Sunrise Credit Union will begin accepting entries into the ninth annual Our Manitoba Photo Contest on Monday, March 15, 2021. The contest has been held annually since 2013 and showcases the beauty of our province. The competition is open to all Manitobans. Each photographer can submit a maximum of three photos. Photos that meet technical requirements and showcase Manitoba's cultural characteristics will then be shortlisted based on originality, creativity, and overall composition. The shortlisted images are subject to a public vote, with the winner unveiled on Manitoba Day, Wednesday, May 12. The 13 winning entries will receive a canvas print of their winning photograph and have their photo featured in the 2022 Sunrise Credit Union Calendar. The Grand Prize winner will also receive a $500 term deposit. The contest receives hundreds of entries annually, and thousands more participate through the public vote. The important dates to remember for the Our Manitoba Photo Contest are: March 15 – April 1 – submit photos at www.ourmanitoba.org.April 7-14 – public vote through www.ourmanitoba.org.April 30 – May 11 – photos #13 through #2 released through Sunrise Credit Union's social media channels.May 12 – the unveiling of the Grand Prize-winning photo. Last year’s winner was Justin Oertel of Brandon for the photo ‘Harvest Sunset’. (submitted)

If you have ever owned rental property or rented property, then you know that there’s the good, the bad, and the ugly that comes with this experience. And it works both ways, whether you are the landlord or the tenant. Landlords sometimes have to deal with damaged property, disrespectful tenants, and difficulty collecting rent or collecting rent on time. Tenants may have to put up with inconsiderate neighbours, properties that are poorly maintained, or landlords that are flippant and ignore requests. The goal for many property managers is to find a happy medium so that all parties can live in harmony. Vionell Holdings Partnership, one of Manitoba’s largest property management firms, works hard to build positive relationships between property owners and tenants and they are always looking for tools to enhance the services they offer. Chief Executive Officer Jason Roblin said the company recently partnered with the Landlord Credit Bureau (LCB), an independent reporting tool, used in the rental industry to help landlords, property managers, and tenants work more in sync with each other. “This is a fantastic value-added tool that we’re excited to be using. As property managers, it helps to reduce our risk but the bonus is that our clients and our tenants gain just as much from it as we do,” said Jason. Once the landlord and the tenant are signed in to the portal, the Landlord Credit Bureau tracks and reports credit information through credit bureaus such as Equifax. If rent is paid on time, the tenant builds a positive rent history and improves their credit report. With rent being a significant part of a tenant’s monthly expenses, it can sometimes be difficult to build a positive credit report. “Until now, responsible tenants paid their rent without experiencing the credit building benefits LCB enables. Now, landlords and property managers can reward these tenants with a positive trade line on their credit reports. A recent tenant reported to LCB an increase of over 40 points within the first month of their landlord registering them,” said Zac Killam, LCB Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased to be working with Jason and his team at Vionell Holdings to help reward his fantastic tenants.” On the flip side, if the rent isn’t paid on time a reminder goes to the tenant and their rent goes into arrears. If it is not paid, it may impact their credit score. The reminder and the possibility of a lower credit score provides the tenant with an incentive to manage their finances more effectively so they can pay their rent on time. And while the tenants benefit from this online tool, property owners who put their trust in property management companies using LCB also reap rewards. Landlords and property managers who sign up have reduced losses, attract responsible tenants, and end up collecting rent in full and on time more consistently. “When we combine LCB with the tenant screening software that we use through Yardi Voyager, we are adding so much more value to the services we offer our property management customers. We’re utilizing industry best practices to attract and reward the best tenants. This is how we work to build positive relationships,” said Jason.

For the past 10-years Grandview's Jarett Robak has been hard at work in his family's yard building his own personal winter wonderland. "The Cabino", a labor of love for Jarett, is nestled nicely inside the Duck Mountains just outside of Grandview, MB. Earlier today Robak told bdnmb.ca that his family had always used the property for walking trails in the summer and as a toboggan hill in the winter. As a snowboarder he saw an opportunity to develop the land further and many years later he is extremely happy with the progress to date. The site currently includes numerous trails for snowboarding, a wood ramp with a 40-ft observation deck, lights for night snowboarding, and several rails, boxes, and jumps. One of the biggest obstacles Robak said they had to overcome was trying to figure out an easier way back up the slope after snowboarding down the hill. In 2017, he did some research on YouTube and after a few revisions and updates the facility now has an 850-foot rope-tow to return you back up the hill. Robak has received plenty of help and support on the project from family and friends and he's not done just yet. Future plans include adding a second rope-tow heading the opposite way up the mountain, essentially doubling the length of the runs. Currently the runs can vary in length from 500-1000 feet. For a great video tour of "The Cabino" and it's features please watch this YouTube video. For additional photos please follow their Instagram page here.

