Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - March 21, 2024, Winnipeg, Manitoba B2 ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM NEWS I CITY THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024 Craig set a Guinness World Record for the longest-duration spinning in a Cyr (named after acrobat Daniel Cyr) wheel at 40 minutes and eight seconds. Luckily, Craig didn’t need it for his trip to Japan, but planned to use it in other international performances com- ing up in the next few days. He spent more than $2,000 having a replacement rushed to him. A WestJet spokesperson declined an interview, instead referring the Free Press to the airline’s delayed, lost or damaged baggage policy, which states that passengers flying within North or South America can claim up to $100 for the first 48 hours for delayed baggage. After 48 hours, travellers can claim a further $150. Passengers with baggage deemed lost or damaged can claim approximately $2,300, unless a higher value was de- clared in advance. As a frequent flyer — he can count his time spent at home in hours so far in 2024 — Craig understands bags get misplaced or lost, but says his equip- ment has been missing for an unreason- able amount of time. “It’s a very unique, one-of-a-kind piece of luggage … it just makes me think that people aren’t really trying that hard,” he said. nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca ACROBAT ● FROM B1 “It’s… important to give some relief to a festival that draws in the crowds, draws in the money and makes such a significant investment… in the down- town,” said Rollins. Councillors also heard a final plea to keep Happyland outdoor pool open or at least cover its operating costs for one more year. “Give us a chance to raise money…. We’re willing to do it, if that’s what it takes to save Happyland,” said Sandra Dupuis, a member of the South St. Boni- face Residents’ Association. Former premier and past St. Boni- face MLA Greg Selinger also attended the meeting, telling media he opposed the pool closure. He declined an interview request. Browaty said he remains convinced that closing the pool makes sense. “The condition of the old infra- structure isn’t going to get better in 12 months’ time or 24 months’ time,” he said. “I really do believe… the best solu- tion for St. Boniface aquatics, overall, is a brand-new facility of some sort.” The preliminary budget also called for the Windsor Park outdoor and El- don Ross indoor pools to close this year. However, an amendment council final- ized Wednesday will see Windsor Park remain open through 2025 and Eldon Ross operate through this summer. The city then plans to sell Eldon Ross with a requirement that the facility maintains some public access. In the final vote, Gillingham joined Couns. Markus Chambers, Evan Duncan, Gilroy, Jason Schreyer, Roll- ins, Ross Eadie, Browaty, Devi Sharma, Santos, Matt Allard, Shawn Dobson, Brian Mayes and Janice Lukes to vote in favour of the operating budget, while Wyatt opposed it. Wyatt and Schreyer both voted against the capital budget, while Coun. John Orlikow was absent from the meeting. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca X: @joyanne_pursaga BUDGET ● FROM B1 Be an Upstander to make a difference M ANITOBA classrooms have transformed into miniature versions of the Canadian Mu- seum for Human Rights in recent weeks as part of a growing initia- tive to empower students to stand up against injustice. “My students were overwhelmed at the end of it and saying, ‘Wow, the world sucks.’ They felt hopeless,” said Graham Lowes, recalling the senti- ment among his Grade 7 students after wrapping up a unit on human rights issues a decade ago. The situation sparked conversations in the staff room at H.S. Paul School and a subsequent shift in teaching so- cial studies in Winnipeg’s South Glen neighbourhood and across the Louis Riel School Division. Lowes and his colleagues began tasking their students with research- ing rights and societal issues they cared about and educating others on them in the pursuit of positive change. The project-based lessons attracted the attention of the CMHR — where Lowes is now the manager of educa- tion and program development — in 2017. He has turned “Be an Upstander” into a flagship education program at the Winnipeg-based museum and recruited teachers from across the country to participate. Lowes’ definition of an “upstander” is someone who knows their person- al strengths, be it creativity, public speaking or otherwise, and leverages them to act on injustice. While CMHR recognizes an- ti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai, who has advo- cated for girls’ rights to education in Pakistan, as upstanders, the Winni- peg teacher said he wants students to know they do not need a Nobel Peace Prize to claim that title. Last year, more than 600 final up- stander projects were selected to be on display at the CMHR’s spring showcase. The local contenders for the 2024 exhibition include projects out of Gen- eral Byng School about topics ranging from racism in classrooms to climate change. The Fort Garry school opened its doors to families on Tuesday evening to scan the student-made exhibits, in- cluding dioramas and poster boards that have been in the making for the last three weeks. “It gives kids agency. It provides them with the sense that they can do something about the problems that they see,” said Matt Reimer, a teacher at the kindergarten-to-Grade 9 build- ing in Winnipeg’s Pembina Trails School Division. “They take pride in that, too, and being able to share their opinions and their beliefs.” One group of Grade 8 girls chose to study cellphone addiction in teen- agers and promote mindfulness to tackle the anxiety that can accom- pany overuse. “I can relate to this topic a lot,” said Lily Crittin, who indicated she spends anywhere from five to 10 hours on her cellphone daily. The 14-year-old said she uses her phone to complete school work, al- though her most-used apps are Tik- Tok and Snapchat. Lily and her classmates created flyers to distribute to the public with suggestions on how to reduce screen time. Their list includes keeping a phone outside of the bedroom, mon- itoring phone use and trying out hob- bies unrelated to technology, such as reading and sports. “Be mindful of your phone use. Change starts with YOU,” the tip sheet states. “There’s a huge amount of kids who feel anxious or uncomfortable or unable to concentrate without the presence of their phone,” said Divisha Sharma, 13. Divisha said a balance is needed so teenagers can both live in the mo- ment and access the benefits of in- stant communication with their par- ents and other people in their lives. Students need to be wary of the pri- vacy concerns related to using social media, she added. Members of the group said their re- search and writing skills have proved useful to spread awareness about the issue of nomophobia — the fear of be- ing detached from one’s phone — and encourage mindful and careful use of their personal devices. