r/Winnipeg

All my life, I’ve seen ads for the deep and delicious cake, people say it’s a part of Canadian heritage and tradition, friends rave about it over and over. Growing up in Winnipeg (and Canada in general), it felt impossible to escape; yet I’d never had one.

One day after hearing a group of friends gushing about it for the millionth time, I mentioned that I’d never actually tried it. They promptly told me that I needed to try it because It was the best thing ever.

A few weeks later I come home and open the freezer, and Lo and Behold there was a McCain deep and delicious chocolate cake in the freezer. I was pretty excited to try, and asked my sister how it was. She also sang its praises which made me even more eager to have some.

So I cut myself a piece and took a bite; long story short it was the most mid cake I have ever tasted. Not insultingly bad in any way but just mid. The flavour was bland, the icing and cake blended together. I can’t remember exactly what it tasted like because this was a while ago but I do remember being thoroughly disappointed.

But I put the experience to the back of my mind and forgot about it. Today, (a couple months later) I saw a Twitter post about the cake. The comments were filled with people absolutely showering it with love, not a single one even slightly negative about the cake. People saying that it’s an amazing Canadian thing. I seriously don’t understand why people love it so much, I get everyone has different tastes but it seems so bizarre that an entire country has been tricked into LOVING something so average. What am I missing?

TL;DR: After hearing every Canadian praise this cake and never having it, I tried it and found it to be very bland and average. Wondering why everyone loves it so much and sees it as an important part of Canadiana

I am aware of three family members that were hacked this week due to their legacy MTS email accounts. The hacker accessed the emails somehow and bought new I-phones with their Bell accounts and did sim card swaps. The hacker now had control of their phones and and emails so they controlled the 2 factor authentication.
They proceeded to access bank accounts and credit cards. note: please don’t say they should be more careful with giving out passwords. The hackers found another way to access the email accounts. Just a heads up for everyone, the MTS legacy email accounts have weak security.

Looking for a nicer resteraunt to celebrate my 40th birthday with a girlfriend. We don't get together often so looking for something a little nicer than the average.

The Winnipeg Humane Society has been forced to put a halt on all animal intakes as its holding areas are at capacity.

"When we're this overwhelmed, in terms of lack of space and capacity, we just have to pause," said spokesperson Carly Peters.

"We still will take sick and injured animals, but even under our triage policy we've raised that to critically sick and injured animals."

In July, the shelter in southwest Winnipeg took in 500 animals. This month has seen another 324 so far — 250 of which are cats and kittens.

"So right now our holding [area] in the back is so full that we are having to put some cats and kittens into the adoption rooms," Peters told Information Radio guest host Cory Funk on Wednesday.

"And we have been seeing more sick and injured animals, which not only take up space in the shelter, [they] also take up staff resources."

An example of that is puppies with parvo, a contagious viral disease that can cause vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms.

"They have to go into isolation, which requires our staff to be dressed in full PPE in order to care for them," Peters said.

Despite its abundance of animals, only a handful are listed for adoption on the society's website. Peters said that’s because the "pipeline" is so backed up with animals needing care.

"We are really trying to work through those spay and neuters and make sure that animals are healthy and ready to go to their forever homes," she said.

"Touch base with us in a couple weeks and we're going to be at capacity for adoptions."

It's been more than a year since the humane society has had to implement an intake freeze, but it's something that seems to be happening more frequently over the past decade, Peters said.

The organization has seen the occasional intake surge after backyard breeding operations or puppy mills are dismantled by government officials. Other mass intakes have been due to owners experiencing mental health issues.

"As most rescues will tell you right now, everyone's been at capacity. Everybody has been stretched thin for a really long time," Peters said. "We just hit a breaking point and need to catch up."

The pause also gives staff a chance to gain some ground, she said.

"Burnout in rescue is real. There's only so many hours in the day and everyone is working really hard. If I'm being honest, it's tough. Everyone is feeling being stretched."

More owners have recently been surrendering pets due to an inability to afford veterinary care, Peters said.

