Boudreau out as Bombers special-teams co-ordinator
6:42 PM
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have moved on from special-teams co-ordinator Paul Boudreau.
The Bombers confirmed to the Free Press Wednesday that Boudreau, who has been with the CFL club since 2017, including helping it get to the last four Grey Cups, will not have his contract extended for the 2024 season.
It’s still unclear who will take over the now vacant role, and whether the team will hire someone external or promote from within.
In 2023, the Bombers were second in average kickoff yardage (65.9) and third in field goal percentage (90.2), but were in the bottom half of most other special-teams categories, including seventh in average punting yards (46.2), eighth in net punting average yards (35.2), eighth in average kickoff return yards (20) and sixth in average punt return yardage (11.1).
Contractor hits gas line at Wolseley home under construction
4:11 PM
A contractor working at a home in Wolseley hit a gas line on Wednesday afternoon.
Manitoba Hydro spokesman Riley McDonald said the power utility was notified a contractor hit an underground line on the 100 block of Garfield Street at about 3 p.m.
McDonald said the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service is at the scene, as two Manitoba Hydro crews work to expose the gas line and stop the leak. The gas is venting safely, he added.
The WFPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A nearby resident said fire crews have taped off a number of homes near the scene, around the intersection of Palmerston Avenue and Garfield Street.
Winnipeg airport RCMP pull teen accused of assaulting family member off diverted flight
3:52 PM
RCMP at the Winnipeg airport had to pull a teenage passenger off of a diverted plane who’s accused of assaulting a family member while in the air on Wednesday.
Mounties stationed at the airport were called about the flight, which was headed from Toronto to Calgary, that had been diverted to Winnipeg at about 12:20 p.m., RCMP say.
RCMP officers found that the flight, Air Canada no. 137, diverted after the 16-year-old boy from Grande Prairie, Alta., allegedly assaulted a family member. Airline employees and passengers restrained the boy.
RCMP say the youth was arrested and taken to hospital for a medical evaluation, while the passenger who was assaulted was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
One dead in Barren Lands First Nation house fire
2:07 PM
One person is dead after a home burned on a Manitoba First Nation New Year’s Day.
Around 5:15 p.m., police received reports of a house fire in Barren Lands First Nation, RCMP said in a release Wednesday.
The community is located roughly 1000 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, near the Saskatchewan border.
The home was engulfed in flames by the time a fire truck arrived. Several people who were inside the home escaped safely, but one person was unaccounted for, RCMP said.
Mounties from the Thompson detachment arrived in Barren Lands the following day to find a dead adult inside the home, which had been destroyed by the fire.
RCMP have notified the offices of the Fire Commissioner and Chief Medical Examiner, and they continue to investigate.
