Happy Monday, Winnipeggers!

Hope you had a great weekend and made the most of the events from our Friday edition! Whether you were out and about or just took it easy, we’re here to help you start the week off right.

Now, let’s get you ready for the days ahead—what’s happening in the city, what to keep an eye on, and a few things that might impact your plans. From job growth to big changes at U of M, we’ve got all the key updates to keep you in the loop.

But let’s start the week with something positive—here are some of your replies from last week! As always, our whole team is so thankful for all the love you guys send our way. It truly keeps us going!

Now, be sure to leave your comments again using the poll at the end of the email! 😊

In today's edition:

• 2,000 New Jobs Added to Manitoba in January

• Manitoba Adds Over 1,250 New Healthcare Workers

• Restaurant of the Week

• U of M Faculty Back On Strike

• Multiple events this week & more

— Jas Singh

News

2,000 New Jobs Added to Manitoba in January

Feels like every time you check the news, it’s all about rising costs. But here’s something worth talking about. Manitoba just added 2,000 new jobs in January, and on top of that, paycheques are growing as well. In a time when every dollar counts, that’s a win for a lot of folks.

Here’s what’s happening:

• More work – 2,000 new jobs last month, with private sector jobs growing faster than the national average.

• Bigger pay – Weekly earnings went up 4.8% in the past year, outpacing the national average of 3.5%.

• Lower unemployment – It dipped again, now sitting 0.5% lower than the national rate!

It’s not a magic fix, but more jobs and better pay mean more Manitobans can breathe a little easier, especially with the U.S. tariffs hanging over our heads.

Manitoba Adds Over 1,250 New Healthcare Workers

Speaking of jobs, here’s more good news—Manitoba just hired over 1,255 new healthcare workers since April 2024, going beyond their goal of adding 1,000. If you’ve ever spent hours in an ER waiting room or heard about nurses working exhausting overtime, you know this is a big deal.

What’s changing:

• More hands on deck – 138 new doctors, 481 nurses, 386 healthcare aides, and 176 allied health workers are stepping in.

• Less burnout – The WRHA cut mandatory nurse overtime by 45% in the past year, which is a huge relief for staff.

• Safer hospitals – 96 new safety officers are already in place, with more on the way to keep staff and patients safe.

Healthcare still has a long way to go, but these new hires? They’re a step in the right direction. And if you know someone looking for a job in healthcare, now’s the time—Manitoba needs them.

Sponsored by Magic Room Spa!

The Valentine’s Gift They’ll Actually Love

Forget flowers that wilt in days. This Valentine’s, give them something they’ll really love—time to relax.

Magic Room Spa has everything to make your partner feel spoiled and stress-free. Whether they’re always on the go or just deserve a little extra love, a spa day is the perfect way to say “I appreciate you.”

Here’s what they’ll love:

• Hot stone massage – because their shoulders shouldn’t feel like bricks

• Facials – hydrating, brightening, and just good for the soul

• Manicures & pedicures – fresh nails = fresh mood

• Nail extensions – a little glam never hurt anyone

You can book them a treatment or grab a gift card so they can pick their favorite. Either way, they’ll be glowing—inside and out.

Now, be sure to check out all of their services—there are plenty of ways to treat your partner!

P.S. Looking to advertise in the Winnipeg Digest? Reply to this email or reach out at [email protected]!

Restaurant of the Week: Hoagie Boyz

Winnipeg’s got no shortage of good eats, but when’s the last time you had a sandwich that made you stop mid-bite just to process how good it was? That’s what happens at Hoagie Boyz.

These guys aren’t just making sandwiches—they’re engineering them. Every layer is thought out, from the days-in-the-making turkey to the tangy sauces, crunchy veggies, and fluffy-yet-sturdy bread that holds it all together. It’s the kind of messy, flavour-packed hoagie that makes a regular sub seem boring.

And don’t even think about splitting one—this is a "get your own" kind of situation.

📍 513 Osborne Street, Winnipeg
📞 204-306-BOYZ

If you’re a sandwich person, this is your place. If you’re not? You will be after this.

