With over 2,600 cases of physical damage and bodily injury claims suspected of fraud at Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) in 2025, narrowing the list to only five is challenging. A body builder, aninjured arsonist, a vehicle headed for Dubai, a Porsche hunt, and covert cases of beer stand out amongst the rest of the incidents that MPI’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) investigated, saving Manitoba ratepayers almost $17 million dollars in attempted auto insurance fraud this year. “While many of you will shake your heads or even chuckle at the audacity of some of these cases we are highlighting, MPI is sharing these fraud attempts to emphasize that insurance fraud has a cost, and that cost is borne by all of us in Manitoba,” said John Bowering, MPI’s Vice President & Chief Claims Officer. “Our SIU team is committed to seeking out instances of fraud, and they have a breadth of expertise when it comes to investigations. Their hard work saves Manitobans money and maintains the integrity of our public insurance system.” Every Manitoban can do their part. Anyone with information about auto insurance fraud is encouraged to call the MPI TIPS Line at 204-985-8477 in Winnipeg, toll-free 1-877-985-8477 outside of Winnipeg, or submit information online at mpi.mb.ca. Information can also be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at manitobacrimestoppers.com. All calls and reports are kept anonymous. Fraud 1: Body Builder After a minor two-vehicle collision, a claimant reported injuries so significant that they were unable to go to work, perform their own personal care, or take care of cooking and housekeeping duties for themselves and their children. It was reported that the injuries caused very high pain levels with any activity, including just sitting down. Based on the extent of injury, the claimant was entitled to Income Replacement Benefits and Personal Care Assistance payments under the Personal Injury Protection Program. Due to the severity of the injuries reported in relation to the seriousness of the collision, SIU launched an investigation. The investigators found the claimant spent much of their time at the gym, lifting heavy weights while bending and squatting, making household chores seem mild in comparison. Based on the investigation, MPI terminated all income replacement and personal care benefits. The savings to ratepayers was more than $300,000. Fraud 2: Injured Arsonist A claimant was treated at the hospital for significant burn injuries after a sudden and violent explosion that engulfed their commercial truck in flames in a hotel parking lot. The claimant reported to police and to medical professionals that they had fought the fire with a fire extinguisher for 10 minutes, trying to save the vehicle, sustaining burns in the process. SIU began to investigate and found video evidence of the claimant methodically staging and executing the arson. However, the explosion appeared unplanned and is what caused the claimant’s injuries. At no time was there any evidence of attempts to extinguish the fire. The claim was denied, saving ratepayers approximately $1 million in vehicle and injury claims. Fraud 3: Dubai Bound A claimant reported they returned to a parking lot to find their vehicle had been stolen. A settlement was reached and the claimant was paid. After the payment, MPI was notified by a separate investigating agency that the vehicle had been intercepted in a shipping container in Ontario heading to Dubai, along with 14 other vehicles. The overseas trip was cancelled, and an SIU investigation was opened. Investigators discovered the vehicle was reported stolen after it had already been in Ontario for several days. The vehicle was examined, and there were no indications of forced entry or tampering with the ignition. MPI is in the process of reclaiming the $51,657.54 that was paid out for this fraudulent claim. Fraud 4: A Porsche Hunt A two-vehicle collision occurred and both parties made a claim. One of the vehicles was a Porsche. The accounts given by each party did not match up, nor did the evidence from the scene of the collision. SIU began an investigation. It was determined that the driver of the first vehicle passed by the home of the Porsche’s owner and circled back when the Porsche began to reverse out of the driveway. The vehicle accelerated toward the Porsche, striking it, while the Porsche attempted to take evasive action. The driver of the first vehicle said they tried to avoid the collision, but there was no room due to parked vehicles. After the collision, the driver of the Porsche exited the vehicle and ran into the residence, then came back a short while later with additional people. It was reported to MPI that the fully licensed registered owner of the vehicle was driving and had two other people in the vehicle with them. Investigators found that the registered owner was not in the vehicle and the individual with the Learner’s licence was the only occupant of the Porsche and was driving illegally. It was further found that the parties in both vehicles were known to each other. False statements were provided by both vehicle drivers. An intentional act caused the collision. The claim was denied, saving ratepayers approximately $154,000. Fraud 5: Covert Cases of Beer After a minor collision with minimal reported injuries and damage, a claimant initially reported being able to perform certain aspects of their employment, but as the claim continued, they reported being unable to complete more and more parts of their job due to significant pain. The claimant’s business required them to purchase and transport bulk supplies, and they reported they were unable to complete their tasks as their lifting capacity was zero to five pounds maximum, with a very low tolerance for most activities. Based on the extent of injury and the nature of the claimant’s work, they were entitled to Income Replacement Benefits. Surveillance was initiated by SIU. The claimant was routinely seen out of their home running errands and doing work for their business for approximately 7-10 hours every day. The claimant was observed shopping at several beer vendors and loading up to 18-20 cases of beer into the trunk of their vehicle without assistance. The claimant continued to be seen lifting heavy items and carrying equipment without any evidence of pain or difficulty. Based on the investigation, benefits were terminated. The savings to ratepayers as a result of this investigation was more than $480,000. Efforts are being made to reclaim $19,000 in benefits already paid to the claimant. Altogether, the investigation and discovery of these five fraudulent claims by MPI’s SIU team saved Manitoba ratepayers $2 million out of the total $17 million saved in 2025.

