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If you're planning on heading to Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo anytime soon, you'll need to be double vaccinated.
Starting on Monday, December 13, visitors 12-year-old and older will need proof of full vaccination to get in the doors.
The rules are being put in place after animals in the United States are acquiring COVID and some have died. Zoo staff and volunteers are also required to be fully vaccinated.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The latest estimate from Doctors Manitoba says the number of surgical and diagnostic backlogs has reached an all-time high.
As of Wednesday, it's estimated that the backlog has surpassed 152,000 cases. The total number will be updated every month. In their latest update, there was an increase of 6,675 cases for a total backlog of 152,116 cases.
The backlog is made up of:
- 56,181 surgeries (an increase of 2,376 since last month).
- 42,931 diagnostic imaging procedures, such as MRIs, CT scans and ultrasounds (up 3,230 tests since last month).
- 53,004 other diagnostic procedures, including allergy tests, endoscopies, mammograms and sleep disorder studies (an increase of 1,069 cases).
"This is a new high and frankly, it's very concerning," said Dr. Kristjan Thompson, president of Doctors Manitoba and an emergency medicine physician at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg.
Of particular concern is the cancellation of cardiac surgeries because of the growing pressure on intensive care units due to COVID-19 patients, he said.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The RCMP in Portage La Prairie have charged a 30-year-old man after he was caught on the roof of a bank in the 100 block of Saskatchewan Avenue East in Portage today around 3:00 am.
The suspect was spotted by the Mounties inside the bank and then on the roof of an adjacent business as he attempted to climb down the ladder on the side of the building. The Mounties surrounded the building and apprehended the suspect without incident.
30-year-old Kiefer Beaulieu now faces multiple charges including breaking and entering with intent to commit, possession of break-in instruments, mischief and 3 counts of failure to comply.
Beaulieu has been remanded into custody.
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- Contributed by Eric Fawx
A Manitoba man received notice only hours before his triple bypass surgery was set to take place at a Winnipeg Hospital on Friday that the surgery was cancelled.
Steve Garbutt of Rapid City Manitoba along with his wife Joan made the almost three hour trip into Winnipeg in preparation for his surgery and Joan said that Steve was able to get all his blood work and his Covid-19 test done for the pre-op the day before the scheduled surgery and everything went well but ultimately got the call about 12 hours before the scheduled time.
The couple waited in the city until Saturday in case the surgery was rescheduled for the next day but received a call to say all cardiac surgeries had been cancelled. They aren’t the only residents in the province to have surgeries cancelled due to staff shortages.
Doctors Manitoba released an estimate of the number of surgeries backlogged in the province and it sits at approximately 152,000.
The province is planning an announcement on Wednesday about the surgery backlogs across Manitoba.
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- Contributed by Eric Fawx
Assembly of First Nations National Chief, RoseAnne Archibald, has announced that the Indigenous delegation planning a trip to the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis has been postponed due to pandemic concerns. The trip was planned for next week and private meetings were to take place with the Pope from December 17 to 20.
The goal of the delegation was the ask the Pope to apologize personally for the Roman Catholic Church's role in running residential schools in Canada. This is something that former Pope Benedict failed to do when asked by a delegation back in 2009.
The delegation hoped these meetings would set the groundwork for the Pope's upcoming trip to Canada which has yet to be scheduled.
We are still waiting to find out more information about the ground search at the former residential school site in Dauphin that took place last month.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Leonard Skead, who lives in Brandon, said he felt like he was put in jail for a crime he didn't commit when he was forced to stay an extra day in a Toronto quarantine hotel.
Skead says he wasn't allowed to leave a Toronto quarantine hotel until the day after he received a negative result on the COVID-19 test he completed when he landed in Canada.
He says the negative results came out on Saturday, but a quarantine officer didn't call until Sunday, and he says it meant he had to cancel his flight and stay in the quarantine hotel another day.
Canadians traveling from one of 10 African countries, including South Africa and Egypt, are required to obtain a COVID-19 test in the country they're traveling from, obtain a second test while in transit and get a third after arrival in Canada.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Manitoba RCMP has confirmed that Shirley Ducharme has been safely located and they thank the public for their assistance.
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The Pas RCMP look for missing youth
On December 5, 2021, at approximately 1:30 pm, The Pas RCMP received a report that Shirley Ducharme, 17, had not returned home.
Ducharme was last seen at approximately 3:00 am on December 5, at a residence in The Pas with friends. She was wearing a grey fur-hooded jacket. She is described as Indigenous, 5’8” tall, 110 pounds, with a thin build, brown hair, and brown eyes.
RCMP and Ducharme’s family are concerned for her well-being.
If you have information, please call The Pas RCMP at 204-627-6204, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
A five-week-long strike has come to an end at the University of Manitoba as classes are back on.
The union representing the University of Manitoba Faculty Association reached a tentative deal with university officials on Sunday night and members voted on it Monday evening. In all, 881 members voted in favour and just 88 were against it. 969 out of the union's 1,264 members cast a ballot.
The strike was the longest in the union's history.
Despite the missed class time, the university's president Michael Bannaroch expects students will still be able to graduate on schedule as planned.
If you attend the school, check your email for more information.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
An investigation has begun after the Dauphin RCMP responded to an accident on Monday morning.
RCMP responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision in the Riding Mountain National Park, about 22 kilometres south of Dauphin. However; when they arrived on the scene, only one vehicle was involved and it was in the ditch.
Ultimately, officers determined that the vehicle driven by a 42-year-old man from Winnipeg was stolen. He was the lone occupant.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
A packed crowd was on hand as Fusion Credit Union held their 1st Annual Community Infusion event on Monday night.
Five local entreprenuers had a chance to pitch their business to five judges but only one business would be awarded $30,000. And after five great presentations, the judges deliberated and decided that Dustin Dawson would take home the big prize.
Dawson said he was speechless after finding out that he won.
"It feels amazing, I thank Fusion Credit Union for allowing me to share my pitch," said Dawson. "I honestly don't even know what to say, it feels so incredible."
Dustin is getting set to take over Showdra Meats in Dauphin on January 1.
"Very excited about this, I'm hoping that everyone will come down so we can meet your needs," said Dawson.
During his pitch, Dawson said he's looking forward to getting meat from local farmers and using it in his store and he said some exciting new things are coming, which could include some brisket prepared for you during your Super Bowl needs.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
A Brandon man has hit it big as he was the lucky winner of a $5-million jackpot on his lotto ticket. Louis Montroy said he was in shock when he scanned his ticket. At first, he thought it said $50,000, then $500,000, and finally he realized just how many zeros there were.
Montroy says the first thing he plans to do with his newfound wealth is to make sure his kids are taken care of and have everything they need.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell