Posted by Tyler Sutherland

Hockey arenas across the province will be buzzing with activity this weekend as the MILK Provincial “AAAA” High School Hockey Championships get underway.

The Vincent Massey Trojans, Garden Valley Zodiacs of Winkler, Westwood Warriors, St. Paul’s Crusaders, Crocus Plains Plainsmen from Brandon and the Dakota Lancers will take part in round robin games over three days beginning Friday morning, March 12. Dakota Community Centre will play host for the round robin, and the semi-finals will be held at Keith Bodley Arena on Saturday evening, March 13. The championship will take place Monday, March 15 at the St. James Civic Centre starting at 7:30 p.m.

Over in Killarney, the Provincial “AA” Championships will include defending champions the Killarney Raiders, the Pembina Tigers (a co-op that includes Nellie McClung Collegiate in Manitou, Pilot Mound and Cartwright Schools), Neepawa Tigers, Souris Sabres, Carman Cougars and Morris Mavericks. Games get underway Thursday morning, March 11, with the championship final scheduled for Saturday, March 13.

Posted by Tyler Sutherland

An Environmental Career Fair to assist graduate students, new grads, undergrads and high school students takes place today at the University of Manitoba.

Between 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., a variety of exhibitors will be available to answer questions and share information about their companies. The fair will showcase the wide variety of environmental careers available in Manitoba.

The career fair takes place in the Multi-Purpose Room at the U of M’s Fort Garry campus.

More information and a list of exhibitors is available online.

Canadian R&B singer Deborah Cox will be this year’s headlining talent at the Pride Festival on June 6 at The Forks.

Cox’s 1998 song “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” held the record for the longest-running number one single on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles list for 14 weeks.

“This is a big year for us — the Pride Festival is moving to The Forks and we are putting together a line-up of top-notch entertainment to mark the occasion,” said Barb Burkowski, Chair of the Winnipeg Pride committee. “We are working with a number of great sponsors this year, and we are particularly excited to partner with Manitoba Homecoming 2010.”

Cox is known to frequently perform at pride festivities, such as in the photo above, shot at the Los Angeles Pride Festival in June 2009.

Pride Week community events begin in the city March 28. A complete list is available on PrideWinnipeg.com.

To get ahead of the ice jams before they can develop on the Red River, the Province of Manitoba has already put two icebreaking Amphibex machines to work north of Selkirk in Breezy Point. In anticipation for river levels almost as high as last year, officials are hoping to prevent flooding before it has an impact on homes near the river bank.

Water Stewardship Minister Christine Melnick says over $230,000 in additional support has been committed this year for ice-cutting and icebreaking operations.

On Tuesday, the province held a demonstration of the Amphibexes at work, which have been operating since the second week of February.

Watch:

Warning signs have been placed on the ice to warn people to stay clear. That was the crucial message Minister Melnick wanted to get across Tuesday. The ice isn’t as thick as it was during this time last year. The ice on the Red River ranges from 18 to 28 inches thick, compared to 24 to 36 inches last year. A few kilometres north of Selkirk near Lockport, some ice fishers have already removed their huts from the river, but a few still remain. Nearby, ice-cutting equipment weakens the ice in preparation for the Amphibexes.

The province has budgeted $1 million this year to operate the machinery.

ChrisD.ca video

The goal of $1 million set by the Victoria General Hospital Foundation to outfit two surgical suites with state- of-the-art minimally invasive surgery technology has been achieved.

“We are so grateful for our many supporters whose commitment to our hospital has made this 100% donor-funded project possible,” said Victoria General Hospital Foundation Executive Director Charlene Rocke in a statement. Rocke noted the generous contribution made by the Martin Bergen family, whose gift put the hospital’s goal within reach.

This is the first remodeling of the surgical suites since they were designed over 35 years ago. New high definition cameras, flat-panel monitors, and lights attached to mechanical arms mounted on the ceiling will be included in the renovation.

