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Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Suit claims assault by Knowles Centre therapist in '80s
A WOMAN is suing the Knowles Centre and the River East Transcona School Division for alleged sexual abuse by a therapist at the centre when she was a teen more than 40 years ago. In a statement of claim filed in Manitoba Court of King's Bench, the woman claims the abuse occurred when she was about 14 to 16 years of age, around 1982 to 1984. She claims the centre and the school division granted the therapist 'a position of power and authority,' which was used to turn him into 'a trusted authority figure to the plaintiff's family, and the plaintiff, who was young, vulnerable and in need of guidance.' The woman claims she was taken to the therapist's residence where the alleged assault took place. She claims the abuse 'continued on a repeated basis, increasing in frequency, nature and intensity as time progressed' and she was made to feel 'it was unsafe to report the wrongdoings.' The woman claims the defendants were negligent for failing to properly supervise the therapist, for not investigating his background and character, and for not protecting her. She says she suffered many damages including physical pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, psychological injuries, addiction, sexual dysfunction, nightmares and night terrors, and difficulty in establishing intimate relationships. The woman said she also dropped out of school. The woman says she has had to undergo medical and psychological treatment throughout the years and will need to continue them for the rest of her life. She says she is seeking unspecified general, special, punitive and aggravated damages. Both the woman and her British Columbia-based lawyer could not be reached for comment. A spokesperson for the school division said they can't comment because the matter is before the courts, while a spokesperson for the Knowles Centre could not be reached for comment. No statements of defence have been filed and the matter has not been adjudicated in court. Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
11-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Homicide detectives hope for a break 10 years after Thelma Krull went missing
It has been a decade since Thelma Krull was seen walking in view of a neighbour's surveillance camera during an early morning outing in the Valley Gardens area of Winnipeg. Krull left her house, in Harbourview South in the Grassie Boulevard area, on Saturday, July 11, 2015, at 7:23 a.m. Despite an intensive search and police investigation, no one knew where she was until hunters found her remains in a wooded area in the RM of Tache on Oct. 27, 2018. Her killer or killers have never been identified, but officers in the Winnipeg Police Service historical homicide unit are trying to crack the case. WPS HANDOUT / FREE PRESS FILES Thelma Krull was last seen on July 11, 2015. Her remains were found in a wooded area in the RM of Tache on Oct. 27, 2018. 'Despite thousands of hours of work that's gone into this investigation, by both our agency and the RCMP, it sadly remains unsolved,' the unit said in a statement on Friday. 'The case remains open and active and we will continue to investigate all tips submitted to our agency.' 'We believe the answer is still out there and we are hopeful that, with the help of the community, we can find justice for Thelma Krull and her family.' Krull's family and friends couldn't be reached for comment. Police believe Krull, a grandmother who was 5-4, weighed 170 lbs., and had short dyed blond hair with a purple streak in it, was in the civic park and Kildonan East Collegiate vicinity by 8 a.m., and that's where she was attacked, dragged away, slain and then driven out of Winnipeg. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. Several of Krull's belongings, including her glasses and cellphone, were found in the area. As for where Krull's remains were found, police are convinced 'this location is significant and that the suspect was familiar with this area and may live, work or is somehow connected to this location and had a reason to be there.' Police said on Friday they thank Winnipeggers for the hundreds of tips they have received about the case. Anyone who has any information can call the unit at 204-906-6051 or put in an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477) or Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Special Olympics finds new pool for swim competitions
