Grand Rapids RCMP received information that 42-year-old Kenneth Sanderson, who was currently WANTED on nine Canada-wide warrants for a number of charges, was hiding at a residence on River Road, in Grand Rapids.

On May 14, 2024, at approximately 1:00 am, Grand Rapids RCMP along with the assistance of Police Dog Services and the Emergency Response Team, executed a warrant to search at a residence on River Road, in Grand Rapids. As officers arrived, Sanderson ran out the back, fled to the river, where he then jumped in. Police Service Dog Phlex and his handler were able to assist with getting Sanderson back to shore where he was arrested.

Sanderson received minor injuries and was taken to hospital where he was treated and released.

Along with his warrants, Kenneth Sanderson, 42, has also been charged with Resisting Arrest and Failing to Comply x2. He was remanded into custody.

As part of Budget 2024, the Manitoba government is taking steps to improve emergency medical services by adding and training more paramedics, adding more ambulances and expanding emergency patient transport, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.

“Our government is investing in paramedicine, so that Manitobans can feel secure knowing first responders will be there to assist in emergencies,” said Asagwara. “We are also making sure timely emergency care is available to all Manitobans no matter where they live, which is why we are supporting new training spots for advanced care paramedics to work in rural and northern communities.”

The province is providing an additional $124,000 to Red River College Polytechnic in 2024-25 to add 16 training seats for advanced care paramedics (ACPs) who will work in rural and northern communities.

The Manitoba government will incentivize more students to train as ACPs by investing more than $16 million to expand job opportunities including a third ambulance in Brandon. These investments will support the province’s goal of hiring 1,000 new health-care workers in 2024-25.

“Advanced care paramedics are a huge asset to rural health care,” said Rebecca Clifton, director, Paramedic Association of Manitoba. “With a deeper education and greater skill set, they can provide more acute care for patients, making them vital in critical transports or emergency rooms in remote, rural settings. For far too long, rural Manitoba just was not recognizing ACPs and enrolment suffered as a result. We are very happy to see the province invest in not only training but new positions as well, allowing paramedics to advance their education and improve care for Manitobans as a result.”

Budget investments will allow for the implementation of community paramedicine units across eastern, western and northern parts of Manitoba, the minister noted, adding, 21 clinical service leaders have been hired since January 2024 in Dauphin, Flin Flon, Lac du Bonnet, Ashern, Neepawa and The Pas. More staff have been recruited and are in varying stages of onboarding, the minister said.

To celebrate the value paramedics brings to the health-care system, the Manitoba government has proclaimed May 19 to 25 as Paramedic Week in Manitoba.

“Because paramedics are often first on the scene, they are the first link in someone’s health-care journey,” said Asagwara. “Paramedics have saved the lives of countless Manitobans and helped put them on a path to recovery. Next week our government will recognize paramedics as the backbone of our emergency health services. It is our opportunity to thank them for the work they do to go above and beyond the call of duty.”

The week is an opportunity to recognize all members of Manitoba’s emergency response services teams, including 911 dispatchers, volunteer first responders and patient transport professionals.

A new face will be added to both City Council and the School Board after a by-election on September 10th.

Resignations by former Councillor Earl Colbourne on April 29th and former School Trustee Mike Lawson earlier in April require a by-election be held.

The City and the School District have agreed to equally cost-share the by-election.

Rather than electronic tabulators, this by-election will use paper ballots which will be hand-counted.

Watch the City website at thompson.ca for Information about candidate registration dates and deadlines.

This is Vision Health Month and the Canadian Ophthalmological Society has some warnings and advice on how to address your vision concerns.

A recent study by the COS shows that in the past two years, 71 per cent of Canadians have experienced one or more concerning symptoms regarding their eyes or vision.

Dr. Phil Hooper, President of the Society, shares those concerns here.

“The top concerns were too much screen time, over half the people responded with that as a concern. Exposure to UV and sunlight was about the same at 53 percent and environmental factors such as wildfires and that varied a little bit depending on where in the country you were.”

Symptoms of vision issues include dry, itchy and irritated eyes, headaches, eye strain, and blurry vision.

