Abandoned Peguis School Fire, Minimum Wage Hikes & Parole Revoked — Winnipeg Thursday

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

1. Ontario attempted-murder suspect arrested in northern Manitoba. Peel Regional Police say 36-year-old Nakeem Jamar Johnson, wanted on an arrest warrant from Feb. 3, 2022, was arrested Sept. 22 in Cross Lake, about 530 km north of Winnipeg; the 2023 GTA raids seized five firearms and roughly 10 kg of methamphetamine, police reported.
2. Parole board revokes statutory release for convicted killer Shawn Lamb. The Parole Board of Canada returned 66-year-old Shawn Lamb to custody after finding he breached conditions following a Nov. 2013 20-year sentence for two manslaughter convictions; the board noted his behaviour deteriorated in March 2026 and he had begun unsupervised "volunteering" activity without agency support.
3. Abandoned Peguis school destroyed by fire. An abandoned school on Peguis First Nation in Manitoba's Interlake burned (date reported in article); the building was unoccupied at the time, emergency crews responded to the site in Peguis First Nation, according to the report.

💼 Economy & Business

1. U.S. mayors urge Manitobans to resume cross-border travel after big drop. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Fargo Mayor Josh Boschee publicly invited Canadians to return as Pembina–Emerson crossings saw travel fall 35% in 2025 versus 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation found; Statistics Canada data cited 3 million Canadians returning from the U.S. in Jan. 2025 versus 2.3 million in Jan. 2026.
2. Minimum wages rise in five provinces, Manitoba increases to $16.40. Provincial hikes take effect this round in Ontario ($17.95), P.E.I. ($17.30), Nova Scotia ($17.00), Manitoba ($16.40) and Saskatchewan ($15.70), the report said.
3. Manitoba bars sick notes for short absences starting Thursday. New rules ban employers from requesting medical documentation for absences of one week or less, or 10 days or fewer in a calendar year; Doctors Manitoba called Manitoba's limits the "clearest and strongest rules in Canada."

📰 Also Today

• Riley Laychuk issues Manitoba forecast for Oct. 1, 2026.
• Missing woman last seen a week ago in Neepawa, RCMP say.
• Minimum wage increases reported in five provinces, including Manitoba.
• Winnipeg police recover Taser lost in North End almost a month ago.
• Man accused of killing five family members drops another set of lawyers ahead of trial.
• Trucking spokesman says high diesel costs are being passed to consumers.
• Race underway in River Heights–Fort Garry for first new councillor in 17 years.
• Survey suggests Winnipeggers support police drug crackdown.
• Cannabis sales climbing while Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries' profit falls.
• Large crowd marches to former Brandon residential school to honour survivors.