Year in review: A look at events in May 2024

Winnipeg: May 2024 was quite a month, filled with events that caught everyone’s attention. For starters, Peguis First Nation declared a state of emergency due to severe flooding. Chief Stan Bird highlighted the emotional toll on the community, especially among the youth, leading to a rise in self-harm and addiction issues. They even filed a $1 billion lawsuit against the federal and provincial governments for not doing enough to prevent the flooding.

Then, the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion finally started transporting crude oil from Alberta to British Columbia. This project took over four years to complete and is now one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in Canadian history.

In Vancouver, a woman was arrested for making hate-filled comments during a speech that praised a terrorist attack. The police are investigating whether her remarks broke hate crime laws. Meanwhile, StubHub reported a massive 93% increase in sales for WNBA games, thanks to a wave of exciting new talent.

On the environmental front, Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions report showed some progress, but there’s still a long way to go. The report indicated that emissions were higher in 2022 as life returned to normal post-COVID.

In Ontario, long-term care homes are now required to install sprinkler systems, leading to some closures as facilities struggle to meet the deadline. Over in China, they launched a lunar probe to explore the moon’s far side, aiming to gather samples and learn more about this less-explored region.

Toronto is gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the federal government providing $104 million to help host matches. This is expected to boost the local economy significantly. In a related story, a federal inquiry found that foreign interference in Canadian elections did not affect the overall results, although it did undermine public confidence in democracy.

In a shocking turn of events, three men were arrested in connection with the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, with ongoing investigations into possible links to the Indian government. The first Arctic Patrol Vessel for Canada’s Pacific fleet was also commissioned, with Princess Anne attending the ceremony.

Winnipeg is also at the center of a crisis involving missing Indigenous women and girls, with a new alert system being launched to address this issue. Research presented in Toronto revealed that Black children and youth wait twice as long for mental health care compared to their white counterparts.

In entertainment news, decorated Vietnam War pilot Dick Rutan passed away at 85, and actor Bernard Hill, known for his roles in “Titanic” and “The Lord of the Rings,” also died at 79. The month wrapped up with significant political developments, including Canada’s stance on Palestinian statehood and a major wildfire threatening communities in Alberta.