The Regina Board of Police Commissioners has confirmed Regina Police Service Chief Farooq Sheikh has been suspended with pay after a complaint was made by a member of the public. 

The trial for a man accused of sexually exploiting and abusing vulnerable teens has been delayed once again.

A new injectable medication for HIV prevention is now covered for First Nations and Inuit under the Non-Insured Health Benefits program, or NIHB.

The drug is called Apretude, a bi-monthly injectable that’s more than 99 per cent effective at reducing the risk of HIV transmission through sex according to two real-world evidence studies.

Apretude was first approved for use in Canada in 2024.

“It’s very exciting,” says Jessy Dame, the Two-Spirit Health director at Community Based Research Centre in Vancouver.

HIV prevention medications, also known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), were already covered under NIHB but come in pill form to be taken orally every day or for on-demand use depending the type.

They are less effective than Apretude and create the opportunity for missed doses or difficulty getting prescription refills.

“It’s an injectable so folks can get as minimal as 6 injections a year, which decreases barriers to pill access and continuously having to go to pharmacies,” says Dame, who is also a certified registered nurse.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, weakens the immune system against disease and illness, and can lead to AIDS if left untreated.

HIV is primarily transmitted through sex without condoms and shared injection drug needles, so people at risk for contracting HIV can use PrEP to prevent transmission.

HIV can be acquired no matter your sexuality, gender, or race but some communities are more impacted than others.

“Indigenous people do continue to represent some of the highest numbers around HIV transmission within the country, and especially when we look at Two-Spirit, queer, and trans Indigenous folks,” says Dame, who is Two-Spirit and Métis.

The Public Health Agency of Canada estimated that 62,790 people in Canada were living with HIV at the end of 2020.

In that same report, they found Indigenous people made up approximately 10 per cent of all people living with HIV in the country, though Indigenous people make up only around five per cent of Canada’s population.

Dame says it’s important to put context along with HIV statistics.

“Unfortunately, Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by HIV but that’s due to racism, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia,” says Dame, adding that systemic structures are to blame for increased HIV numbers in different communities.

He says spreading more awareness and promoting education around HIV and PrEP is paramount in lowering transmission rates.

You can find more information on the Apretude injectable at apretude.com or visit caan.ca for resources on HIV within Indigenous communities.

The post New HIV prevention drug with 99% effectiveness now covered under NIHB  appeared first on APTN News.

A Winnipeg Police Service shoulder badge is seen at the Public Information Office in Winnipeg, on September 2, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski)

A routine shoplifting call led Winnipeg police to seize a loaded air pistol and thousands of dollars worth of drugs from two suspects at a McPhillips Street retail store on Thursday.

Officers responded around 2:55 p.m. after loss prevention staff detained a man and woman for allegedly stealing merchandise. Upon arrival, police discovered the male suspect was carrying a concealed, loaded imitation Smith & Wesson air pistol.

A further search led to the seizure of approximately 130 grams of cocaine, 67 grams of fentanyl, six grams of methamphetamine, 50 Dilaudid tablets, cell phones, and $2,740 in cash. The estimated street value of the drugs totalled over $21,700.

Matthew Hudson, 27, of Winnipeg, faces multiple charges, including firearm-related offences, drug trafficking, and theft. He remains in custody.

A 24-year-old Winnipeg woman was charged with fentanyl possession and theft under $5,000. She was released with a court date.

The investigation is ongoing.

It’s burned into our minds—the commercial for the East Side Mario chain of restaurants where the little boy slaps his forehead and declares “Oh, Pop they got more SALAD…Oh, pop they got more SOUP!” And wouldn’t you know it, it turns out the actor playing the East Side boy is 8-year-old, third grader at Gordon Price Elementary, Mathew Salemi.

The commercial was cut when Mathhew was 5. Mathew’s parents Dawn and Joe told the Bay Observer how it all got started. Says Dawn, “it’s kind of a weird story. Since he was a baby, everyone would say you need to put him in modeling. You need to get him talent agency. I was like, we’re not those people. We’re not show business people.”  But then one day Dawn, who enjoys taking video and photos of Mathew was shooting a video of Mathew and…

The Salemi’s were directed to Hamilton’s Vogue Models & Talent Management that has been recruiting and booking models since the 80’s, with a roster of more than 400 models and talent. The first gig was an ad for Tre Stella cheese where Mathew is walking past a cheese counter and the character playing dad puts food in his backpack and then Mathew walks out of the shot.

