, federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel announced Friday. Her term lasts three years.

“I couldn’t be more grateful,” Reimer said, adding she’ll be working to fight medical misinformation and disinformation during her tenure. Her appointment comes as measles cases in Canada are spiking; Manitoba leads the pack with at least 157 cases so far this year.

Consortium plans investment in Thompson nickel mine

WINNIPEG — A newly formed company said it expects to invest as much as $280 million in nickel mining activity in Thompson.

Vale Base Metals, which owns the nickel mining operation, announced on Thursday it has partnered with three companies — Exiro Minerals Corp., Orion Resource Partners LP and Canada Growth Fund Inc. — to create a new business that will be known as Exiro Nickel Company.

The new owners aim to double production in five years and add to the operation’s current workforce of 700.

“We want to ramp up production and we want to get back to what peak periods of production were in the past,” said Shastri Ramnath, CEO of the new consortium, on Thursday.

Developer says he ‘aggressively’ pursued police HQ contract

WINNIPEG — The key Winnipeg developer behind the downtown police headquarters project testified Thursday that he “aggressively” pursued civic officials during the bidding process — promising it would become their “legacy for many years to come” if he was awarded the contract.

“When I go after projects, I go to the top,” said Armik Babakhanians, the owner of Caspian Projects and a part-owner of Caspian Construction.

“I pursue as aggressively as I can, and I’m not apologizing.”

Problems with the headquarters project at 245 Smith St. have plagued city council for years. The building opened in June 2016 at a cost of $214 million, well above its original $135-million price tag and an external audit found the project had been severely mismanaged.