Community Digest

U of M Faculty Back On Strike

This isn’t great timing. But as reported by The Winnipeg Free Press, The University of Manitoba Faculty Association just voted in favor of a strike, which means 1,300 professors, instructors, and librarians could walk off the job soon.

For students, that could mean canceled classes, delayed exams, and an extended semester. But here’s the thing—this strike is about getting fair pay and better working conditions for the very people who make U of M the great school it is.

• The union is fighting for higher wages, better hiring practices, and more child care access.

• They argue that paying faculty fairly helps keep top talent in Manitoba instead of losing them to other schools.

• Bargaining is set to continue today, so there’s still a chance for a deal before a full strike happens.

We’re proud to have U of M in Manitoba—so let’s make sure the people who teach, research, and support students get what they deserve too.

City Updates

A New Sikh Temple for Northwest Winnipeg

If you’ve been in Winnipeg long enough, you’ve probably noticed the Punjabi community is growing fast—and with it, the cultural richness of our city. As reported by CBC News, a new 35,000-square-foot Sikh temple is set to be built in Northwest Winnipeg, five times the size of the current one.

For the Sikh community, this means more space for weddings, cultural events, and religious gatherings. But for all of us, it’s a sign of how diverse and welcoming Winnipeg continues to become.

• The Sikh population in the Seven Oaks area now makes up 17.3% of the community—the second-largest religious group after Catholics.

• The temple will have room for 400-500 people and will keep green spaces around it for the whole neighborhood to enjoy.

• City officials have approved the project, and the next step is fundraising to make it happen.

More diversity, more community spaces, and more reasons to celebrate what makes Winnipeg so special.

AI Weapon Detectors Coming to HSC

If you’ve ever been to the Health Sciences Centre, you know safety has been a concern for staff, patients, and visitors alike. But now, as reported by CBC News, AI-powered weapon detectors are becoming a permanent part of the emergency department and crisis response center entrances to help with safety concerns.

The system, already used in places like Madison Square Garden, lets people walk through without emptying their pockets like a traditional metal detector—making security checks smoother and more effective.

• These scanners have been tested for months and were able to detect thousands of weapons at a similar hospital in the U.S.

• Nurses say it’s already made a big difference, making them feel safer on shift.

• The Manitoba Nurses Union is pushing to expand them to hospitals outside of Winnipeg too.

Not every solution works for every setting, but this is a solid step toward making our hospitals safer for the people who need them most.

Events 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!

• Paint Your Partner | 6:15PM, Feb 12 (Tickets)

  • Location: WAG-Qaumajuq

  • Description: Gift each other something truly memorable. In this unique couples’ class, you’ll be taught step by step how to draw and paint a face and adjust facial features to look like your partner!

• The Leaf Unplugged | 7PM, Feb 12 (Tickets)

  • Location: The Leaf Assiniboine Park

  • Description: Step away from the constant buzz of technology and the demands of daily life, grab your yoga mat and book and come to The Leaf Unplugged.

• Classic Albums Performs U2: The Joshua Tree | 7:30PM, Feb 12 (Tickets)

  • Location: Centennial Concert Hall

  • Description: There’s a reason why “The Joshua Tree” won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. And now Classic Albums Live is bringing the album to life with a 10-musician ensemble.

• Culinary Night at the Museum | 5:45, 6:30 & 7:15PM, Feb 14 (Tickets)

  • Location: Canadian Museum for Human Rights

  • Description: Looking for a romantic getaway package with gourmet food and wine, breathtaking architecture and personal stories about how love is connected to human rights? This is the place to be!

• Festival du Voyageur | Feb 14-23 (Tickets)

  • Location: Whittier Park

  • Description: This festival showcases the arts of several disciplines, including music, dance, sculpture and visual arts, while prioritizing francophone and indigenous artists. (75,000 festival-goers per year)

• Valentine's Day Jazz Night | 6:30PM, Feb 14 (Tickets)

  • Location: Speakeasy The Basement Lounge

  • Description: Come watch an amazing jazz show featuring the city's most talented musicians!