It was during the pandemic that they were approached about the East Side Mario spot. Mathew was asked to audition, which because of the pandemic was shot at home with a cellphone. Joe Salemi described what happened.

On the day of the shoot, they went to an East Side Mario’s restaurant in Mississauga. Joe and Dawn were seated at a table next to the one Mathhew was at, just off-camera.

Said Joe, “They had the whole restaurant shut down for the day and uh they had a crew of probably over 30…it and the restaurant was full of extras  that that were sitting in tables as well. And it was uh it was a full day production for 15 seconds of a commercial. It was a grueling shoot with more than 100 takes said Joe, “It took 3 and 1/2 hours with Mathew sitting at that table. And he was an absolute champ for doing that. And the dish of food, thee chicken parm that they had sitting in front of him. By the end he’s like, “Dad, I’m hungry. Can I eat this?” But they had varnish it so many times that Dude, you don’t want to touch it.”

Scenes from the East Side Mario shoot

Since the original commercial was shot, Mathew was called back for a couple of updates, but lately Mathew’s career has been in a bit of a hiatus because like all kids his age, his second set of teeth have been growing in.

Joe and Dawn were a little worried about how Mathew would be treated at school following his shot to fame, but so far things have been fine said Joe, “he’s a bit of a celebrity at school…he’s not had any problems with it. which was one of my worries.”

With the teething issue more or less behind him, Mathew is getting invited for auditions again—he has done more than 40 of them. Says Joe, “, he just did an audition for a photoshoot. We’re waiting to hear back on that, but this is all driven by him. We told him as long as you’re having fun do it. If you’re not having fun, don’t do it. And pick the auditions that you want to do.”

Education assured

And the good news is that even if this flirtation with stardom should end tomorrow, the compensation that Mathew has received has been put into a Registered Education Savings Plan and Joe says by the time Mathew is ready for college there will be enough cash to allow Mathew to take his pick of Canadian universities.

He promised sunny ways but left behind a divided country

Some of the illegal items allegedly being sold from a Main Street business in Dauphin were seized by Manitoba RCMP on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (RCMP HANDOUT)

A Dauphin business owner is facing multiple charges after RCMP executed a second search warrant in four months at the same Main Street location.

Officers with Dauphin RCMP searched the business on Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation. One man, identified as the owner, was present during the search.

Police seized a range of illegal products, including unstamped tobacco, flavoured nicotine pouches, vaping devices, and liquor being sold without a permit. In total, officers confiscated over 2,000 grams of unstamped nicotine pouches, 138 grams of unstamped tobacco, nearly 3,000 ml of vaping liquid, and hundreds of cigarettes and cigars — some of which were being sold individually, a violation of Canadian regulations.

This follows an earlier raid on December 12, 2024, where officers seized thousands of illegal cigarettes, cigars, and vaping products from the same location.

A 52-year-old Dauphin man has been charged with multiple offences. He was released and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Richard Simms, of Paradise, and his wife Elora have long dreamed of winning the lottery and what they would do with the prize money. Now, the couple can let their imaginations rest and make those plans a reality thanks to their recent Set for Life top-prize win.

“I was on my lunch break at work, sitting in my truck and I remembered I had a ticket in
my visor that I hadn’t scratched yet,” Simms said. “I scratched it and I was in total shock, I
couldn’t believe I actually won. I was too excited to go back to work that day.”

Atlantic Lottery’s Set for Life is a $4 Scratch’N Win ticket that offers two options for the
top prize. Winners can choose to receive $1,000 a week for 25 years, or a lump sum
payment of $675,000. Simms opted to receive the lump sum payment.
Once reality started to sink in, Simms was eager to share the news with his family.
“I told my wife and she was jumping up and down, screaming and freaking out,” Simms
said. “We’re overwhelmed excited. We’re to the moon we’re so excited.”

The couple has always said if they ever won the lottery, they would buy their first home
and take some family trips. Thanks to their big win, they now plan to do exactly that. The
search for their first family home is already underway and plans for a family vacation are
also in the works.

