“To say that TRIP 2021 was a success would be a huge understatement, because thanks to almost 25,000 Manitobans who took advantage of the rebate, this recovery program had a massive impact on Manitoba’s beleaguered tourism industry,” said Chuck Davidson, President & CEO, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. “With this new round of TRIP rebates, we’re encouraging Manitobans to get out there this spring to tour our beautiful province while supporting our valuable recreational assets.” In 2021, TRIP returned $2.2 million in rebates to Manitobans who embarked on adventures, road trips and staycations, filling hotel rooms, taking advantage of specially-designed stay-and-play packages, and bolstering attraction visitation throughout the province. The tracked activity resulted in a total of $5.5 million in direct spending at recreational properties. “Tracked spending aside, surveyed TRIP participants told us they spent an average of $510 on their trip, for total estimated spending of $11.2 million, representing roughly a 5-to-1 return on investment. This program made a huge difference to tourism in Manitoba and we’re excited to be able to do it again,” says Davidson. Travel Manitoba President & CEO Colin Ferguson says the TRIP is a terrific way to find a staycation that speaks to you. “You might be dreaming about recharging on a weekend spa getaway, or thinking about rediscovering a hidden gem you visited long ago,” he said. “You could explore a region of the province that has always piqued your interest, or book a fun waterslide hotel stay with the kids. Whatever type of getaway you design, TRIP is a win-win: You’ll enjoy a break, see our beautiful province, and get something back!” New for 2022, eligible participants will receive a rebate in the form of a personal cheque mailed to a designated physical address or delivered electronically to their PayPal account. For TRIP Phase 3, the dates eligible for rebates will be Friday, May 6 to Monday, May 16, 2022, with the window to upload receipts to www.tripmb.ca closing one week later, at 11:59 PM on Monday, May 23, 2022. Manitoba residents aged 18+ can choose from ONE of TWO rebate options: Book and stay in a hotel, motel, or resort in Manitoba, then access a $100 rebate by uploading a proof of purchase receipt to our online platform at www.tripmb.ca. Manitobans looking for a day trip or outing: Visit one of our province’s 31 participating Star Attractions then upload a proof of purchase receipt to our online platform at www.tripmb.ca to access a 50% rebate on general admission. To view this year’s list of participating hotels/motels/resorts and Star Attractions, go to www.tripmb.ca. Eligible receipts must be uploaded no later than 11:59 PM CST on Monday, May 23, 2022 in order to qualify for a rebate. First-come, first served; rebates will be available until funds are expended. Click here to view the full 2022 TRIP Terms of Use. Source: Manitoba Chamber of Commerce

- The Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba is pleased to announce the start of their membership giveaway campaign, Make Yourself Part of the Picture, from February 1st to March 5th, 2022. Thanks to the generosity of the Manitoba Arts Council, the membership campaign will run for five weeks and give away over three hundred and fifty family or group and individual memberships to residents of the southwestern Manitoba region. The membership campaign is to encourage Westman residents to take part in the revitalizing of Brandon’s downtown area and renew support for the arts. A membership to the AGSM gives early access to class registrations, discounts at the gallery’s gift shop and ticketed workshops or events, facility rental discounts as well as discounts at select business locations in the Westman region. Members also have the unique opportunity to showcase their artwork at the end of year exhibition Annual Member’s Show, a tradition that just passed its 17th year anniversary. "Choosing to be a member of this wonderful arts community organization means that you get the opportunity to explore a variety of visual arts, photography, ceramics and writing classes on offer at a discounted rate. It’s a fantastic way for families to connect and enjoy a prairie-focus exhibition roster as well!” says Monica Joshi, the Gallery Service Coordinator. “We hope that these subsidized memberships will help us to reach the creative members of the community who have been thinking about getting involved with the gallery, but just need a little push.” The Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba is the oldest public art gallery in the Province, boasting a history that dates back to 1907, and the largest outside of Winnipeg. In addition to its ongoing exhibition program, it features three full terms of art classes for youth and adults, an additional summer option for youth and children, as well as intensive specialized workshops, each year. When the Manitoba Arts Council offered us funds to rebuild after the devastating effects of the pandemic on the arts and culture scene in Brandon, we chose to use the funds to rebuild our arts family. We encourage those seeking a membership to call us at 204.727.1036 or email us at info@agsm.ca.