• GameFest Winnipeg | Feb 15-17 (Tickets)

  • Location: RBC Convention Centre

  • Description: Play games, listen to live music, shop local and more all in one place.

• Tim Dillon Comedy Show | 7PM, Feb 16 (Tickets)

  • Location: Burton Cummings Theatre

  • Description: Known for his no-holds-barred humor and incisive social commentary, Dillon’s comedy has captured audiences around the globe.

Exciting Events: Feb 10th & 11th

Music 🎵

• Central Sound Wave | 12-2:45PM, Feb 10

  • Location: Belle's Kitchen + Music Hall (1212 Nairn Avenue)

• The Seine River Tonics | 7PM, Feb 11 (Tickets)

  • Location: Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain

• Blair Hordeski | 12-2:45PM, Feb 11

  • Location: Belle's Kitchen + Music Hall (1212 Nairn Avenue)

• Peach Pit | 8PM, Feb 11 (Tickets)

  • Location: Burton Cummings Theatre

Family Fun🎆

• Mini Mondays at the Children's Museum | 10 AM - 2PM, Feb 10 (More Info)

  • Location: Manitoba Children's Museum

  • Description: A fun-filled day of stimulating play designed for our youngest visitors, children under 4 years old!

• Worlds Largest Snow Maze | Feb 10 - March 30 (Tickets)

  • Location: A Maze in Corn

  • Description: Enjoy warming areas with bonfires, slide down the giant snow mountain, relax in the warming barn or hop on a sleigh ride!

• Yellowstone: A Wild West Musical! | Feb 10 - March 20 (Tickets)

  • Location: Canad Inns Destination Centre Fort Garry (1824 Pembina Hwy)

  • Description: Saddle up for a wild ride as Destination Dinner Stage takes you on a hilarious journey through the untamed wilderness of family drama, ranching antics, and a hearty dose of cowboy humor.

• Free Entry to Manitoba Parks | Feb 10-28

  • Location: Multiple Locations

• CIAO - Dine About Winnipeg | Feb 10-23 (More Info)

  • Location: Multiple Locations

  • Description: For two weeks, top restaurants heat up the season by offering signature three course, prix-fixe meals at a special price!

• $12 Tuesdays at the Zoo | 9AM - 4PM, Feb 11 (More Info)

  • Location: Assiniboine Park Zoo

  • Description: Enjoy all that the Zoo offers and discover the wild winter days! Plan your visit and take advantage of this limited-time offer.

Special 🥂

• Sound Bath | 6:30PM, Feb 10 (Tickets)

  • Location: FortWhyte Alive

  • Description: This is a unique opportunity for you to relax and unwind through a combination of the music of the crystal singing bowls and the natural surroundings of FortWhyte.

• Dr. Jordan B. Peterson Tour | 7:30PM, Feb 10 (Tickets)

  • Location: Canada Life Centre

• The Living Well Program | 2:15PM, Feb 10 (Tickets)

  • Location: Tannis M. Richardson Indoor Classroom, 145 The Leaf Way

  • Description: Enables people living with mild to moderate signs of dementia to reap the social and well-being benefits of engaging with plants with the guidance of a practitioner of horticulture therapy.

• Four Season RV Show & Sale | Feb 10-17 (Free)

  • Location: Red River Exhibition Place

  • Description: Manitoba’s largest RV show and sale, presented by Four Seasons, is back!

• Raw Almond Restaurant | Feb 10 - Feb 16 (Tickets)

  • Location: The Forks

  • Description: World class chefs gather to create a pop-up restaurant experience like no other.

• Mix Tapes From My Mom | Feb 10 - Feb 15 (Tickets)

  • Location: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre - Tom Hendry Warehouse

  • Description: Winnipeg theatre veteran Cory Wojcik, shares a deeply personal story of the day he travelled back and forth between two hospitals.

• Derek Seguin Comedy | Feb 11-15 (Tickets)

  • Location: Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club

  • Description: He has performed at the prestigious invitation-only Just For Laughs festival an impressive 10 times as well as appearing numerous times at every other major festival in the country, making several television appearances along the way.

CHEERS!

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

P.S. Want to sponsor our newsletter? Email us at [email protected].