Simms is the second Set for Life top-prize winner from Newfoundland and Labrador so far
in 2025. Daniel Beason from Colinet also won the big prize worth $675,000 on a Set
for Life ticket that his granddaughter gave him for his birthday in February.
Simms purchased the winning Set for Life ticket at the Paradise North Atlantic in Paradise. The seller will receive a one per cent seller’s prize.

Dauphin RCMP execute two search warrants at local business

Media Release - April 4, 2025

On April 3, 2025, at approximately 8:30 am, as part of an ongoing investigation, Dauphin RCMP executed a search warrant at a business on Main Street in Dauphin for the second time in four months.

When officers arrived, there was one male employee inside who was also the owner.

During the search, the following was seized:

• 4 Bottles of liquor (Selling liquor without permit)
• 33 Pouches / 138.6 Grams unstamped tobacco pouches
• 179 Pouches / 2,178 Grams Unstamped Flavoured Nicotine Pouches
• 289 Unstamped Cigarettes
• 30 Canada Stamped Cigars (Being sold as singles which is illegal)
• 2,900 Canada Stamped Cigarettes
• 106 Unstamped Vaping Devices
• 432 Canada Stamped Vaping Devices
• 47 Bottles / 2970 ML Canada Stamped Vaping Liquid

On December 12, 2024, police executed their first search warrant at this establishment and seized the following:

• 994 Unstamped Cigarettes
• 970.2 Grams unstamped tobacco
• 4050 Canada Stamped Cigars (Being sold as singles which is illegal)
• 5025 Canada Stamped Cigarettes
• 251 Unstamped Vaping Devices

A 52-year-old man from Dauphin has been arrested and charged with numerous offences under the Excise Act, and the Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act (TAMTA).

Noor was released for a later court date.

The investigation continues.

A forest school in southeast Manitoba is swapping traditional classrooms for outdoor learning.

Kara Peters Parkinson and Deanna Kazina started the Forest and Nature School through the Gerhard E. Dekker Regenerative Education Center (GEDREC), for kids who nearly six years old to 12-year-olds.

"I just have really positive and wonderful memories being on the land... and I just want other children to experience that too," Kazina says.

Peters Parkinson feels similarly, saying, "Spending time outdoors has been when I felt the most alive and happy."

The school operates in two class cohorts. One on Tuesdays at Tetrault Park in La Broquerie, and the other on Thursdays at the Weston Family Tall Grass Prairie Interpretive Centre in Stuartburn. Both run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“The inspiration to actually start the school kind of grew out of the community work we've been doing with GEDREC, and also just community need. Our program participants a few summers ago said in our feedback forms there wasn't enough nature-based education in the region," says Peters Parkinson.

She says the school is deeply rooted in respect for learners, acknowledging their entire self and their unique needs.

"I think one of the biggest things is just developing techniques for self-regulation, and co-regulation with the land. That's a big benefit I hope the kids will be able to carry with them, and just emotional intelligence, physical literacy, learning self-care, and also caring for other living beings," she says.

The classes themselves are child-led, Kazina says, adding that helps them build up their self-confidence.

She's still there to help them, she clarifies, just in a different way.

"The first part of our day looks like playing on the land, and then we gather and we discuss what sorts of things that we might want to do for the day," she explains. "That (could be) going for a really long hike or kind of staying closer to home base. Every day looks a little bit different."

Some classes may include using tools, or various activities depending on the weather, and match registrant's needs and desires.

"We might be inspired to hang out with tadpoles if it's a spring day, and then that could lead to nature journaling... and some others might want to paint that underwater world, and we get to support them in that," Peters Parkinson says.

While the program is for older kids right now, there may be a preschool program coming this spring, Peters Parkinson says, with thanks to funding from the Steinbach Credit Union and help from the Steinbach Family Resource Centre.

Bringing the program to southeast Manitoba has mostly gone without a hitch, the coordinators say, and has been immensely rewarding.

For Peters Parkinson it's "seeing those smiles (and) seeing the kids enjoying themselves, seeing them playing, (and) the freedom, imagination, and creativity."

"With my own children I've seen how beneficial it is for them to be outside, and I've watched their confidence and their independence grow," Kazina says. "They come home and they've been outside, and that feels good for them too."

She says her kids come home much calmer after a day outside, and are tuckered out in a happy and meaningful way.

