Law courts cancel Winnipeg event amid ‘pressing need to make hotel spaces available’

Smoke from a wildfire near Sherridon, Man. is seen on May 28, 2025. (Michelle Reimer)

The Manitoba Court of King’s Bench, along with the Saskatchewan Court of King’s Bench, have cancelled a joint event amid “the pressing need to make hotel spaces available.”

In a statement made Sunday, the event was described as a “joint education session” that was to be held in Winnipeg the week of June 2.

Premier Wab Kinew previously stated that “the hotels are already full across Manitoba,” prompting the provincial government to set up congregate shelters for wildfire evacuees.

Roughly 17,000 people in the province are being evacuated in northern Manitoba, with many evacuees anticipated to come to Winnipeg.

The statement also cites the state of emergency in both provinces as a reason behind the cancellation.

“The courts are mindful of the serious and devastating impact these fires are having on communities in both provinces and of the institutional need to provide support to the efforts already underway,” reads the statement.

Correction: An earlier version of this story included the number of conferences coming to Winnipeg in June. We are updating that number and regret the error.