Hey Winnipeggers!

In today's edition of the Winnipeg Digest:

• 25,000 Health Workers Prepare for Strike

• Manitoba Lowers Breast Cancer Screening Age

• Home of the Week

• Creative Workshops Program Returns for Fall

• Multiple events this week & more!

— Jas Singh

News

25,000 Health Workers Prepare for Strike

We try to stay away from negative news, but this is important…

25,000 Manitoba health-care support workers might walk off the job on October 8 if a deal isn’t reached. These are the people behind the scenes—health-care aides, dietary staff, laundry workers—keeping hospitals, care homes, and home care running smoothly.

The issue? Wages. Unions CUPE and MGEU say low pay is pushing workers to leave, making it hard to hire new staff. That’s led to a growing reliance on private staffing agencies, which is more expensive and unsustainable for the health-care system.

Without a resolution, hospitals and care centers across the province could feel the impact. Services will continue in some capacity due to agreements with the employer, but the strike could disrupt patient care. Both sides are still negotiating, but the clock’s ticking. The community is left hoping they can avoid a strike and keep services running smoothly.

Manitoba Lowers Breast Cancer Screening Age

Manitoba is lowering the self-referral age for breast cancer screenings from 50 to 45 next year, with plans to eventually drop it to 40. This change allows more women to get checked earlier without needing a doctor’s referral, increasing chances of catching issues sooner.

To meet the demand, the province is hiring more mammography techs and adding clinics, aiming to double screening capacity to 80,000 mammograms a year! For women in underserved or low-income areas, this makes early detection more accessible.

Share this with your mom, wife, or anyone in that age range in your life. It could make all the difference.

Home of the Week:

115 Pembridge Bay, Winnipeg, Manitoba

• 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 990 sqft

• Location: Meadowood

• Built-in: 1972

• Price: $374,900

• Description:

  Bungalow situated on a choice street in St. Vital. This home has a classic layout with a large living room at the front with upgraded flooring and a big window. A great choice for a first-time home buyer, or folks looking to downsize.

Local Community

New Child-Care Spaces Opening in Winnipeg

Fort Rouge is getting 40 new child-care spaces this fall, including 10 spots for preschoolers and 30 for school-aged kids. These new spaces are part of S.P.L.A.S.H. Child Care Inc.'s expansion at their Urban Learning Centre. The facility focuses on high-quality care, giving kids a place to learn and grow in a supportive environment. Plus, it’s rooted in Indigenous knowledge, helping kids connect with their community and culture.

With this addition, S.P.L.A.S.H. now offers 236 child-care spaces across four Winnipeg locations, helping to address the shortage and giving more families access to affordable, accessible child care.

Free Creative Workshops Program Returns for Fall

Looking for something creative to do? The Winnipeg Public Library’s Makers-in-Residence program is back starting October 1st. Tracy Charette Fehr and Janet Murata will lead workshops and drop-in sessions where you can try everything from embroidery to calligraphy. It’s free and perfect for anyone wanting to explore new skills. Whether you're into textiles or origami, these workshops offer a fun, hands-on way to learn something new. Stop by the ideaMILL at Millennium Library for a unique experience this fall!

Winnipeg Schools Cutting Down on Fundraising

The Winnipeg School Division is asking schools to stop relying on fundraising for essentials like school supplies and field trips. As reported by the CBC, the division wants to make sure that all students have access to the same opportunities, regardless of their family’s financial situation. Instead of bake sales or donation drives, schools are encouraged to use their allocated budgets to cover these costs.

If you’ve been asked to donate in the past, the division is now asking parents and communities to take a step back. The goal is to create a more equitable environment for every student, ensuring education costs aren’t a burden on families.

Winnipeg Sports:

Bombers Orange Jerseys for a Cause

The Bombers’ annual Orange Shirt Game on September 27th is about more than football. It’s about reconciliation in action. The team, alongside the Exchange Income Corporation, is bringing over 1,000 kids from northern communities to the game, and fans will see the stadium awash in orange to honor residential school survivors and those who didn’t make it home.

Players will wear Indigenous-designed logos, including the Bombers’ star blanket, with orange jerseys auctioned off to support local Indigenous organizations.

Jets Re-Sign Cole Perfetti

The Jets have signed forward Cole Perfetti to a two-year deal, just in time for the new season. Perfetti, 22, hit career highs last year with 38 points and 19 goals, making him one of the team’s rising stars. His $3.25 million per year contract shows the Jets are betting big on his continued growth.

Coming up this week:

This section includes only the major events happening soon. For a complete list of all events, you'll have to wait for future editions!

• Children’s Hospital Book Market | 10AM, Sept 27 - 28 (More Info)

  • Location: St.Vital Centre

  • Description: Shop for great books of all genres and support sick and injured kids in your community at the Children’s Hospital Book Market!

• Art Exhibition and Sale 50 to 500 | Sept 27 - Oct 19 (More Info)

  • Location: Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art (203-290 McDermot Avenue)

  • Description: 50 to 500’ exhibition, featuring artwork by talented members priced between 50 cents and 500 dollars. Opening reception on Friday, September 27th, 2024, from 5 to 9 pm.

• Nuit Blanche 2024 | 6PM, Sept 28 (More Info)

  • Location: Multiple Locations

  • Description: Artists, performers, galleries, cultural organisations and independent curators create and host their own events around the city.

• GATHER | 9AM-4PM, Sept 28 (More Info)

  • Location: Lyric Theatre, Assiniboine Park

  • Description: Feature rotating choir performances, food vendors, an artisan/maker market, and creative spaces set up around the grounds.