Hooper recommends taking breaks from screens every 20 minutes or so, to use lubricating drops to alleviate dry-eye symptoms, and to wear sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB rays.

For more regarding eye health, go to thompsononline.ca.

On May 13, 2024, at approximately 1:25 am, Chemawawin RCMP was called to the Nursing Station in Chemawawin Cree Nation for a report of a 14-year-old female suffering from serious injuries. When officers arrived, the female was pronounced deceased. It was determined to be homicide.

A 19-year-old male was arrested later in the morning on May 13, 2024. Kingsley Lachose is charged with Second Degree Murder and Failing to Comply with a Release Order.

The RCMP Forensic Identification Section and RCMP Major Crime Services are in the community assisting with the ongoing investigation.

The Manitoba government and First Nation chiefs from across the province signed a historic relationship declaration committing to the transfer of jurisdiction over child welfare to First Nations, Premier Wab Kinew and Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine announced today.

“Every child in our province deserves to grow up with the ability to answer who they are and where they come from,” said Kinew. “That is why our government is working with First Nations to ensure children in care maintain connection to their families, their culture and their language. Together, we can build a future in Manitoba where we don’t have to come back and apologize to the next generation of children.”

“First Nations children in care do better when they’re able to stay within community and connected to culture,” said Fontaine. “Every child in Manitoba should have supports to thrive and we know the current child welfare system needs to do better. First Nations are best placed to care for their own children and today’s declaration is an important step forward as we work collaboratively to return responsibility for child welfare.”

The relationship declaration was signed today at a roundtable meeting attended by almost 40 Indigenous leaders from across Manitoba, the premier noted.

“Our language, culture, and traditional ways of life will serve as the foundation for our programming,” said Chief Gordon Bluesky, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation. “We will ensure our people have access to adequate capital infrastructure to support their needs. We will continue to uplift and support one another as we exercise our treaty and inherent rights, creating our own child and family services law that will benefit future generations to come.”

Bill C-92, an Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, became law in 2020. The federal act reaffirms the authority of Indigenous nations to pass and enforce laws related to the provision of child and family services to their citizens supported by co-ordination agreements with Canada and provinces or territories.

Manitoba signed its first co-ordination agreement in 2023 with Peguis First Nation and Canada in 2023. The government has supported the transfer of jurisdiction through amendments to the Child and Family Services (CFS) Act enabling collaboration and information sharing with Indigenous government bodies and CFS providers, prioritizing placements with family, kin or community for all children, and allowing new agreement-based supports to prevent children from coming into care.

The minister noted the relationship declaration responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action to reduce the number of Indigenous children and care and affirm the right of Indigenous governments to establish and maintain their own child welfare agencies.

The declaration also aligns with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which recognizes the right of Indigenous families and communities to retain shared responsibility for the upbringing, training, education and well-being of their children, consistent with the rights of the child, noted the minister.

As of March 31, 2023, 91 per cent of the 8,990 children in care in Manitoba were Indigenous, the minister said.

Vale Manitoba Operations has had a 5-member firefighting team in Cranberry Portage since this weekend.

The Office of the Fire Commissioner put out a call to all northern Manitoba fire departments looking for support to control the fire approaching the community, which has been evacuated to The Pas.

Vale sent a fire truck and four firefighters plus a fire advisor to help with those efforts.

The firefighters are supporting value protection in towns and near cottages, like setting up sprinkler systems, refueling water supply pumps, and shuttling water.

This crew will return to Thompson this evening.

A 50-year-old man from Tataskweyak Cree Nation was charged Sunday with aggravated assault after an incident on Friday night.

Late Friday, a 32-year-old man was found injured in the parking lot of a business on Mystery Lake Road.

RCMP provided first aid and CPR until Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene.

The victim was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Ronald Harvey was charged by RCMP major crime services and remanded into custody in connection with the assault.

If anyone has information on this incident they are asked to call Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909 or leave a tip at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Wildfires near Flin Flon and The Pas are still impacting residents in the region.