The Manitoba government will again allow free entry to provincial parks for the entire month of February so Manitobans and visitors can take advantage of the many winter activities they offer, Environment, Climate and Parks Minister Jeff Wharton announced today. “Free park entry gives everyone more opportunities to enjoy nature and the great outdoors,” said Wharton. “People across our province love Manitoba’s parks and our government is pleased to make it easier to explore them and to experience all that they offer.” Vehicle permits will not be required at any provincial park in Manitoba in February, though Snopasses will be needed for snowmobilers using groomed trails in parks. Entrance fees will continue to apply at national parks. Provincial parks have groomed trails for a variety of activities, including cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, fat biking, snowshoeing and hiking. Paint Lake, Spruce Woods and Turtle Mountain provincial parks also offer outdoor skating areas, hockey rinks and toboggan hills. Trails province-wide are in excellent condition with a good snow base, the minister noted. Manitobans are encouraged to check trail conditions and weather forecasts before visiting parks to properly plan their outdoor adventures. An online interactive trails map is updated regularly with grooming and condition reports at www.manitobaparks.com. Trail users are reminded to use only trails that are designated for their activities, to keep dogs on leashes and to practise the principles of Leave No Trace by not littering. While being outdoors and active in nature is important for physical and mental health, COVID-19 public health orders must be followed, including for physical distancing and group size restrictions. Warming shelters are open with reduced capacity limits and masks are required indoors. Park visitors are reminded to observe capacity signs and to kindly limit their time in shelters to share with others. Information on COVID-19 guidelines in provincial parks is available at www.manitobaparks.com. Park interpreters offer numerous guided experiences to help Manitobans learn and discover natural and cultural heritage at Birds Hill, Spruce Woods and Whiteshell provincial parks. Highlights in February will include wolf howl hikes, snowshoe treks, quinzhee building and ice fishing. Event details and registration information can be found under the events tab on the Manitoba Parks Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MBGovParks and at www.manitobaparks.com. Teachers can also book free guided field trips to Birds Hill, Spruce Woods and Whiteshell provincial parks, along with virtual programs to bring park interpreters into their classrooms. For more information on winter activities and interpretive programs in provincial parks, email ParkInterpretation@gov.mb.ca or visit www.manitobaparks.com. Annual park vehicle permits will be available for purchase beginning on March 1. Manitobans can stay up to date with provincial parks news, activities and events by following Manitoba Parks on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MBGovParks and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBGovParks.

Danna Rudniski is the Foundation Manager at Westman Dreams for Kids and a yoga instructor with Luna Muna here in Brandon. Many of you also may recognize Danna from her time with the Brandon Wheat Kings as their Director of Operations & Ticket Sales. 1.  First job? My Pa (Grandpa) owned a catering business called Shamrock Catering so we worked weddings, grads, banquets etc., when we were young, but real job outside of being hired by family, my first job was Footlocker! 2.  What household chore do you absolutely hate doing? Sorting/Washing Cutlery.  3.  If you could have any Canadian band (past or present) play a backyard BBQ at your house, you'd choose? Bryan Adams! 4.  Three movies everyone should have in their movie library?  Home Alone, Crazy Stupid Love, Lone Survivor 5. You can choose one item to be calorie free, what will it be? Mini Eggs (eggies) 6. The movie that traumatized you most as a child was? Blair Witch Project 7. You have 30 minutes to spend $5,000 in one store in Brandon, where are you going? Winners! 8. There is always ________ in my fridge? Champagne + Vegetables 9. Name a TV series with a great theme song? The Jeffersons! 10. You're invited to a party and you have to bring something that starts with the first letter of your last name, what are you bringing? R – Ritz Crackers 11. You get to invite one person to a function. if they're late you get $1,000, who are you taking?  My Twin Sister, Alanna.  She’s only late when it involves me!  12. Heels, flats, or sneakers? Flats.  I’m 6’2” so heels are not appreciated around others! 13. A TV show you would like to make an appearance on? Big Brother 14.  Dream dinner party guests (4)? Barack Obama, Ryan Reynolds, Justin, Timberlake, Jennifer Aniston. 15. An object you still own from your childhood?  Haha medals from elementary school sports 16. Early riser or night owl? Neither! 17. The first concert you ever attended? Ricky Martin (thanks Mom!) 18.  A place you’ve never been but would love to visit? Greece 19.  No matter how many _____ I own, I always have the urge to buy more? Clothes!!! 20.  If you could raid one celebrity’s closet, who would it be? Karlie Kloss

The Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibition in the Community Gallery, Before I Go To Bed, a project by Dr. Alysha Farrell of Brandon University. The opening reception will be held on January 27, 2022 at 7:00 P.M. at the AGSM. The public will have the opportunity to engage directly with the participating youth artists when they gather for a roundtable discussion on Saturday, February 5 at 1:00 P.M. Before I Go To Bed Tonight features work by youth from the Westman region that was created during a semester-long project led by Dr. Farrell. Participants in the project were urged to look at the climate crisis head-on by professional artist-led workshops. Given that youth will inherit the future, this meaningful exchange resulted in a creative explosion of works in the exhibition. They were encouraged to explore themes of anthropocentrism, eco-justice, stewardship of the earth, the disproportionate impacts of climate change and fostering a deep connection to the natural world. Creative expressions of a bleak reality reconciled into images of learning to live amid the Earth’s decreasing habitability. "The issue of climate change is so big that it can feel impossible to talk about," says Dr. Alysha Farrell, the Professor of Education at Brandon University who created and led the project. "But by communicating through art making, these youth--who have no choice but to talk about it--can express not just how they understand climate change but how they feel about it as well. I hope the exhibition provokes conversation in the wider community about what we can do together to ensure a livable planet for generations to come.” The exhibition will run concurrently to opimihaw, which features work by Mary Anne Barkhouse that addresses environmental futures from an Indigenous Canadian perspective, in the Main Gallery. Due to the current health and safety regulations, AGSM’s activities are subject to change. Visitors to the gallery may check on our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for the most up-to-date information. Dr. Farrell would like to thank Brandon University and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for aiding in the development of this project for the AGSM’s Community Gallery. (submitted)