Athletes with Special Olympics Manitoba are back in the swim for their annual summer games this weekend after the University of Manitoba closed its pool in April. Originally scheduled for the Joyce Fromson Pool at the university, the 57 athletes, starting at age 15, were forced to look for a different aquatic facility when a leak forced the closure of the pool. The university later decided to replace it. Now the athletes, whose Special Olympics oath is 'Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,' are diving into the Selkirk Community Pool at the Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School this weekend. The first competitions began Friday. Michelle Stamm, manager of the Selkirk pool, and herself a Special Olympics swim coach, said when she got the call from the organization, she immediately agreed to let the athletes go there. Then her own facility was forced to close last month after developing leaks in two pumps. Stamm said the school's maintenance department was able to fix the pumps earlier in the week just in time for the competition. 'This is a very special event,' she said. 'We can't hurt them. They train all year for this.' It will be a short opening for the pool, though. Another pump has started to leak, so as soon as the competition ends, the pool will close again. Special O's sport director, Colleen Lowdon-Bula, said the only unfortunate part of the pool switch is it means many of the athletes, whose competitions are still at the university, won't be able to cheer on the swimmers and vice versa. 'Things like this happen, you deal with it as it comes,' Lowdon-Bula said. 'It pays to know people. I have known Michelle for a long time and I asked her for help and Michelle said 'absolutely.' The difference for the athletes is instead of sending the buses to the University of Manitoba, we are sending them to Selkirk instead. 'It is really amazing.' Meanwhile, the university has said the replacement for its 60-year-old pool is scheduled to open this spring. Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
18-06-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Unlike Alberta, Manitoba won't charge for COVID shots: health minister
Manitoba will not be following Alberta's lead to charge citizens for COVID-19 vaccines in the fall. Health minister Uzoma Asagwara said 'COVID vaccines will be readily available for Manitobans at the right time. 'There will be no charge… we are making sure COVID vaccines are available and will be free for the public because we recognize it is one way, it's an important way, for keeping themselves safe. So that's the approach we are taking as a government. We believe that vaccines are really, really important. 'We know they're important, we know they're safe, and we encourage folks to go out and get themselves protected.' Keir Johnson, a spokesman for Doctors Manitoba, a physician advocacy organization, said the government's decision is a good one. 'Our position is, that just like flu shots, the COVID vaccine should be available to everyone at no charge,' Johnson said. 'Cost should never be a barrier to the protection vaccines offer for the individual and the broader community.' Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced last week most Albertans would be charged for a COVID-19 vaccination starting in the fall. The Alberta Medical Association and health-care unions have raised concerns about the change, but Smith has said it is about targeting who most need the vaccinations while preventing wastage and recovering costs. The Alberta government has not said how much it will charge, but has said the cost for the government to buy each shot is about $110. Dr. Nichelle Desilets, president of Doctors Manitoba, said 'the majority of strongly recommended vaccines are publicly funded. 'In the past, things like annually recommended flu shots and COVID shots have been funded at no cost to the patient, provided that they have a valid Manitoba health card. And so, going forward, we would expect that vaccines that are strongly recommended by public health would be supported through government funding of that vaccine and of that service.' Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
14-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
North Point Douglas weapons incident ongoing: officials
Access for vehicles, boats, and pedestrians on the Disraeli Bridge and east and west ramps at Sutherland Avenue continues to be closed off Saturday as police respond to a weapons incident. Winnipeg police Const. Dani McKinnon said the area has been closed 'out of an abundance of caution.' McKinnon said the incident began when police received a report of shots fired on the 100 block of Grove Street at 5:30 a.m. KEVIN ROLLASON / FREE PRESS Winnipeg police have a heavy presence around the Disraeli Bridge Saturday as they respond to a weapons incident. 'Nobody was injured,' she said during a 1:30 p.m. news conference near the incident site. 'An individual armed with a firearm — an adult male — was involved and he transitioned from there to the Sutherland and Disraeli Bridge area. Police have cordoned it off and the area should be avoided for public safety.' She said the river is closed to boat traffic for about two kilometres on either side of the Disraeli Bridge. McKinnon said the individual is barricaded outside in an area under the bridge. Police negotiators have been talking to the man — who is known to police — for hours. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. 'We have the river, the bridge and there are footpaths,' she said. 'Lots of people are on the river. This has stymied all that and we understand it … we have the appropriate resources here ready to respond to keep the community, the individual, and the police as safe as possible.' McKinnon said the incident is in an area where no nearby residents had to be evacuated. 'We want this to end peacefully and be resolved in a timely manner.' Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