The RM of Kelsey has a reception centre at the Wescana Inn in The Pas to register evacuees from Cranberry Portage.     Residents were told to leave Sunday as the fire burned to within one and a half kilometres of the community.

In Flin Flon, a reception centre has been established at the Victoria Inn for evacuees.

Approximately 550 residents are affected currently.

The fire crossed a section of railway in the area and is impacting rail travel between Cranberry Portage and Pukatawagan.

There are also power and communication outages and technicians are on hand to restore both.

Air tankers from Manitoba and Saskatchewan are working on the fire.  Five additional crews from Ontario were expected to arrive Monday and another 5 today.

This is the latest fire bulletin to be released on the Flin Flon Fire situation from the Manitoba Government.

Manitoba Wildfire, The office of the Commissioner, Emergency Management  Organization and Manitoba Fire Services are currently responding to two fires in the area around Flin Flon and The Pas.

Evacuation orders have been issued for a number of houses and cottages in the area and people in the surrounding areas are being asked to be prepared to leave if the situation worsens.

As of yesterday the fire has grown to 35,000 hectares. At last report the fire is 38 km long and 12 km wide and has moved to 1 km of Cranberry Portage.  There have been intermittent power outages and Highway 10 South is closed starting at Bakers Narrows. The Sherriden road is also impacted. The fire did crossed a section of the railway in the area and could disrupt railway service in the area.

Air tankers from Manitoba and Saskatchewan  are working on the fire and additional crews from Ontario are expected to arrive at any time.

The fire near Wanless is now approximately 1,500 hectares and crews are working to protect the hydro line between Cranberry and The Pas. For residents of Wanless the fire will push nw due to se winds and wildfire services is confident it will maintain the break. Winds are expected to make the smoke thicker today and the RM advises residents with compromised conditions to close windows and stay inside.

You are advised to have 72 hour essential  family needs together  just in case.

For ongoing updates on wildfires you can  go to the website if you are able to at gov.mb.ca and there is a toll free number at 1-800-782-0076

Teams from Vale Manitoba, Hudbay and Tanco will test their skills in the 61st Manitoba Mine Rescue Competition May 24th and 25th in Lac du Bonnet.

These teams are the best of the best, according to Richard Trudeau, the co-chair of the competition’s organizing committee.

“There are six, highly skilled individuals on each team. There is a director of operations, he directs the team from a control centre, he provides the captain of the team who has his team underground, there is a vice captain that takes over duties of the captain as required. Then the team members who are responsible for thinks like demolition, gas monitoring and first aid.”

He said the competition is about safety and skill competency that the team members use during the event, but are trained to use during any emergency situation in their daily work.

A Mutual Aid team composed of two members from each mining operation also takes part in the competition.

Trudeau added that the Mutual Aid team is an example of what would happen if a real-life emergency were to occur in any of Manitoba’s mining operations.

For more on the competition, catch Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

May 10, 2024, Winnipeg, Manitoba – Assistant Commissioner Scott McMurchy is the new Commanding Officer of the Manitoba RCMP. With 34 years of experience in the RCMP, with postings in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, including several detachments, Provincial Support Services, Serious and Organized Crime, District Operations Officer for Manitoba North District, Officer in Charge of Community and Indigenous Policing Services, and most recently as the Officer in Charge of Criminal Operations for Manitoba, Assistant Commissioner McMurchy brings a lot of knowledge and perspective to the position.

Assistant Commissioner McMurchy also brings something unique to the table – he was born in Rossburn, Manitoba and raised in The Pas. “As Manitoba is my home, I am deeply committed to serving Manitobans and am very honoured to be the Commanding Officer of the Manitoba RCMP,” he said. “I am proud that much of my service has been in Manitoba. I believe that the opportunity for varied experience in this province exceeds almost anywhere else. I have had the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing people in the RCMP in Manitoba. The people who work here truly care, and go the extra mile to help the communities in which they live and serve.”

