Latest news with #GlobalWinnipeg
Global News
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Global News
Close calls endangering pedestrians, cyclists at intersections, CAA says
Intersections can be dangerous — even deadly — for pedestrians and cyclists, warns a new national study from the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). CAA examined 20 intersections across Canada over a seven-month period, recording a whopping 600,000 near-misses, as well as one potentially fatal incident per intersection each day. CAA's Kristine D'Arbelle told Global Winnipeg the study's results can help to design a future framework to prevent injuries and deaths on the roads. 'In finding those pain points and … issues in intersections, we were also able to identify some key design features that could reduce risk of near misses,' D'Arbelle said. 'In these intersections, when we saw a separate right-turn lane, there were fewer conflicts between a pedestrian/cyclist and a vehicle.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Vehicle making right turns accounted for more than half of near-misses with pedestrians and cyclists, the study found. Story continues below advertisement D'Arbelle said there are things drivers can do to help keep intersections safe. 'We know right turns are where most of those conflicts happen. Vehicles, when you're about to do a right turn, slow down, check that blind spot, and make sure there's no cyclists or pedestrians in that blind spot.' To try and boost safety at intersections, Winnipeg has implemented leading pedestrian intervals at some downtown crosswalks — giving pedestrians a brief head start with the walk signal before cars get the green light. CAA said the data was collected at different types of intersections in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C., Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. The organization partnered with traffic-monitoring company Miovision to detect near misses and assess risk levels with the help of AI-powered video analytics.
Global News
14 hours ago
- Health
- Global News
Unexpected financial costs plague expectant Winnipeg couple
Expecting the birth of a first child is an exciting time for any parents-to-be, but for one Winnipeg couple, what should be a joyous occasion is turning into a bureaucratic headache. Andrew and Nikka Worth are expecting a baby at the end of June, but due to what they say is an overly complicated process related to Nikka's legal status in Canada, they're looking at massive costs associated with her pregnancy, some of which they've already begun paying out of pocket. The couple, who met at a local church, was married last September, and Nikka — originally from the Philippines — is waiting to receive her permanent resident status. Andrew said the process seemed fairly straightforward, until the pregnancy came into play. 'We'd already submitted the documentation with the federal government to get Nikka her PR,' he told Global Winnipeg. 'After that, we found out we were pregnant, so I began the process of trying to get her covered (under) my health card. Looking at the website, it looked like it shouldn't be a problem.' Story continues below advertisement Unfortunately, it turned out to be more complicated than the couple thought. Nikka's legal status in Manitoba is as a visitor record holder, and Andrew said he was surprised to learn that the only way someone with that status can get health coverage is if their spouse is a temporary resident with a work permit. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Andrew, a Canadian citizen, didn't meet that criteria. 'We got a letter in the mail saying that the request had been rejected,' he said. 'We reached out to our MLA, and at the same time, the families minister of Manitoba, the health minister of Manitoba, (premier) Wab Kinew. 'After all that kind of petered out and basically we were told to wait for the PR, we thought maybe we could go through the appeal board and maybe the ombudsman.' That process, he said, led to a lot of contradictory and confusing information, and ultimately another dismissal of their request. While they await approval of Nikka's permanent residency, their baby is still on its way, which means regular doctors' appointments and more — all of which they've had to pay for directly. 'We've actually been paying out of pocket for all of my doctors' appointments, even the ultrasounds… everything that is required — even the lab tests, blood work, and all of that,' Nikka said. Story continues below advertisement 'We've paid $5,000 already out of pocket, and that doesn't include the hospital bills yet, because they haven't delivered the baby, and also the doctor's fee.' Those costs, she said, could come to $6,000 per day, depending on the type of delivery and whether there are any additional complications. If for any reason Nikka has to stay in the ICU because of complications, that would add an additional $16,000 to the hospital bill. Because the child will immediately be a Canadian citizen once he or she is born, Andrew said some of the rules don't make a lot of sense. 'To me, it's strange that they would have the stipulation that any child born on Canadian soil is a Canadian citizen… but for billing purposes, they are not. 'It just seems like a weird kind of misstep or interpretation.'
Global News
09-06-2025
- Climate
- Global News
‘It's tough for all of them': waiting game continues for evacuees as Manitoba fights wildfires
Firefighters in Flin Flon are continuing their efforts to protect the northern Manitoba city from wildfire flames. As of Monday morning, no structures within city limits had been lost, and officials say the cooler temperatures and rain have helped with the efforts. Mayor George Fontaine told 680 CJOB the situation has been a difficult one for the Flin Flon evacuees who have moved to safer locations — including Winnipeg and Steinbach — after fleeing the fire. 'They know they don't belong there (in Flin Flon) right now. It's tough for all of them … but they're still appreciative of everything they're being given,' Fontaine said. 'I went down to Steinbach yesterday to meet some people … they want to be home, but they can't be home under these conditions, so how tough is it? There's no choice.' Story continues below advertisement Fontaine said there have been evacuee meetups in Winnipeg — one of which he attended over the weekend in St. Vital — that have been helping evacuees deal with their temporary new surroundings. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I did go to one last night … and some people met and it was very, very therapeutic for people to get together,' he said. The emergency co-ordinator for the RM of Kelsey says it's been all hands on deck for more than a month now in dealing with wildfires and that communities within the municipality south of Flin Flon didn't get the amount of rain they were hoping for over the weekend. 'I think we do need those three to four days of just steady rain — I think that's going to be the best suppression against these fires,' Lori Forbes told Global Winnipeg. 'Crews are working so hard on the edges and the helicopters and the buckets are just consistently going. I think that rain from the sky for about three days would be the trick that we would all love to see right now.' Despite a dearth of precipitation, Forbes said the cooler temperatures in recent days are helping firefighters in the west-central part of the province get the upper hand. Forbes said the RM, which began dealing with wildfires as early as May 3, with a brief break between the first outbreaks and the current state of emergency, is still playing host to more than 200 evacuees from various communities. Story continues below advertisement According to the Canadian Red Cross, there are now more than 18,300 registered wildfire evacuees in Manitoba. The aid organization is operating two congregate shelter sites in Winnipeg, with space for 1,600 people, while another 1,600 are in hotel rooms. The Red Cross is also giving emergency supplies to 12 shelter sites in other communities that are hosting evacuees. Total fundraising numbers as of Friday had hit more than $3.3 million, without accounting for matching funds pledged by the federal and provincial governments. The province is set to provide the latest wildfire update at 12:45 p.m. Monday. Global News will stream the press conference live on this page.
