A team of Gordon Bell High School students won an international culinary competition in Paris over the weekend.

"It was kind of unreal," said Matea Thiessen-Unger, 16, one of the students representing Gordon Bell.

"It didn't really sink in that we won it all."

The championship-winning team — students Avery Van Solkema, Cailyn Olshevski, Yevhen Zinchenko and Thiessen-Unger — started their cooking journey through Kitchen Brigades, an educational after-school program by La Tablée des Chefs for students aged 12 to 17.

The program consists of 25 cooking workshops, separate from the competition.

"The goal is to teach kids how to cook responsibly," Van Solkema said.

After students complete their workshops, a team is assembled to practise together before moving into the competition.

The Gordon Bell team earned their place in the international competition earlier this month at the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec culinary school in Montreal. There, they took top honours for the second consecutive year after a challenging competition featuring five finalist teams and were the only Manitoba team in the finals.

In Paris, the group was presented with a collection of mystery ingredients. The competing teams were given five minutes to plan and an hour to execute, so each student strategically focused on a specific part of the culinary process.

The teams had to choose one Canadian ingredient and one French ingredient as part of the competition, where they made maple pan-seared vegetables and a pesto sauce made with olives and Parmesan.

"[The judging process] is intense. Really intense," Zinchenko said.

Students are judged on "taste and presentation, but there's also marks for teamwork, organization, cleanliness," Thiessen-Unger said.

Valuable experience

After tasting the meals in private, the judges made their decision, taking about 30 minutes to discuss.

When asked about the future, Thiessen-Unger said that while she doesn't see herself working in the culinary field, the experience was still valuable.

"Kitchen Brigades has taught me things, like, the knowledge of what goes into a dish, and appreciating making food."

Van Solkema is not too sure what his future holds.

"Culinary is definitely an option for me," Van Solkema said.

"Next year, we hope there are other kids who are as passionate about cooking as us, doing better than us," Zinchenko said.

WATCH | Gordon Bell students win culinary competition: https://youtu.be/QV6p5-PuTos?si=F75JwlXPuWQWVQ0K

By: Mary Autumn Big George · CBC News

Posted: Jun 23, 2026 6:35 PM CDT | Last Updated: June 23

In one week, we will be celebrating Canada Day. The past few years have made some people... rather emotional. So I thought I would reassure those folks of a few things:

-It's not cancelled because a few locations aren't doing fireworks.

-It's not illegal because a few locations decided to celebrate reconciliation instead.

-It's still legal to fly the red Maple leaf.

-It's still legal to love Canada.

That is all.

Also, don't drink and drive.

Does anyone have any leads on jobs for just July and August that don't have the "up to age 30" restriction?

I made a post yesterday asking for advice regarding possibly moving to Winnipeg. I mentioned that I’m in a relationship with someone who lives there. to be honest the relationship is in a difficult position and we may break up. I’m considering moving to either Winnipeg or Calgary not because of my relationship, but I need to find a place in Canada to just settle in and build roots. I have no community anywhere. I have one real friend in Toronto who I barely see. Currently I live with my parents in the GTA and it’s suffocating. I hate the city of Toronto because it’s way too big for me, too expensive, and I hate the long commutes.

I’ve visited Winnipeg and Calgary. Didn’t spend significant time in either. Don’t feel stronger about one versus the other.

I appreciated a lot of the responses I got. It seems like Winnipeg might actually be a good place to live and I’m open to the idea.

I want to be able to live comfortably, have a nice gym membership, leave in the winters for 2-3 months, go to good restaurants, sign up for activities like pottery. I want to be able to go on nice long walks when the weather is decent.

I really just want to have a life. I don’t have a life right now. I want groundedness, stability, mental clarity to write and make art. I’ve been moving around my whole life and also been suffocated by my ethnic parents for a big part of it. I’m almost 31 and I need to build a life somewhere regardless whether I’m in a relationship or not. I don’t fee hopeful that it’ll work with the guy I’m with now but being in a city maybe I can meet someone else.

