With Halloween just a few days away, house decorations are out in full force in Brandon. A trick-or-treater's guide to the best streets and displays in the city, captured by photographer Liam Pattison.

The quest for Westman’s best pastries and interesting, scenic drives continues. This time we’ve gone north east through Neepawa to Gladstone. To start the day trip, head north out of Brandon on Highway #10, then east when you reach junction of #10 and #16. Neepawa is an engaging and picturesque town worth so much more time than a day trip. When you approach the town from the west side, on Highway #16, you will first see a bustling mix of modern stores and conveniences. You’ll see a Co-Op gas bar, a Chicken Corral Restaurant and a Boston Pizza franchise. You’ll also see a home-grown industry and their well-known Farmery Brewery. Farmery has set up an outlet store for their beer sales and their logo merchandise in a high traffic, high profile spot right on the highway. Even if you don’t see the storefront, their antique truck should catch your eye. Don’t just stay on the highway and pass by the historic downtown. It’s definitely worth a detour. So turn north onto Mountain Ave, slow down and enjoy the view.  Vintage signs, and historic buildings line both sides of the avenue. Push on until the end of Mountain Avenue and you’ll arrive at the Yellowhead Centre, home of Neepawa’s MJHL team. (MJHL is Manitoba Junior Hockey League) First game of the MJHL season goes Friday, October 9th at 7:30 when Neepawa will host the Winkler Flyers. Once out of Neepawa and back on Highway #16, heading east, you won’t have far to go before you see the signs to Gladstone. Gladstone’s must-visit stops are the bakery, and the “Happy Rock” statue. The bakery, is at the corner of Morris Street and Dennis Street. Open Monday to Saturday, they serve both breakfast and lunch meals plus offer a wide array of fresh baked goodies.  They have two sizes for sticky cinnamon buns, filled donuts, decorated donuts and even “Happy Rock” smiley face donuts. The kids will love them! It’s hard to beat a honey-glazed, but their blueberry-filled donuts were positively worth raving about. When heading out to the small towns of Westman, be respectful of their Covid-19 guidelines. Many businesses may be operating under modified hours and will ask for guests to wear masks indoors.

Apple + Pine Present A Farmers’ Market ⠀⠀ Friday, October 2nd (5pm-8pm) ⠀⠀ Saturday, October 3rd (10am-4pm) At the Keystone Grounds! ⠀⠀ Home Decor, Food & Drink, Clothing, Jewelry, Candles and MORE! Shop from 50+ local Manitoba artisans! ⠀ Apple + Pine are thrilled to be hosting this AMAZING event to support MANITOBA LOCAL MAKERS! If you haven’t yet grabbed a ticket you can still get them online at Eventbrite or at the gate upon arrival! One $5 ticket gets you in for the weekend! 12 and under free!⠀ If there is a line please be patient as they will be limiting shoppers. They will have plenty of room to shop and they've  divided into vendors into two groups: some will be under the big tent with others spaced outside and around the tent. There is plenty of room and they are all outdoors!! ⠀ Hand sanitizing stations will be available for your safety as well as every vendor will be doing their part in keeping their area sanitized, clean and friendly! ⠀⠀ The safety of their guests and vendors is most important. Organizers want to ensure you enjoy your visit, but also in a safe manner. ⠀ There will also be directional arrows viewable at your feet, so you can find your favourite vendor! Please follow them. If you do not have a mask there are a number of vendors that will be selling them. ⠀ Organizers look forward to seeing all your colourful faces and they thank you in advance for hanging in there, staying safe and supporting local!