Global News
04-06-2025
- Climate
- Global News
‘Dangerous time': Some Manitobans return home, others flee flames as wildfires continue
With an evacuation order partially lifted as of Sunday, a number of evacuees — around 350 of them — have been allowed back home in the RM of Alexander. But while things seem to be easing up, the municipality's mayor says it's still an uncertain time, and he's urging area residents to do their part in preventing any further spread of flames. There remains a fire ban in place for the entire RM. 'There's no fireworks, there's no travelling in the back country, there's signs out on the trails, even, that say please do not enter — it's a fire ban, don't do it,' Brisco told Global Winnipeg. 'It's a very dangerous time, and we don't need to be going back to fight any more fires. The rest of the province is doing that now, and we need to help them and keep our forest fires away.' Story continues below advertisement In order for residents to return to their homes, Brisco said they must have registered with the municipality's Connect Emergency alert system, which he said notifies residents of the latest emergency news without a lot of bells and whistles. 'Connect is an important tool for us to get the word out immediately for emergencies. We use very few words on it — it is to say there is imminent danger, and you must evacuate.' Although he said no structures in the RM, to his knowledge, have been lost due to fire, Brisco encourages all of those who have returned or who plan on returning in future to keep a bag packed should another emergency arise. 1:35 Wildfire evacuees find support in Manitoba, Ontario As of early Wednesday, the province said Mathias Colomb Cree Nation is now completely evacuated, and military efforts continue to help with the evacuation of of Pimicikamak Cree Nation. Story continues below advertisement Wildfires remain out of control near Pimicikamak, as well as those near Tataskwayak Cree Nation, Flin Flon, Bakers Narrows, Sherridon, and Mathias Colomb. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The Nopiming and Whiteshell areas are also faced with ongoing out-of-control fires, although some parts of the Whiteshell have reopened to homeowners and cottagers. Meanwhile, voluntary evacuations — due to poor air quality — are underway at Wanless and Opaskwayak Cree Nation. The province said there are 27 active fires across Manitoba, putting the year's total so far — 111 — well above the average of 88 at this time of year. 0:30 Prairie wildfires: Federal government will match donations to the Red Cross, minister says Firefighters from Brandon are making the 15-hour-drive up to the Lynn Lake fire zone in an effort to help fire crews on the front lines with some much-needed support and relief. Story continues below advertisement Chief Terry Partlow told Global Winnipeg the teams from Brandon are focused on protecting key infrastructure, like Lynn Lake's hospital and water treatment plant, to ensure they stay standing. 'We've been sending up teams of five staff and rotating those out,' he said. 'They'll go up for six days at a time and come back out, and we'll have another team… we have had a lot of staff step up and say they're willing to assist and help out.' Manitobans, Partlow said, are all in this together, no matter where they live in the province. 'When the premier identified this is a state of emergency now for our province, we felt the need to act and provide as much assistance as we could.'
Global News
04-06-2025
- Health
- Global News
‘I could be planning a funeral': Victim's mom praises stranger's life-saving actions
The mother of a man hospitalized in a Selkirk, Man., machete attack Friday night says she could have lost her son if a Good Samaritan hadn't stepped in to save his life. When RCMP officers arrived at the scene, outside a Main Street bar, they found two injured men — the original victim, who had been stabbed with a machete, and Broderick Tkachyk, a witness to the altercation who stepped in to help. Tkachyk told Global Winnipeg he was hit in the ear with the machete during the incident, but managed to help the victim with his injuries before paramedics arrived. Margaret Barkman-Harris, the mother of the victim, said she's grateful for the help of a stranger. 'I could be planning a funeral instead of watching him get better,' she said. Story continues below advertisement 'I'm just thankful all the people were around him and helping him. I feel bad that (Tkachyk) got hurt in the process of helping someone, which was just not fair.' View image in full screen Margaret Barkman-Harris thanks Broderick Tkachyk, who she says saved her son's life in a violent incident Friday. Global News Tkachyk, who has been living in a tent in Selkirk as a result of drug addiction and legal issues, said he wants to use the incident as motivation to turn his own life around. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I just don't want to be part of that old lifestyle anymore. I don't want to be the problem; I want to be the solution,' he said. 'I was raised to do upon others what you'd want done upon yourself. I'd want someone to help me, that's the big thing about it.' That help might be coming sooner rather than later. Barkman-Harris said she's planning on taking Tkachyk out for lunch Wednesday to thank him for his selflessness and intends to help him find a job to get his life back on track. Story continues below advertisement Police said two Selkirk men were quickly arrested in connection with the attack. A 23-year-old is in custody facing two counts of aggravated assault, while the other suspect, 28, has been charged with two counts of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and has a pending court date. RCMP continue to investigate.