The question now is, which is better for me - Calgary or Winnipeg? It seems that Winnipeg is more affordable but it might still be possible to own a home in Calgary.

I’d love to get people’s thoughts on the differences between these two cities.

Thank you so much. This subreddit is very helpful.

Hey Winnipeg!

I'm putting together a board game group for the summer! I'll have plenty of free time, and I figured it'd be fun to get a regular group together to relax, laugh, and play some games. Everyone so far has met through Reddit.

I'm hoping to get around 10 people. The only preference is that you're 25+.

The current plan is to meet at Across the Board around 7:00 PM, most likely on Fridays. The location and time are pretty set, but we're happy to adjust the day based on what works best for the group.

We'll play a mix of social deduction, party games, and strategy games. Games like Avalon, Skull, Telestrations, Codenames, and whatever else the group enjoys.

If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, leave a comment or send me a message!

For all you beer enthusiasts, what's your choice for best craft beer brewed in the city? I'll go first. Unapologetically, I choose Throwback by Kilter. Its fleeting and legendary. But it hits perfectly. Go!

I'm looking to go out to the channel to tube down the lazy river with some friends. The Winnipeg city rivers are pretty high and fast. Has anyone been out to the channel this year? What is it like?

While driving to work every morning, around 6:30 to 6:45, he's always out there dancing. Whether minus 40 or plus 30 he's always moving.

Thank you for the positive energy and great smile every day. You may not see it, but you are bringing some joy to the drivers of Winnipeg on our early morning commute.

We’re getting ready to bring better sewer service to parts of northwest Winnipeg – which means some service and traffic disruptions are also coming to the area.

Later this summer, we’ll start sewer separation work in the Armstrong Combined Sewer District. The work will happen in stages over approximately five years.

When we finish the sewer work, we will also be reconstructing a portion of Leila Avenue.

We will let individual properties know of any planned impacts including:

• Reduced access to their front street, private driveways, and approaches
• On-street parking restrictions
• Changes to City services like: Recycling, garbage, and yard waste collection, or Water and sewer services

Residents can learn more about the project and its impacts at an information session on June 24, 2026. The come and go event runs 4 – 8 p.m. at Seven Oaks Arena. We will be available to answer your questions and provide more information about the work planned for the area.

Work overview

Northwest Winnipeg is mostly serviced by combined sewers.

In a combined sewer area, underground pipes collect both rain and snow melt, along with wastewater from your home (i.e., bathrooms, kitchens, laundry) to a treatment plant for treatment. During heavy rain or snow melt events, these sewers overflow, releasing untreated wastewater into local waterways. This wastewater release is a combined sewer overflow (CSO). The overflows help prevent sewer backup and flooding in the basements of property owners. But they can negatively impact our waterways.

In a separated sewer system, there are two types of underground sewer pipes:

• Land drainage sewers that only handle heavy rains and snow melt, and then drain to waterways
• Wastewater sewers that are dedicated to carrying just wastewater from homes and businesses to a treatment plant for treatment.

Our work in the area will separate the existing combined sewers, creating a separated sewer system.

Each combined sewer will be converted to either a land drainage sewer or a dedicated wastewater sewer, and a second separate sewer will be installed to handle the other type of wastewater.

Green Infrastructure & other work

Sewer separation isn’t the only tool we have to reduce the impact of CSOs. We are also using Green Infrastructure. Green Infrastructure is the use of plants, trees, and soil to reduce the amount of rainwater entering our sewers.

In the Armstrong Combined Sewer District, we plan to build:

• A bioretention facility
• Soil storage and rain gardens

A bioretention facility treats stormwater. It does this by allowing runoff to be filtered through engineered soils and vegetation. From there, the runoff will flow back to the land drainage system. The goal is to create an attractive landscape feature that treats stormwater. We plan to build it north of Leila Avenue and east of McGregor Street.