As a Manitoban, Assistant Commissioner McMurchy knows where the focus needs to be. His number one priority is to address violent crime. “Policing in the RCMP really gives you the opportunity to know the people and truly help the community, and right now, people in communities across our province are concerned about high levels of violent crime. I am committed to working collaboratively to reduce the level of violent crime we are seeing currently and to engage the community in the process. Our goal is always the safety and security of Manitobans, and we want them to feel safe in their communities.”

Never one to back down from a challenge, Assistant Commissioner McMurchy knows tackling violent crime and addressing rising property crime is a formidable task. He also knows that much of what we are seeing in criminal activity has links to the drug subculture. “Drugs are in every community in Manitoba, but when illicit drugs are present on a larger scale, the relation to the rise in other types of crime is quite clear.” Working on drug enforcement and education is one way he plans to address the criminal activity within communities. Specialized teams, integrated units, and intelligence-led policing are other methods he is driving forward to address these concerns.

“It is very important to me to build relationships,” said Assistant Commissioner McMurchy. “Building and maintaining connections with Indigenous leadership is something I have been working on for many years on a personal level as well as through my various roles in the RCMP. As part of the Manitoba RCMP’s Reconciliation journey, I plan to continue wholeheartedly making those connections and listening to those perspectives.”

Assistant Commissioner McMurchy knows relationships are important to the work the RCMP does. “We are your provincial police, and I want to hear from Manitobans about what is important in their community. We meet regularly with leadership from all communities through our Detachment Commanders. Make sure your local leaders know what you think is important, and we can work together with them to set priorities and focus our engagement.”

The days, weeks, and months ahead will be very busy as Assistant Commissioner McMurchy moves forward in his new role, but he does hope to still find the time to do what he enjoys most – being outside in Manitoba. “If I’m in a boat on the water, I’m happy. I am lucky to live in Manitoba, and I promise all Manitobans that I will work hard every day, side-by-side with all the dedicated, talented employees of the RCMP, to keep you safe and happy in our beautiful province.”

On City Beat yesterday, Mayor Colleen Smook provided an update on city transit services.

Last week, the contract between the City and Maple Bus Lines for transit service was cancelled as the company was unable to fulfill their obligations.  

Smook said the city is considering hiring temporary drivers for the short term, but first the condition of the buses is being evaluated.  

When asked, Smook provided these details about the ridership on the transit buses.

"During the week, especially during the winter, there is upwards of five hundred plus students a day on there. The school district pays us a set fee to have students ride so that they don't have to walk in the cold. Other then the students, ridership is actually very low."

She said discussions are ongoing as to whether the City will provide its own bus service or if it will contract out the service as it has since the 70's.

Early Tuesday morning,  Grand Rapids RCMP Detachment received a complaint of threats being made to shoot up a residence, located in Misipawistik Cree Nation.

In speaking with the occupants, officers were told that a 25-year-old male and an unknown individual were planning to come to the residence with firearms.

While there, a disturbance was heard in a nearby home to which the officers immediately responded.

When they entered the home, they located the 25-year-old male suspect attempting to hide from police.

Royce Storm Fontaine, 25, who was also wanted on several Warrants of Arrest, was arrested without incident and later remanded into custody on charges including Assault, Pointing a Firearm, Uttering Threats and Failure to Comply with a Release Order.

Grand Rapids RCMP continue to investigate.

Last week’s Smile Cookie Campaign at Tim Horton’s was a huge success.

And 100 per cent of the proceeds are going to the Thompson Regional Humane Society.

According to Board Chair, Oswald Sawh, 12-thousand 873 cookies were sold, meaning the organization will receive over 19-thousand three hundred dollars.

Their goal was to raise 25-thousand dollars to purchase equipment for their animal clinics.

Sawh thanks all the individuals and businesses who purchased cookies and the local businesses who allowed the Humane Society to sell cookies at their locations.

Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care is reminding people to be vigilant about ticks, take steps to prevent bites and know when to seek treatment. Blacklegged ticks, often called deer ticks, are a risk to human health because they can transmit diseases like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus disease. These diseases can all be serious, particularly in older adults, young children or people with compromised immune systems or underlying medical conditions.

