Winnipeg Human Rights News: August 13th-19th

In this week’s news, racism graffiti emerges in Winnipeg, one non-profit gets an unexpected gift from the Canada Games, St. Boniface residents face toxic metals in soil, a tearful reunion occurs at the airport, and much more.

Missing Persons AlertUPDATE: Kamryn Greyeyes has been found safe. UPDATE: Dakota Hunter has been found safe. Scott Hadath

Poverty & Community Outreach

1. 'Match made in heaven': Canada Games donates bunk beds to Main Street Project: CBC

2. Downtown Commons: the sequel: Winnipeg Free Press

3. Search party numbers dwindle in hunt for logger missing from Duck Mountain camp: CBC

Gender & Sexuality

1. 'Feels like dreamland': First Flin Flon Pride begins as rainbow flag raised at city hall: CBC

2. Ghanaian LGBT activist unfazed by hateful backlash: CBC

Refugees & Race

1. UN refugee agency checks on asylum seekers in Emerson: CBC

2. Border crossings up slightly in July: Winnipeg Free Press

3. 'It's going to be tearful': Yazidi family to be reunited after rescue from ISIS:CBC, Winnipeg Free Press

4. Tearful reunion as Yazidi boy arrives in Winnipeg: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg Free Press

5. Yazidi refugee boy's reunion with his mother brings kudos — and concerns:CBC

6. Freed Yazidi boy adjusting to life in Winnipeg: Winnipeg Free Press

Racism

1. 'Evil in the air': Former Winnipegger describes downtown Charlottesville following attack: CBC

2. Fake Winnipeg Transit Page Causing a Stir using Racism: APTN News (Video)

3. 'Sickened ... not surprised': More racist graffiti turns up in Winnipeg: CBC,Winnipeg Free Press

4. Far right groups have Winnipeg supporters and must be opposed, says activist, former professor: CBC

5. Hateful graffiti turns up in Winnipeg, alarming residents, Jewish group: CBC

6. Glover laments violence in U.S. during speech to unionists in Winnipeg: Winnipeg Free Press

Environment

1. Flin Flon air quality warning ended: CBC

2. Manitoba gets extra help battling wildfires: CBC

3. Assiniboine Park Zoo released sewage into river, city documents say: CBC,Winnipeg Free Press

4. Lake trout 'a canary in a coal mine' for climate change: researcher: CBC

5. NDP worried about impact of American water-diversion projects: Winnipeg Free Press

6. Planting the seed for soybean-processing facility: Winnipeg Free Press

7. Parker lands battle in Court of Appeal: Winnipeg Free Press

8. Protest expands to occupy forest: Winnipeg Free Press

9. Trees enhance our health and well-being: Winnipeg Free Press

St. Boniface Soil Testing

1. 'You shouldn't be able to taste the metal in your mouth': St. B residents begin air-quality talks with gov't: Winnipeg Free Press 

2. St. Boniface residents meet with province to demand new air tests: CBC

3. Testing reveals toxic heavy metals in St. Boniface soil: CBC

4. Don't eat your garden veggies until St. B soil tested: prof: Winnipeg Free Press

5. Residents push for new air-quality tests: Winnipeg Free Press

6. Crop of contamination in St. B?: Winnipeg Free Press

Health

1. Pharmacy dispensing fee payments now capped at $30: CBC

2. 'There were a lot of boos': 500 pack hall in Grandview, Man., to discuss EMS overhaul: CBC

3. Manitoba families find few detox beds for recovering addicts: CBC

4. Relief line aims to reduce stigma: Winnipeg Free Press

5. Nursing changes will reduce need for overtime, WRHA head says: CBC

6. More than 500 Winnipeg nurses to be offered new jobs after positions deleted:CBC, Winnipeg Free Press

7. WRHA announces $19.9M in renovations to deal with massive health-care revamp:CBC

8. New intermediate intensive care unit at HSC budgeted at $4.8 million: Winnipeg Free Press

9. Province nurses health care through big change: Winnipeg Free Press

Indigenous

1. 'We just don't want it to be forgotten': Tina Fontaine's family, friends gather 3 years later: CBC

2. Gambler First Nation forms unique partnership with oil firm: CBC

3. Indigenous families facing eviction ask feds to intervene: CBC

4. 'Pray for the waters': Great Water Gathering brings Indigenous, non-Indigenous protectors together: CBC

5. A tense moment with the Prime Minister: CBC

6. How art and spirituality are defining the 'water protectors': CBC

7. Norway House woman tired of leaky roof, chief blames lack of funding: APTN News

8. New program aims to teach organizations about Indigenous ways: Winnipeg Free Press, APTN News (Video)

Justice

1. Man who faked physiotherapy licence recently worked at Halifax clinic using alias:CBC

2. Why this man's van wasn't included in a huge Ford recall: CBC

3. Canada Post requests access to documents seized for RCMP fraud investigation at Winnipeg plant: CBC

4. RCMP officers face probe over drunk-driving allegations: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press

5. Inmate died days after force used in arrest, police watchdog says: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press

6. Mind vs. matter: Winnipeg Free Press

7. Despite acquittals, there is reason to believe sex assault victims: Winnipeg Free Press

8. Life's not fare -- at least for some: Winnipeg Free Press

In the Courts

1. Francophone beats speeding ticket issued by non-bilingual officer: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press

2. Family of Winnipeg teacher who died on field trip sues school division: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press

3. Man pleads not criminally responsible in home invasion, sexual assault that seriously injured elderly couple: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press

4. Court told of savage attack on Selkirk couple: Winnipeg Free Press

5. Manitoba senators score court win: Winnipeg Free Press

The Police Need Your Help

1. Police seek man who tried to pull woman into van in Winnipeg: CBC

2. Sexual assault suspect wanted for Sherbrook Street arson: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press

3. Police seek 1 woman, 2 men in connection with attack: CBC

Politics

Provincial

1. Wab Kinew speaks out after anonymous emails disclose past charges: CBC,Winnipeg Free Press

2. Steve Ashton wants to make racist and homophobic insults a crime: Winnipeg Free Press

3. Pallister adds new face, new department in cabinet shuffle: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg Free Press

4. The simple truth is better than these strange fictions: Winnipeg Free Press

Churchill

1. Transportation agency probes Omnitrax complaints: CBC 

2. Churchill mayor, feds meet about rail line: Winnipeg Free Press

3. By doing nothing, Omnitrax wins: Winnipeg Free Press

Disability

1. 'Nothing makes you angrier': Manitoba couple wants steeper fines for parking scofflaws: CBC

Check out our human rights calendar for upcoming events! The summer is always a little bit less busy, as people take time to enjoy the outdoors and relax - but stay tuned to our calendar! We'll keep looking for events to add in the coming weeks! :)