Leons Headlines May 12: New data shows Canadian insolvencies have hit their highest levels since 2009, over 37K filings in early 2026, as rising household debt pushes more families toward bankruptcy. 2025 saw the second highest consumer insolvencies in Canadian history, totaling 141K, about 11K fewer than the 2009 peak.
-A 32yr old Ohio man has been charged after allegedly posing as a teenage boy to lure a 10yr old MB girl into sending images online renewing calls for stronger social media accountability.
-A former MB hockey coach who admitted to luring & assaulting a teenage player on her team gets 6yrs in prison.
-Residents north of Neepawa say a proposed 200-megawatt wind farm isn’t the right fit for their community as construction readies for early 2028 if MB Hydro approves it.
-Province reminds drivers safety first during Canada Road Safety Week.
-Manitoba Health is expanding rural recruitment incentives, offering $4,000 grants for nurses and $4,000 for health-care aides relocating to rural communities and personal care homes.
-The Brandon School Division has moved the Brookwood South K–8 school into public consultation, with an open house set for May 20 to review plans and timelines.
-Manitoba Agriculture says seeding is now over 50% complete in parts of Westman, with good soil moisture but cooler nights expected to slow early crop growth.
-Manitoba is launching new infrastructure tenders for highways, bridges, and drainage projects to extend the construction season and reduce cost overruns.
-A new Canadian report says boys are falling behind in school with higher dropout rates, lower test scores & more learning challenges than girls, prompting experts to call for change.
-More than 100 passengers & crew on the Caribbean Princess cruise ship fell ill last week due to a norovirus outbreak prompting an investigation by US health officials.
-4 Canadians from the hantavirus ship will be monitored for 42 days BC doctor says.
-Downtown Wpg’s historic 113yr old Fort Garry Hotel is up for sale again, second time in 7 yrs, with no list price.
It’s Census Day. The government form completion DEADLINE IS TODAY. Did you get the short form or the long form this year—and did you actually finish it, or is it still sitting on the counter? Some people say the questions feel normal, others say parts of it feel oddly personal or intrusive.
International Nurses Day! 40% of new nurses quit. Is it social media de-influencing—or working conditions? Some say TikTok is exposing how hard nursing really is and discouraging people from staying in the field. Others argue it’s not social media at all, but burnout, staffing shortages, and workplace pressure driving the exits.
Hunter Peterson now has $300M to buy Spirit Airlines by just asking the internet! Could online communities actually crowd-fund or influence massive corporate deals like this in the future? Or is this a one-off internet stunt that won’t be replicated again?
Senior Assassin game prompts police warnings about water guns. Why do harmless school games keep triggering serious police warnings and concern? Is this about safety, or are authorities overreacting to something that used to be normal teen culture?
Netflix is being sued for addicting users and spying on us. Are streaming platforms designed to keep us hooked in ways we don’t fully understand? Or is this just legal pushback against how modern entertainment already works?
🩺 HAPPY NURSES DAY! 🚑💙
We asked: Do you know an awesome nurse?
And WOW… the community showed up BIG TIME! ❤️
🌟 Nurse Shout-Outs From Our Community:
Kimberley Zinck (shout-out to her mom)
Cat Antonation – Nelle Hayden ❤️
Donna M Hayden – Shanelle “Nelle” Hayden ❤️
Beverly Kuszak – Trudy Maria Manshanden, Bradley Harrison, Jennifer Newitt ❤️🩹
Wayne Balcaen – Sawyer Balcaen ❤️
Shelly Suski – Hayley Lindsay
Susan Spiropoulos – Trudy, Tamara, Joanne & many others
Denise Gravel – her daughter (Emergency) ❤️
Clarice Robinson – Callie Robinson (Hamiota) 🩺
Stacy Nicole Robbins – All nurses at Brandon Regional Hospital, St. Boniface Hospital, Health Sciences Centre, Children’s Hospital (Winnipeg) ❤️
Tamara Dawn – maternity nurses + NICU nurses
Gayle Arnie Hogg – Outpatient Care Unit at BRHA ❤️
Tami Johnson – “don’t make me pick one!”
Lesley Cochrane – Kymm
Wendy Gill – All the nurses
Melanie Hunt-Papps – Lindsay Bylo, Nataliia Tymoshenko, Mary Rose Silva Lucio, Sheri Komishin, Jlou Parcon Dulla, Trudy Maria Manshanden, Sean Hunt ❤️
Kassell Remezoff – All NICU nurses 🩷
Emma Zalluski – her mom 💗
Dawn Delaune Riddle – Angela Blue, Kristy Vinther, Lori Henson, Sheri Komishin 🌷
Colleen Robbins – advocating for better working conditions ❤️
Richard Daniel Pero – ICU nurses 🏥
Cindy Olinyk – Karen (OR Dept.)
