Midweek check-in, Winnipeg! 💙

Well, it finally feels like summer is here to stay.

Take one look at that forecast and try not to smile. We're sitting around 27 °C today, climbing all the way to the low 30s by the weekend. Sunshine, warm evenings, and the kind of stretch that makes you want to be outside for every minute of it.

Just one thing before you head out the door. It's going to be a hot one, so keep that water bottle close and check in on the little ones and older folks too. Especially with Folk Fest crowds this weekend, a bit of shade and a cold drink go a long way.

Now, in today’s edition:

— Jas Singh

For many of us, Walmart is one of those places we stop without thinking twice. A few groceries, something we forgot, or one last errand before heading home.

That's what Monday evening looked like at the St. Vital Centre Walmart, until shoppers were suddenly asked to leave the store.

A fire broke out inside the building, but thanks to the store's sprinkler system and a quick response from firefighters, everyone got out safely.

For now, the St. Vital Walmart will stay closed while police investigate what caused the fire. There's no timeline yet for when shoppers can expect the doors to reopen.

If this is your go-to Walmart, it's worth keeping an eye on St. Vital Centre's page for reopening updates over the next few days.

Click Here: To see the full announcment and the latest updates!

P.S. Know someone who shops there often? Send this their way so they know before their next trip.

Every summer, it sneaks up on families the same way.

September feels far off, so there's no rush.

Then suddenly it's mid-August. Your son or daughter is weeks from move-in with nowhere to live near campus, and the good places are already gone.

It happens every year. The kids who start September relaxed instead of scrambling usually got a head start. A parent helped them lock a place down early, close to campus and sorted.

The good news is that it's still early July…

And one of the closest buildings to the University of Manitoba has a few suites open right now.

It's 939 Chancellor by Paragon Living, opened last year in Waverley Heights, just five minutes from campus with rapid transit and shopping right there. Most of what's left are two and three-bedroom units, perfect for your kid and a roommate or two.

A handful of suites this close to campus never last the summer. The bigger units always go first, and once they're gone, the next best thing is a bus ride from class every morning.

It takes two minutes to see what's left. Do it now, while your kid still has options.

Know a student heading to U of M this fall? Send them this.

By this Thursday, Birds Hill Provincial Park will be filled with picnic blankets, lawn chairs, good food, and thousands of people gathering for one of Winnipeg's biggest weekends of the summer.

That's because the 51st Winnipeg Folk Festival returns Thursday, July 9 to Sunday, July 12, with four days of live music and all the good energy that's made it a Manitoba summer tradition.

Tickets for this year's festival are already sold out, so if you've got yours, get ready to make the most of it.

Winnipeg Transit is making the trip a little easier with free Folk Fest Express buses to and from the festival all weekend.

And if you’re heading home late, buses run back downtown all weekend, with the last ones leaving around midnight to connect with Transit's regular routes.

That means less time thinking about the drive and more time enjoying the music, catching up with friends, and making the most of one of Winnipeg's favourite weekends of the summer.

Click Here: To see the full route map and schedule this weekend!

P.S. Share this with the people you're heading to Folk Fest with, so everyone's got the bus schedule before the weekend!

For a lot of Winnipeggers, a night downtown often started, or ended, at Tavern United.

It was where friends met before a Jets game, coworkers grabbed a drink after work, and concert nights stretched just a little longer over food and conversation.

Now, after years of being part of those routines, the downtown Tavern United across from Canada Life Centre has permanently closed.

If this was your regular downtown stop, Tavern United is inviting customers to visit Resto 12 or one of its other locations across Winnipeg.

It's the kind of closure that catches you by surprise, even if you haven't been there in a while. Whether it was your pre-game tradition or a place to catch up with friends, it's one more familiar downtown spot that's now part of Winnipeg's story.

One year can change a lot.

Last year, Sam Parker was graduating high school in Winnipeg.

This year, the 18-year-old was walking the runway for Prada at Milan Fashion Week, one of the biggest stages in the fashion world.

Parker says the experience felt like a dream, especially getting the chance to represent his favourite luxury brand after just one year in the modelling industry.

That breakthrough has already opened even more doors. Parker has since signed with multiple modelling agencies, including Winnipeg's own Panache Management, and is now planning a move to London as he continues building his career.

No matter where modelling takes him next, Parker says he'll always be proud to represent his Winnipeg roots. It's always exciting to see someone from our city chasing a dream on the world stage, and we'll be cheering him on from back home.

Click Here: To follow Sam's journey and see where it takes him next!

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!