The hospital’s campaign to raise $9.5 million has almost been reached, with only $700,000 remaining. The Medicine & Miracles campaign has been possible by the support of private and corporate donors.

Posted by Brian Schultz

After nearly 24 hours camping on the rooftop of the Osborne Street firehall, Winnipeg firefighters are trying to raise more money for charity than their counterparts in Edmonton did.

Firefighters are taking donations for Muscular Dystrophy Canada and hope to raise $50,000. The event is set to only run until Friday, but the guys are determined to stay until their goal is reached.

A small group of firefighters began camping out Monday morning and will operate in shifts.

By late Monday, almost $7,000 had been raised.

If you’d like to make a donation, you can do so at any Winnipeg firehall or online.

Image credit: Facebook

Posted by Brian Schultz

After the balmy temperatures Winnipeg experienced over the weekend, The Forks has wrapped up its winter programming for the season.

Late last month, Saison Voyageur came to a close with Slushfest to wind down the chilly activities. Then on Friday, the Assiniboine River Trail was closed for another year.

Arctic Glacier Winter Park was also shuttered, as Winnipeg police warned Monday for people to stay off the river. Over the weekend, open water was reported near the St. James Bridge, as people continued to walk on the trail.

Because the trail is closed, officials at The Forks no longer maintain it and monitor the conditions for public safety.

ChrisD.ca photo/Marc Evans

Freeze Frame 2010 is holding an “Acting for Animators” workshop on Wednesday with animator Marieke Von Middlekoop.

The evening session will focus on the differences between stage acting and acting for animators. The connections between thought, emotion, action, scene construction, characters and story telling will also be examined.

The workshop runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the 2nd floor of Portage Place Shopping Centre.

To register, or for more information, call 943-5341.

Posted by David Klassen

Winnipeg police began pulling over motorists Monday for obeying traffic laws and driving safe. It’s part of the “Two Minutes for Driving Good” campaign to promote the upcoming 21st Annual Old Timer’s Hockey Challenge, where hockey legends will face-off against the Winnipeg Police Service Patrolmen Hockey Club.

Next Monday, March 15, the game will take place at MTS Centre. A portion of the proceeds will go to support the Rainbow Society.

Motorists stopped by police for good driving behaviour will receive two tickets to the game. Alternatively, you can pick up your tickets at Ticketmaster, or at the door. Chief Keith McCaskill will drop the puck at 7 p.m.

Former NHL players expected to play include Dale Hawerchuk, Bryan Trottier, Glenn Anderson, Billy Smith, Borje Salming and Bobby Hull (coach). Winnipeg Jets Legends Laurie Boschman, Jimmy Mann and Dave Ellett will also be suiting up against Winnipeg Police Service members. The line-up will also be complimented by NHL legends Theoren Fleury, Bob Probert, Bernie Nichols, Cliff Ronning, Dave “Tiger” Williams and Ron Hogarth (referee).

Almost $200,000 has been raised since the Patrolmen began their team in 1998.

This Chevrolet Blazer rolled on the south Perimeter Highway late Monday afternoon. Traffic was reduced to one lane just east of Waverley Street.

No word on any injuries or what lead to the accident.

ChrisD.ca photos

A 40-year-old Dauphin man was thrown from his snowmobile after hitting a culvert Sunday afternoon. Police say the incident happened just before 4:30 p.m. approximately 30 kms southwest of Dauphin.

A group of snowmobilers were riding along a groomed trail, when the man lost control of his machine.

He was taken to Dauphin Hospital, but has since been transferred to Winnipeg for treatment of his injuries, which include a broken leg.

RCMP say alcohol is suspected to be a factor in the collision.

CJOB, Power 97 and Groove FM will soon have a new home in the old CTV Winnipeg studios in Polo Park.

Staff of the radio stations were told of the move Monday morning, which has been in the works for several years.

Construction is said to take place almost immediately, and all three Corus Entertainment stations could be in their new home by January 1, 2011.

CJOB has been in its current digs at 930 Portage Avenue since the 1960’s.