This week’s headlines include extensive coverage of the murder of Jeanenne Fontaine, a requested carbon tax exemption for cattle farmers, a church stands behind a man experiencing homelessness, and more.

Missing Persons Alert

Jeffery Benjamin Menard Jeffery Benjamin Menard
Dauphin RCMP are looking for missing 40-year-old man who they believe might be in Winnipeg. Jeffery Benjamin Menard was last seen Wednesday night around 11:30 p.m. in Dauphin, Man.

Authorities are concerned for his wellbeing. He is six-feet tall and weighs 190 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. Police say he is driving a 2008 Nissan Maxima with Manitoba licence plate “HOTMAIL.”

Anyone with information can contact Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5020 or call Manitoba Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, submit a secure tip online or text “TIPMAN” plus your message to CRIMES (274637).

 

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

Refugees & Race

  • Asylum seeker denied entry after taking legal route, says aunt: CBC
  • Rick Hansen inspired by meeting refugee who lost fingers in cross-border walk: CBC
  • Salvation Army has spent $100K supporting asylum seekers: CBC
  • ‘Pallister is right’: Emerson official urges feds to address asylum-seeker surge: CBC
  • ‘Be an ally‘: CBC forum explores racist blunders, intolerance and how to move forward: CBC
  • Here’s how Canadian taxpayers and private agencies help asylum seekers: CBC
  • Pallister: Feds standing by while Manitoba deals with refugees: CBC
  • Some asylum seekers won’t face deportation: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Resettlement groups waiting for feds to walk the walk: Winnipeg Free Press

Environment

  • Don’t tax us for carbon, cattle farmers plead: CBC
  • Red River protection lobby loses funding; set to close: Winnipeg Free Press

Indigenous

  • ‘We want the violence to stop’: Vigil planned for Jeanenne Fontaine Saturday night: CBC 
  • Shared ‘vision’ of Thunderbird House can be conduit to save it: Architect: CBC, CBC
  • House where Tina Fontaine’s cousin killed well known to police: CBC
  • Tina Fontaine’s cousin dies after being shot in head, home set on fire, family says: CBC
  • ‘Just a tremendous spirit’: Wab Kinew remembers fellow author Richard Wagamese: CBC
  • Indigenous people, like refugees, need help resettling in cities, grand chief says: CBC
  • Pressure builds as missing, murdered Indigenous women inquiry prepares public hearings: CBC
  • Mayor asks city to continue reconciliation efforts: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • Watch: This River: CBC
  • Young Indigenous woman Winnipeg’s latest homicide victim: APTN News
  • Second band election yields new results for Roseau River: APTN News
  • Mother of Jeanenne Fontaine speaks: She was the most loving: APTN News
  • Cousin of Tina Fontaine dies in hospital following gunshot to head: APTN News
  • Fontaine family suffers more grief: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Indigenous, immigrant experience similar, UN told: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Beleaguered Indian and Métis Friendship Centre faces uncertain future: Winnipeg Free Press

Justice

  • Homeowner says 9 days for city to respond to flooded back lane unacceptable: CBC
  • 3 men arrested after student stabbed at Winnipeg high school: CBC
  • Class sizes have biggest impact in early years, education studies suggest: CBC
  • St. John’s High School student stabbed, in critical condition: CBC
  • ‘Target on my back’: Winnipeg Transit drivers fear violence and abuse on the job:CBC
  • Wife pleads for justice at hearing into Errol Greene’s death at Winnipeg Remand Centre: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • Family sues Manitoba government over death in Winnipeg Remand Centre: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • Teachers union ‘dumbfounded’ by removal of cap on K-Grade 3 class sizes: CBC
  • Winnipeg School Division board approves 3.89% tax hike: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • Woman shot to death in Winnipeg’s West Broadway area: CBC
  • Manitoba chiefs order child welfare agency board to suspend reformist director: APTN News
  • Senior sends Hydro bill for $600K: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Church stands behind homeless man told to move“: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Woman clings to life as homicide, arson investigators probe house fire: Winnipeg Free Press
  • ‘I saw her lying on the steps. It was pretty horrible‘: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Accused acquitted in sex assault trial: Winnipeg Free Press
  • 12-year term for brutal slaying: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Man who pretended to be cop and stole thousands awaits sentence: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Fighting family court backlog: Winnipeg Free Press

Politics

  • ‘Get him back to Costa Rica’: Federal NDP candidate Charlie Angus takes dig at Manitoba premier in Winnipeg: CBC
  • Brian Pallister stresses need for asylum seeker aid amidst health deal clash: CBC
  • Roughriders ‘disappointed’ by Jordan Reaves drug trafficking charge: CBC,Winnipeg Free Press
  • EPC decides to delay better decision-making: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Calls mount for Senator Beyak to step aside from Aboriginal committee after residential schools remark: CBC
  • Senator Dyck Shares Thoughts About Comments Made by Senator Beyak | APTN News
  • Senator Lynn Beyak stands by residential school remarks, cites ‘fake news’: CBC
  • Mayor says it’s time to review Winnipeg’s governance model — after the next election: CBC
  • Kevin O’Leary‘s no-show excuse doesn’t fly with Winnipeggers: CBC
  • Audit: Manitoba chiefs organization used training, child care dollars to cover debts: APTN News
  • Councillor’s promotion idea stifled by CAO’s ‘gag’ order: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Manitoba Tory government now showing its ‘true colours’: analyst: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Proposed legislation calls for fewer inspections of drinking water infrastructure: Winnipeg Free Press

Cultural

  • Catholic class has no place in public French school, Winnipeg parents argue: CBC
  • Rally at Rady centre protests acts against Jewish community centres: Winnipeg Free Press

Disability & Accessibility

  • Disabled MLA faces ‘significant barriers’ at legislature, Canadian icon Hansen says: Winnipeg Free Press

Check out our human rights calendar for upcoming events!

HUMANRIGHTS (34)