• Grand Truck Vintage Show | 10AM, Sept 28 (More Info)

  • Location: Assiniboia Downs (3975 Portage Ave)

  • Description: Manitoba's Largest fall Vintage & Collectibles sale.

Exciting Events: Sept 25 - 26

This section only includes events starting on Sept 25th or 26th.

Sports🏀

• Winnipeg Jets vs. Edmonton Oilers Pre Season | 7PM, Sept 25 (Tickets)

  • Location: Canada Life Centre

• Melee Gala IX | 6:30PM, Sept 26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Club Regent Event Centre

  • Description: It's the only official international boxing event that Manitoba hosts of this caliber. (Fundraiser for United Way Winnipeg)

Music 🎵

• Manitoba Chamber Orchestra | 7:30PM, Sept 25 (Tickets)

  • Location: Desautels Concert Hall (150 Dafoe Rd)

• Social Distortion | 8PM, Sept 25 (Tickets)

  • Location: Burton Cummings Theatre (364 Smith St)

  • Description: Mix of punk, bluesy rock n’ roll and outlaw country

• Annabella Proper / Andrew Neville & The Poor Choices | 8PM, Sept 26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club (234 Main St)

• Pure Entry/Leddwyn/The Castagne's | 9PM, Sept 26 ($10 at the door)

  • Location: The Osborne Taphouse (112 Osborne St)

• Bruckner & Sibelius UnTuxed | 11:45AM, Sept 26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Centennial Concert Hall (555 Main Street)

  • Description: During this bite-sized performance, you’ll learn about the work being performed & enjoy a taste of orchestral music

  • Genre: Classical Music

• Richard-Hamelin Plays Chopin | 7PM, Sept 26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Centennial Concert Hall (555 Main Street)

  • Genre: Classical Music

Family Fun🎆

• Culture Days Events | FREE, Multiple Location, Sept 25 - Oct 13 (Info)

• Note: Below is only an example of some of the events, please click “Info” above to see all.

  • Village Green English Dancers Open House, 7-9:30PM, Sept 25. Dance through the ages, from the 17th to the 21st centuries. (More Info)

  • Pimootayowin: A Festival of New Work, 7-9:30PM, Sept 25-27. The Pimootayowin Creators Circle celebrates six Indigenous artists’ new plays working up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (More Info)

• Corn Maze @ A Maze In Corn | Sept 25 - Oct 31 (Tickets)

  • Location: A Maze In Corn (1351 Provincial Rd 200)

• Miss Shakespeare Musical | Sept 25 -Oct 5 (Tickets)

  • Location: Asper Centre For Theatre and Film (400 Colony St)

  • Description: The musical style is inspired by Underground European Cabarets!

• Live Horse Racing | 7:30PM, Sept 25 (Free)

  • Location: Assiniboia Downs

  • Description: Horse racing, 140 VLTs and fabulous dining - it’s fun you can bet on!

• South Osborne Farmer's Market | 4PM, Sept 25 (More Info)

  • Location: Lord Roberts Community Centre

• West Broadway Farmer's Market | 3-6PM, Sept 25 (More Info)

  • Location: Broadway Neighbourhood Centre (185 Young St)

• FortWhyte Alive | Events (All Info)

  • Sunset Goose Flight Exp: 5:30-8PM, Sept 25-29

  • Market at Fort Whyte Alive: 12-7PM, Sept 26

• Wild Wonder Tots | 10AM, Sept 26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Riley Family Duck Pond Shelter (55 Pavilion Crescent)

  • Description: You will be guided through exploring the wonderful wilds of Assiniboine Park

Special Events 🎨

• Bed & Breakfast Play | Sept 25 -Oct 6 (Tickets)

  • Location: Prairie Theatre Exchange (Y300 – 393 Portage Avenue)

  • Description: When Brett inherits the family home, he and Drew move out of quick-paced Toronto to set up a B&B in a quiet little tourist town. But will these big city boys face friction in their new community?

• Tuesdays with Morrie Play | Sept 25 -29 (Tickets)

  • Location: Winnipeg Jewish Theatre (C 148-123 Doncaster Street)

  • Description: A humorous and poignant story of career-obsessed journalist Mitch Albom, who sixteen years after graduation serendipitously learns that his former professor Morrie is battling Lou Gehrig's Disease.

• Reel Pride Film Festival 2024 | Sept 25-28 (More Info)

  • Location: Gas Station Arts Centre (445 River Avenue)

• Owl Calling Play | Sept 25-28 (Tickets)

  • Location: Rachel Browne Theatre (211 Bannatyne Ave)

  • Description: Owl Calling introduces audiences to a close knit, Indigenous family in suburban Winnipeg and their struggle to find reconciliation

• Emmanuel Lomuro Comedy | Sept 25 (Tickets)

  • Location: Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club (190-2025 Corydon Avenue)

  • Description: His style has been described as high energy with the ability to relate to many different types of people, sometimes called a comedic chameleon.

• Josh Wolf Comedy | Sept 26-28 (Tickets)

  • Location: Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club (190-2025 Corydon Avenue)

• Spirits with Spirits | 7-9PM, Sept 26 (More Info)

  • Location: Little Brown Jug Brewing (336 William Ave)

  • Description: Join Giving Up The Ghost Podcast & The Winnipeg Paranormal Group for an evening of Paranormal Stories & Open Mic!!

CHEERS!

Thanks for reading The Winnipeg Digest! I’ll see you again on Friday!

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