Roll out the skateboards

Pitikwé Skatepark’s grand opening is on Friday, Oct. 27 at 4:30 p.m. in Portage Place mall. Skaters, parents, business owners and community members will run the skatepark in a grassroots effort to create a safe and inclusive environment where people can express themselves freely. It’s a place for skaters to learn and build friendships while participating in competitions, events and workshops. Guardians must sign waiver forms for participants under the age of 18.

Kinew sworn in as premier

Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew was sworn in as the province’s 25th premier on Wednesday, Oct. 18, alongside his 14 cabinet members. The invite-only ceremony took place at the The Leaf horticultural exhibit in Assiniboine Park and included traditional cultural performances from dancers and singers. Kinew will also serve as the minister of intergovernmental affairs and international relations and minister for Indigenous reconciliation.

Mask mandates for healthcare staff

Healthcare workers in Manitoba will be required to wear medical masks effective Wednesday, Oct. 18 during interactions with patients. Shared Health announced the mandate in a news release on Monday in an attempt to reduce the risk of spreading respiratory viruses. Wearing masks in healthcare facilities will continue to be optional, but it is recommended for those visiting personal-care homes, hospitals and other healthcare sites.

Showing the planet some love

Planet Love is an art exhibition in St. Boniface Hospital’s Galerie Buhler Gallery meant to encourage people to preserve and care for the planet. Five of the artworks have been reproduced onto brass plates around Winnipeg and beyond, including one located at the University of Winnipeg. People can place a piece of paper over each plate and make a “rubbing” of the artwork using a pencil or crayon as a reminder to love the planet. Other artworks can be found at FortWhyte Alive, Artspace Inc. and the Millennium Library.

All Out for Palestine march

This Saturday, Oct. 21, the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba is hosting a protest and march at the Manitoba Legislative Building to raise awareness of the Israeli and Palestinian conflict in Gaza, a narrow strip of land on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The protest will begin at 1 p.m. Recent attacks began on Oct. 7 when Hamas, an Islamist military group, stormed Israel, killing more than 1400 people. Since then, the Israeli government has declared war on Hamas and attacked the Gaza Strip, displacing nearly one million Palestians in Gaza and killing thousands.

Man dies in police custody

The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) responded to reports of a man acting erratically while running into traffic on Broadway and Sherbrook Street. The incident occurred before 11 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15. Bystanders recorded police kneeling on the victim’s body during an arrest. According to a news release by the Independent Investigation Unit (IIU), the victim had trouble breathing and was pronounced dead at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre. The IIU is undergoing an investigation involving the WPS officers and call witnesses to come forward with any information.

Published in Volume 78, Number 06 of The Uniter (October 19, 2023)