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Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Crankshaft comes to Winnipeg
School is out, and cranky bus driver Ed Crankshaft is headed on a road trip — to Winnipeg. Crankshaft and his son-in-law Jeff Murdoch — who for the better part of the last decade has sported Winnipeg Blue Bombers sweatshirts and tuques in the Crankshaft comic strip — are set to begin a daily month-long story arc where they visit the Manitoba capital to see a football game. The story begins today and can be read in the Free Press and nearly 500 other newspapers that carry the strip, including the Los Angeles Times, Denver Post, Dallas Morning News and Seattle Times. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Ohio-based Crankshaft comic illustrator and avid Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan Tom Batiuk, who is finally in Winnipeg to see a Bomber game and do research on the city for a future comic strip, at Portage and Main on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. For Nicole story. Winnipeg Free Press 2024 MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Ohio-based Crankshaft comic illustrator and avid Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan Tom Batiuk, who is finally in Winnipeg to see a Bomber game and do research on the city for a future comic strip, at Portage and Main on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. For Nicole story. Winnipeg Free Press 2024 Along the way, Winnipeggers will delight in seeing some familiar faces and places. 'It worked out really well,' creator Tom Batiuk said during a recent phone interview from his home and office in Ohio. 'It really is enjoyable when we can take Crankshaft through a real-life experience. As a kid, reading comics in the paper, I always liked it when they touched on real events and real people.' Batiuk visited Winnipeg last summer to research the city and took in a game at Princess Auto Stadium, as a guest of the Bombers. He even ran out on the field with the team before the game. The 78-year-old writes his storylines about a year before they run in newspapers and admits this series and its real-life characters had him sweating for months. 'I was holding my breath hoping anybody mentioned in the strip doesn't get traded,' he said. Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea features in three of the strips, and mascots Buzz and Boomer make an appearance in another. 'It's a real honour to be featured in Crankshaft — especially knowing Tom Batiuk is such a passionate supporter of the club,' said O'Shea, whose honours include six Grey Cup rings — including two as Bombers coach — and player awards as the CFL's most outstanding rookie and most outstanding Canadian. 'When you coach in a place like Winnipeg, where the fans, the history and the community mean everything, it's pretty special to see that spirit captured in something as iconic as a comic strip.' Cody Chomiak, Travel Manitoba's vice-president of marketing, said having Winnipeg featured in a comic strip is the kind of publicity you can't buy. 'This is marketing gold for us,' Chomiak said. 'Getting organically featured in pop culture, whether it's a movie, series, comic or otherwise, can be just as impactful as traditional advertising. 'We love that this piece highlights such an important sports team and integrates our iconic skyline — what a great way to shine a spotlight on Winnipeg and Manitoba.' Starved for football when the NFL locked out its players in 2011, Batiuk began flipping television channels and came across the Blue and Gold in action. He loved the name of the team's quarterback — Buck Pierce, now head coach of the B.C. Lions — but he also fell in love with the team and the Canadian style of football. Batiuk has continued to follow the Bombers long after the NFL labour strife ended. It's why, for years, Batiuk has added Bombers logos onto shirts worn by some of the characters. 'The strips are a quarter inch from my real life,' Batiuk said. 'When you are doing daily newspaper comic strips — and at one point I was doing three at once — you scratch at all parts of your life for it. When the Bombers invited me to run out onto the field, I was immediately thinking Crankshaft could do that.' Batiuk said he took plenty of photographs when he was in Winnipeg with his wife, Cathy. Although he is the creator of Crankshaft, which began in 1987 as a spinoff from his comic strip Funky Winkerbean, he doesn't draw the cartoon. 'I wanted (illustrator) Dan Davis to have lots of references,' he said. 'He really nailed it. Dan does terrific work.' As to whether Crankshaft will ever return to Winnipeg, Batiuk doesn't know. 'I would certainly love to come back sometime,' he said. 'The Bombers organization treated us well. It was just great. 'And the game was amazing, too — it was really exciting. At the last minute, the pass was into the end zone and they won. 'I would come back just for that.' 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.
