Free Press Community Review: East

Photo by Rylee Gerrard
Tara Mychalyshyn of Rescue Siamese shelter holds James, a friendly and playful black cat who loves attention and cuddles.

Paws up for spring market

Rylee Gerrard STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Fluffy tails, loud meows, and naps in cozy kennels.

For 30 years, Rescue Siamese has been a shelter for cats from across the province and, to celebrate the anniversary, it is hosting a spring market at Archwood Community Centre on Sunday, May 24, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The rescue started in 1996 specifically for Siamese cats — which were in very high demand and overbred at the time — and so the shelter opened hoping to give a home to cats without one. Now, Rescue Siamese, which is currently located at 38 Barberry Rd., helps all the cats it can.

“It’s nice to know that you’re making a difference in a cat’s life,” said Tara Mychalyshyn, co-director of the rescue.

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Free Press Community Review: East

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Along with Jeff Newman, Quinn Greene, seen here is the co-director and co-executive producer of Geekopolis, a new original series that is available now On Demand on Bell Fibe TV1. Greene also wrote and hosted the series.

Geeking out on local subcultures

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read Preview

Geeking out on local subcultures

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Quinn Greene doesn’t just embrace his inner geek, he celebrates it as a thing of beauty.

With longtime collaborator Jeff Newman, the founder and president of St. Boniface-based Nüman Films, Greene is the director and executive producer of Geekopolis, a new original series “that celebrates and explores the outright obsessive and wonderfully weird things Manitobans geek out about,” according to a press release.

Greene’s passion for exploring subterranean subcultures and devoted fandoms is the platform for the project he calls his baby, which he also wrote and hosted. In the six-part series — which is available now On Demand on Bell Fibe TV1 — Greene’s adventures include immersing himself with a live action role-playing group, meeting up with the Manitoba Lego Users Group, and showing some skin as he joins burlesque troupe Prairie Diva.

“I’ve been a geek, quote unquote, all my life, and I’ve loved anything to do with things like Lego, Star Wars and Dungeons & Dragons,” said Greene, who lives in Wolseley and was raised in Moosehorn, Man.

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Free Press Community Review: East

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Each week, the Gifts of Grace volunteers prepare over 1,100 sandwiches, as well as over a dozen casseroles, for clients of the Main Street Project.

The gift that keeps on giving

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 2 minute read Preview

The gift that keeps on giving

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 2 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Sometimes, a warm meal or a sandwich can do more than simply provide nourishment. Sometimes it’s good for the soul.

Founded by members of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in East Kildonan and Transcona Memorial United Church, Gifts of Grace started providing over 100 hot Thursday night and Sunday morning meals each week for Main Street Project 14 years ago. Meals include hot casseroles, sandwiches, dessert, and juice.

Now, each week, the Gifts of Grace group, which includes members of other churches as well as the general public, makes over 800 sandwiches for the Main Street Project patrol van, along with the weekly meals. In total, volunteers from the group make over 1,100 sandwiches each week.

Longtime volunteer Campbell McIntyre has been with the group since its founding.

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Free Press Community Review: East

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The filming set and production of the foundational acquisition Indigenous language video series.

Storytelling and language learning

Rylee Gerrard STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Preview

Storytelling and language learning

Rylee Gerrard STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

As education slowly continues to shift into the digital space — and language-learning along with it — a new way to learn, listen, and understand First Nation languages has entered the digital sphere.

The foundational language acquisition video series — produced by the Manitoba First Nation Education Resource Centre — is a series of 160 videos in the five different First Nation languages of Manitoba.

The languages featured in the videos are Anishinaabemowin, Ininīmowin, Denesuline, Anisininimowin, and Dakota.

“The wonderful thing about it is they’re everyday conversations and storytelling,” said Jennifer Williams, director of language and culture at MFNERC.

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Free Press Community Review: East

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Storytellers and board members from the 2025 ‘we are all stories’ event.

Seen, heard, valued

By Rylee Gerrard STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Preview

Seen, heard, valued

By Rylee Gerrard STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Most people have lived lives worth sharing, from challenges to exciting moments to overcoming obstacles, but not all have the resources or the knowledge to share their personal tales.

Enter the StoryBridge Network, a relatively new non-profit organization which runs workshops teaching people how to write and share their life stories.

“Stories bring us together and bridge us to our connected humanity,” said co-founder and executive director, Patlee Creary, who holds a PhD in peace and conflict studies from the University of Manitoba.