It feels like a solution to some parents' worries about screen-time, she says.

Registrations for spring programming are filling up, the pair say, but there's still some spaces left.

Find more details and register at gerhardcentre.org.

Written with files from Carly Koop

New Brunswick Crown prosecutors want convicted murderer Zachery Murphy to spend another five years in prison for lying during the trial of Angela Walsh, who was also accused of murder in the the April 2020 homicide of Clark Greene at a park in Fredericton.

It's an ambitious goal, especially for a community that's seen the number of residents without a family doctor stubbornly stuck around 30,000, while people spend hours lining up outside clinics for a chance to secure a health-care provider.

Every year on April 4, Refugee Rights Day is celebrated across Canada. This year, advocates say it is even more important during a federal election campaign, as party leaders begin to introduce their policies on immigration. 

“It’s really important during an election to recognize different patterns of speech that politicians may have. What often happens, migrants and refugees often become scapegoats during election times, for problems that are happening in Canada,” said Erin Riley-Oettl, manager of human rights law, campaigns, and advocacy at Amnesty International Canada.

Amnesty, among other organizations, called on federal party leaders Thursday to uphold the rights of refugees and migrants during the federal election campaign. In an open letter, federal party leaders were asked to avoid scapegoating migrants and refugees on the campaign trail, and instead encouraged to protect the rights of refugees and welcome newcomers.

“We have to look at the right direction and not listen to any scapegoating of refugees and migrants,” Riley-Oettl said.

Refugee Rights Day recognizes the landmark decision of Singh v. Canada, which gave refugees fundamental rights. The decision found that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protected the rights of refugee claimants.

“It’s really important to celebrate and recognize that refugees are our neighbours. Refugees have been coming to Canada for a very long time and make up the fabric of our communities,” Riley-Oettl said.

Refugee Rights Day comes at a time when refugees and migrants can be blamed for the housing and affordability crisis, according to Syed Hussan, the Executive Director of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.

“This is an important day to remember that migrants, refugees, and undocumented people are not part of, and not a cause of, the housing and affordability crisis,” Hussan said.

“For the past two years, we have seen all levels of government say that their population increases have resulted in more expensive homes, that makes no sense. People come here from around the world, sometimes in search of safety and security.”

While federal party leaders are slowly beginning to reveal their immigration policies, an immigration lawyer said there’s a strong push for reduction measures on immigration.

“The reality to keep in mind is that many individuals are here because there is a need,” said immigration lawyer and policy analyst Mario Bellissimo.

“We have to be careful of political expediency and catering to rising immigration sentiments right now, and in particular, refugees. It’s far too easy to make generalized assessments or sweeping assessments that we need more or less, or this is the number. It’s actually a very complex analysis.”

Liberal Party Leader Mark Carney said he intends to keep the previous caps on the number of permanent residents introduced in October by Justin Trudeau’s federal government.

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre said he would introduce further reductions. Poilievre previously said his policy would admit immigrants based on Canada’s housing growth.

Hussan said Canada needs to have a national conversation that unlinks immigration policies from the housing and affordability crisis.

“There’s this idea that we have too many people and not enough homes, and that’s just not true.”

“Because the focus is on the number of people, the conversation has completely disappeared from the rights of those people,” Hussan said.

Next federal government needs to withdraw Canada from STCA: organizations

Organizations are calling on the next federal government to immediately withdraw from the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States.

“The United States is not a safe country right now, particularly for individuals who are on the move, who have come to the U.S. for asylum, they’re at risk of being deported back to their home country, where they face harm and a risk of harm. Canada needs to be a safe place to come for asylum seekers to get safety and not risk deportation back to a circumstance where they would be in harm’s way,” Riley-Oettl said.

Under the STCA, those who enter Canada from the U.S. are not eligible to make a refugee claim and will be returned to the U.S. unless they meet one of four exceptions. Those exceptions include family members, unaccompanied minors, document holders, and public interest exceptions.

“The idea is that there should be no ‘refugee shopping.’ So that you don’t go into a first country and if you’re denied, go to the second country looking for asylum,” Hussan said.

“This does not make sense. People deserve the right to claim refuge in whichever country they wish to.”  

Riley-Oettle adds that Canada needs to work on creating efficient visa programs for refugees.