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Initiative fosters belief kids can help solve problems in their lives, those of others MAGGIE MACINTOSH MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS General Byng School Grade 8 students (from left): Jamie Plett, Talena Perch, Divisha Sharma and Lily Crittin explain their Upstander project called Phone Addiction in Teens. LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER Person in critical condition after Sargent Avenue fire ONE person was rushed to hospital in critical condition after a fire in a Sar- gent Avenue convenience store early Wednesday. Crews were sent to the J&F Super- market at 730 Sargent at 1:18 a.m., saw heavy smoke coming from the building and learned one person was trapped in- side. Firefighters entered the 24-hour store and rescued the person. Crews in- itially fought the fire from outside and later entered the store to extinguish it, declaring the fire under control at 2:33 a.m. A portion of the store’s sign was melt- ed, while part of its facade was charred black. Blackened debris remained on the sidewalk. A piece of yellow emer- gency scene tape was discarded on a nearby boulevard. “Residents are asked to exercise cau- tion in the area, as water used to fight the fire has frozen and created slippery conditions. City of Winnipeg crews are monitoring conditions and applying sand and de-icing agents to roadways and sidewalks as required to improve traction,” the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said in a news release Wednes- day afternoon. The fire was one of four that city crews were sent to Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. The first was in a six-storey apart- ment building on the 300 block of Prin- cess Street at 9:01 p.m. Tuesday. Crews quickly put the fire out. Crews were sent to another fire in a vacant two-storey house on the 100 block of Johnson Avenue West at 8:09 a.m. Wednesday. Crews declared the fire under control at 9:25 a.m. The house sustained smoke, water and fire damage, the WFPS said. Crews were sent to a detached garage in the 300 block of Beliveau Road at 8:28 a.m. Firefighters saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the garage and nearby mobile home, as well as downed power lines. The flames were under control by 8:52 a.m. Residents of the mobile home got out before crews arrived. No one was injured. fpcity@freepress.mb.ca ERIK PINDERA / FREE PRESS Fire damage at J&F Supermarket at Sargent Avenue and Beverley Street. IN BRIEF PERSON OF INTEREST SOUGHT IN SLAYING WINNIPEG police have publicly identified the victim of a Sept. 10 homicide as Daniel Raymond Garvey-Rodriguez. Six months after the 25-year-old man was found suffering from a gunshot wound outside an apartment building in the 200 block of College Avenue, police are asking for help identifying a person of interest in connection with the killing. Police didn’t say in a news release Wednesday whether the pictured male is a suspect in the homicide. They released two images of a man on a bicycle and asked for the public’s help identifying him. Police are asking anyone with information on the unidentified male or the killing to call the Winnipeg Police Service’s homicide unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymous- ly at 204-786-8477 (TIPS). MAN’S DEATH BEING TREATED AS HOMICIDE THE death of a man found in a Main Street apartment suite is being investigated as a homicide. Police were sent to the building on the 800 block of Main regarding an unresponsive man at about 9:15 a.m. Tuesday. The man was transported to hospital and pronounced dead. The Winnipeg Police Service is asking any- one with video or information that might help investigators to contact the homicide unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymous- ly at 204-786-8477 (TIPS). WINTER PARKING BAN ENDS WINNIPEG’S annual winter route parking ban has been lifted, the City of Winnipeg announced Wednesday. The ban, which was put in place in mid-Janu- ary, prohibited overnight parking between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. on designated streets. The city said it will continue to salt and sand where necessary to improve traction on streets, bridges and underpasses. FOUR CHARGED OVER CIGARETTE SALES FOUR men are facing charges after police searched two stores and seized cartons of illegal cigarettes. The Winnipeg Police Service’s north district community support unit began an investiga- tion into the sale of illegal tobacco at stores in November. Investigators determined tobacco and cannabis accessories were readily access- ible and available for sale to people of all ages. Police obtained search warrants under Manitoba’s Tobacco Taxation Act, the Smoking and Vapour Products Control Act and the Cannabis Act for stores on the first 100 block of Stadacona Street in Elmwood and the 200 block of Salter Street in the North End. Investigators went to both stores Monday and seized more than $11,000 in cash, along with the tobacco and the cannabis products. Four men — ages 41, 37, 37 and 34 — face several charges related to contravening the acts and possession of proceeds obtained by crime. All were released from police custody on undertakings. U OF M PRESIDENT RE-APPOINTED MICHAEL Benarroch has been appointed to a second five-year term as president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manitoba. The U of M’s board of governors unanimous- ly approved the re-appointment at a meeting Tuesday. “I am excited for where we will take this university and province in the next five years,” Benarroch said in a news release Wednesday. Benarroch, an economist, began the role on July 1, 2020. He was the founding dean of the faculty of business and economics at the University of Winnipeg. SUPPLIED ;