While Creary was working on a research paper in school, she focused on storytelling methodology and the experiences of highly educated women who were also newcomers. She sat and met with such women while conducting her research.

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Free Press Community Review: East

Photo by Sheldon Birnie
Reena (left) and Sara Kriendler are the co-writers of the new musical The Perfect Man. The mother-daughter duo are pictured here in the Gargoyle Theatre (585 Ellice Ave.), where the show runs until May 17.

Mother-daughter duo behind book for new musical

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 5 minute read Preview

Mother-daughter duo behind book for new musical

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 5 minute read Monday, May. 11, 2026

There’s still time to catch The Perfect Man, a musical written by Sara and Reena Kreindler and developed with support of the Manitoban Association of Playwrights, during its run at the Gargoyle Theatre on Ellice Avenue.

Featuring a cast of local musical theatre performers, The Perfect Man is a high-energy romantic comedy in the tradition of vintage Broadway shows. It opened on May 6 and continues until May 17.

“I’m so happy and proud that the Gargoyle Theatre (is) the first home to this show,” said Andrew Davidson, artistic director and owner of the Gargoyle. “I believe it is so good (that) it deserves future productions in other places. People who come to see this will be able to say one day that, ‘I was at the world premiere run.’”

“It’s a fun evening, a rom-com with some cultural satire of what reality dating shows say about the culture we’re in, that consumerist and performative aspect of relationships that we’re bombarded with, especially in the era of social media,” said Sara Kreindler, who wrote the music, lyrics, and co-wrote the book with her mother, Reena.

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Monday, May. 11, 2026

Free Press Community Review: East

Supplied photo courtesy of Louis Riel School Division
École Sage Creek Bonavista was renamed École Mazina-Giizhik in honour of the late Murray Sinclair at a formal naming ceremony at the southeast Winnipeg-based school (355 des Hivernants Blvd.) on May 6.

École Sage Creek Bonavista renamed École Mazina-Giizhik on May 6

—FP Community Review staff 1 minute read Preview

École Sage Creek Bonavista renamed École Mazina-Giizhik on May 6

—FP Community Review staff 1 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

École Sage Creek Bonavista was renamed École Mazina-Giizhik in honour of the late Murray Sinclair at a formal naming ceremony at the southeast Winnipeg-based school (355 des Hivernants Blvd.) on May 6.

Louis Riel School Division said in a statement it’s honoured to confirm the name, which carries Sinclair’s spirit name, Mazina Giizhik, meaning “The One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky” in Anishinaabemowin.

Sinclair, who died in 2024, was a judge, senator and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Pictured (at the microphone) is Sarah Fontaine-Sinclair, granddaughter of Murray Sinclair (and daughter of Free Press columnist Niigaan Siclair), speaking at the ceremony.

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Free Press Community Review: East

East edition news in brief — week of May 13, 2026

FP Community Review staff 3 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Manitoba Underdogs to hold 1990s-themed social May 23

A local animal rescue is inviting folks to turn back time to the 1990s for a good cause.

According to its website, Manitoba Underdogs Rescue is holding its totally rad charity social ‘90s night at Transcona East End Community Centre (517 Pandora Ave. E) on Saturday, May 23 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The 18+ event will feature a DJ from Body Bounce Productions, who will be spinning ‘90s hits throughout the night, organizers say. Prospective guests are encouraged to wear period gear from the 1990s.

Community Correspondents

Photo by Adriano Magnifico
Louis Riel Arts and Technology Centre broadcast media program grads (from left) Graham Parsons, Zoe Krzuk, Johnathan Schneider, and Jamie Wiebe visited current students to share their experiences at the recent Winter Olympics in Italy.

Louis Riel Olympians share their wisdom

Adriano Magnifico 3 minute read Preview

Louis Riel Olympians share their wisdom

Adriano Magnifico 3 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

The Louis Riel Arts and Technology Centre sent four of its students to the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, but not for the reason you may think.

They weren’t athletes. They are broadcast media program graduates who helped broadcast Olympic curling to the world.

The four alumni recently returned to their alma mater to share their special experience with current BMP students.

They worked long days during the men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles curling competitions, which ran from Feb. 4 to 22 at the Stadio Olimpico del Curling di Cortina d’Ampezzo, a venue built just for the games.

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Community Correspondents

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The old St. Vital Scout hall was demolished in 1994.

