By The Canadian Press

A flood-covered road in the RM of Minitonas-Bowsman on Monday, June 8, 2026. (BILL GADE / FACEBOOK)

A municipality in western Manitoba has declared a state of local emergency as it deals with flooding, power outages and a gas line leak.

Minitonas Bowsman says on its Facebook page that it’s working to recover from heavy rains overnight that led it to ask residents to shelter in place.

It says flooding affected all residents, which totalled a little under 500 people as of the last census.

Manitoba weather data shows the area received about 120 millimetres of rain on Sunday and another 23 millimetres after midnight.

Residents on several streets were also forced to leave their homes on Monday after a gas line rupture.

Minitonas Bowsman, which sits about 475 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, says it’s shutting off water overnight as it works to restore services.

Five designs are being proposed as part of the engagement process on new Manitoba Parks licence plates. (ENGAGEMB.CA)

The province is inviting Manitobans to vote on the design for a new provincial parks-themed licence plate.

“As we continue to enjoy our Manitoba summer, I know families across the province will be heading to one of our beautiful provincial parks for a camping trip or a day at the beach,” Premier Wab Kinew said on Monday.

“Manitobans love our parks, and so we want to hear from you on the best design to represent that pride in our parks as a new provincial licence plate.”

The application for the new plates was brought forward by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, a non-profit focused on conservation and habitat protection.

A share of sales from every plate sold will be directed to the Manitoba Provincial Park Endowment Fund through The Winnipeg Foundation, supporting ecological, safety, accessibility, and visitor experience upgrades in provincial parks.

The online survey runs until July 31, and the winning design will be made available on plates next year.

More than 208,000 specialty plates have been sold since 2011 through the province’s specialty licence plate program, raising more than $6.2 million in charitable proceeds. There are currently 19 specialty plates available through the program, which is administered by Manitoba Public Insurance.

Manitobans can visit provincial parks for free and fish without a licence from June 12 to 14, the provincial government announced.

Vehicle permits won’t be required at provincial parks for the weekend, though regular camping fees still apply. Anglers can fish licence-free provincewide, with the exception of national parks where a federal licence remains required. All other fishing regulations, including possession limits and size restrictions, remain in effect.

As part of Family Fishing Weekend, the Whiteshell Fish Hatchery will offer free tours on Saturday, June 13. Operating since 1942, the hatchery raises and stocks fish species to support recreational angling across Manitoba. Visitors can see over half a million trout and take part in releasing 250 trout into the Whiteshell River.

Park interpreters will also be leading guided hikes, kayak outings, historic site tours, campfire talks, and other programming at select parks throughout the weekend.

Visitors are encouraged to check manitobaparks.com for current park conditions, closures, and fire restrictions.

The RCMP logo is seen on a podium ahead of a news conference, in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

A 63-year-old man from the RM of St. Clements is dead following a single-vehicle collision in the RM of Brokenhead on Saturday afternoon.

Beausejour RCMP received a call at 1:41 p.m. reporting the crash on Road 38 East. A witness found the man on the side of the road, with his vehicle in the ditch against a stand of trees.

Mounties say the man appeared to be in medical distress as he was unresponsive when the witness found him.

First responders transported him to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Beausejour RCMP continue to investigate.

A man in his 40s was stabbed in what police say was a random attack while he was out for a jog in Winnipeg’s St. Vital area late Friday night.

Officers responded to the 1-99 block of Abbotsford Crescent just after 11 p.m. on June 6, where they located the victim suffering a serious upper body injury. He was transported to hospital and admitted for observation.

With the help of the Air 1 helicopter, tactical support team, and K9 unit, two youth suspects were located nearby and taken into custody.

Police say the victim was approached by two suspects who initially asked for the time before verbally threatening and stabbing him.

A 15-year-old girl has been charged with assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats, possession of a weapon, and failing to comply with conditions of an undertaking. She remains in custody.

A 16-year-old boy was released without charges.

Two men are recovering in hospital after a two-motorcycle collision on the St. James Bridge early Sunday.