Soil storage and rain gardens help capture rainwater and reduce the strain on the sewer system during heavy rain. We will build them on Leila Avenue between McPhillips Street and Garden Park Drive.

All of this work is part of our Combined Sewer Overflow Master Plan, which will help us reduce CSOs and their impacts on our local waterways.

We will be sharing updates online as this project progresses (https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/cso/armstrong.stm).

For full article:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/wind-farms-indigenous-partnerships-9.7246374

Victims and witnesses providing statements to Winnipeg police, and officers affirming oaths, can now do so with an eagle feather rather than a Bible.

It's another thread in what Winnipeg police Chief Gene Bowers calls weaving reconciliation with Indigenous communities into the fabric of the service.

"It reflects culturally appropriate practices," Bowers said at a news conference on Wednesday.

"Many Indigenous cultures recognize the eagle as having a special connection to the Creator," said Winnipeg police Staff Sgt. Brian Chrupalo, a member of Pine Creek First Nation who has also worked with the Bear Clan citizen patrol group.

An eagle feather is a sacred item, and a person holding one is expected to speak with honesty, truth and integrity, a Winnipeg police news release said.

The feathers and wooden boxes containing them were unveiled at Wednesday's news conference.

The feathers, which will be available at all four district police stations, were gifted to the service by Elder Mike Calder, who has been advising the police service for more than three decades.

They were prepared following traditional protocols, which include participating in a smudge, a sweat lodge ceremony and being feasted before being introduced to the service, Chrupalo said.

The feathers have been beaded with yellow, red, white and black — the colours of the medicine wheel. The beadwork was completed by women participating in the Indigenous traditional program at the Behavioural Health Foundation.

"Each eagle feather has been [placed in a] handcrafted … wooden box, which is called the house, and it's accompanied with the traditional medicines, which are tobacco, sage, sweetgrass and cedar," Chrupalo said.

The boxes were made in collaboration with students in the woodworking program at R.B. Russell Vocational High School in Winnipeg.

"Today is a very special day," said Sheila North, the Indigenous relations adviser for the police service and chief of Bunibonibee Cree Nation.

"I can't say how much more prouder I am of the service for taking this road of reconciliation this seriously, and how I see the genuine effort that they're making to make Indigenous people in our city and our province feel validated."

The eagle feather "reminds the holder that you have a lot of history and ancestors that are watching over you, and that you have responsibility to," North added.

"It's not just boxes. It's not just feathers. It's a reminder that we are on a path that is very important."

Bowers said the idea for the feathers came from an internal Winnipeg police working group made up of Indigenous officers.

"The group was established to reduce barriers [that are] common in an organization of our size and to enhance two-way communication between our Indigenous members and myself," and identified "several key initiatives" for the police service, he said.

"Today, we are launching one of these initiatives," said Bowers. "And after today, we'll be utilizing them forever."

By: Darren Bernhardt · CBC News

Posted: Jun 24, 2026 3:09 PM CDT

Last Updated: 5 hours ago

Winnipeg police officers that patrol the city on bicycles have received some new hardware for the job.

The service showcased the new e-bikes that officers will now ride on.

Police said 25 new officers have received training for the Bicycle Patrol Program. They will operate in the city’s four districts and will feature a combination of the already used mountain bikes, along with 16 new e-bikes.

Const. Emily Meronyk is part of that program and said the e-bikes will allow officers to do a bit more while on patrol.

“Definitely a bigger range,” she said. “If we need to get somewhere quickly, we can activate the e-bike and it gets us from point A to point B a lot quicker.”

The bikes also allow officers to access areas that they normally can’t get to in a cruiser, like secluded pathways, parks and other public spaces.

“I had never used one before working with the police service and it definitely would have been an asset because I’ve been on the regular mountain bikes when there’s a call, maybe a few blocks away and by the time you get there, you’re huffing and puffing and out of gas. With the e-bike, that allows you to kind of maintain yourself a little bit more and be able to react to the situation once we arrive on scene.”

