Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 8, 2024, Winnipeg, Manitoba Centre Street West 55+ Development By Falki Developments 199 Center Avenue West, Gimli Manitoba Available September 1, 2024 Monthly Rate: $ 2200 plus utilities • 1160 sq ft living space with fi nished 280 sq ft garage • Spacious 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom fl oor plans • Attached garage with direct access to your home • In-fl oor radiant heating for year-round comfort • Covered back patio and relaxing outdoor space • No condo fees or unexpected, additional expenses • Snow removal / Grass cutting included • Wheel Chair Accessible • In-suite Laundry • Quartz Counter-tops • Stainless Steel Appliances • 24/7 security surveillance • Long-term leases • 30 Units available for lease Contact: info@falkidevelopments.com Tel: 204-407-6030 TOP NEWS A3 THURSDAY AUGUST 8, 2024 ● ASSOCIATE EDITOR, NEWS: STACEY THIDRICKSON 204-697-7292 ● CITY.DESK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM Highway 6 remains deadly, dangerous A T least 12 people were killed in vehicle crashes in a two-week span, prompting a plea for Mani- tobans to take care on the roads and avoid high-risk driving behaviours. The grim toll includes three people who died in related collisions on High- way 6 Monday — a head-on crash in- volving a handi-van and the other in- volving people who became stranded waiting for the route to reopen. One of the victims was identified as Marybelle Yetman, 23, who lived in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in north- ern Manitoba. “Marybelle’s beautiful bright spirit will be remembered by all who knew her,” NCN Chief Angela Levasseur and council said in a statement. “Mary- belle’s large, close-knit, loving family fondly remembers her as ‘the baby’ and the ‘apple of her father’s eye,’ she was a true ‘daddy’s girl.’ “Marybelle was a wonderful mother of two beautiful twin girls and a hand- some son. She was a caring and special daughter, sibling, friend, and relative, as well as a devoted partner to Devon Hart.” RCMP spokeswoman Tara Seel said 36 people have died in 32 collisions in RCMP jurisdiction so far in 2024, com- pared with 78 deaths during the same period in 2023. The five-year average from Jan. 1 to Aug. 7 is 49 deaths. “Our condolences go out to the fam- ilies and friends and loved ones who have lost someone in these collisions,” said Seel. In Winnipeg, 15 people have died in collisions this year, a city police spokes- woman said. The Winnipeg Police Ser- vice reported eight fatalities in 2023 and 28 in 2022. Seel said fatal collisions have far-reaching impacts on victims’ fam- ilies and friends, and on police officers who respond or inform next of kin. “When you have to go knock on some- one’s door and tell them their loved one is never coming home, you can never really put that away,” she said. “That stays with you your whole career and beyond.” Impaired driving, speeding, distract- ed driving or non-use of seatbelts are common factors in crashes in Mani- toba. “These are the high-risk driving behaviours that we’re seeing that are leading to deaths on the roads,” said Seel. She urged people to drive sober, slow down, stay focused and wear a seatbelt. “We all must do our part,” she said. The RCMP continues to investigate the crashes on Highway 6. The first happened at about 3:30 p.m. Monday, when a northbound SUV crossed the centre line and collided with a southbound minivan, which was operating as a handi-van, about 40 kilo- metres south of Grand Rapids, said po- lice. Yetman, the front passenger in the SUV, died at the scene. The SUV’s 23-year-old male passenger was not seriously injured, said RCMP. NCN said a young female underwent surgery after suffering extensive injur- ies, and a young male passenger was released from hospital after being air- lifted to Winnipeg. The minivan’s front passenger, a 42-year-old Mosakahiken Cree Nation woman, died after being taken to Grand Rapids’ nursing station, said RCMP. The driver — a 53-year-old Winni- peg man — and a passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries. RCMP advised motorists the high- way would remain closed for a lengthy period. Many opted to turn around, said police. When the highway reopened at 11 p.m., a northbound SUV had a drained battery from the long wait and would not start, said RCMP. The driver of a northbound pickup truck turned around and pulled up behind the SUV to help. As the vehicles’ occupants stood out- side, a northbound van pulling a load- ed trailer crashed into the back of the pickup, which was pushed into the SUV. The SUV then struck two men from The Pas who had been in that vehicle. A 33-year-old man died at the scene. A 36-year-old man was not seriously in- jured, said police. This year, six people have been killed in four crashes on Highway 6, which extends between Thompson and the Perimeter Highway on Winnipeg’s out- skirts. One fatality was reported in both 2022 and 2023, said Seel. The Safer Highway 6 Citizens Ad- visory Group has called for improve- ments, including more passing lanes, rest stops and wider shoulders, on the northern part of the route. Group member and Thompson resi- dent Volker Beckmann said several factors, including fatigue from jour- neys that last up to 10 hours, comprom- ise safety on northern Manitoba’s main highway, which is about 740 kilometres long. He said many residents are scared to use the highway, especially during the winter months, but have no choice. The group has presented its recom- mendations to the NDP and Progres- sive Conservatives in recent years. “It should be something adopted by any political party in terms of reducing accidents and deaths,” said Beckmann. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor is attending a northern transportation symposium in Thompson in September, when Beck- mann will give a presentation on the group’s concerns and recommenda- tions. Naylor said Highway 6 is a priority for the NDP government. “It’s a terrible tragedy,” she said of Monday’s fatal collisions. “I’m horri- fied by the loss of life for anybody on our highway network.” The province created a road safety unit, tasked with reviewing the network for safety improvements, in response to a crash that killed 17 seniors near Car- berry last year. “We want a system that’s safe for how people actually drive, not how they are supposed to drive,” said Naylor. More than $100 million has been set aside for projects on Highway 6 in the province’s five-year infrastructure plan, including reconstruction of two stretches that are 14.3 km and 16.5 km in length, respectively. Temporary toilets and garbage bins were installed at the Devils Lake rest area and a new location near Williams River before the May long weekend. chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca CHRIS KITCHING SUPPLIED Marybelle Yetman. RCMP pleads for caution as northern route, others bring death toll to 12 in two weeks Peace breaks out as London braces for violent protests LONDON — As the British capital braced for another night of violent far-right protests, Canada has up- dated a travel advisory, warning visitors to “exercise a high degree of caution” when travelling to the United Kingdom. Those expected anti-immigration protests failed to materialize, as peaceful anti-racism demonstrators instead showed up in force. Police had prepared for another night of violence at 100 locations fol- lowing a week of rioting and disor- der fuelled by misinformation over a stabbing attack against young girls. Many businesses had boarded up windows and closed down in fear of what lay ahead. Stand up to Racism and other groups had planned counter-protests in response, but in most places they reclaimed their streets with nothing to oppose. In London, Bristol, Oxford, Liver- pool and Birmingham, large, peace- ful crowds gathered outside agencies and law firms specializing in immi- gration that had been listed by inter- net chat groups as possible targets of far-right activity. In resounding choruses they chant- ed: “Whose streets? Our streets!” It was a vast change from the chaos that has erupted on streets through- out England and Belfast, Northern Ireland, since July 30. The Canadian travel advisory warned that even peaceful demon- strations can turn violent at any time and that Canadians should take note of any protests in the immediate vicinity. Cities and towns have been wracked by riots and looting for the past week as angry mobs, encouraged by far- right extremists, clashed with po- lice and counter-demonstrators. The disturbances began after misinfor- mation spread about the stabbing rampage that killed three girls in the seaside community of Southport, with social media users falsely iden- tifying the suspect as an immigrant and a Muslim. Rioters spouting anti-immigrant slogans have attacked mosques and hotels housing asylum-seekers, cre- ating fear in Muslim and immigrant communities. In recent days, reports have emerged of violent counter- attacks in some areas. The head of London’s Metropol- itan Police Service said earlier Wed- nesday that officers were focused on protecting immigration lawyers and services. In addition to thou- sands of officers already deployed, about 1,300 specialist forces were on standby in case of serious trouble in London. “We’ll protect those people,” Com- missioner Mark Rowley said. “It is completely unacceptable, regardless of your political views, to intimidate any sector of lawful activity, and we will not let the immigration asylum system be intimidated.” By early late evening, though, with the exception of scattered disturb- ances and some arrests, trouble had not erupted. A crowd of immigrant supporters that quickly grew to several hun- dred in the London neighbourhood of North Finchley found themselves largely alone with several dozen po- lice officers. The crowd chanted “refugees wel- come” and “London against racism.” Some held signs saying “Stop the far right,” “Migration is not a crime” and “Finchley against Fascism.” At one point, an unruly man who had been shouting at the group and pulling his shirt up to show off an eagle tattoo was punched by a pro- tester. He was led away by someone and officers questioned a possible suspect. Outside an immigration centre in the Walthamstow area in east Lon- don, an anti-racism protest leader barked “fascist scum” to which a crowd of hundreds responded: “off our streets.” In Liverpool, hundreds showed up to defend the Asylum Link immi- gration centre. A grandmother held a placard reading “Nans Against Nazis” and someone else held a sign saying, “When the poor blame the poor only the rich win.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the previous disturbances as “far-right thuggery,” rejecting any suggestion that the riots were about the government’s immigration poli- cies. He has warned that anyone tak- ing part in the violence would “face the full force of the law.” Police have made more than 400 arrests and are considering using counter-terrorism laws to prosecute some rioters. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said in a post on X that the police, city hall and community leaders were working to protect targeted buildings and places of worship. — The Associated Press Canada issues travel advisory for Great Britain DANICA KIRKA AND BRIAN MELLEY PA Counter-protesters gather in Walthanstow, London ahead of anticipated far-right protests that never materialized. Your present can change their future. When your need is hope Amazing things are possible when you support St. Boniface Hospital Foundation. 204-237-2067 bealifeline.ca GIVE TODAY ;