Free Press Community Review: West
Packing a punch
Emma Honeybun STAFF REPORTER5 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025Eric Marshall leans back on one of his custom-built springers in the dim light of a private shop. Underneath the brim of his baseball cap, a painful-looking shiner darkens his right eye.
Marshall is a boxer — one of 16 Manitobans who will fight in Boxing Canada’s 2025 Elite National Championships, set for Nov. 26 to 30 at the Sport Manitoba building (145 Pacific St.), the first time in 30 years that Boxing Canada’s elite competition has been held in Winnipeg.
Elite nationals are for amateur boxers over 18 years old, with each provincial association allowed to enter two fighters in each male and female weight class.
When he’s not training, Marshall builds custom motorcycles and owns and operates his own business, Northern Springers. The bikes are put together at his shop and typically sold to buyers in the U.S.
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Safety first
Sheldon Birnie5 minute readPreviewSafety first
Sheldon Birnie5 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025Dozens of Winnipeg residents rallied at a South Osborne intersection on the afternoon of Nov. 13, calling on the city to make streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
The rally, held at the intersection of Osborne Street and Brandon Avenue, was initiated after a 10-year-old boy named Jakob was hit by a car turning left, as he was crossing Brandon Avenue while cycling north along Osborne Street on his way to school on the morning of Nov. 5.
“This street is so out of control for traffic,” said Crystal Adams, Jakob’s mother. “The driver said she couldn’t see Jakob, but if she couldn’t see him, she shouldn’t have been proceeding.”
Adams said Jakob’s injuries included seven stitches, one cracked and one displaced tooth, and a concussion.
ReadPhoto by Sheldon Birnie
On Nov. 13, nearly 100 demonstrators showed up at the intersection of Brandon Avenue and Osborne Street, beginning at 3:30 p.m., in support of safer streets. On Nov. 5, Jakob, a 10-year-old boy, was struck by a car at the intersection on his way to school, suffering serious injury.
A common ground
Emma Honeybun STAFF REPORTER4 minute readPreviewA common ground
Emma Honeybun STAFF REPORTER4 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025South Osborne community members have been asked to support a years-long, family-focused project in the heart of the neighbourhood.
The South Osborne Commons project aims to convert Churchill Park United Church (525 Beresford Ave.) into a child-care facility and community hub.
A fundraiser — Play it Forward: The South Osborne Commons Show— was held Nov. 22 to raise awareness, money and also educate the community about the project and the combined team behind it. At press time, scheduled performances included Al Simmons, Keri Latimer (of Leaf Rapids) and Daniel Jordan, as well as family activities in the church’s upstairs gym.
John McNairnay, vice-chair of the South Osborne Commons board, and a member of the Churchill Park congregation said the main goal of Play it Forward was to let the community know what’s going on.
ReadPhoto by Emma Honeybun
(From left) John McNairnay, vice-president of the South Osborne Commons board, and Beverly Suek, treasurer, are pictured recently. The two are driving forces in converting the Churchill Park United Church building into a licensed childcare centre, with an opening date scheduled for 2027.
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight
Emma Honeybun STAFF REPORTER4 minute readPreviewWon’t you guide my sleigh tonight
Emma Honeybun STAFF REPORTER4 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025No matter how you aim to spend your holidays, a December staple is returning to assure that you will always a safe ride home.
From Nov. 28 to Dec. 31, Operation Red Nose will once again be active in Winnipeg, as well as rural residential areas such as Portage la Prairie. The free, volunteer-operated rideshare works as a resource for those who may not feel fit to drive at any point during the busy, party-heavy holiday season. As opposed to an Uber or a cab, volunteers will not only get drivers and their passengers home safely, they will also get their vehicles home. And there’s no cost.
While Safety Services Manitoba provides guidance and support as the program’s provincial host, Operation Red Nose remains afloat due to its volunteers, who fall into one of four different categories: escort drivers, designated drivers, navigators, and headquarters staff.
The program is supported by donations and sponsors and operates across the country — its home province being Quebec.
ReadFree Press file photo by Ruth Bonneville
The 30th edition of Operation Red Nose will run from Nov. 28 to Dec. 31.