In today's society couples are looking for the perfect balance of good schools for their children, being close to modern conveniences, as well as quiet stress free living in the country.  Sheldon and Shelley Kokorudz feel they have created that environment with their rural community called KoKo Estates.  Located only a 7 minute drive from the Corral Centre down Grand Valley Road, turn on Hunter Road for roughly one kilometer and you will find 10 lots ranging in size from 2 - 5 acres.  Customers have a choice to choose whomever they wish for a contractor and KoKo Estates has some local builders to suggest on their website. After several years of planning and zoning this project is finally off the ground.  "We always had this vision to subdivide and presented it to the RM and then we had to wait for them to do their part and then we officially pursed it".  BDNMB asked Sheldon was this a difficult process?  " The process from hearings  - water drilling  -  hydro studies and civil engineers plus follow Brandon Area Planning at the time criteria to follow and two and a half years we are ready". For many people the transition from city to country living can be a daunting task but Shelley Kokorudz promises the process isn't at all difficult. She added that people want additional room for their dogs and horses and with a 5 acre lot you will have more than enough room. Click here to see the Promotional Video designed by Brett Meilleur from https://www.instagram.com/meilleurmedia/ www.kokoestates.comwww.facebook.com/kokoestates For further information contactDon Mitchell at Century 21204 724 2743https://don-mitchell.c21.ca/

John Chua admits he was a little disappointed when his wife, Jhoana, woke him up early in the morning on January 23 to tell him someone in Winnipeg had brought home a massive $60 million LOTTO MAX jackpot. “I was jealous of whoever won…not knowing it was me,” he recalled with a laugh. John, who regularly picks up tickets on behalf of his family, started buying them online with PlayNow.com in November when retail sales of lottery tickets in Manitoba were restricted as part of public health orders to slow the spread of COVID-19. Ticket sales of retail have since re-started in most of the province with changes to public health orders. When John blearily checked his PlayNow.com account early the morning after the January 20 LOTTO MAX draw, he says he didn’t see anything to indicate his ticket was a winner. Then later that day he received an email from PlayNow.com , and everything changed. “I thought it might be a Free Play or something. But it said $60 million – I was confused, so I checked on PlayNow.com when I got home,” he explained. “And there it was; I didn’t see it earlier in the morning.” John – who is sharing the win with his wife Jhoana Chua, mother Angie Chua, and uncle Ben Lagman – did actually win two Free Plays…along with a $60,000,020 prize; the largest lottery jackpot ever awarded in Manitoba and the biggest payout ever in Canada from a ticket bought online. The group matched all seven winning numbers for the draw – 26, 37, 42, 44, 46, 49 and 50. “He always plays jokes – he’s a joker, so I didn’t believe it,” Angie recalled her son telling her their family was about to be multi-millionaires. “I believe now that it’s real,” she continued as the family filled out the paperwork to claim their prize. “Now we’re not just dreaming anymore.” John, who noted that even though his family’s lottery dreams have come true he’ll probably keep playing – “It’s a lot of fun,” he chuckled – credits options like PlayNow.com , lottery subscriptions , and remote ordering and pickup of lottery tickets as being important to allow players to keep playing when sales at retail were temporarily suspended. “A lot of people weren’t able to get tickets because they weren’t able to buy at the store, so being able to do it online was great,” he said. “I’ve told myself ‘if you’re not going to buy a ticket, you’re not going to win,’” he noted. “People talk about what they’d do if they win the lottery, but that won’t happen unless you buy a ticket.” The group isn’t sure exactly what they’ll do with their winnings yet, but one purchase John says he and his wife will be making soon is a home for their growing family. “I wasn’t really expecting anything – I was hoping for just a little to put toward a house,” explained John. “There’s a lot of things that come to mind – but I’m going to take my time. I want to be wise. We’ve got kids and need to think for our future. I just want to take the time and do the smart thing.” “It’s a huge blessing,” added Angie. “We’re all very thankful – we just needed a little bit and we got a lot.” PlayNow.com winners receive a courtesy email after any win, including instructions on how to claim the prize. Lotto Spot! retail lottery sales have now re-opened across Manitoba, with the exception of some areas in the North. Congratulations John, Jhoana, Angie and Ben! Wishing you all the best! (WCLC / HANDOUT))