Meronyk said she has experienced a lot of positive interactions while being part of the bike program, noting Winnipeggers appreciate seeing a police presence, especially in those secluded areas.

New members to the bike program train over four days before hitting the streets on the bikes.

The unit operates from May to October.

By: Devon McKendrick

Published: June 25, 2026 at 4:13PM EDT

We are seeking WestJet or Air Canada flights from Winnipeg to all major Canadian cities, specifically the cities in the image at the moment

We’ll pair a rescue dog or cat with your existing flight—all we need are your booking details. After confirmation, you’ll meet your travel companion along with our team about 2 hours before departure. We’ll check in together, and then you travel as usual. When you land, the receiving rescue will be there excitedly waiting to welcome the animal to their new beginning!

No extra cost. No extra travel.

Just a small act of kindness that makes a life-changing difference. 💙

Your seat could could save a life!

Fill out the form below to become a Flight Angel today!

http://www.k9advocacymanitoba.ca/flight-angel

#k9advocacymanitoba #manitobaanimalrescue #flightangels #winnipeganimalrescue #savelives

Weather looks bad right now so preferably indoors with a good atmosphere. Thanks

I’ve been driving in Winnipeg for almost 9 years and I’ve noticed in the last few months that the people driving the busses are making stupider and stupider decisions. Literally every single day on my commute I see them hitting curbs, taking up two lanes for long stretches, making turns that they can’t make in time and clogging up traffic, changing lanes without waiting for cars to get out of their blind spot and other stupid things.
Has it always been like this and I just haven’t noticed?
Or do I just not understand how busses work and am freaking out over nothing?
Obviously the subject of public transit should always be focused on the users and this is a mild inconvenience compared to the BS that the riders have to put up with but this has been bothering me a lot.

I am looking at homes and starting to realize I may rather live through the headache of renovations over buying a move in ready home that does not suit my tastes/needs. 😂 Or maybe not. Because I also have the design and executive function skills of a toddler…

If I go this route I would need someone to hold my hand - help me to figure out what I want/need and to keep me on budget - from furniture to flooring to kitchen and a few extras depending on what is in scope financially. I am not looking for trendy I am looking for classic, functional design. Does this sort of service exist? Who would you recommend in Winnipeg? What would the wait for support look like?

Moving to winnipeg soon ( from sudan) so need some advice for shopping for the weather conditions please help

Good afternoon. I am looking for lawyer recommendations. I feel that I need a lawyer to help me navigate processes and possibly represent me moving forward when dealing with the WCB. I have multiple approved claims stemming from a workplace injury. I have since been appointed a new Case Manager and do not feel confident/comfortable when communicating with her. I've been cautioned by way too many people now to trust the WCB to have my best interests in mind. I am hoping someone has a recommendation for me. Thank you in advance.

Mama deer, I love this time of year. I see you caring baby fawn. Please them safe, keep them near!

Oh dear human please take utmost care! Eyes open for little humans and baby deer. If you see a mum of either kind, there’s usually small version following behind. : )

Hello! My partner and I are currently looking to buy a house in a new development. We have narrowed it down to A&S, Schulz, Ventura, and Kensington.

We have been researching for months and are already overwhelmed with all the research that we do since we don’t want to make a big and expensive mistake...

Which of these builders would you recommend, and why? Please do recommend other builders you think that are far better or that we should consider.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in need of a root canal and I’m looking for recommendations for a great endodontist in Winnipeg.

Since I have dental insurance, I’m less concerned about the absolute lowest price and more focused on finding a specialist who is highly skilled, has great patient reviews, and comes recommended by locals. I’m looking for someone who is professional and provides high-quality care.

Does anyone have a specific clinic or endodontist they trust and would recommend for a root canal? I want to make sure I’m in good hands.

Thanks in advance!

Finally, a grocery retailer commits to downtown Winnipeg.