Transit strike averted
5:38 PM
A Winnipeg Transit strike has been averted after unionized workers ratified the third tentative agreement late Friday.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 announced the deal, which includes wage increases of 12.6 per cent and a signing bonus of $1,800 for every member, had been accepted by its members.
Had they rejected the deal, the strike was set to start Monday.
Specialty MMIWG2S licence plates now available
2:12 PM
Manitobans can now purchase a specialty licence plate to support missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people, with a portion of the proceeds going to Ka Ni Kanichihk.
The plates sell for $70 and are available for purchase at Autopac agents across Manitoba; $30 from each set of plates sold goes to the organization, which helps people through learning and healing programs grounded in traditional Indigenous knowledge and trauma-informed practices, the province said.
If all 6,000 plates available sell, it will generate about $180,000 for Ka Ni Kanichihk.
Portage la Prairie man missing
12:38 PM
Police are asking people keep an eye out for a missing 69-year-old man from Portage la Prairie.
Mervin Esau was last seen Wednesday at around 5 p.m. at his home on 6th Avenue NE, before leaving in a white Dodge Ram 1500 with the Manitoba licence plate B17055. He was reported missing to the RCMP the next day. He has not been in contact with his family and did not show up for work.
Esau is described as 6 feet tall and 225 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
If you see his vehicle, or have information on his whereabouts, call Portage la Prairie RCMP at 204-857-4445, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or send a secure tip online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.
Man arrested in Burrows Avenue shooting death
11:08 AM
A 20-year-old man accused in the shooting death of a woman on Burrows Avenue last month has been arrested.
Ava Marie Zaber, 20, was shot on the 400 block of Burrows Avenue on Nov. 21 and later died in hospital.
Homicide detectives arrested Brent Jayden Meade, 20, on the 500 block of College Avenue on Wednesday, police said Friday. He’s been charged with second-degree murder.
Police are still investigating and ask anyone with information to call 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.
Police chief announces retirement
10:09 AM
The chief of the Winnipeg Police Service has officially announced his retirement.
During a Winnipeg Police Board meeting on Friday, WPS Chief Danny Smyth confirmed he will be leaving the role at the beginning of September 2024.
“I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank the (Winnipeg) Police Board for the opportunity to serve as Winnipeg’s 18th chief of police and the first chief in the history of Winnipeg that was actually selected by the board … It has certainly been an honour and a privilege for me to serve our city (with WPS) for just over 38 years now and to serve our country as a police leader,” said Smyth.
As the Free Press previously reported, a motion has come forward to establish a recruitment committee for the next chief, which is expected to be handled during Friday’s meeting.
The board was also expected to extend the chief’s current contract until at least July 2024, to allow him to complete a two-year term of president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police that ends that month.