City of Brandon Parks & Recreation Services is pleased to inform the public that the Skating Oval, located immediately west of the Parks Complex on 2020 McGregor Avenue, will be open Friday, December 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM. Music & Amenities • Seasonal music will play daily from 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM. • Fire pits have been added for public enjoyment. • Portable toilets will be available in the coming days. • Warming shacks, portable washroom facilities, flood lighting, ambient music, and fire pits to cook on or warm up around are provided free of charge. Hours of operation for warming shacks: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM daily, weather permitting, throughout the winter months. Lighting Displays • Lights around the skating oval will be on nightly from 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM throughout the winter season. • No public vehicles are allowed in the direct area of the display. Please park in designated areas on McGregor Avenue or Hilton Avenue and walk through to enjoy the lights. • For safety, please view the displays at a safe distance and avoid walking where power cords are present. Toboggan Hills • Hanbury Hill Toboggan Hill (off Braecrest Drive in Sir Winston Churchill Park) is open for the season. • Warm‑up gazebo: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM • Decorative & flood lighting: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM nightly • Other toboggan hills: Rideau Park, Wheat City Golf Course/Recreation Centre • Smaller sliding hills: 34th Street & Cherry Crescent Sliding Hill, Parkdale Park Sliding Hill Families are encouraged to enjoy all of these free winter recreation offerings. Please note that all areas are unsupervised.

Hockey fans will have a chance to celebrate past and present talent when an alumni game is held between the U18 AAA Brandon Wheat Kings and the U18 AA Southwest Cougars at the J&G Homes Arena this weekend. ( Saturday evening, Alumni Game: 5:45 PM Puck Drop). Former Wheat Kings scheduled to take to the ice include Matt Calvert, Ryan White, Scott Hlady and Riley Day while Ryan Adams, Joel Whiteside, Corey Billaney, and Ryan Albrecht are to suit up for the Cougars. The special matchup is scheduled to bring former players back to the ice, offering spectators a unique opportunity to watch alumni from both programs lace up their skates once again. The game will highlight the rich hockey history shared by the two organizations and the role they continue to play in developing young athletes across the region. The Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA program and the Southwest Cougars U18 AA program have both been instrumental in preparing players for higher levels of hockey, and the alumni game is intended to recognize that legacy. It also provides current players with a chance to see where the game can take them and to connect with those who previously wore their respective jerseys.  

Brandon's Colten Worthington (Virden Oil Caps) and Ethan Stewart (Dauphin Kings) helped Team Canada West capture silver at the World Junior A Challenge in Trois-Rivières, Quebec! The pair are former teammates for 2 seasons (2022-23 and 2023-2024) with the Brandon U18 AAA Wheat Kings. Additional news coming from U18 AAA Wheat King alumni. Calen Addison, a defensemen, was recently called up to the New Jersey Devils from their farm team in Utica (AHL). Luke Lepper (Salmon Arm Silverbacks) has been named to the roster for the Canada vs. World Game by the BCHL as part of their 2026 All-Star Weekend being held in Spruce Grove, Alta. Earlier in the season, Lepper had also committed to Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. Carter Sawchuk sits in second place in the Big 6 Hockey League (Saskatchewan Senior hockey) scoring race with an eye-popping 36 points in only 8 games for the Moosomin Rangers. Goalie Ethan McCallum was traded to Penticton by the Saskatoon Blades. McCallum spent the 2019-20 season with the Brandon U15 AAA Wheat Kings. WWE & All Japan Star "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith Jr will be headlining the CWE's 17th Anniversary Tour with a stop scheduled in Brandon at Houston's on Sunday, February 15. The son of the late, great "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith takes a break from his full time schedule in All Japan Pro Wrestling to return to Canada to compete with the elite! Brandon has been awarded the honour of hosting the Softball Canada U17 Women’s National Championship in 2027 at the Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex. This exciting announcement from Softball Canada marks another major national event coming to our city. The U17 championship will bring teams from across the country to compete in August 2027, showcasing elite young talent and providing an economic and community boost for the Westman region. Deloraine, MB native Ashton Bell was named captain of the Vancouver Goldeneyes of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, marking a major milestone in her professional career. Her appointment as captain highlights both her impact on the ice and her role as a leader within the growing women’s professional hockey landscape.

December 13, 2025 — After months of anticipation, Manitoba’s largest ski destination, Asessippi Ski Area & Resort, officially opened its slopes today, ushering in the 2025-26 winter season. Skiers, snowboarders, and winter enthusiasts from across the province and beyond hit the hill early Saturday morning, eager to enjoy fresh snow and cool temperatures that have primed the resort for a successful launch. Located north of Inglis, Manitoba, within the scenic Asessippi Provincial Park, the resort boasts 25 runs and multiple chairlifts spread across a vertical rise of over 120 m, making it a favourite winter playground for both families and thrill-seekers alike. Snowmakers and grooming crews worked around the clock in recent weeks as temperatures stayed consistently below freezing, building a strong base and ensuring safe early-season conditions. Resort officials say the cold weather has created ideal conditions for efficient snowmaking — a critical element in preparing the terrain for opening day For many locals and winter travellers, Asessippi’s opening is a seasonal highlight. The resort not only offers varied terrain for all ability levels but also provides a vibrant winter village experience, complete with rental services, lessons for all ages, and dining options to keep guests warm between runs. travelmanitoba.com With optimism high and winter weather setting in across the region, Asessippi is poised for what organizers hope will be a memorable season filled with fresh snow, community gatherings, and plenty of time on the mountain for families and outdoor adventurers.