End of an era at Scouters Lane

Ryan Palmquist 2 minute read Preview

End of an era at Scouters Lane

Ryan Palmquist 2 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Along with the recent opening of the new Scouts Canada exhibit at the St. Vital Museum, there is another milestone to mark concerning the history of youth scouting in St. Vital. This spring, the 3rd Winnipeg Beaver Colony, which I lead, will move from its present meeting space at St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, owing to the sale of that building.

The 3rd Winnipeg Beavers, which also boasts Cub pack and Scout troop groups at other locations in the community, was one of the first six Scout groups to be organized in Manitoba in 1909, by Lt.-Col. James Arthur Hesketh, building on the movement created by Lord Robert Baden-Powell in England. By this measure, 3rd Winnipeg is one of the earliest groups formed in North America.

If you explore the green space beside Norberry-Glenlee Community Centre, you will find a street sign, marking the lane between Molgat Avenue and St. Vital Road as Scouters Lane. This marker, though modest, tells a story of the countless youth and volunteers who gained formative life skills and experiences at this spot.

At its outset, 3rd Winnipeg originally met at Fort Osborne, where the Manitoba legislature now stands. In the years that followed, scouting grew in Winnipeg and worldwide. In 1924, when St. Mary Magdalene Church was established, it had its own Scout troop, the 21st. Owing to the construction of the legislature, 3rd Winnipeg soon moved from Fort Osborne, and met elsewhere until 1938, when the St. Vital Scout hall was built along what is now Scouters Lane, beside Mary Magdalene. The hall was located roughly at the present grove of trees by the gravel parking lot, from box cars donated by Mr. Clayton of St. Vital’s Clayton Construction. Over the years it was renovated and expanded. Scouts met there for decades until it was demolished in 1994, and the group moved into Mary Magdalene.

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Community Correspondents

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Justice Minister Matt Wiebe, MLA for Concordia (at far right), joined fellow MLAs (from left) Jamie Moses, Tyler Blashko and Nellie Kennedy at the announcement that the PST will be removed from groceries in Manitoba beginning July 1.

Practical steps to lower costs for Manitobans

Matt Wiebe 3 minute read Preview

Practical steps to lower costs for Manitobans

Matt Wiebe 3 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

As Manitobans continue to navigate rising costs, our government remains focused on what matters: making life more affordable. Pressures are coming from beyond our borders – global instability, Trump’s tariffs and his conflict in the Middle East have driven up fuel and transportation costs, which affects the prices of everyday things. Those impacts are being felt in Manitoba.

The most direct step we’ve taken is removing the provincial sales tax from groceries, starting July 1. Food is a necessity and families shouldn’t pay extra tax on essentials. It’s a simple change, but one that makes a difference for households across our province.

At the same time, we know affordability is more than groceries. It’s about the everyday costs such as rent, utilities, housing, and making sure families feel relief where it matters. That’s why we’re increasing the homeowners affordability tax credit and the renters affordability tax credit, which puts money back into the pockets of Manitobans.

We are taking action to crack down on predatory pricing and increase competition in the grocery sector. Predatory pricing is when corporate monopolies drop prices to push out smaller competitors, then raise them once there’s less competition. Our government passed legislation to prevent new restrictive covenants. We’ve started bringing legal cases forward to remove these property controls at locations across Manitoba. By doing this, we are opening the door for competition, more local choices, and lower prices for families.

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Community Correspondents

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MLA Tyler Blashko recently shared tokens of appreciation with the early childhood educators in Lagimodière.

A week of connection

Tyler Blashko 3 minute read Preview

A week of connection

Tyler Blashko 3 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Happy May Lagimodière!

Passing bills in the legislature is a vital responsibility, but the heart of my work as your MLA beats within the sidewalks, homes, and shared spaces of Lagimodière. Constituency week is a dedicated time to step away from the energy of the chamber to meet you exactly where life happens – in the places you call home. This provides a unique opportunity for the kind of unhurried, meaningful, and active presence that serves as the bedrock foundation of my public service.

This past constituency week, from April 27 to May 1, was particularly special as it coincided with Early Childhood Educator Week. To show our deep appreciation, our team made it a priority to visit all seven child-care centres across our constituency. It was a genuine joy to deliver fresh flowers to these hardworking professionals, but the real highlight was being able to share a few moments with educators at each centre, affirming their work and sharing my personal thanks for their dedication to caring for our communities’ youngest learners. Our government remains firmly committed to supporting this sector through vital initiatives like increased wages and educational pathways for folks looking to join the sector, and expanding the number of high-quality, affordable child-care spaces available for Manitoban families.