Winnipeg police responded to the crash in the northbound lanes just after 12:30 a.m. Officers arrived to find Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crews already on scene treating two injured riders, both men in their 20s.

Both were transported to hospital in unstable condition before being upgraded to stable.

The bridge was closed to traffic until approximately 9:30 a.m. as police investigated.

Anyone with information, including dashcam footage, is asked to contact police at (204) 986-7085, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at (204) 786-TIPS.

Winnipeg police have arrested a man in connection with a fire at a downtown Dollarama store on May 5, 2026. (WPS / HANDOUT)

Winnipeg police have charged a man in connection with a fire at a downtown Dollarama store last month.

Police say on May 5, the suspect entered the store in the 200 block of Portage Avenue and set some merchandise on fire before fleeing. The fire quickly spread and resulted in substantial property and merchandise damage. A security guard extinguished the fire, and nobody was injured.

The fire was caught on surveillance video from inside the store, which police released a screengrab of on Monday.

Dwayne Earl Scatch, 33, has been charged with arson causing damage to property and two counts of failing to comply with probation.

Police say Scatch was arrested on June 4 at the Winnipeg Remand Centre, where he was already in custody on an unrelated matter.

He remains in custody.

(FILE)

A Winnipeg firefighter and a resident were taken to hospital following a fire at a two-storey rooming house on Saturday.

Emergency crews were called to the 300 block of Redwood Avenue just after 9:30 p.m. and had the blaze handled by around 10 p.m.

All residents evacuated the building.

One resident was transported to hospital in unstable condition. A firefighter injured at the scene was taken to hospital in stable condition.

The fire remains under investigation.

(UFFW 867 / FILE)

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to two residential structure fires within 24 hours, leaving one person dead and three others hospitalized.

Crews were called to a two-storey apartment building in the 400 block of Ross Avenue just before 1:30 p.m. Friday after reports of heavy black smoke.

Firefighters entered the building and brought the fire under control by 1:57 p.m. One person was found inside the suite where the fire started and was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

In the early hours of Saturday, crews responded to a two-storey house in the 500 block of Flora Avenue where initial reports indicated people may have been trapped. Firefighters rescued three residents from the burning home. All three were transported to hospital — one in unstable condition and two in stable condition.

The fire was declared under control at 3:40 a.m.

Both fires remain under investigation. The Ross Avenue fire is being investigated jointly by the WFPS and Winnipeg Police Service.

By Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press

Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, left, makes a diving pass against the Stampeders during first-half CFL football action in Calgary on June 5, 2026. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers charged out of the gate to start their 2026 CFL season by beating a team they couldn’t last year.

The Bombers defeated the host Calgary Stampeders 30-28 in a tug of war that ended with Sergio Castillo’s walkoff field goal from 38 yards out for the win Friday at McMahon Stadium.

Winnipeg, which went 0-3 against Calgary last season, trailed by a point with 64 seconds remaining.

Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., had just marched his offence out of Calgary’s end zone and 104 yards down field for the quarterback to score on a three-yard dash.

Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros connecting with Ontaria Wilson on a 27-yard throw, plus five- and eight-yard carries by running back Brady Oliveira, put Winnipeg in range for Castillo.

“It was a wild game,” Collaros said. “Pure CFL football right there. The conditions were crazy. The wind was nuts pretty much the entire game. I thought we did a good job of handling that in all three phases and playing high IQ football.

“It just feels good, coming to somebody’s house and winning a game.”

Wind gusts up to 57 km/h out of the southwest at kickoff switched directions by the start of the second half.

Oliveira, Tim White and Bryce Perkins scored touchdowns for the visitors. Castillo produced 11 kicking points, including two of the three punt singles Winnipeg scored in the game.

Winnipeg’s defence tightened in the second half after giving up three touchdowns to trail 21-16 at halftime.

Adams was sacked three times in the fourth quarter — twice by Jake Ceresna and once by Willie Jefferson.

“All three phases certainly came through, but we ended up getting to Vernon quite a bit, I guess, in that second half,” Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said. “Great effort by the front and that relentless sort of pass rush, which was right on time.”

