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Manitobans have chosen the loon to grace new specialty licence plate
3 minute read 2:39 PM CDTManitobans have voted and their choice is the loon.
More than 62,600 people voted for their favourite specialty licence plate design this summer with the loon coming out on top, one of four designs submitted by Manitoba Public Insurance in support of Manitoba Parks.
“Manitobans love our provincial parks, and this licence plate will help you show your support,” stated Premier Wab Kinew in a press release. “Thousands of Manitobans voted for their favourite design option, with the loon coming out on top. I look forward to seeing these licence plates on cars across the province in both English and French (a first).”
A portion of the proceeds from every licence plate sold will go to the Manitoba Provincial Parks Endowment Fund through The Winnipeg Foundation. The money will support park improvements that enhance ecological integrity, improve public safety, enhance accessibility, and enrich visitor experiences in Manitoba parks, according to the press release.
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Stuartburn to hold youth study, ‘To me, it’s survival’: Gawronsky
3 minute read Preview 2:28 PM CDT
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COLUMN: Viewpoint – 25 years after 9/11
4 minute read 8:30 AM CDTTomorrow is the 25th anniversary of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. The disaster killed 2,977 people. When I visited the 9/11 Memorial in New York City I walked around its twin reflecting pools. Inscribed on the bronze wall surrounding the pools are the names of every one of the people that ultimately lost their life that day. I did research on the victims and discovered they were firefighters and stewardesses, government employees, tourists, business travelers, engineers, paramedics, teachers and students on field trips. So many wonderful contributing members of society whose productive lives ended in an instant.
I was a Winnipeg Free Press columnist in 2001 and in my article that September week I talked about how my Grade 4 students at Mitchell School provided a great distraction on Sept. 11. When reports of the attacks hit the news, I was in the school staff room, but a decision was made not to inform the children immediately. So when I went back to my classroom we continued with our normal routine of math problems, story reading, singing and lunch. The world was in crisis but the class hamster still needed feeding, one of my students threw up, another needed a hug, and two girls had a fight that required me to mediate. My students reminded me that no matter what happens life goes on.
In the long days following, I remember how full of curiosity and worry the children were about the 9/11 event. I had to set aside time each morning to answer their questions and listen to their concerns. Many of them were watching the images of the planes crashing into the Twin Towers over and over because there simply wasn’t anything else on television.
The Hanover School Division mandated a moment of silence in schools on Sept. 14. When I asked my students whom they might think about during that moment, many said children. They were sad for the children who had died on the planes and in the destroyed buildings and for the children who had lost parents and grandparents.
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COLUMN: On Parliament Hill – Why not a Canadian to fill PMO job?
5 minute read Yesterday at 4:15 PM CDTPerhaps the name Maia Johnson is familiar to you. If not, it should be. Ms. Johnson now holds one of the most senior positions in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), having been appointed to the newly created position of chief operating officer (COO) in July. Remarkably, this appointment received little public attention despite the responsibility that comes with it. The lack of public scrutiny is concerning, and Canadians deserve to know more.
Never before has this position existed within the PMO. That in itself is not necessarily cause for concern. What is noteworthy is who has been appointed to fill it. Ms. Johnson is new to Canada. She is an American with ties to prominent American Democrat political campaigns. According to the Toronto Sun, Johnson was associated with the campaigns of former First Lady Hillary Clinton, former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Of those connections, her role in Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign appears to be the most publicly documented. These facts raise legitimate questions about the creation of this powerful new position, the role Ms. Johnson is expected to play within the PMO, and the process by which she was selected.
Further, given the current state of Canada-U.S. relations, she is seemingly not the candidate best positioned for negotiations with President Trump.
Yet, she remains directly involved in Canada’s relationship with the United States. Johnson, the Democrat operative advising Prime Minister Carney on Canada-U.S. trade, campaigned against Donald Trump in several presidential races. Let that sink in.
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COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – Living tributes to faith and culture
3 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 9, 2026The Cooks Creek Heritage Museum stands as a proud reminder of the stories, struggles, and traditions of Eastern European immigrants who helped shape Manitoba’s identity. Housed in the old Roman Catholic Rectory of St. Michael’s Parish, the museum carries with it a history as rich as the artifacts it preserves.
The rectory itself was built in 1937 and originally served as a show home for the Hudson’s Bay Company. Just two years later, in 1939, the church purchased the building, turning it into a cornerstone of parish life. Over time, many of the newcomers to the Cooks Creek area, primarily settlers from Ukraine and Poland began donating items that had traveled with them across the ocean. These objects told the story of perseverance, faith, and heritage. Among the artifacts were prayer books, Bibles, and holy pictures, which spoke to the immigrants’ deep spiritual roots. Others contributed traditional embroidered clothing, handmade art, and practical items like farm tools and kitchenware, all of which highlighted the daily realities of immigrant life in rural Manitoba.
Recognizing the importance of these pieces, parish priest Father Alois Krivanek founded the Cooks Creek Heritage Museum in 1968. His vision was to safeguard not only the artifacts themselves but also the stories of the people who carried them, ensuring future generations could understand the community’s origins. Today, the museum continues that mission, offering visitors a glimpse into the customs, faith, and resilience of Eastern European settlers.
St. Michael’s Church, which sits alongside the museum, adds further depth to this history. It is recognized as the second oldest Polish Roman Catholic church in Manitoba, after Holy Ghost Parish in Winnipeg. When it first opened, services were conducted entirely in Polish, providing a sense of comfort and familiarity to new immigrants adjusting to life in Canada. Over time, the church shifted to English services, reflecting the assimilation of younger generations. Yet, traditions remain strong. Once a month, elderly descendants of Polish immigrants gather at the church to celebrate their heritage, practice the Polish language, and keep alive the customs passed down through their families.
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COLUMN: On the Fence Line – Helping a friend: Transporting someone else’s horse
3 minute read Preview Tuesday, Sep. 8, 2026Local
Brian Esau running for third term on council representing Mitchell ward
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COLUMN: Think Again – Murderers should be locked up for life
4 minute read Monday, Sep. 7, 2026Suppose a man brutally kills his pregnant girlfriend by hitting her in the head 20 times with a monkey wrench. To ensure that nothing goes wrong, the man enlists the help of two accomplices, one of whom further beats the woman with a broken hockey stick. They then dispose of her body in a snow-filled ditch in the northwestern edge of Winnipeg.
The boyfriend carefully planned this attack for weeks before carrying it out. He was upset that the woman wouldn’t get an abortion on his terms and didn’t like the fact that the woman kept wanting to be in a relationship with him. So, he murdered her in cold blood.
Sadly, there’s nothing hypothetical about this scenario. Nathaniel Plourde was convicted of first-degree murder in 2009 for killing Roxanne Fernando in the manner described above. He received the maximum sentence for this crime, which is life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 25 years.
And yet, there’s a possibility that you might see Plourde out in public soon. That’s because the Parole Board of Canada just granted him six months of escorted temporary leave so that he can work towards becoming a carpenter.
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