The Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba and Brandon University are hosting two evenings of movies under the stars, complementing the AGSM’s current Main Gallery exhibition, A Good, Long Look (June 10 - August 21, 2021) by visual artist and filmmaker Shelley Niro. Facebook link here. On Friday, August 13 at 8:30 PM, the AGSM and BU will present Niro’s most recent film, The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw (2019; 1 hour, 36 minutes). This movie centres on Mitzi Bearclaw, an emerging fashion designer living in Toronto. When she receives news that her mother is ill, she moves back to her isolated reservation on Owl Island, B.C. Over the span of one year, she reconnects with her parents, reignites a relationship with an old flame, and faces old enemies. The film follows Mitzi’s year month-by-month, shifting between the mundane and dream spaces, in which she connects with guides and spirits. Saturday, August 14 at 8:30 PM features Kissed by Lightning (2009; 1 hour, 29 minutes), which follows painter Mavis Dogblood on a road trip that takes her from her home on a small southern Ontario reserve to a New York City gallery where she is having a solo exhibition. Haunted by the death of her late husband Jessie Lightning, Mavis’ journey follows that of Tekanawí:ta [Peacemaker] and Aienwátha over 800 years ago. This film is a lovingly crafted study of how one works through grief, one of the central themes of Haudenosaunee history and culture. Discretion is advised (cigarette smoking, implications of sex). A Good, Long Look is an exhibition about observing the life and goodness in people and things. A member of the Turtle Clan Bay of Quinte Mohawk, Shelley Niro’s award-winning films have been screened in festivals worldwide, including a short work that was presented at the Venice Biennale. Among her many accomplishments is a Governor General’s Award, an honorary doctorate from OCADU, and the title of honorary elder for the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective. Sunday, August 15 is reserved as a rain date. Technical services are provided by local company LOOK Music. With funding from the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation these screenings are 100% free to the public. Attendees may choose to remain in their vehicles or to bring chairs. Attendees will be expected to follow all provincial health guidelines. (submitted)

Enjoy an enriching escape, without spending too much time in the car simply by taking a quick road trip to Killarney, MB. Located approximately an hour south of Brandon, the community has plenty to offer making it well worth the drive. One of the town's best-known landmarks is The Beach Hut, a seasonal restaurant serving outrageously good hamburgers (made from Manitoba grown meat) and hand-cut fries. The menu features a large variety of burgers, salads, wraps, appetizers, poutines, & more. Before you leave be sure to try one of their many ice cream flavours or treats as you play a round of mini-golf. While in Killarney, visitors may want to stop by Killarney Beach for a quick dip or let the kids cool off in the Erin Park Splash Park. Both the beach and splash park are located across the street from The Beach Hut. If you're more of a night-owl, you may want to plan your trip around a Friday or Saturday night to catch a flick at the recently re-opened Shamrock Drive-In.

As COVID-19 has pushed people to explore the outdoors in numbers never seen before, a new outdoor recreation space is now planned for the Little Saskatchewan River valley that runs through the community of Minnedosa and the R.M of Minto-Odanah. Located on Highway #10 and #16 in the valley adjacent to the Town of Minnedosa, Valley Life Recreation is planning a dramatic expansion of the cross-country ski and hiking area known as the Squirrel Hills Recreation Area. The plans for Squirrel Hills Trail Park involve a new machine-built trail system designed by award-winning trail designer Alex Man. The multi-use trail system will accommodate mountain biking, trail running, hiking, snowshoeing, family adventures, fat biking and more. The new trails will double the total trail distance of the area to approximately 16 kms. Also designed by Alex Man, a brand new park-styled trailhead will welcome trail users with a nature play area, pavilion with views of the valley, eating areas, and a beginner mountain biking skills area. Plans are in place for a 2022 park build, provided all funding goals are met. The trail park is budgeted at approximately $650,000 and financial commitments have already been put forward from municipal levels and the local Co-op. Both the Town of Minnedosa and the R.M. of Minto-Odanah have committed $15,000 each to the project. The Heritage Co-op Community Fund contributed $6,000 to help expedite final planning which included the above conceptual drawings. Valley Life Recreation has also fundraised over $10,000 since the beginning of 2021 through its calendar fundraiser and a recently launched 50/50 cash lottery. With this project announcement today, a major capital fundraising campaign for the Squirrel Hills Trail Park formally begins. Valley Life Recreation has prepared a comprehensive Sponsorship Package available for download and donations can be made online at their newly launched website, www.ValleyLifeRec.ca. A very limited selection of naming rights have also been made available for contribution amounts between $22,500 and $100,000. With this new trails infrastructure project, Minnedosa will be joining the likes of trails at the Brandon Hills and Riding Mountain National Park, along with the success of Dauphin’s Northgate Trail System, Assessippi’s downhill trails and the recently opened Hylife Back Forty bike park in Neepawa. The Squirrel Hills Trail park will help to further cement Westman as a marketable provincial and national trails destination. Valley Life Recreation looks forward to engaging our entire community in helping this new piece of community infrastructure come to life. The Squirrel Hills Trail Park will create yet another reason for Minnedosa and R.M. residents to be so proud of the place they call home and demonstrate why they believe, valley life is the best life. For any questions or comments, please reach out to any VLR Board member or send an email to valleyliferec@gmail.com. (Valley Life Recreation Press Release)

One of my favorite things to do during the summer is hop in the vehicle and go on a road trip to different hidden gems in rural Manitoba. If you are like me and also enjoy doing that, I have the place for you. Located just less than 2 hours away from Brandon on Highway 23, 10 km west of Miami you will find what could the pinnacle of rural Manitoba hidden gems at Two Old Crows BBQ & Smokehouse. As soon as you pull into the lane and get out of your vehicle you will be met with the smell of delicious BBQ wafting through the yard. There you will find a trailer with two smokers and a menu full of some of the best BBQ meats you will find in Manitoba. You will also find amazing customer service by two people ready to take you on unreal food journey. Whether it’s the pulled pork, brisket, the Texas cheese steak, the smoked wings or the pork belly that melts in your mouth you will not be disappointed by what you order off the menu. In addition to the meat you will also get a hefty portion of sides whether it’s fries or onion rings. If my words don’t sway you just check out the pictures. You can check their Facebook page here for any daily specials, their menu and hours of operation. Now what are you waiting for? Jump in the car and experience it for yourself. Monday CLOSED Tuesday CLOSED Wednesday CLOSED Thursday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

From July 5 - 30, the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba (AGSM) is offering on-line Children and Teen classes in a live video format from their downtown Brandon location. Sign up now to reserve your spot and secure an art supply kit so you can take part in creative activities from home this summer. Classes are 1.5 hours in length and one week in duration. Media to be covered includes painting, drawing, and three dimensional projects. Highlights from Summer 2021 programming include: Fearless Creating with Carly Morrisseau and Alyssa Boulton. Instructors will help students to create photo collage projects and portraits inspired by the new Shelley Niro exhibition in the Main Gallery. Student works produced from this class will be displayed in the Community Gallery! Free your imagination in Extra-terrestrials, Aurora Borealis, and Campfire Stories with George Phillips. Practice activities that help you focus, relax, and unlock your potential in Colour Splash: Under the Sea Edition with Alyssa Boulton. Students will create magical, watery environments filled with unique sea creatures and underwater adventures as they develop drawing and painting skills with pencil, watercolour, and dazzling sparkly glue. These workshops are also listed on the Art Gallery’s website: https://agsm.ca/files/summer-brochure-2021pdf To register, please email reception@agsm.ca or phone 204-727-1036.