Many cats being surrendered have urinary blockages or other ailments that could be quite expensive to treat "and vet care has just gone up so much," she said, noting that 120 of the 324 animals that came in this month so far — 37 per cent — were owner surrenders.

The costs borne by the humane society to care for the animals can ascend quickly.

Most healthy cats, for instance, only spend a few days in care before being adopted, but even then it will cost $200 to $300, Peters said. The number rises dramatically with medical and behavioural cases and longer stays.

The society gets revenue from fundraising events, program fees, pet adoptions and a partnership with The Winnipeg Foundation, but more than 65 per cent of the budget relies on donations and bequests from the public.

When it comes to space limitations, the organization also relies on people becoming fosters.

"Once these animals are stable or they've had their treatment, but they still need some time to heal, it's great to have that happen in a temporary loving foster home," Peters said.

"That means we can open up space to bring in more animals."

While intake is paused, the humane society is maintaining its various community resources and supports, such as the pet food bank, Peters said.

"Our goal is to keep people and their pets together and keep animals out of the shelter," she said.

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By: Darren Bernhardt · CBC News

Published: Aug 19, 2026 10:32 AM CDT

Last Updated: 27 minutes ago

I'm angry about this. The US gov't is still waging economic warfare on us and I am still trying to boycott. Loblaws seems to have stopped putting country of origin on the signs for fruits and vegetables. I have a lot of reasons for disliking Loblaws, but this one is now the top of the list. Is this happening in other chain grocery stores, too?

What do people do for work? Or is everyone unemployed like me right now?

I guess there’s kids and university students off right now but it’s not uncommon for the person in the car beside me to be middle aged. It didn’t used to be like this, what are you guys doing driving around in the middle of the day????

Just a random question but even if this tariff deal is cancelled or paused and they put American alcohol back on the shelf, is anyone going to buy it? I like bourbon but I’ve found Canadian alternative whiskeys now so I really don’t think putting American alcohol back on the shelf is going to change my buying habits

Our car is beyond repair and we are looking at buying something as cheap as possible to get us through the next year or two before we can make a better investment. I see a lot of cheaper used cars on Facebook that say they haven't been safetied. Do you always have to get a safety inspection before registering a new car? Back in Alberta it was basically a free for all when it comes to used cars but it seems more complicated here. Basically we are trying to figure out what the cheapest way to buy a used car will be without MPI fees or inspections being too much.

More than 125 people have utilized Manitoba’s first safe consumption site during its inaugural week.

Located at 366 Henry Ave., the concept sparked a stark divide between some who viewed it as a valuable harm reduction tool and others who believed it would promote drug use and negatively impact the surrounding neighbourhood.

For one outreach organization, the addition has been effective so far.

“It’s going well, people are using the site,” says Main Street Project executive director Jamil Mamood.

“We think it’s important people understand what’s happening and why it’s important, and [to] also know that people need this service to stay alive. If that’s [a safe consumption site] the best way to do it, then we should be providing it.”

The province has stressed since the opening date of the site was first floated that it’s not a location where drugs would be provided. Instead, users bring their own products and can take them and be supported should issues arise.

Still, some believe the site is part of an approach by the province that’s far too lenient.

That includes Joseph Fourre with the Singing Red Bear Foundation, an organization aimed at raising drug poisoning awareness.

“I’ve always talked about a balanced approach to the opioid crisis and part of that is treatment, part of that is enforcement, and part of that is public awareness,” explains Fourre. “None of those other three pillars are being activated in this province. They put all their cards on harm reduction and, in my opinion, it’s only prolonged the agony of addiction.”

When utilizing the site, the province says users can access primary health care and addictions and housing supports.

The consumption site is being run by the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre. No one from the organization was available for an interview, but a statement was provided to Global News.

“Throughout its first full week of operation, the site provided immediate access to crucial harm reduction resources, including the successful administration of on-site drug checking services. Beyond the immediate medical benefits, the facility has quickly established itself as a trusted environment for vulnerable individuals.”

