Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press


Manitoba government promises ‘proactive approach’ to truancy fight

The Kinew government is drafting legislative changes to better track schoolchildren and ensure more of them attend classes regularly. Premier Wab Kinew revealed the “Reach Out, Reach Up” initiative is a priority for this session, but few details were included in the Nov. 18 throne speech. The program will address chronic absenteeism in kindergarten-to-Grade 12 […]

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Former Brandon University dean accused of ‘mathematically impossible’ grade change

A now-senior executive at Brandon University turned a student’s failing grade into an A+ when she was the dean of science, a move that overrode the course instructor’s concerns and is raising questions about grading oversight in the aftermath. Multiple sources corroborated details about an April 2022 incident that took place when Bernadette Ardelli was […]

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Trustees want say in school zone redesign

Trustees are calling on Winnipeg City Council to redesign 30 km/h school zones to better protect everyone who lives, learns and works in their wards — and they want a say in an infrastructure makeover. For Ryan Palmquist, an active cyclist, dad and first-term trustee, road safety is both a passion and frequent source of […]

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Distracted, impatient drivers put school bus passengers at risk: MPI

Manitoba children have been hit by vehicles 36 times this year.  Seven of them were in September, as kids made their way back to school after the summer break.  Manitoba Public Insurance’s latest analysis of road incidents also reveals there have been dozens of collisions involving school buses in 2025.  The numbers represent “close calls, […]

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Improper signage, absence of warning lights show school zones aren’t about safety, critics argue

Calvin Kendall left provincial traffic court Thursday with a “$0 fine” and a written warning. “I may be crazy, but I’m not stupid,” the 69-year-old said in a waiting room at 373 Broadway hours earlier while sorting through a USB stick of photo evidence and other items as he prepared to fight a $272 speed-camera […]

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Return of Winnipeg’s reduced-speed school zones and fines brings calls for changes from drivers

On a bright and clear September morning, drivers squint when they enter the most-ticketed school zone in Winnipeg. The 30 km/h sign on Talbot Avenue that warns oncoming traffic about a reduced speed limit behind River Elm School is harshly backlit, making it difficult to see. “I see people get ticketed all the time,” said […]

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Province drafts lesson plan to combat high teacher turnover in North

Manitoba is creating a new strategy to tackle high staff turnover in First Nations schools and the achievement gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. Over the last 15 months, the Education Department has been developing a plan to recruit and retain classroom and traditional-language teachers who want to live and work in the North. “Nobody […]

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Provincial code of conduct in schools protects students from gender, sexual orientation disclosure

As other provinces police LGBTTQ+ pronouns in schools, Manitoba is doubling down on its support for students to explore their identities on their own timeline. The Education Department released a new provincial code of conduct for kindergarten-to-Grade 12 schools on June 11. The 38-page document provides guidance on how to navigate student behaviour issues and […]

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Minister puts faith in ‘student-centred’ approach to combating classroom violence

Manitoba’s education minister says her office has issued clear guidance to better support school staff who have been forced to confront a rise in student outbursts and related workplace injuries. Tracy Schmidt said “concerns about health and safety” have been relayed to her office by both the Manitoba Teachers’ Society and non-teaching employees. “What we […]

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Reading, writing, punching, kicking

Julie Braaksma, better known as Ms. Braaksma inside her Brandon elementary school, was called for back-up help when a Grade 1 student burst into a temper tantrum in January. More than 15 years into her career as a resource teacher, the request was not out of the ordinary; in fact, she often tells colleagues to […]

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NDP government spent $94,000 promoting school nutrition program expansion

The Kinew government spent more money promoting its universal school meal program this year than it did feeding students in some small divisions. At the start of the 2024-25 school year, the province spent $94,617.50 on advertisements related to the expansion of breakfast, lunch and snack offerings in kindergarten-to-Grade 12 buildings. The campaign — details […]

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Former University of Winnipeg regent who quit in protest cited governance concerns

Twelve days after a University of Winnipeg board member resigned in protest over governance concerns at the cash-strapped campus, his ex-colleagues approved a balanced budget that rests on continued austerity measures. The board of regents — a group of appointees who are alumni, administrators and public representatives, among others, and in charge of policy making […]

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