Counting down to the Wolseley Miracle
Janine LeGal5 minute readPreviewCounting down to the Wolseley Miracle
Janine LeGal5 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025This is a busy time for a team of miracle-makers organizing the sixth annual Wolseley Miracle, a crowd-sourced, post-Christmas food drive that began in the winter of 2020. Modelled after food drives in other large cities, the Wolseley Miracle began as an effort to bring the community together while respecting public health orders to remain apart during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, it is a volunteer-run, one-day food drive that generates a truck full of non-perishable food donations for a local agency that meets emergency food needs in the community.
“I borrowed the idea from a friend of mine who worked in food security in Toronto,” said long-time Wolseley resident Melissa Bowman Wilson, who started and continues to manage the Wolseley Miracle with Larissa Skakum Boning, Grace Sheppard and Melina Chow.
“They were doing their own miracle (in Toronto) in 2020, and it seemed perfect to adapt to the Wolseley neighbourhood. I knew someone that was willing to participate on nearly every block in the community,” Bowman Wilson said.
ReadSupplied photo by Grace Sheppard
(From left) Melina Chow, Melissa Bowman Wilson and Larissa Skakum Boning are three of the four founders and organizers of the Wolseley Miracle food drive.
A smashing good time
Heather Emberley3 minute readPreviewA smashing good time
Heather Emberley3 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025Jessica Hamm, games and event co-ordinator at Smash N Axe Arcade Disco, takes patrons to the wild side with axe-throwing, special ‘smash rooms’ in which you can gleefully break almost anything, and a unique collection of pinball and arcade games, including every Nintendo game ever made.
‘Axepert’ Jessica says Smash, as it’s known for short, “captures the feeling of going back in time and is an escape from today’s troubled world.”
From Boomers to divorce parties, Hutterites to drag queens, it seems everyone want an escape. And what better way to relieve stress, vent some anger and have fun doing it.
“The beauty of Smash,” says Jessica, “is that it is an adult playground where people feel safe — and its much cheaper than therapy!”
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Jessica Hamm is the games and event co-ordinator at Smash N Axe Arcade Disco, a unique recreation emporium on Henderson Highway.
Eco-entrepreneurship in action
Helen Lepp Friesen3 minute readPreviewEco-entrepreneurship in action
Helen Lepp Friesen3 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025What began as a university class project has blossomed into a promising environmental startup for Alec Massé, a bachelor of commerce (honours) grad with a double major in international management and entrepreneurship from the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba.
Rewind to October 2020. As a student, Massé and his friend Julien Koga, a biology student, pitched their innovative idea at the Lake Winnipeg AquaHacking Challenge, hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Aqua Action. Their startup, Typha Co., is named after the scientific term for cattails, which are wetlands plants known for their natural filtration properties and ecological versatility.
“Our goal was to find a solution that not only addressed environmental concerns but also had social value,” Massé said. “We saw potential in something as simple and overlooked as cattails.”
The AquaHacking Challenge provided a platform for young innovators to tackle freshwater issues through technology and entrepreneurship. Massé and Koga’s pitch — turning cattails into biodegradable fibre for packaging — stood out for its blend of ecological science and business strategy, earning them recognition and support to further develop their concept.
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Alec Massé is pictured with a Typha Co. display at Sage Garden Greenhouses.
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City news in brief — week of Nov. 26, 2025
FP Community Review staff4 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025City seeks input on preliminary 2026 budget
The City of Winnipeg tabled its preliminary budget for 2026 on Nov. 14, and is now seeking public input.
Residents are invited to complete an online survey, provide written feedback, or register to appear as a delegation at an upcoming committee meeting to share their thoughts on the budget. Feedback will help steer council in making changes to the budget before it is formally approved. These meetings will begin on Dec. 1, while the online survey will collect responses until Nov. 30.
For more information, visit winnipeg.ca/budget2026
Sport Manitoba scholarships awarded
FP Community Review staff3 minute readPreviewSport Manitoba scholarships awarded
FP Community Review staff3 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025Sport Manitoba recently awarded $24,450 in academic scholarships to 21 high school students, six university students, and six Manitoba coaches.
“Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients,” Janet McMahon, president and CEO of Sport Manitoba, said in a statement. “We’re proud to support such dedicated student-athletes and coaches who are striving for excellence both in sport and in the classroom. We wish you continued success as you pursue your goals and the new opportunities ahead.”