The statement goes on to say the work has been a collaborative effort between government, sector agencies and first responders.

According to the city, this April saw 810 emergency responses to drug poisonings. That’s more than triple the amount in the same time period last year.

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By: Vasilios Bellos • Global News

Published: August 18, 2026 9:29 pm

A man wanted in connection with a series of commercial break-ins, vehicle thefts and property crimes in Winnipeg and Headingley has been arrested.

The Winnipeg Police Service says Jesse Lafreniere was taken into custody on Tuesday following a “brief foot chase” in the northeast part of the city.

Lafreniere was charged with break and enter, theft, possession of stolen property and more. The allegations against him have not been tested in court.

He’s the second suspect arrested by police in their investigation into 13 separate incidents from April 20 to June 28 in Winnipeg and Headingley.

Authorities estimate $140,000 of property was stolen, from trailers, lawn equipment, and mechanical equipment to motorcycles, bicycles, and a vehicle.

Investigators allege stolen vehicles and stolen licence plates were used during the offences, and that the suspects frequently wore disguises.

A 35-year-old man was arrested Aug. 4. Police say a search of a home later in the day revealed stolen property, a rifle, ammunition, and a lock cutter. He was charged with 22 offences, including break and enter, theft, weapons charges, and possession of stolen property.

Police allege both suspects were wearing electronic monitoring bracelets during the incidents.

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By: News Staff

Published: August 19, 2026 11:57 am.

On a Tuesday afternoon near their home in Cooks Creek, Medric Comberbach and his dog Birdie enjoy the sun by tossing a frisbee around outside. This year, that same sun is also paying off.

“In the last three months, I have not had to pay Manitoba Hydro; they’ve actually started to pay me,” Comberbach said with a smile.

Comberbach had a large solar panel unit installed in 2022.

When CTV News last spoke with him, he was initially disappointed with the return on his investment, but that changed this April with a big price boost.

“It was over seven cents a kilowatt, so it almost doubled, which made a huge difference when you’re talking 1,000 kilowatts of excess power.”

That excess power is sold back to Manitoba Hydro. The Crown corporation said there’s been an uptick in Manitobans going solar, about a 13 per cent increase over the last five years.

“Right now we have about 2,100 customers who own their own solar array and are selling excess energy back to Manitoba Hydro,” said Peter Chura, media relations officer with Manitoba Hydro.

The Crown corporation said the current excess energy price at nearly 7.2 cents is the highest it’s ever been. This time last year, that same price was 4.3 cents.

“Now I have a credit of $9 for the last three months, but it’s nice when you don’t have to pay a hydro bill at the end of the month,” Comberbach said.

That didn’t come cheap however - Comberbach paid $34,000 for the installation minus $10,000 received in grant money from Efficiency Manitoba and the federal government. It might take a decade for him to see the return on investment.

Manitoba-based Powertec Solar installed his unit and said the business is expanding.

“Our focus has now more so been on farms and businesses because where they’ve taken away on the residential side, they’ve certainly added in on the commercial and farm side,” said Tyler McPherson, solar sales consultant with Powertec Solar.

McPherson said the number of farms using solar has tripled from last year. They have completed 1,000 installations across Manitoba since 2020, 150 of those came last year.

Efficiency Manitoba said this is in part due to their rebate increases that came into effect in May 2025, helping farmers and business owners.

“That increase from 50 cents per watt to 75 cents per watt has really driven business,” said Jana Brunel, strategic initiatives manager with Efficiency Manitoba.

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By: Joseph Bernacki

Published: August 18, 2026 at 7:35p.m. EDT

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I'm doing a bit of a road trip between Saskatoon and Toronto and so I will be stopping in Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, and the Sault. I'll have my dog with me so I'm looking for some recommended places to do a couple hour long walks. We walk all kinds of areas like parks, older neighbourhoods, wooded areas, or shop-lined streets. I could also use some recommendations for local restaurants for dinner and breakfast (extra points for a spot where I can grab breakfast while on our walk!) Thanks!