National Post
16-07-2025
- Business
- National Post
Exchange Income Corporation and the Government of Nunavut Enter into Long Term Air Service Agreement for the Entire Territory of Nunavut
Article content WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Exchange Income Corporation (TSX: EIF) ('EIC' or the 'Corporation') a diversified, acquisition-oriented company focused on opportunities in the Aerospace & Aviation and Manufacturing segments, announces that its wholly owned subsidiary Calm Air International LP ('Calm Air') and its newly acquired subsidiary Bradley Air Services Limited, doing business as Canadian North ('Canadian North'), have entered into a long term agreement (the 'Agreement') with the Government of Nunavut ('GN') for the provision of medical travel, family services travel, duty travel and less than load air freight for all of Nunavut. These services are currently being provided by Calm Air in the Kivalliq region and Canadian North in the Kitikmeot and Qikiqtaaluk region. The Agreement extends the provision of those services by Calm Air and Canadian North for 10 years with an option for the parties to extend the agreement for an additional 5 years, providing long term stability to EIC's operations in Nunavut. Article content Although the scope of the services under the Agreement remains the same, the tenor of the Agreement is focused on collaboration, communication, adaptability to meet the needs of Nunavut and flexibility to address changes in the aviation industry. The Agreement reflects the desire of the GN and EIC to work in partnership to achieve their mutual objective of providing enduring, stable and affordable air travel in Nunavut. As a further reflection of the deep partnership between EIC and the GN, EIC has granted the GN an option to purchase a significant minority of Canadian North. The option is exercisable for one year from the date of the Agreement. If the GN exercises the option, the term of the Agreement is automatically extended to 15 years. Article content 'We are thrilled to be the GN's choice to provide long term air services to Nunavut, and it is reflective of the trusted and valued relationship we have with the GN. The North is a unique and challenging environment to operate in, but our airlines have been doing it successfully for over 50 years. It's what we do and do well,' stated Mike Pyle CEO of EIC. He continued, 'We understand the importance of air travel in Nunavut, the pivotal role the GN plays as its core customer, the long term commitments that are required to be successful and the need to work in partnership with the communities which means investing in the communities and in their people. This is why over the years we have made significant investments in infrastructure in the communities, supported youth sporting events, annually bring community members to Winnipeg to attend the Winnipeg Blue Bomber game played in honor of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and established the Atik Mason Indigenous Pilot Pathway in Rankin Inlet – which we recently announced the doubling of its size in Nunavut in 2026. This long term Agreement provides significant stability of our operations in the North and allows EIC to continue to make these types of investments in Nunavut for years to come.' Article content About Exchange Income Corporation Article content Exchange Income Corporation is a diversified acquisition-oriented company, focused in two segments: Aerospace & Aviation and Manufacturing. The Corporation uses a disciplined acquisition strategy to identify already profitable, well-established companies that have strong management teams, generate steady cash flow, operate in niche markets and have opportunities for organic growth. For more information on the Corporation, please visit Article content Article content . Additional information relating to the Corporation, including all public filings, is available on SEDAR+ ( Article content ). Article content Caution concerning forward-looking statements Article content The statements contained in this news release that are forward-looking are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially. Many of these forward-looking statements may be identified by looking for words such as 'believes', 'expects', 'will', 'may', 'intends', 'projects', 'anticipates', 'plans', 'estimates', 'continues' and similar words or the negative thereof. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, external risks, operational risks, financial risks and human capital risks. External risks include, but are not limited to, risks associated with economic and geopolitical conditions, competition, government funding for Indigenous health care, access to capital, market trends and innovation, general uninsured loss, climate, acts of terrorism, armed conflict, labour and/or social unrest, pandemic, level and timing of government spending, government-funded programs and environmental, social and governance. Operational risks include, but are not limited to, significant contracts and customers, operational performance and growth, laws, regulations and standards, acquisitions (including receiving any requisite regulatory approvals thereof), concentration and diversification, maintenance costs, access to parts and relationships with key suppliers, casualty losses, environmental liability, dependence on information systems and technology, cybersecurity, international operations, fluctuations in sales prices of aviation related assets, fluctuations in purchase prices of aviation related assets, warranty, performance guarantees, global offset and intellectual property risks. Financial risks include, but are not limited to, availability of future financing, income tax matters, commodity risk, foreign exchange, interest rates, credit facility and the trust indentures, dividends, unpredictability and volatility of securities pricing, dilution and other credit risk. Human capital risks include, but are not limited to, reliance on key personnel, employees and labour relations and conflicts of interest. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts
Business Wire
