Lots of awards were given out over the past week! Also included in this week’s headlines: the Winnipeg Police Services visit hotels surrounding the airport to raise awareness about the sex trade, many asylum seekers entering into Canada had cases denied in the US, and young local Indigenous female leaders represent MB ridings in Ottawa!

Missing Persons Alert

UPDATE: Natasha Shorting has been safely located.

Christine Woodchristine wood
The parents of a missing Manitoba woman renewed a plea for help Friday — which happens to be their daughter’s 22nd birthday. Sunday will mark six months since Christine Wood went missing. “We’re waiting for her every day and every second for her to call us,” said Melinda Wood, Christine’s mother.

“I wish I could hug her, tell her ‘happy birthday,’ I love her,” Melinda said on the phone from Oxford House.

The Wood family has searched tirelessly for their daughter who vanished on Aug. 19 in Winnipeg. But so far, their search hasn’t been successful. The Wood family told CBC their daughter came with them from Oxford House to Winnipeg to help a family member attend a medical appointment.

When Melinda and Christine’s father George returned home to their hotel room, Christine was gone. “I think of her all the time, wondering where she is, if she’s OK,” Melinda said.

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection also put out another call for help finding Wood on social media Friday. “My heart breaks for them,” said Michelle Ham, who works in the centre’s child safety division which is behind the website missingkids.ca, where Wood is featured. Ham said staff at the centre continue their efforts to find Wood — something she hopes gives some reassurance to Wood’s parents, who are now back in their home community of Oxford House.

“The search continues even when they’re at home,” Ham said. Ham said the centre has ads with a picture of Wood’s face on billboards across Canada. “Nothing’s going to slow down,” she added. Melinda said her family plans to return to Winnipeg when the weather warms up to continue their search for Christine. She begged anyone who may have seen her daughter to call police. “We want to know if she’s OK.”

Poverty & Community Outreach

Gender & Sexuality

  • Police visit airport-area hotels to raise awareness of sex trade: CBC
  • Finding Her Home: Homeless women in Winnipeg need more gender-specific services, think tank says: CBC
  • StatsCan on gender pay gap: Women earn 87¢ to men’s $1: CBC
  • A drunk clearly cannot consent: CBC
  • Asylum seekers taking advantage of Canadian generosity, MP Ted Falk says: CBC

Refugees & Race

  • Canada Border Services Agency detaining 8 people in Manitoba jails: CBC
  • Through their eyes: Winnipeg’s Sarasvati theatre explores the stories of newcomer women: CBC
  • Yazidi refugee from Syria uses art to find peace in Winnipeg: CBC
  • Pallister repeats call for federal refugee support money: Winnipeg Free Press, CBC
  • Trades program for newcomers could help patch gaps in skilled labour workforce: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • Pregnant woman, toddler among 19 asylum seekers rescued after crossing border in storm: CBC
  • Beds filled up at Salvation Army as surge of asylum seekers cross into Manitoba: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • Charity struggles to keep up with demand to furnish refugees’ homes: CBC
  • ‘It’s definitely the fact that I’m a Muslim’: Winnipeg rally organizer harassed on social media: CBC
  • Jungles, camps and detention: the long journey for many asylum-seekers: CBC
  • Conversations on Islam: Talks at University of Winnipeg to spread knowledge, banish myths: CBC
  • Cabinet to map out scenarios for dealing with border-crossers: CBC
  • A run for the border: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Migrants nearly lost in perilous blizzard conditions: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Community blankets newcomers with love: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Cabinet set to map out scenarios for dealing with illegal border-crossers: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Many asylum seekers coming to Canada had U.S. cases denied: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Background checks, paperwork follow cross-border journey: Winnipeg Free Press
  • MP to feds: clarify position on asylum seekers: Winnipeg Free Press

Environment

Indigenous

  • Unless you’ve gone yourself, residential schools should remain indefensible: CBC
  • New school for flooded-out First Nation 2 years away: CBC
  • Senator’s residential school comment ‘hurts the integrity of the Canadian system,’ survivor says: CBC
  • MMIW coalition says national inquiry keeping families in the dark: CBC
  • ‘It just makes sense’: Manitoba First Nation could be latest to take control of reserve lands: CBC
  • Indian and Métis Friendship Centre’s provincial membership — and funding — terminated: CBC
  • ‘We owe this to ourselves’: Teachers learn how to talk residential schools at Winnipeg workshop: CBC
  • Tina Keeper named ACTRA’s Woman of the Year: CBC
  • Sandy Bay First Nation sues province, feds over 2011 flood they call a ‘man-made disaster’: CBC
  • 60s Scoop survivor reconnects with Indigenous culture after 5 decades away: CBC
  • From coast to coast and north to south, Indigenous women are on the rise: CBC
  • Young Indigenous female leaders from Manitoba represent ridings at Ottawa event: CBC
  • Doubt remains in federal government’s 5-year timeline to bring safe water to First Nations communities: CBC
  • Winnipeg Friendship board resigns, money to start flowing back to the community: APTN News
  • Validity of land treaties questioned, but remain important: Sinclair to First Nations: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Coalition raises concerns over long-awaited MMIW inquiry: Winnipeg Free Press

Justice

  • ‘I’m going to kill you’: Winnipeg bus driver punched, another threatened Friday night: CBC
  • Safety concerns spur Winnipeg bus drivers to consider quitting, retiring: union: CBC
  • Child welfare hearings must come sooner when kids seized: Manitoba court ruling: CBC
  • Winnipeg woman captures apparent road-rage incident on camera: CBC
  • Manitoba judge overturns precedent-setting decision on traffic ticket delays: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • Community club members feel vindicated after former treasurer pleads guilty to stealing $292K: CBC
  • Sandy Bay First Nation robbery making the rounds on social media: APTN News
  • ‘There are things we can do right now:’ Transit union can’t wait for city safety report: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Police ask for help after man found dead near community centre: Winnipeg Free Press
  • ‘Never wavered’ on rape claim: Crown: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Man says giving woman fake drugs led to rape claim: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Revenge or rape? Jury will decide: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Sex abuse survivor awarded $100K: Winnipeg Free Press

Politics

Health

  • Manitoba sole holdout after 3 provinces strike health-care deals: CBC
  • ‘Do you think I have a chance?’ ask other Manitobans with hefty U.S. hospital bills: CBC
  • Sprague man relieved after province says it will cover bulk of U.S. medical bill: CBC
  • Abortion pill available at HSC in Winnipeg — but patients will pay: CBC
  • Quadriplegic Manitoba politician wants presumed consent for organ donation: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • The truth about crystal meth in Winnipeg: ‘It’s just everywhere’: CBC
  • Health just one area where Pallister must bargain hard: Winnipeg Free Press

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