Public health officials recommend visiting a health-care provider within 72 hours of removing a tick to receive preventative treatment for Lyme disease if:

• the bite was from a reliably identified blacklegged tick; and
• the tick was attached for 36 hours or more, or the tick was engorged (filled with blood).

Blacklegged ticks may be found anytime snow is not on the ground, with peak activity in spring and fall. Due to the health risk posed by blacklegged ticks, it is important to be able to distinguish between them and the more common wood tick. While wood ticks are a nuisance, in Manitoba these species do not transmit diseases. Blacklegged ticks have a red-orange body, black legs and a black spot on their back, and are smaller than wood ticks. Adult females are about the size of a sesame seed. When attached and feeding, blacklegged ticks become larger and change colour to grey and brown. Wood ticks are larger, brownish in colour, with white markings on their back. Photos comparing wood ticks and blacklegged ticks are available at: www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/tickborne/about.html

Anyone who finds a tick on animals, humans or in various habitats can submit a picture to have it identified by experts, to confirm if the tick belongs to a species capable of transmitting diseases. For more information or to submit a picture of a tick, visit www.etick.ca.

Reduce your risk of tick bites and disease exposure by:

• applying an appropriate tick repellent on exposed skin and clothing, following label directions;
• wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts;
• tucking in clothing to create a barrier;
• staying to the centre of walking trails;
• inspecting yourself, children and pets after spending time outdoors;
• removing ticks as soon as possible from people and pets, using tweezers; and
• keeping grass and shrubs around homes cut short to create drier environments that are less suitable for tick survival.

Milder winters and shifting weather patterns caused by climate change means ticks are expanding their geographical range to more regions of the province, although southern Manitoba remains the highest-risk area.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. To learn more about blacklegged ticks, tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, prevention and treatment, visit: 
www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/tickborne/.

On May 6, 2024, at 2:05 pm, Shamattawa RCMP received a report of a missing 28-year-old male from the community.

Melvin Lawrence Redhead was last seen in Shamattawa on May 4 wearing brown pants, a green and brown sweater and black shoes.

He is described as being 5’10”, 210 lbs with black hair and brown eyes.

RCMP are requesting the residents of Shamattawa to check their backyards and outbuildings for any sign that Melvin Redhead may have taken shelter.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, please call the Shamattawa RCMP at 204-565-2351, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

A number of provincial parks in southern Manitoba will welcome campers this weekend, officially kicking off the 2024 season, Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today.

“I know many Manitobans, like me and my family, are eager to head out to the great outdoors to camp at one of our province’s beautiful provincial parks,” said Schmidt. “We encourage all Manitobans to take the opportunity this spring and summer to explore our provincial parks and make lasting memories.”

Campers will notice improvements in several provincial campgrounds this season including:

• redevelopment of the Nutimik Lake Museum in Whiteshell Provincial Park;
• new playgrounds at Kiche Manitou in Spruce Woods, Winnipeg Beach, White Lake in Whiteshell and Whitefish Lake;
• completed work on water and wastewater treatment system upgrades at Asessippi, Birds Hill and Paint Lake provincial parks; and
• new washroom and shower facility at Bakers Narrows Provincial Park.

All other provincial park campgrounds will open for the May long weekend. Manitobans can make a reservation for campsites, cabins, yurts and group-use areas through the Parks Reservation Service, online at www.manitobaparks.com or by calling (toll-free) 1-888-482-2267.

Reminders for visitors and campers at Manitoba provincial parks include:

• check the Manitoba Parks website at www.manitobaparks.com for advisories before travelling;
• buy and print provincial park vehicle permits online before leaving home at www.manitobaelicensing.ca;
• all campers must check in at campground offices upon arrival to receive camping permits;
• have reservation confirmation and personal identification ready for check-in;
• be ‘Wildlife Smart’ by maintaining a clean campsite, keeping all food, trash, toiletries and cooking utensils locked in a vehicle or trailer, and pack out trash and recyclables before leaving;
• keep all pets on leash; and
• keep all campfires in approved pits such as those found in campsites and check with the campground office for any campfire restriction.
•  

Do not transport firewood from Winnipeg to areas outside the city to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer, an invasive species of beetle. To avoid charges and fines, purchase firewood from local retailers at or near most campgrounds.