Local winners of Manitoba Foundation for Sport high school scholarships, valued at $750, include: Winnipeggers Isabella Johnston (J.H. Bruns Collegiate, soccer); Jacob Yee (Vincent Massey Collegiate, tennis); Jayden Del Camp Bucklery (Kelvin High School, water polo); Mila Kerr (Balmoral Hall, disc, soccer, volleyball); and Avery Au (J.H. Bruns Collegiate, volleyball, ringette).
Oakbank’s Ireland Tymchak (Churchill High School, hockey, ball hockey); Narol’s Izabella Mann (Miles Macdonell Collegiate, hockey, athletics) and Headingley’s Delaney Groot (Westwood Collegiate, volleyball) also earned scholarships.
ReadFile photo
University of Manitoba track and field athlete Madisson Lawrence recently won Sport Manitoba’s $3,000 Princess Royal Pan Am Scholarship.
Poppy blanket visits national war museum
— Community Review staff2 minute readPreviewPoppy blanket visits national war museum
— Community Review staff2 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025Supplied photo by Veterans Affairs Canada
Coun. Shawn Dobson (St. James); MP Terry Duguid (Winnipeg South); Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan); Minister of Veterans Affairs Jill McKnight; poppy blanket initiator Sheilah Lee Restall; and MP Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North) posed in front of the Manitoba Poppy Blanket, a powerful community-driven tribute to Canada’s fallen soldiers and veterans. The Manitoba Popply Blanket was featured at a candlelight tribute for veterans at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Ont., on Tues., Nov. 4.
Started in Manitoba in 2018 and unveiled in 2019, the poppy planket is a breathtaking display of collective remembrance. Measuring over 85-feet long and composed of more than 8,000 crocheted and knitted poppies, as well as 2,000 dedicated ribbons, the blanket represents thousands of personal acts of gratitude from Canadians across the country.
In addition to the War Museum, the blanket was displayed at the Manitoba legislature, as well as the Joint Veterans Association of Manitoba Remembrance Day ceremony at RBC Convention Centre on Nov. 11.
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Exploring Winnipeg’s Christmas markets
RoseAnna Schick4 minute readPreviewExploring Winnipeg’s Christmas markets
RoseAnna Schick4 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025Christmas markets have a fascinating history, dating back to the Middle Ages in German-speaking regions of Europe. These early ‘markets’ are best described as local gatherings where townspeople could come together before winter to stock up on food, firewood, goods and supplies. Over time, the markets evolved into festive events to celebrate the advent season, featuring handmade toys and ornaments, regional delicacies, and mulled wine.
By the 19th century, Christmas markets had expanded across Europe, adding decorations, brightly lit trees, nativity scenes, and music. Today they are popular around the world, blending holiday shopping with the longstanding tradition of celebrating community and craftsmanship.
In Winnipeg, there are several options to get you into the spirit of Christmas markets. Here are a few:
Now in its second year, the Winnipeg Christmas Market is the largest – and longest – in the city. Organized by Signature Shows and spanning four magical days — from Nov. 27 to 30 — at RBC Convention Centre, it takes place inside the spectacular City View Room, also known as Ozhaawashko-Giizhig.
ReadFile photo
The German-Canadian Congress’ annual Christkindlmarkt runs Nov. 28 to 30 at Fort Garry Place.
Protecting our economic sovereignty
Kevin Lamoureux4 minute readPreviewProtecting our economic sovereignty
Kevin Lamoureux4 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025This year has highlighted the importance of protecting Canada’s economic sovereignty by diversifying our economy and expanding trade opportunities.
Canada makes up about 0.5 per cent of the world’s population but our contribution to world trade is approximately 2.5 per cent. Trade enables us as a country to prosper and allows us to ultimately say “that we are the best country in the world to call home.”
Given the current trade situation, we have with the U.S.A. and the fact no one can predict what President Donald Trump will say, the government must not rush negotiations for the sake of getting an agreement. Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated very clearly that he will take the necessary time to get the best possible deal for Canada.
In the meantime, the government introduced Bill C-13 in October, which deals with expanding trade opportunities between Canada, Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In September, the prime minister welcomed the president of Indonesia to Ottawa, and they announced the new Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). This is Canada’s first bilateral trade agreement with an ASEAN country.
