Leons Headlines May 8: Manitoba declares a public health emergency due to rising HIV transmission, especially in Prairie Mountain & Northern health regions, driven by injection drug use & homelessness.
-Manitoba’s only potash mine near Harrowby to begin commercial production in June after 20yrs of development, will produce over 30K tonnes in year one.
-Assiniboine College says spring enrolment has hit a record high, fueled by strong demand in trades, nursing, and ag-tech programs.
-BPS arrest a 16yr old boy accused of extorting a female youth for more intimate images and threatening to share one already sent, with court scheduled for July.
-MB founded Warehouse One to liquidate 128 stores across Canada due to financial losses & rising competition, leaving it unable to meet its obligations.
-Premier says Speaker is ‘wrong’ on rules banning MLAs from calling each other racist & transphobic asking to have the decision reversed.
-Brandon’s annual downtown Spring Cleanup sees a jump in volunteers with 148 compared to 130 in ‘25.
-Manitoba ER wait times are rising again due to a late-season respiratory illness surge and ongoing staffing shortages, with some rural sites diverting non-urgent patients.
-Canada’s April jobs report showed a loss of 18K jobs & unemployment rising to 6.9%, while the U.S. added 115K jobs and held steady at a 4.3%.
-Internationally renowned violinist helped unveil James Ehnes Way outside the WMCA yesterday with city officials.
-Canadian shawarma chain Osmow’s to open a Brandon location on 18th St. N by the end of the year.
-International Peace Garden starts the season on Mother’s Day with food, a new café partnership & cactus & succulent conservatory now in full bloom.
Is Mother’s Day popularity is slipping… are we celebrating too many “special days”? Some say it’s becoming more of a shopping holiday than a meaningful one. What do you think—are we overdoing it, or is Mother’s Day still sacred?
Sage Creek School in Winnipeg says no more Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. The school is reportedly moving away from the holidays to be more inclusive. Parents are fired up—should schools still celebrate these days or move on?
(Article appeared in Wednesday’s https://www.winnipegfreepress.com)
Sad news for Warehouse One fans—closing time… use those gift cards! Warehouse One is shutting down locations, and it looks like liquidation is underway. If you’ve got gift cards, now’s the time to use them up!
(note shared with customers for gift card/exchange/loyalty programs at the 2 stores.)
Brandon is getting an Osmow’s—over 200 locations across Canada and the U.S.! Shawarma fans are already hyped, and “Chicken on the Rocks” is being called legendary. Is Brandon ready for the garlic sauce takeover?
Air Canada cuts 4 more seasonal routes due to fuel costs. More routes are being chopped as airlines adjust to rising expenses and demand shifts. Bad news for smaller markets hoping for more travel options.
Food theft: Canadian media says it’s “organized crime”… really? A new report claims grocery theft is nearing $10 billion a year, and some are calling it coordinated crime. Do you buy that—or is it just desperate times and higher prices?
