Caitlin Laird

  • One great city after all

    From tongue-in-cheek Simpsons references to The Weakerthans’ iconic proclamation, “I hate Winnipeg,” at times it feels as though the joke is perpetually on the residents of this city. Add this to the fact that Winnipeggers aren’t exactly quick to rush to the defence of the supposed “one great city.” Residents seem to have developed something of an inferiority complex for a place that is more akin to a prairie town than a bustling metropolis.

  • The multi-million dollar man

    Daren Jorgenson is the anti-egomaniac. His business interests read like a quilt: He owns the infamous Royal Albert Arms – which has been called the CBGB’s of the north – the award-winning and visually stunning hair salon Vault and Four Rivers Medical Clinic.

  • Winnipeg bridges falling down

    Recent speculation that the decrepit Disraeli Bridge would be closed for a prolonged period of time has people questioning why so many Winnipeg bridges are in a state of such disrepair.

  • Sidestepping debt in a credit-driven world

    Odds are if you are over the age of 18 you fall into one of three categories: You have (a) never obtained a credit card and therefore have no credit history and can’t use eBay; (b) obtained at least one credit card and found yourself saddled with some amount of unwanted debt, with moderate difficulty paying it off; or (c) obtained multiple credit cards, made several large, ill-advised purchases, racked up tens of thousands of dollars in debt and suffered as a result.

  • Quarry quarrel

    Agitated Rosser residents gathered last week at a public hearing to help determine whether a quarry proposed by landowner Heather Stewart is to proceed amid objections from locals.

  • Study to address Winnipeg’s ‘housing first’ homeless strategy

    A new federal study proposed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada is being undertaken to monitor the success of the province’s “housing first” approach to homelessness and mental illness.

  • Losing touch

    In the last two years, Manitoba’s Teen Touch crisis line has seen an 80 per cent drop in call volume. This staggering decline forced the organization’s board to call it quits as of Sept. 1 and some of the blame is being laid on the World Wide Web.

  • Bypass burgers

    KFC recently announced the arrival of their freshly greased Double Down sandwich – where the bun has been replaced by two fried chicken patties – leaving aghast consumers questioning if we had finally gone too far and reached a new pinnacle in extreme eating.

  • Winnipeg named culture capital

    What does it mean to you that Winnipeg has been named a culture capital of Canada?

  • Happy Canadians leave large eco-footprint

    We Canadians are a jovial bunch. But we may be overpaying for our sense of self-worth.

  • Are you sure you want to eat that?

    Food borne illness outbreaks have certainly been hogging the media spotlight as of late.

  • Salinger wins suit over Catcher sequel

    The Catcher in the Rye is one of those ecumenical books deemed to be a classic – mandatory reading for the masses and a mainstay of the high school English curriculum. But when a piece of literature becomes a part of our culture, where does creative freedom end and plagiarism begin?

  • Cache the wave

    Looking for a novel excuse to migrate to the outdoors and enjoy the sun this summer? One that doesn’t involve lethargy, a beach blanket and a bad book? You could always get out and go geocaching. That is, if you have any idea what it actually means to go geocaching.

  • Smoke and mirrors, or tangible targets?

    The provincial government’s recently unveiled poverty reduction strategy focuses on providing housing rather than shelter, but some are wondering if drafting press releases is all the action we’re going to see.

  • Visual vagary and performance art

    Where can you go to glare at enlarged eyeballs rotating in the trees? Or make a request at a living jukebox manned by two gentlemen, who will play you a happy, sad or random tune, depending on your mood, if you honk a horn? You don’t have to plunge into a rabbit hole. You just have to go to Folk Fest and visit their annual Prairie Outdoor Exhibition.

  • Noise display: the artistry of sound

    Our days are perpetually scored by noise. This reality is one we are so accustomed to, we only take notice of the ubiquity of sound when it becomes ear-splitting or so negligible that we are forced to hear every solitary note, such as the metronome-like drip of a leaky tap.

  • West End relaunches following renos

    In the wake of its recent $4 million facelift, the West End Cultural Centre is set to relaunch May 25. But although many a Winnipegger is thrilled to have the iconic music venue open once again, one has to wonder what will happen to the smaller venues that picked up the slack while the WECC’s renos dragged on.

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