Winnipeg rally for ceasefire in Gaza Strip

Approximately 400 Palestinian supporters rallied for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on the steps of the Manitoba Legislative Building on Sunday, Nov. 12. The Hamasrun health ministry in Gaza estimates that more than 11,000 Palestians have been killed, two-thirds of whom are women and children. Approximately 1,200 Israelis have been killed since the initial attack on Oct. 7.

Off to the Grey Cup

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are headed to their fourth consecutive Canadian Football League Grey Cup championship after winning against the B.C. Lions 24-13 on Saturday, Nov. 11. More than 30,000 fans packed the IG Field stadium, marking its fifth-straight sellout. The Bombers will face the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday, Nov. 19, which will be the first time these two teams have played each other at the Grey Cup final. 

Nygard convicted of sexual assaults

Peter Nygard was convicted of four counts of sexual assault by a Toronto jury on Sunday, Nov. 12. He was acquitted of a fifth sexual assault and one charge of forcible confinement. Nygard also faces one count of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement in Winnipeg and Québec, and a class-action lawsuit that is on hold in New York, which involves 57 women. Nygard founded Nygard International, which was a Canadian women’s clothing brand based in Winnipeg.

No quick fix for vandalized city bus shelters

According to Winnipeg Transit data, 294 of 880 bus shelters have been vandalized in 2023, excluding shelters that have had glass broken more than once. A total of 361 bus shelters were vandalized in 2022. As of last week, 115 shelters were reportedly missing glass, encouraging Winnipeg Transit to consider running a pilot project testing shatterproof glass. This alternative would cost two to four times more money than buying regular glass.

Video-chat service Omegle shuts down

Omegle, a video-chat service that randomly pairs users with strangers, has shut down following a 2021 civil lawsuit filed by an American woman who was sexually abused as an 11-year-old in 2014. In December 2021, a Brandon man pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography and was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison. The $22 million civil lawsuit aimed to hold the online service accountable for connecting minors with adults asking them to perform sexual acts.

Published in Volume 78, Number 10 of The Uniter (November 16, 2023)