Leons Headlines May 16: Cottagers, businesses rush to get out due to wildfires & state of local emergency, closing Whiteshell Provincial Park with full fire ban & travel restrictions. Manitobans are urged to avoid campfires across the province over the long weekend, even if fire bans are relaxed, and report any wildfires immediately.
-Premier announces $120M in funding for Assiniboine College’s Prairie Innovation Centre in Brandon, with $60M for construction & childcare, $60M bridge financing to start work by year’s end.
-Former treasurer of Brandon’s Valleyview Community Centre sentenced to 2yr less a day house arrest after admitting to stealing $48K, a punishment allowed only because the full amount was repaid.
-About 100 joined a campaign walk through downtown Brandon Thursday to raise awareness about ending violence against women & children.
-Residents near Carberry growing concerned over proposed restricted crossing U-turn for a highway intersection upgrade they say is impractical for the farming community.
-Brandon Police are warning homeowners about door-to-door paving and construction scams, where fraudsters offer fake “discount” deals using high-pressure tactics, no contracts, and poor-quality work.
-Hudson’s Bay to sell name, stripes, brands to Canadian Tire for $30M. FootLocker to sell to Dick’s Sporting Goods for $2.4B.
-Small businesses are bracing for a possible Canada Post strike next week, prompting many to seek pricier courier alternatives to ensure deliveries.
-Jets avoid elimination with Game 5 shutout win over Dallas. Game 6 is Saturday in Dallas, if needed Game 7 is Holiday Monday in Wpg.
What’s the worst weather you ever camped in? Where & when?
Angela Ross Blaikie – Sprucewoods (Approx. 6 Years Ago)
We had no idea a tornado warning had been issued—there’s barely any cell service there. At 2 AM, the worst lightning and thunder I’ve ever seen rolled in. We ran to the car to take shelter and tried to sleep. In the morning, we found a big black burn hole in the middle of our picnic table. The tent was ruined, and we had to boost the car to get it started.
Cindy Olinyk – Minnedosa Rockfest
The storm was unreal—crazy winds and tents flying everywhere!
Melissa Lee – Oak Lake Beach (May Long Weekend, 1997)
My friends and I were camping in a tent. We woke up freezing, and there were three inches of snow on the ground. We packed up and were back in Brandon before 8 AM!
Samantha Marie – Sandy Lake (2002)
It rained almost the entire week. My parents’ camper was at the bottom of a slope, so our whole site turned into a pool.
Tasha Scheepbouwer – Clear Lake (2020)
The storm was so bad, our tent was floating. My daughter Deanna’s new iPod (a Christmas gift) was completely destroyed from all the rain.
Rick O’Donnell – Clear Lake (Late 70s/Early 80s)
One day it was +20°C with ice on the lake, the next day +25°C and no ice. We even did a plunge challenge—went in white, came out blue! The following day, a brutal snowstorm hit. Trying to pack and get out of town was a nightmare… unforgettable!
Megan Lelonde – Medicine Hat (1988, Oak River Junior High Trip)
It poured with high winds. We were soaked and nearly blown away in our tents. Total chaos—LOL.
John DeBeer – Nutimik Lake
As a kid, my parents suddenly told us to get in the car and drove to a nearby lodge. We later found out a tornado had passed another lake. Years later, my brother-in-law’s family was camping at Margaret Bruce when a tornado hit. Grandma’s camper ended up in the lake.
Michele Carels – Camp Morton (Early June, Few Years Ago)
The weather turned cold and rainy—it dropped to -6°C! And yes, we were in a tent. 🫠
Loretta Hollihan – Crowsnest Pass (Alberta)
Woke up to two feet of snow. Gotta love Alberta!
Who said US minimum wage is a joke? LA just voted for $30USD Minimum Wage. The city wants $30 minimum wage especially in its massive tourism sector that employs over half a million people.
https://www.newsweek.com/los-angeles-votes-30-minimum-wage-2072632
New Superman Trailer Drops, Spoilers Ahead. The latest Superman reboot trailer is dazzling fans, but beware—plot hints could be kryptonite for spoiler-sensitive viewers.
Justin Bieber Denies Being Diddy’s Victim. Justin Bieber is finally addressing rumors tied to Diddy’s scandal, firmly denying he was ever a victim.
https://www.boredpanda.com/justin-bieber-speaks-out-diddy-relationship
Bieber’s Old Friends Claim He’s in a Cult! Former friends say Justin Bieber is being isolated by a pastor with major influence—but the church insists it’s all love.
https://www.tmz.com/2025/05/16/justin-bieber-churchome-cult-allegations
Startup ‘Scream Truck’ Reinvents Ice Cream on Demand. A New Jersey startup is changing the game with text-to-summon ice cream trucks—and next up, they want to deliver pizza.
World’s Top Pizza-Eating Country Is Not Italy or the US. Surprise! The country that eats the most pizza isn’t the U.S. or Italy, but another European nation altogether.
https://www.tastingtable.com/1854781/where-pizza-most-popular
Iceland’s President Once Tried to Ban Pineapple Pizza! Years ago, Iceland’s president sparked global outrage by joking he wanted to ban pineapple as a pizza topping.
https://www.tastingtable.com/1850905/iceland-pineapple-pizz-ban