For more information on provincial parks, visit? www.manitobaparks.com and follow Manitoba Parks on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

“Cigarettes cause cancer,""Tobacco smoke harms children" and "Poison in every puff."

Those are some of the messages smokers will find on their cigarettes as of August 1st when new legislation kicks in.

This will make Canada the first country to approach the deterrence of tobacco use in this fashion.

Dr. Michael Chaiton with the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health, says it is easy to become addicted to tobacco.

“In our current environment, I think it is one of the most addictive. That’s partially because it’s one of the most easiest to obtain and they are more socially acceptable to be able to use in more places. The products themselves are also really streamlined and engineered in order to become the most addictive as possible.”  

Chaiton said past anti-smoking campaigns directed at cigarette packaging have helped reduce smoking in youth.

But he did add that vaping, which was originally created to be a smoking-cessation product, has become popular with younger people who previously hadn’t used tobacco.  

Listen to the interview on addictions with Dr. Chaiton at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon on Thompson Today.

Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Emergency Management Organization is notifying Manitobans the National Public Alerting System, Alert Ready, is scheduled to issue an emergency alert test message on multiple communication channels tomorrow, May 8, at 1:55 p.m. CDT.

Testing of all components is an important and necessary part of any public alerting system. It provides an opportunity to validate and improve the end-to-end performance and reliability of the system to ensure it operates as it is intended on TV, radio and compatible wireless devices. Test alerts also educate the public on what an emergency alert will look and sound like in the event of a life-threatening situation.

The test alert will be distributed on TV, radio and compatible wireless devices. However, not all Manitobans will receive the test alert on their mobile devices. This may occur for various reasons including device compatibility, connection to an LTE network, cell tower coverage and device software and settings.

For contact information and questions about the upcoming test alert, visit: 
www.alertready.ca/.

Support sick kids and their families tomorrow during McHappy Day.

Purchase any item on McDonald’s menu tomorrow and a portion of proceeds will go to fund the important work of Ronald McDonald House Charities.

RMHC CEO, Wendy Galagan, provides details about their growth here in Manitoba.

“We opened our new house in September of 2022 and we grew from 14 bedrooms to 40, from 11 thousand square feet to 60 thousand square feet and that was really in response to the needs of Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario and surrounding areas.”

In 2023, RMHC supported 1327 families and provided almost 11-thousand nights of accommodation.

These families came from over 292 communities in Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario and beyond.

RMHC saved families over $3.4 million in out-of-pocket expenses as they provide accommodations, meals, transportation, parking, and other day-to-day essentials.

Find out more about RMHC and McHappy Days at thompsononline.ca.

On May 4, 2024, at 1:45 am, Chemawawin RCMP responded to a report of a disturbance at a residence located in Easterville.

Officers attended to the address and located a 32-year-old female in critical condition. EMS attended the scene and provided medical attention but the victim succumbed to her injuries.

A second victim, a 35-year-old female, was located a short distance away with non-life-threatening injuries. She was transported to hospital in Winnipeg where she remains in stable condition.

RCMP have arrested two female youths, ages of 14 and 13, in relation to this homicide. They remain in police custody at this time.
 

Chemawawin RCMP, along with RCMP Major Crimes Services and Forensic Identification Services, continue to investigate.

On May 4, 2024, at 7:50 pm, South Indian Lake RCMP responded to a report of a deceased male located in a wooded area outside the community.

Officers attended and located a 61-year-old male with obvious injuries.

The death is being treated as a homicide.

South Indian Lake RCMP, along with RCMP Major Crimes Services and Forensic Identification Services, continue to investigate.

The Manitoba government is establishing a new $15-million endowment fund to enable a grant program offering supports to families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit (MMIWG2S+) relatives, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, minister responsible for women and gender equity, announced today.

“This is a transformative, historic announcement for MMIWG2S+ relatives, one that recognizes the needs of families and the work we can do together,” said Fontaine. “This fund will ensure a stable long-term commitment to help meet the needs and support families for years to come.”