I also spent several mornings visiting our neighbours in 55-plus buildings and apartment complexes, bringing along coffee and doughnuts to help spark conversation. These visits are some of my favorite moments because they allow us to discuss the issues that affect your daily lives in a relaxed setting. We focused our talks on significant health-care updates, specifically the newly announced menopause clinic, and the introduction of Manitoba’s first independent seniors’ advocate – a vital role that will champion the rights and needs of older adults. We also explored how digital tools such as Q-Doc and Medinav are being integrated to help residents navigate health services and access care more conveniently from their own homes.

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Free Press Community Review: East

File photo by Mikaela Mackenzie
Writer, environmental activist, and documentary filmmaker Erna Buffie has a new book, Out on a Limb, about urban forestry out on May 19. The book is the third instalment in the City Project series from Great Plains Press.

Local urban forest takes centre stage in new book

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 5 minute read Preview

Local urban forest takes centre stage in new book

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 5 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Making the world a better place might not be easy, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun.

That’s one of the messages that local writer, environmental activist, and documentary filmmaker Erna Buffie would like to impart to readers of her new book, Out on a Limb, which is due May 19 from Great Plains Press.

“The book sort of grew naturally out of my activist work with Trees Please Winnipeg, a coalition of almost 30 community environmental and residents group from across the city. Our aim was to get the city to see our urban trees as essential infrastructure,” Buffie said. “It turned out to be one of the happiest writing experiences of my career. It was a lot of fun to write, to find ways to inspire people to get out there and plant trees and take other actions to preserve and enhance nature in the city.”

A longtime area resident, Buffie was chairing the greening committee of the Wolseley Residents Association when a call was put out to residents’ and environmental groups across Winnipeg to pressure the municipal government to properly fund its urban forestry department. As a result of the work of the coalition, which became Trees Please Winnipeg, the city has made huge strides, increasing the department’s budget by 45 per cent and eliminating the backlog of replacing trees removed from city property.

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Free Press Community Review: East

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The AAA/AAAA junior varsity aggregate champions from Fort Richmond Collegiate.

Provincial high school badminton champions crowned

Rylee Gerrard STAFF REPORTER 2 minute read Preview

Provincial high school badminton champions crowned

Rylee Gerrard STAFF REPORTER 2 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

High school badminton aficionados took part in the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association’s provincial badminton championships at the Sport Manitoba Training Centre in Winnipeg from April 30 to May 1.

Various schools from across Winnipeg took home gold in both junior varsity and varsity categories.

Kate Li of Fort Richmond Collegiate was the varsity girls’ champion, while the boys’ varsity championship went to Anson Chen from St. Paul’s High School — his second time taking the title, after winning in 2024.

Fort Richmond took home both junior varsity singles titles. Parham Raji topped the boys category and Zoey Zang won the girls.

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Free Press Community Review: East

Batter up!

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Preview

Batter up!

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Luis Reis is hoping a few more folks come out swinging this slo-pitch season.

Reis is the president of the South Winnipeg Senior Slo-Pitch League, which gets together every Tuesday and Thursday during the spring, summer and fall in the south end of the city — weather permitting — and he says new members are more than welcome to join in the fun.

“The league is growing every year, and we currently have 90 members,” said Reis, who now lives in the West End, having previously lived in Whyte Ridge for 25 years.

Players gather on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for the first part of the season, switching to Tuesday and Thursday mornings in July and August to avoid the heat and humidity at that time of the year. Ideally, he said, play will continue until Thanksgiving. At press time, Reis said he had pencilled in May 12 as the first session of the season.

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Columns

Fall in love with Lilo

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Fall in love with Lilo

Manitoba Mutts 2 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Hi, I’m Lilo. I’m an energetic, happy girl who loves playing outside, chewing on toys and taking a nap on the couch. Whatever you are doing, I am happy to join.

I am fully house-trained and crate-trained and I will happily go in when I’m asked. My foster family crates me when they are not at home because I am still a curious young girl who might chew things I’m not supposed to. But I am happy to sleep all night on my foster mom’s bed.

I can be a bit loud on-leash when I get excited but I really do love people and get along great with dogs. My foster mom has introduced me to multiple dogs and I have made them my new friends. I am still working on my leash manners with my foster mom, though.

Kids are also fun. I currently live with a very excitable five-year-old but I basically pay her no mind and just do my own thing.

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