“One thing Canada can do is to create visa programs that result in people coming to Canada and have an achievable pathway to come to Canada as a refugee and get safety. Particularly for families that are divided in conflict.”

Billions of dollars in revenue was generated from visitors to Nova Scotia last year.

The province said in a press release that two million people visited in 2024, a decrease of 2 per cent in tourists from the year prior. However, the government says that tourism revenue grew 10 per cent reaching $3.5 last year.

“Nova Scotia is an exciting travel destination, and visitors love our stunning coastlines, rich cultures and world-class golf, seafood and wines,” Dave Ritcey, Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, said in the release.

Some of the growth can be attributed to the new non-stop connections from places around the world. This can be seen in the 6 per cent growth in people coming to the province through the air.

In contrast there was a 7 per cent decrease in the number of people driving to the province.

 “We’re working closely with communities and businesses to raise our province’s profile and inspire people to choose Nova Scotia for their next vacation,” Ritcey said.

In 2023 the government launched a new marketing strategy in Ontario, Quebec, Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts with an investment of $8.6 million in advertisement that year.

The fruits of the province’s labour was seen in some areas and not in others data shows. More visitors last year came from out west and the United States, while fewer came from the other Atlantic provinces and Ontario.

Hotel, motel and Airbnb operators said that three million room nights sold in 2024, a small decline of 1 per cent compared to the year prior.

Halifax a top destination in Nova Scotia

Discover Halifax says tourism in Halifax Regional Municipality reached another record year in 2024.

The organization the number of hotel room nights sold reached roughly 1,629,000 in 2024, up 2.6 per cent from the previous high in 2023.

Since 2019, the number of hotel room nights sold in HRM has grown 11.4 per cent, outpacing supply which has only grown eight per cent in the same period.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers helmets on the sideline during practice on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn)

The Winnipeg Football Club has released its 2024 Community Impact Report, showcasing a year of wide-reaching programs and partnerships that engaged thousands across Manitoba.

More than 4,100 youth took part in free football camps, and 150 helmets were donated to 35 schools and rural teams to promote safety. The year also saw the launch of the Girls High School Flag Football League with over 200 athletes joining its inaugural season.

“Our entire organization – from players to coaches, staff, and partners — take pride in giving back,” said Wade Miller, WFC president and CEO.

“These programs would not be possible without the incredible support of our corporate partners. I also want to thank our community team, who work tirelessly to make a difference across Manitoba.”

The club supported the sport at all levels, offering coaching and referee clinics, and helping high-performance athletes gain exposure to college recruiters. WFC also sponsored the first Team Manitoba Indigenous High-Performance squad at the 2024 Indigenous Cup in Edmonton.

Other highlights included the High School Leadership Conference, which drew over 250 student-athletes, and the team’s participation in 200+ community events.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will begin the 2025 CFL season on a bye week before their home opener on Thursday, June 12.

Houston and a delegation from the provincial government will travel to Copenhagen on Saturday, with plans to meet with new and existing trade partners.

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An unhoused man’s odd behaviour ahead of his bail hearing - during which he demanded to know the outcome before it was held - prompted a judge to order an assessment to determine fitness.

Andrew Derek Washburn, 32, of no fixed address, appeared in Fredericton provincial court by video conference from the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre on Thursday, scheduled to go through a bail hearing.

He’d been charged earlier in the week with March 10 counts of committing an indecent act by masturbating in public in front of other people and obstructing a police officer.

However, Judge Scott Brittain told the accused new charges had been filed with the court Thursday as well.

Read more

An Ontario man is facing charges in an alleged theft and leak of Texas Republican Party data in 2021. The accused gained unauthorized access to a third-party hosting company's computer system to "deface and download a backup of Texas Republican Party's server," according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

If passed, Bill 98 would impose fines ranging from $1,000 to $60,000 on anyone who intends to influence election results, spreads false information on the campaign or candidates, or disseminates deepfakes about politicians.

After nearly two decades in leadership, Lennox Island First Nation Chief Darlene Bernard is stepping down.

The RCMP and Winnipeg police are warning the public that a convicted sex offender is expected to live in the city following his release on Friday.

A teen girl set to face trial for manslaughter in the death of a homeless Toronto man has pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of assault.