The endowment fund will be managed by The Winnipeg Foundation and revenue generated will be used to provide application-based grants for MMIWG2S+ families to heal, learn and empower. The initial investment is expected to generate up to $750,000 per year, which will be paid out in grants, noted the minister. The initial investment will continue to grow, allowing the grant program to continue in perpetuity.

The minister noted the first intake for the new grant program is expected to launch in 2025. The Manitoba government will work with MMIWG2S+ families, the Matriarch Circle and community partners in the coming months to develop grant eligibility and distribution guidelines.

The fund is the first foundational initiative of the Manitoba government’s new multi-year Strategy and Action Plan on Empowering and Protecting Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit Peoples, which is being supported by Cora Morgan, Manitoba’s special advisor on Indigenous women’s issues and secretary to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit Peoples and Gender-Based Violence Committee of Cabinet.

This investment aligns with the Calls for Justice in the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls including the call to provide continual and accessible healing programs and support for the children of MMIWG2S+ people and their families.

The Winnipeg Foundation is a registered charity and community foundation that distributes funds to support organizations in Winnipeg and beyond. For more information, www.wpgfdn.org.

The Manitoba government is presenting its latest project to help address the housing needs in Manitoba, with capital funding, rent supplements and in-kind contributions to bolster the redevelopment of 575 Balmoral, reaffirming the government’s commitment to enhancing housing access for those who need it most, Housing, Addictions, and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith announced today.

"Our government is pleased to support the redevelopment of 575 Balmoral, which will address some of the most pressing housing needs of First Nations youth in Winnipeg,” said Smith. “I believe wholeheartedly that our collaborative efforts must be focused on supporting youth and families with young children who are at risk of experiencing homelessness. From emergency housing and wraparound supports to social housing, the Manitoba government is taking action to improve housing across the spectrum including projects like this one that prioritize the well-being of our young ones and will allow them to thrive and become future leaders in our communities.”

As the successful proponent of Manitoba Housing’s negotiated request for proposals to redevelop the site, the Manitoba government is donating the land to the Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Corporation (WHRC). The WHRC will receive the property and buildings located at 575 Balmoral St. and up to $2.2 million in capital funding toward its redevelopment, which will include the construction of a new 30-unit building. The Manitoba government is also providing funding of approximately $577,000 annually to ensure all units can be rented on a rent-geared-to-income basis and that wraparound supports can be provided by project partners.

“Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Corporation is honored to be selected to re-develop 575 Balmoral,” said James Heinrichs, executive director, Winnipeg Housing and Renewal Corporation. “With concerted efforts, collaborative support and commitment from all levels of government, this project will provide a home and hope for one of our most vulnerable populations, youth at risk of homelessness. We are eager to move this project forward with our partners: the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs’ First Nations Family Advocate Office and Spence Neighbourhood Association, who will be instrumental in providing on-site support services and community care crucial to fulfil the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of our youth and prevent the recurrence of homelessness. Together, we will make great strides towards ending our homelessness and housing crisis.”

WHRC will partner with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs’ First Nations Family Advocate Office and Spence Neighbourhood Association’s Youth Homelessness Program to provide housing and wraparound supports to youth exiting the child welfare system and to expectant parents at risk of Child and Family Services involvement.

“This historic partnership demonstrates our shared commitment to support First Nations youth who find themselves here in the city,” said Grand Chief Cathy Merrick, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. “Our partnership is a testament to what can be achieved when we come together with a common purpose – to uplift and support the next generation. By providing a foundation upon which they can build a stronger, brighter future, we are not just investing in individual lives but in the collective future of all First Nations. We continue to envision a future where every First Nations child grows up in a safe, nurturing environment surrounded by their culture, language and traditions. Today marks an important step towards building the foundation to which this can be achieved."

Budget 2024 delivers on the government of Manitoba’s commitment to end chronic homelessness. It invests over $116 million for the construction and upkeep of social and affordable housing initiatives.

To learn more, visit www.manitoba.ca/budget2024.