Kelsey Dreger – Karen (OR Dept.) 💞
Amanda Rockley – Angela Blue, Dani Aube, Patti Aube, Trudy Maria Manshanden, Lisa Rockley ❤️
Kim Gawazuk – Brittany (NICU) ❤️
Lori Wood – Hope, Grace, Naomi R. 💐
Debbie McLelland – Lori, Jennifer, Sandra, Jensen, Michele, Brooklyn, Jeannie
Helen Gagnon – Stephanie Gagnon (Maternity) 🥰
Cheryl Ann Grant – Jaycie Slater & Holly Batchelar 🩷
Kim Braschuk – Melissa (Homecare)
Iris Mae Karton – Meigan
Carla Bartley – Bryanna McRuer 💗
Raelynne Johnston – Jaret Box
Kristen Kowal – Jaret Box
Chelsey Cowan – Nurses on 200/300 (Jan-Feb 2022) 🙏
Judy Usunier – Cheers to all nurses!
Barb Williamson – Nurses at Wawanesa PCH ❤️
Linda Murkin – Brittany (NICU) 🥰
Linda Didychuk Genaille – Jennifer Lueke 👌
Kevin Didychuk – Jennifer Lueke
Judy Judd – Jennifer Lueke ❤️
Michelle Green – Kathy Ward 🥰
Shandi Eros – Kellie Collyer ❤️
Kim Callewaert – Sandy Williams 🥰
Beverly Zwarich – All nurses are awesome! 😄
Diane Cameron – Donna Audrey Sarson 🌺
Traci Gaucher – Jocelyn Gaucher (OR nurse) 💜
Lu Xi – Pevee Nicole 😊
Lynn Rudniski – Lori Kaskiw 🩷
Sheena Powell-Roels – Skyler Powell 💙💜
Lisa Ann Joyce – Sandy Donald
Christine Clausen – retired RN mom
Amber Dawn – Serena Strack
Jess Seabrooke – All nurses at RRVL in Morris
Tracey Hamilton – many nurses she worked with ❤️
Bonnie Dalkeith – agree!
Cheryl Bullee – “like me?” 😄
Jean Byer – Cherie, Jody, Laura, Gena
Roma Prayag – Rianna Magne
J-f Laberge – Brandon NICU nurses
Jodi Murray Moore – Emergency Dept Team 👏
Kaitlynn Salmon – multiple awesome women ❤️
Carolyn Currie Phillips – Leann Nicole 🥰
Scott May – Ana-Coffman Powell
Lorna Faye – Peggy (BRHC) ❤️
Rae Smith – OR staff
Brenda Vickery-Drover – Kathy Ferozedin ♥️
Colette Louise Scott – Irene 👏
Karen Rowson – many nurses
Gail Gibson – Kaia Gibson
Megan Blouin – Tal Jay, Brooke-Lyn Hluszko 😍
Lydia Funk – Rachel Oertel 💞
Sharni Schettler – Lindsay Sparrow
Joan Gurr – Kelly Cochrane ❤️
Bonnie L. Campbell-Soper – Alexa Rhiann ❤️
Playford Sher – Kierra Playford ❤️
Colton Myslichuk – Dani Aube ❤️
Tanis Martin McRae – Cathy Martin ❤️
Paul J. Crane – TL Floresco & Sandy Donald ♥️
Julie Hainsworth-Corkish – Sydnie Corkish
Tatum Lee – Allison Quist
Chantal Rainville Currah – Shayla Jasper & Krista Drummond 🥰
Patricia Gale Baker – Susan Bothe ❤️
Marnie Grieve – Kelly Pearson Antonyshyn ❤️
Nancy McGillivary – Kierra Playford 💖🪶
Brent Demers – Brooke Demers
Kathy Lynn Jewar – Lindsey Bee
Cheryl Standing Chief – Taleena (BRHC Dialysis) 🎖
Emilie Nicole – Jennifer Blaikie, Rita Blaikie, Betty Cox 💜💉
Tesa Steinke – Jules Warwaruk
Helen Gagnon – Kristen Marie (ER)
Ellerie McPhee – Judy McPhee