Ceresna recorded three sacks in his debut for Winnipeg. Friday’s game was his first since last September’s Labour Day game at McMahon Stadium when he was an Edmonton Elk.

The 31-year-old shut his 2025 season down after that game to deal with a knee injury.

“This is where my season ended last year, so I just wanted to make sure I had a great game and kind of right the ship,” Ceresna said.

“I was hurt a lot of last year, so it felt good to just be running out there and kind of feeling back like myself again.”

Collaros completed 17 of 28 pass attempts for 233 yards, a touchdown throw and one interception.

Dedrick Mills and backup quarterback Quincy Vaughn each scored short-yardage touchdowns and Erik Brooks had a touchdown catch for Calgary.

Adams was 17 for 27 in passing for 239 yards and one touchdown throw.

“Long season. No one wins or loses the Grey Cup in Game 1,” Adams said.

Calgary’s Jude McAtamney kicked four converts, but missed a 45-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter in front of an announced crowd of 17,743 at McMahon Stadium.

“When you play Winnipeg, I swear, it comes down to a kick 50 per cent of the time or more. They made theirs,” Stampeders head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson.

“They outplayed us in the second half big time.

“In the CFL, you get opportunities to win these close games, you’ve got to win them, especially at home.”

The Stampeders went 11-7 last season to finish third in the West Division ahead of the Blue Bombers at 10-8.

Winnipeg crossed over and fell 42-33 to the Montreal Alouettes in the East semifinal. Calgary lost 33-30 to the B.C. Lions in the West semifinal.

Friday’s first half featured a running backs duel. Mills, the CFL’s leading rusher in 2025, ran for 95 yards and a touchdown and Oliveira for 75 yards and a touchdown.

Mills finished with 112 yards on 16 carries and Oliveira compiled 113 on 15 in the game.

Collaros, 37, was coming off a mediocre 2025 by his standards with almost as many interceptions (16) as touchdown throws (17). His 3,048 passing yards was his lowest total in five years.

Friday’s game was the quarterback’s first under new offensive coordinator Tommy Condell.

“I felt good,” Collaros said. “There will definitely be some things to clean up. I can think of two or three off the top of my head where decisions that I made, I would have liked to go elsewhere with the football in those moments. But for the first game, I thought we did a pretty good job.”

Calgary was minus veteran kicker René Paredes (groin) and defensive linemen Folarin Orimolade (Achilles) and Jaylon Hutchings (hamstring).

Paredes’ run of 247 consecutive CFL games since his 2011 debut came to an end. First-round global draft pick McAtamney of Derry, Northern Ireland, drew in Friday for Paredes.

Up Next:

Stampeders: Bye week.

Blue Bombers: Home-opener Thursday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Winnipeg police officers will begin using body-worn cameras as part of a six-month pilot project. (WPS / HANDOUT)

The Winnipeg Police Service is launching a six-month body-worn camera pilot project, equipping 40 frontline officers with Axon Body 4 cameras.

The pilot, which will begin June 10, will see officers wear the cameras during regular duties, including responding to calls for service, self-initiated interactions, and enforcement and investigative activities.

“The WPS will seek input from community members and partner organizations to better understand perspectives, questions, and concerns, to ensure the pilot project is informed by meaningful input as it progresses,” police said in a release.

Community engagement will be part of the process, with the WPS planning public forums and an online survey to gather input from residents and partner organizations.

Other police forces across the province already use body-worn cameras, including the Manitoba First Nations Police Service and the Manitoba RCMP.

No timeline has been given for a decision on permanent adoption following the conclusion of the pilot.

A hiking trail in Whiteshell Provincial Park. (TRAILS MANITOBA / FACEBOOK)

Recreational trails across Manitoba are receiving an injection of funding from the provincial government.

More than $200,000 was announced on Friday at the legislature ahead of Trails Day on June 6.

A total of 19 projects will see funding through the 2026 Trails Manitoba Grant Program.

