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Tag: Premier Wab Kinew

  • Winnipeg Pays Tribute to Veterans and Fallen Soldiers on Remembrance Day

    Winnipeg Pays Tribute to Veterans and Fallen Soldiers on Remembrance Day

    Honoring Canada’s Past Heroes: ‘They Mustn’t Be Forgotten’

    On a solemn Remembrance Day in Winnipeg, hundreds gathered at the RBC Convention Centre to honor the courage and sacrifice of Canadian veterans and fallen soldiers. The day, steeped in tradition and reverence, served as a reminder that Canada’s freedoms were built on the struggles and sacrifices of those who served.

    In his address, 17 Wing Chaplain Antin Sloboda highlighted the importance of honoring generations who answered the call to defend their country. “Each sacrifice is imprinted in the fabric that shapes the identity of Canada and cannot be forgotten,” Sloboda said. He reminded Canadians that the life they enjoy is “a fruit of the struggles and sacrifices of the past.”

    This year’s Remembrance Day holds heightened significance, given the global backdrop of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Sloboda expressed a renewed call for peace, stating, “Let us remember with gratitude the thousands of Canadians who choose today to serve Canada before themselves.”

    The event also marked several important military anniversaries: ten years since the end of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan, 60 years of peacekeeping in Cyprus, and the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. It also recognized the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a day that saw 14,000 Canadians storm Juno Beach, a decisive moment in the liberation of France during World War II.

    Captain Gabriel Boucher, master of ceremonies, emphasized the need for Canadians to remember the bravery of these young men and women, stating, “Living in their greatly favoured land, Canadians often seem all too ready to forget that great events…let them develop and prosper in freedom.” He expressed gratitude to veterans, saying, “Thank you for your service, both in times of peace and in the face of war. Your dedication and sacrifices have not gone unnoticed.”

    The event continued with a wreath-laying ceremony following the playing of “The Last Post.” Among those who placed wreaths were Manitoba Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville, Memorial Cross representative Dean Smith, federal Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, and Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham.

    In his remarks, Premier Kinew reflected on the service and sacrifice of Canadian military members, both past and present. “In their sacrifice and service, each of us as Canadians has been given a great gift of a country that upholds democracy and a life of hard-won freedoms,” he said.

    In addition to the convention centre service, several other ceremonies were held across Winnipeg, including one at Vimy Ridge Memorial Park, where members of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles Regiment gathered to remember their fallen. Maj. Richard Desjardins, president of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles Association, shared how Canadian soldiers serve not only in war but also as peacekeepers and first responders to natural disasters. “Canada doesn’t go to gain territory,” he noted, “it usually goes to assist others in need.”

    John Robins, a former commanding officer and longtime attendee of Remembrance Day ceremonies, stressed the importance of educating younger generations about Canada’s veterans. “If we don’t do this every year, they’ll be forgotten—and they mustn’t be forgotten,” he said.

    As Canadians honored their heroes, they echoed a collective commitment to never forget the sacrifices that paved the way for the freedoms they cherish today.

    Source : Swifteradio.com

  • Manitoba Officials Announce Fall Start for Landfill Search for Women’s Remains

    A search for the remains of two women, victims of an admitted serial killer, will commence late this fall at a landfill near Winnipeg. Engineers will sift through waste from an area the size of four football fields, announced Amna Mackin, the provincial assistant deputy minister overseeing the operation to locate Morgan Harris, 39, and Marcedes Myran, 26.

    During a briefing on Thursday, Mackin shared that several preliminary steps are necessary before the search begins. These include securing necessary licenses, granted last week by the province’s environmental approvals branch, and conducting a test search in another landfill section to prepare searchers.

    The remains of Harris and Myran are believed to have been disposed of at the Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg, following their murders by Jeremy Skibicki, 37, who was tried for the first-degree murder of four Indigenous women earlier this month.

    Premier Wab Kinew emphasized the importance of the search, stating it reflects Manitoba’s commitment to valuing every individual. “To me, this is about sending a message to everyone in Manitoba that you matter. That every single person in this province has dignity and that when somebody goes missing, we go looking because we care. We care about one another in this province,” Kinew stated at the briefing.

    In a 2022 police interview, Skibicki confessed to killing Harris, Myran, Rebecca Contois, 24, and an unidentified woman named Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, by community leaders. Contois’s partial remains were found near Skibicki’s apartment and at another landfill, while the unidentified woman’s remains have not been located.

    During his trial, Skibicki’s defense argued he should be found not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder. The judge’s decision is expected on July 11.

    The designated search area at Prairie Green landfill includes three sections totaling about 100 by 200 meters and reaching a depth of approximately 10 meters, Mackin explained.

    Before the search can begin, an engineering assessment will help pinpoint a more specific area, and the waste above the believed location of the remains will be removed. Once the search begins, likely later this year, waste will be excavated and transported to a nearby temporary search facility. There, it will be spread out using skid steers and manually inspected by search teams.

    Although an earlier feasibility study suggested using a conveyor belt for debris, Kinew indicated that manual searching would be more effective, considering the wet conditions of the landfill waste. Search teams, working in groups of about 12, will meticulously sift through the debris with tools, looking for any clues that might indicate they are close to the remains.

    The search operation will be led by Emily Holland, a forensic anthropologist from Brandon University who previously contributed to the feasibility study. The exact number of staff required remains uncertain, depending on the number of search lines set up within the temporary facility. The search, expected to continue through the winter, will be conducted in a heated facility.

    Some extended family members of the victims have shown interest in joining the search efforts, which may be possible with significant health and safety training due to hazards like asbestos exposure.

    If initial efforts do not yield results, further discussions will determine next steps, which could involve deeper digging or re-examining the removed waste. An oversight committee, including family representatives and Indigenous elders and leaders, has been proposed to guide the search.

    Kinew acknowledged the uncertainty of finding the women’s remains but stressed the importance of having protocols and discussions with families about what constitutes finding their loved ones. During Skibicki’s trial, it was revealed that he had dismembered one of the women.

    The parties will reconvene on August 1 for an update on the interim search plan and the progress of Bill C-71, with the court making a final decision on the extension to December 19.

    Source: CBC