Midweek check-in, Winnipeg 💙

The sun is finally out, 17°C is on the way, and it honestly feels like the city exhaled at the same time this morning.

It's the kind of May day that makes lunch outside feel mandatory, the walk back to your desk feel a little longer than it needs to be, and the patios feel like they're calling your name. Soak it up while you can, because the clouds are rolling back in tonight.

Grab your coffee, settle in, and let's dive into what's happening around Winnipeg.

Now, in today’s edition:

— Jas Singh

If you've been eyeing a favourite American wine or liquor for a while, now might be your last chance to grab it.

Earlier this year, U.S. liquors were pulled from Manitoba shelves amid the Canada-U.S. tariff dispute. They came back briefly over the holidays, then disappeared again.

This week, Manitoba Liquor Mart is clearing out the last of its existing U.S. inventory before they expire.

Proceeds from each sale are going to local community programs and initiatives, including food hamper and child nutrition programs across the province.

Most products are still well within expiry dates, but availability will vary from store to store.

And once the current inventory sells through, U.S. products will not be reordered or restocked.

So if you’re curious which locations still have inventory available, click the link below to check participating stores near you.

Click here: To see which Liquor Mart locations still have U.S. products available!

Buying your first home is one of those things that sounds exciting until you actually start looking into it.

Then the questions pile up.

How much can we afford?
What's a pre-approval, and do we need one before we look?
How do we know we're not overpaying?
What even happens between making an offer and getting the keys?

It's a lot. And most people end up scrolling Realtor.ca at midnight, half-confused, half-hopeful, with no real plan for what comes next.

That's why Nicole Hacault put together a FREE guide for first-time buyers in Winnipeg.

The guide is just a calm, honest place to start.

Something you can read on the couch with a coffee, share with your partner, and come back to whenever a new question pops up.

So when the time does feel right, you won't be starting from scratch. You'll already know the steps, the people you need on your team, and what to expect along the way.

Most of us will never fully know what it takes to be a paramedic.

The split-second decisions, the calm in the middle of chaos, the weight of showing up for someone on the worst day of their life.

But this week, the city is taking a moment to recognize exactly that.

Paramedic Services Week runs May 17 to 23, and Winnipeg is celebrating 650+ licensed paramedics who keep our community safe every single day.

This year’s theme is “Improving Outcomes, Together,” highlighting the teamwork behind emergency care across Manitoba.

And chances are, most of us know someone whose life was touched by a paramedic at some point.

So if there’s a paramedic you’ve never properly thanked, this week is a good reminder to do it!

Click here: To learn more about the paramedics who keep our city safe!

Zoning rules decide what gets built in your neighbourhood, where shops can open, how tall buildings can be, and how housing grows across the city.

Winnipeg's current rules haven't been fully updated in about 20 years.

And that's finally changing.

The city is working on one new, modern zoning by-law for all of Winnipeg, and they want residents involved before anything is finalized.

The city is currently hosting open houses across Winnipeg throughout May, along with an online survey open until June 5.

So if you’ve ever had opinions about development, housing, neighbourhood growth, or what you want Winnipeg to look like in the future, click the link below to share your thoughts!

Click here: To take the survey or find an open house near you!

P.S. There are open houses happening today and tomorrow! Tonight, May 20 at Canad Inns Regent and Thursday, May 21 at Canad Inns Garden City, both from 4 to 7 p.m. Drop in anytime!

Somewhere in Manitoba, someone is going about their week completely unaware they've just become a multi-millionaire.

A winning $46 million Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball ticket was purchased during Saturday's draw, and as of right now, the winner hasn't come forward yet.

The ticket number is 24182524-02, and according to Lotto Spot, it was purchased outside of Winnipeg. That's about all we know for now.

The winner has one year to claim the prize by contacting player care at 1-800-665-3313.

There's something kind of beautiful about knowing one of our neighbours is about to have the best surprise of their life.

And we hope whoever holds that ticket finds this soon!

Click here: To check the latest lottery results and try your luck!

P.S. Know someone who bought a ticket this past weekend? Share this with them so they can double check. You never know!

There are Manitobans right now quietly working toward something big. Finishing high school. Building reading skills. Taking the first steps toward a better job.

And the province just made it a little easier for more of them to get there.

This week, Manitoba announced an additional $2.5 million investment into adult learning and literacy programs, bringing total funding up to $24.9 million.

All certified adult literacy programs and learning centres in Manitoba are free to attend.

So if you (or someone you know) has been thinking about going back to school or upgrading their skills, this is a great place to start.

Click the link below to explore all the free programs and learning centres across Manitoba!

Click Here: To find free adult literacy programs and learning centres near you!

P.S. Share this with someone who might need a fresh start or a new opportunity right now.

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

Events marked with (Tickets / $) require advance purchase. Double-check dates before heading out!

Thanks for reading The Winnipeg Digest! Let’s chat again on Friday!