Shannon Dueck

Record wildfires producing record plumes of smoke. David Phillips, Senior Climatologist with Environment Canada, says those were the two biggest weather stories in our country in 2023.

In fact, Phillips says in 28 years of producing his annual list of Top 10 weather stories, he has never had a more obvious #1 and #2 story. 

Number one on that list is The Year for Record Wildfires. Phillips says fires in Canada this year burned five per cent of precious boreal forest. He adds many provinces set new records for the size of these infernos.

Record wildfires producing record plumes of smoke. David Phillips, Senior Climatologist with Environment Canada, says those were the two biggest weather stories in our country in 2023.

In fact, Phillips says in 28 years of producing his annual list of Top 10 weather stories, he has never had a more obvious #1 and #2 story. 

Number one on that list is The Year for Record Wildfires. Phillips says fires in Canada this year burned five per cent of precious boreal forest. He adds many provinces set new records for the size of these infernos.

Record wildfires producing record plumes of smoke. David Phillips, Senior Climatologist with Environment Canada, says those were the two biggest weather stories in our country in 2023.

In fact, Phillips says in 28 years of producing his annual list of Top 10 weather stories, he has never had a more obvious #1 and #2 story. 

Number one on that list is The Year for Record Wildfires. Phillips says fires in Canada this year burned five percent of the precious boreal forest. He adds many provinces set new records for the size of these infernos.

Record wildfires producing record plumes of smoke. David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada, says those were the two biggest weather stories in our country in 2023.

In fact, Phillips says in 28 years of producing his annual list of Top 10 weather stories, he has never had a more obvious #1 and #2 story. 

Number one on that list is The Year for Record Wildfires. Phillips says fires in Canada this year burned five per cent of precious boreal forest. He adds many provinces set new records for the size of these infernos.

Two students were arrested following an incident Thursday at Lorette Collegiate.

At 11:40 am, Niverville and St. Pierre RCMP responded to a report of threats at the school. Police say it was reported that threats had been made by two students.

Officers located the two male suspects, and they were arrested without incident.

The investigation is ongoing.

Parents took to social media posting that their students were safe and that the school was in a hold and secure.

We have reached out to Seine River School Division for more information.

A school division in Manitoba is considering making changes to a field trip program that sees students travel overseas.

Alain Laberge is Superintendent of Division Scolaire Franco-Manitoban (DSFM). He explains the division has a program in place where students get the opportunity to travel abroad. Currently, they have students that are preparing for trips to Spain and France. 

A health professional in southern Manitoba says flu season has arrived.

Dr. Davinder Singh is Medical Officer of Health for Southern Health. He says based on the increases they have seen over the last month, of positive flu samples across the province, he can say with confidence that the flu season has started. Having said that, Dr. Singh says the case count is still well below the peak of last year's flu season.

The Executive Director for Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre says caring for a shot bald eagle last week was demoralizing for her staff.

Zoe Nakata says the centre at Ile des Chenes received a phone call on Friday after a woman from the Grunthal area heard a gunshot on her property. When she went to investigate, she discovered a bald eagle that had been shot. The bird was still alive, but unable to fly.

Nakata says this woman took all the proper steps by reporting the incident to conservation officers and then contacting Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre. 

A health professional in southern Manitoba says flu season has arrived.

Dr. Davinder Singh is Medical Officer of Health for Southern Health. He says based on the increases they have seen over the last month, of positive flu samples across the province, he can say with confidence that the flu season has started. Having said that, Dr. Singh says the case count is still well below the peak of last year's flu season.

A spokesperson for Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) says windy conditions last weekend certainly prevented crews from being able to tackle icy highways. 

A low-pressure system dumped snow on southern Manitoba. However, in many locations, the precipitation started as rain before turning into snow. As a result, many roadways became slick.