Among the recipients are the Winnipeg Trails Association, the Beausejour Active Transportation Committee, the Crow Wing Trail Association, the Boyne Valley Trail Committee, the Steep Rock Cottage Owners Association, and the Rossburn Subdivision Trail Association. A full list of grant recipients is available at trailsmanitoba.ca/grants.

“Trails make it possible for hundreds of thousands of people of all ages and abilities to experience something magical,” said Anders Swanson, executive director of the Winnipeg Trails Association, in a release.

“Trails help connect us all to nature in this place we call home. We are pleased to see this support to help grow our capacity to try to do more.”

The province also announced the opening of two new backcountry campsites on the Black Wolf Trail in Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park. The sites are first-come, first-served and are intended to support growing demand for multi-day hiking experiences in central Manitoba.

Harry Lazarenko Bridge (MANITOBA HISTORICAL SOCIETY)

The Harry Lazarenko Bridge will close this weekend as the city conducts routine maintenance and inspections.

The closure will be in effect from 6 a.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 7.

Drivers planning to cross the Red River at Redwood Avenue will need to take an alternate route.

Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the weekend with alternating sidewalk closure on either side of the bridge.

Motorists are asked to allow for additional travel time and use alternate routes to reach their destinations.

(BIKE WEEK WINNIPEG / HANDOUT)

Bike Week Winnipeg is teaming up with YMCA-YWCA Winnipeg for three free neighbourhood bike parties at community hubs across the city this month.

The events are open to everyone — no YMCA membership required — and will feature free bike tune-ups, bike decorating, games, test rides, and refreshments for all ages.

“Each year we put on events for all ages and try to reach every corner of the city to celebrate the joy of cycling for everyone,” said Dave Elmore, Bike Week board chair.

“After last year’s successful events, we’re excited about this continued partnership with the YMCA-YWCA clubs of Winnipeg allowing us to bring our programming to green spaces in diverse
neighbourhoods and meet people where they are at.”

The three parties take place at:

• Portage Community Hub (3550 Portage Ave.) — Friday, June 5, 5–7 p.m.
• South Community Hub (5 Fermor Ave.) — Wednesday, June 10, 5–7 p.m.
• Elmwood-Kildonan Community Hub (454 Kimberly Ave.) — Saturday, June 13, 10 a.m. — noon

The parties are part of the broader Bike Week 2026, running June 7-13, which includes group rides, workshops, open shop hours, Bike to Work Day and Bike to School Day on June 9, the fourth annual Kidical Mass family ride on June 13, and the Rolling Through Red River Métis History group ride on June 11.

A full calendar of Bike Week events can be found at bikeweekwinnipeg.com.

Watch highlights from last year:

Earl Giesbrecht collects his winnings during a news conference in Winnipeg on Thursday, June 4, 2026. (WCLC)

A Whitemouth man is Manitoba’s biggest LOTTO 6/49 winner ever after claiming a $46 million Gold Ball jackpot from the May 16 draw.

Earl Giesbrecht said he had no idea the magnitude of what he’d won when he first scanned his ticket at the store.

“I thought it was $46 thousand at first,” he said. “When I started counting the zeroes, the cashier said, ‘It’s actually $46 million,’ and I just about fell over.”

Giesbrecht said the shock left him rooted to the spot.

“I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I had to call my brother just to come and sit with me in the store. I didn’t think I could even drive myself home!”

The win surpasses the previous Manitoba LOTTO 6/49 record of $27.5 million, set almost exactly five years ago on the May 12, 2021 draw.

Giesbrecht says he plans to buy a house, help his children, and pay off his ex-wife’s mortgage. He’s also reconsidering his semi-retirement.

“I’m thinking about maybe becoming fully retired… we’ll see!” he said. “It feels fantastic — it’s unbelievable. I’m giddy!”

His winning ticket was purchased at First Stop Grocers at 115 Railway Avenue in Whitemouth.

Earl Giesbrecht speaks to the media at a news conference in Winnipeg on Thursday, June 4, 2026. (WCLC)