Lace up your skates

Grab a hockey stick and throw on those garbage mitts, because the river trail is back! The first section of the Nestaweya River Trail opened on Jan. 25. This is the latest the trail has ever opened, after unseasonably warm temperatures and an influx of water from the United States led to unsafe conditions and delayed crews.

Get me out of here

A Winnipeg Facebook group consisting of nearly 4,000 members is full of volunteers dedicated to helping people get their cars out of the ditch in winter. Winnipeg Transit driver Tyler Kraft helped start the group “Get Me Out of Here” in 2021. So far, he has helped more than 100 people – free of charge – who needed a quick jumpstart or tug from a snowbank.

Cap on student study permit

The federal government announced a cap on international student permit applications on Jan. 22 for the next two years. The new limit is meant to stabilize the number of international students in Canada. Approximately 360,000 permits will be granted in 2024, a 35 per cent decrease from last year. The number of intake caps for each province and territory will depend on the population of international students.

Marlborough Hotel investigation

A rally at the downtown Marlborough Hotel resulted in chaos after its basement was trashed on Jan. 21. Protesters gathered at the hotel after a four-week-old video of a First Nations woman being detained and restrained with zip ties by staff members circulated online. The Winnipeg Police Service is investigating the video, including alleged reports that the woman had a knife and tried to stab an employee. The WPS is also investigating the hotel basement’s destruction.

Community-centre upgrades

The City of Winnipeg’s Community Centre Renovation Grant Program is upgrading 13 city-owned community centres that run recreational programming or other services. The grant total of $836,739 will be used to complete facility repairs, retrofits, safety improvements and renovation projects. Since the program started in 2012, the City has spent more than $16.6 million on community-centre upgrades. Central Corydon, Valour, Notre Dame, Red River and other centres will receive the upgrade.

More Ukrainian newcomers headed to Manitoba

Canada’s temporary emergency visas helping Ukrainians flee the war will expire at the end of March. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress Manitoba Provincial Council expects about 7,000 more Ukrainian newcomers will arrive in the next few months, in addition to the more than 20,000 people who’ve sought refuge in the province. These visas allow Ukrainians to study and work in Canada for three years as temporary residents.

Published in Volume 78, Number 15 of The Uniter (January 25, 2024)