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Diversifying Canada’s economy and expanding our trade opportunities with countries such as the United Kingdom, Indonesia and the Philippines is key to protecting the Canadian economy in the face of American threats.
Working together for safer communities
Mintu Sandhu3 minute readPreviewWorking together for safer communities
Mintu Sandhu3 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025In October, I hosted a community safety night at Amber Trails Community School. We had a fantastic turnout of neighbours who came together to share their experiences and learn practical ways to keep our families and streets safe.
We were joined by members of the Winnipeg Police Service’s community relations team, who offered guidance on personal safety and crime prevention. They also shared straightforward, practical steps that anyone in our community can use for building a personal safety strategy.
Events like these remind us how strong we are when we work together. Whether it’s checking in on a neighbour, supporting local initiatives, or staying informed, each of us plays a role in making our community safer and stronger. Our government is committed to these same goals. We’re taking real steps to protect families and support first responders to keep our province safe.
One of those steps is the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, which introduces a set of changes that will make bail laws stricter, sentencing tougher, and ensure that repeat and violent offenders are held accountable. These reforms are designed to better protect first responders and support victims and their families.
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Maples MLA Mintu Sandhu hosted a community safety night at Amber Trails Community School in October.
Preventing homelessness among seniors
Jon Gerrard4 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025There has been a dramatic increase in the number of seniors who are homeless. It is terrible to think that as a society we are not adequately helping so many seniors that they become homeless.
While there is much attention given to the homeless in Manitoba, there is not enough attention paid to understanding why so many seniors are becoming homeless, nor to the best approaches to helping seniors who are experiencing homelessness. As a result, I am hosting a forum, Seniors experiencing Homelessness, to highlight these issues and to look for solutions on Sunday, Nov. 30, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Bill and Helen Norrie Library (15 Poseidon, just southeast of the corner of Grant Avenue and Cambridge Street).
Our goal is to better understand the challenges of older adults who are experiencing homelessness, to look at how they can be best helped and how homelessness in seniors can be prevented. I am undertaking this project based on my experience as the former MLA for River Heights and my concern over seeing increasing numbers of seniors becoming homeless.
The 2024 Winnipeg street census in Winnipeg conducted by End Homelessness Winnipeg found one-quarter of those experiencing homelessness were over 50. These older adults were more likely to have physical mobility challenges, chronic or long-term health conditions and/or hearing challenges compared to younger adults and youth who are homeless.
A season of reflection, service and community
JD Devgan4 minute readPreviewA season of reflection, service and community
JD Devgan4 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025As the legislature returns to session, I’m proud to celebrate two years of representing our incredible community. The past few months in McPhillips have been especially busy and inspiring, and I’m thrilled to share some of the moments that truly stood out.
I’m excited about the announcements made in the throne speech, which outlines our government’s goals for the upcoming year. Over the past two years, you’ve shared your hopes and concerns, and I was proud to see many of those reflected in our government’s vision. The speech from the throne isn’t just a roadmap. It’s confirmation of our shared values and the work we’ve all done together. I look forward to helping bring these commitments to life and continuing to advocate for the needs of McPhillips in the Legislature.
Earlier this month, I was honoured to attend the annual West St. Paul Remembrance Day Ceremony, where I laid a wreath in remembrance of those who served for our country. I had the privilege of speaking with a local veteran from McPhillips at the event. His stories and reflections reminded me of the deep courage and commitment shown by our Canadian armed forces. It was a moving experience, and I’m grateful to all who helped organize this important event and to everyone who came out to pay their respects.
It’s always a pleasure connecting with folks across McPhillips and hearing what matters most to you. Whether it’s affordability, healthcare, education, or keeping our neighbourhoods safe, your ideas and concerns continue to shape the work I do every day.
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McPhillips MLA JD Devgan attended and laid a wreath at the Indigenous Veterans Day event at the Neeginan Centre on Nov. 8.
Building a planet-friendly portfolio
Christine Ibbotson4 minute readPreviewBuilding a planet-friendly portfolio
Christine Ibbotson4 minute readWednesday, Nov. 26, 2025Dear Money Lady,
We’re just starting to invest and wondered if there were any good investments you could recommend. We want something that makes money, of course, but also promotes environmental change and social justice.
Thanks,
Melanie
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Sustainable portfolios are moving to centre stage aspeople want to show their commitment to environmental and social change.
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