A new bill for missing seniors, new websites to support the influx of refugees, and seeking input on a climate change plan are all part of this week’s headlines!

Missing Persons Alert

Natasha Shorting natasha shorting

Natasha Shorting, 11, has been missing since the weekend and Winnipeg police are concerned for her well being. Shorting was last seen Sunday evening in Winnipeg’s downtown area.

She is described as being 5’2″, 120 pounds with a thin build, dirty blonde hair and brown eyes. She could be wearing a black and white striped Adidas jacket, multi-coloured leggings and white Nike runners.

Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts since she went missing is asked to contact the missing person’s unit at 1-204-986-6250.

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

  • Coldest Night of the Year walk brings in more than $30K for homelessness in Winnipeg: CBC
  • With love and respect: Kids write letters of support to bus drivers: CBC
  • Manitoba MLA to table bill calling for Silver Alert to help find missing seniors: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • Councillors pitch in on Habitat site: Winnipeg Free Press

Gender & Sexuality

  • Too much ‘shaming’ at Steinbach Pride, says MLA who will not attend: CBC,Winnipeg Free Press
  • ‘Clearly a drunk can consent’ is ‘a step back’: Taxi users’ advocate: CBC

Refugees & Race

  • Former refugee’s website helps newcomers in Winnipeg find work: CBC
  • If it’s not broken don’t fix it: Rally sends message about fee for provincial nominees: CBC
  • Refugees in Winnipeg opening their homes to help recent wave of asylum seekers: CBC
  • Asylum seeker met at the border by CBC relieved to be in Canada: CBC
  • Listening for a story: What it’s like to stake out the border for asylum seekers: CBC
  • Border services sets up emergency trailer to make space for refuge seekers: CBC
  • UN lawyer to visit Manitoba to observe influx of asylum seekers: CBC
  • ‘They hardly talk’: Asylum seekers slow to ask questions during ride from border to Winnipeg: CBC
  • Goodale rejects former colleague’s claim of long waits by Manitoba asylum seekers: CBC
  • Cold City, Warm Hearts: Newcomer kids get dose of winter fun at FortWhyte winter party: CBC
  • Website connects Winnipeggers who need work done, refugees who’ll do it: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Federal ministers see the asylum seeker situation on the ground in Emerson, Man.: CBC, CBC, Winnipeg Free Press, Maclean’s
  • Public Safety minister says Emerson’s response to border jumpers ‘truly inspiring’: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Newcomer centre launches fundraising campaign ahead of expected surge of refugees: CBC
  • ‘I am proud to be here’: 7 more asylum seekers walk into Manitoba, where it’s –20 C: CBC
  • Customs officials using trailer to handle crush of asylum seekers at Emerson: Winnipeg Free Press
  • More refugees need more legal aid — but will cost-sharing continue: CBC
  • Should Liberals let asylum seekers from U.S. enter Canada safely at border crossings?: CBC
  • ‘Growing urgency’: United Way creates website for donations to help asylum seekers: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • Assiniboine College faces major cut to English language program funding: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg Free Press
  • How a Somali refugee became a Halifax firefighter: CBC
  • Too soon to tell if claims trend will persist: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Hundreds rally to counter protest against anti-Islamophobia motion: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press, CTV News

Environment

  • Major flood risk remains for Red, lower Assiniboine and other southern Manitoba rivers: CBC
  • ‘Major risk’ of spring flooding, forecasters warn: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Cautious optimism ahead of Manitoba’s next flood forecast: CBC
  • Manitoba government wants input on climate change plan: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • What forecasters mean by a major risk of flood: CBC
  • Campaign looks to muscle out mussels: Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg Free Press

Indigenous

  • ‘I won’t give up’: Mom of Lorlene Bone marks 1 year since disappearance: CBC
  • Indian and Metis Friendship Centre loses funding, lays off staff: CBC, APTN News,Winnipeg Free Press
  • Manitoba community taking advantage of federal program to build houses: APTN News
  • Making music video with teens in Indigenous communities helps plant ‘seed of confidence’: CBC
  • Community mourns ‘well-loved’ woman found frozen near Shamattawa: CBC
  • 60s Scoop survivor returns to Canada for the first time: CBC
  • ‘We owe this to ourselves’: Teachers learn how to talk residential schools at Winnipeg workshop: CBC
  • Manitoba wants Indigenous issues addressed before signing federal health accord: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • An evening with Candy Palmater in Halifax: CBC

Justice

  • Charges against officer ‘exceptional and rare‘, says head of Manitoba investigation unit: CBC
  • Manitoba child advocate to get expanded powers under proposed law: CBC, APTN News, Winnipeg Free Press
  • Majority of Manitoba inmates not convicted: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Shop owner says she’s target of hate crimes for being a witch, selling pagan products: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • Recent Manitoba court policy to address delays could pit rights against one another: defence lawyers: CBC
  • Preliminary inquiry begins on murder case in woman’s slaying last spring: Winnipeg Free Press
  • A clear case of institutional delay: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Axe, brass knuckles lead to arrest after Winnipeg bus ride Friday night: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • Contractor from Calgary soaked for $27K water bill after buying Winnipeg home: CBC

Politics

  • Sam Katz got $127K cheque from HQ contractor he initially denied dealings with: CBC
  • 5 weeks? 7 weeks? Premier hounded over time in Costa Rica at question period: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press
  • Lawyer for Katz, Sheegl refutes claims of bribery: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Winnipeg Transit considering multiple safety options for drivers: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Pallister gambling with $40M in federal health funds, province’s Liberals charge: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Tension mounting over economy’s fate as Pallister gang rides back to legislature: Winnipeg Free Press
  • Don’t thank Captain Obvious for cycling safety study: CBC
  • Wealthy Canadians exposed in KPMG offshore tax ‘sham‘: CBC
  • Councillors renew call for clawback of former CAO’s salary: CBC
  • Sharon Carstairs asks Senate to reimburse legal fees after expenses scandal: CBC

Health

  • Union worries about health-care funding as Manitoba Legislature session opens: CBC
  • Winnipeg woman fears home nursing care changes could put her life at risk: CBC
  • Mumps outbreak prompts warning to Manitoba parents: CBC
  • First-aid course offered for mental illness in Winnipeg: CBC
  • Number of fentanyl overdoses may have peaked in Manitoba: Winnipeg Free Press
  • PC government votes against ban on pill presses in Manitoba: CBC
  • Emergency room delays due to medical tests, not bed shortages, report says: CBC
  • Tories tell Manitoba health regions to find millions in savings in 2017: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press

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