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Exchange Income Corporation and the Government of Nunavut Enter into Long Term Air Service Agreement for the Entire Territory of Nunavut
WINNIPEG, Manitoba--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Exchange Income Corporation (TSX: EIF) ('EIC' or the 'Corporation') a diversified, acquisition-oriented company focused on opportunities in the Aerospace & Aviation and Manufacturing segments, announces that its wholly owned subsidiary Calm Air International LP ('Calm Air') and its newly acquired subsidiary Bradley Air Services Limited, doing business as Canadian North ('Canadian North'), have entered into a long term agreement (the 'Agreement') with the Government of Nunavut ('GN') for the provision of medical travel, family services travel, duty travel and less than load air freight for all of Nunavut. These services are currently being provided by Calm Air in the Kivalliq region and Canadian North in the Kitikmeot and Qikiqtaaluk region. The Agreement extends the provision of those services by Calm Air and Canadian North for 10 years with an option for the parties to extend the agreement for an additional 5 years, providing long term stability to EIC's operations in Nunavut. Although the scope of the services under the Agreement remains the same, the tenor of the Agreement is focused on collaboration, communication, adaptability to meet the needs of Nunavut and flexibility to address changes in the aviation industry. The Agreement reflects the desire of the GN and EIC to work in partnership to achieve their mutual objective of providing enduring, stable and affordable air travel in Nunavut. As a further reflection of the deep partnership between EIC and the GN, EIC has granted the GN an option to purchase a significant minority of Canadian North. The option is exercisable for one year from the date of the Agreement. If the GN exercises the option, the term of the Agreement is automatically extended to 15 years. 'We are thrilled to be the GN's choice to provide long term air services to Nunavut, and it is reflective of the trusted and valued relationship we have with the GN. The North is a unique and challenging environment to operate in, but our airlines have been doing it successfully for over 50 years. It's what we do and do well,' stated Mike Pyle CEO of EIC. He continued, 'We understand the importance of air travel in Nunavut, the pivotal role the GN plays as its core customer, the long term commitments that are required to be successful and the need to work in partnership with the communities which means investing in the communities and in their people. This is why over the years we have made significant investments in infrastructure in the communities, supported youth sporting events, annually bring community members to Winnipeg to attend the Winnipeg Blue Bomber game played in honor of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and established the Atik Mason Indigenous Pilot Pathway in Rankin Inlet – which we recently announced the doubling of its size in Nunavut in 2026. This long term Agreement provides significant stability of our operations in the North and allows EIC to continue to make these types of investments in Nunavut for years to come.' About Exchange Income Corporation Exchange Income Corporation is a diversified acquisition-oriented company, focused in two segments: Aerospace & Aviation and Manufacturing. The Corporation uses a disciplined acquisition strategy to identify already profitable, well-established companies that have strong management teams, generate steady cash flow, operate in niche markets and have opportunities for organic growth. For more information on the Corporation, please visit Additional information relating to the Corporation, including all public filings, is available on SEDAR+ ( Caution concerning forward-looking statements The statements contained in this news release that are forward-looking are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially. Many of these forward-looking statements may be identified by looking for words such as 'believes', 'expects', 'will', 'may', 'intends', 'projects', 'anticipates', 'plans', 'estimates', 'continues' and similar words or the negative thereof. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, external risks, operational risks, financial risks and human capital risks. External risks include, but are not limited to, risks associated with economic and geopolitical conditions, competition, government funding for Indigenous health care, access to capital, market trends and innovation, general uninsured loss, climate, acts of terrorism, armed conflict, labour and/or social unrest, pandemic, level and timing of government spending, government-funded programs and environmental, social and governance. Operational risks include, but are not limited to, significant contracts and customers, operational performance and growth, laws, regulations and standards, acquisitions (including receiving any requisite regulatory approvals thereof), concentration and diversification, maintenance costs, access to parts and relationships with key suppliers, casualty losses, environmental liability, dependence on information systems and technology, cybersecurity, international operations, fluctuations in sales prices of aviation related assets, fluctuations in purchase prices of aviation related assets, warranty, performance guarantees, global offset and intellectual property risks. Financial risks include, but are not limited to, availability of future financing, income tax matters, commodity risk, foreign exchange, interest rates, credit facility and the trust indentures, dividends, unpredictability and volatility of securities pricing, dilution and other credit risk. Human capital risks include, but are not limited to, reliance on key personnel, employees and labour relations and conflicts of interest. Except as required by Canadian Securities Law, Exchange Income Corporation does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements; such statements speak only as of the date made. Further information about these and other risks and uncertainties can be found in the disclosure documents filed by Exchange Income Corporation with the securities regulatory authorities, available at