Perry Bergson is an extremely hard working Brandon Sun sports writer who has been doing an outstanding job covering the Brandon Wheat Kings for the past five seasons. He started at the Brandon Sun in 1989, spent three years in Prince Albert, before returning to the Sun in 2005. Perry has a University degree from the Brandon University and a College diploma at Holland College in Charlottetown, P.E.I. In addition to working at the Brandon Sun, he has also worked at the Dauphin Herald and Prince Albert Daily Herald. 1. We understand you appreciate a good cup of coffee, who makes Brandon's best cup: I'll tell anyone who listens that my favourite coffee spot is the one in front of me. When I need coffee badly, the gas station cup is as good as the high-end one from a dedicated coffee shop. Also, since I have Icelandic heritage, I'll happily drink three-day-old coffee as long as it hasn't turned green. 2. What former/current Wheat King would one day make a great journalist: Great question. Jonny Lambos off the current team and Duncan Campbell in the past. 3. Buffalo wings or loaded nachos: Loaded nachos every time. 4. What is a typical day at work like when the Wheat Kings have a home game: I get to work around 3, do what I can to help the department and get to the rink around 6. I spend some time in the scouts room, chat with the visiting broadcaster (who I sit beside) and do my final game prep. Since our deadlines are tight, I have my game story 90 per cent done at the final horn and run down for my interviews. I'm generally leaving the Keystone about an hour after the game is over. 5. Outside of covering hockey, what other sport do you enjoy covering most for the Brandon Sun: I love baseball and rugby is growing on me because of its community. 6. Three most commonly used apps on your phone: VoiceRecord, Twitter and Gmail. 7. When you are not at the office/rink, what do you do to unwind and relax: My bikes are old but they like to get ridden. My dog and I enjoy her walk every afternoon. I also watch a lot of really old films with my wife. 8. How have things changed since you started working in this industry: When I started, we were pre-Internet working on pretty rudimentary computers. Now a world of information lies out there that I can access from my Mac, which is the industry standard. 9. Three movies everyone should have in their movie library: Sunset Boulevard, The African Queen, Casablanca. (Citizen Kane, The Seventh Seal, High Noon, Being There, My Dinner With Andre, Goodbye Mr. Chips and A Fish Called Wanda are in the discussion. Is that cheating?) 10. Dream dinner party guest (4): (ALIVE) Podcaster Dan Carlin, musician John Hiatt, journalist Christiane Amanpour and comedian Jim Jefferies.  (DEAD) Actor Katharine Hepburn, writer W. Somerset Maugham, musician Tom Petty and journalist Mike Wallace. (Not counting family members.) 11.  Should the WHL not operate this season, will you be providing up to date coverage of the local Wendy’s Winter Hockey League:  Haha. Nice try. 12. Most underestimated Brandon Sun staffer: My Prince Albert compatriot Tyler Clarke. 13.  Did the Wheat Kings sale surprise you: No, there had been rumours, but I guess it's still a bit of a shock when it happens. Kelly McCrimmon was synonymous with the team for three decades. 14. Would you compare yourself to Bill Ranford when you played in goal: I actually remember Bill being in Portage, and when I interviewed him, we talked about his time there. Other than both of us being emotional guys in net, one of us was real good and the other became a hockey writer. We both ended up exactly where we belonged. 15. Favorite food stop when on the road with the Wheat Kings: There's a story here. When I was in Kent, Wash., with the team in the 2016 final against the Seattle Thunderbirds, I was on a tight food budget. Every afternoon, I walked several blocks to Olive Garden because I knew I could gorge myself on pasta, salad and breadsticks. I don't know if I've been to an Olive Garden since but it was a lifesaver that week. 16. Sammy Hagar or David Lee Roth: Sammy Hagar, just because of a solo song he released in 1997 called Amnesty Is Granted. 17. If you have a pair of 8’s and the dealer has a 9 in blackjack what do you do: I'm a chicken. Fold. 18. Favorite three streaming programs: This will firmly establish me as someone who sits and yells at kids to get off my lawn, but I've never watched a minute of a streamed show. South Park is my current favourite TV show, and Six Feet Under is my old favourite. 19. Who inspires you: My parents are great people who always work hard and value the concept of giving back. They've made a lifelong volunteer of me, and instilled a strong work ethic. 20. Have you made someone cry: It happens in interviews occasionally when you're discussing emotional topics. It's never easy because people people are sharing their most intimate thoughts.

Five years ago the town of Virden was a buzz with the big Hollywood movie production of A Dog’s Purpose. The movie starred Dennis Quaid and was a big box office hit, grossing over $64 million in North America alone. For this week’s road trip feature we’re going to travel to Virden and re-visit a few of the locations that were the setting for this famous film. Virden Manitoba is just 45 minutes west of Brandon on the Trans Canada highway. The town itself is south of the highway and the CPR rail tracks run right thru it. The movie was filmed on 7th Avenue at Nelson Street. While some of the storefronts were outfitted with movie props and neon signs, you can absolutely recognize the buildings in the movie. Whether it’s the front alcove of Shari Lyn Fashions, or the bright blue frame of Pitter Patter, the buildings they will catch your eye in the movie. (Visit YouTube for this behind the scenes glimpse into the movie making. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t2jrU_I6TGE It seems clear that Virden was chosen as a filming location to stand in for a 1950s era town for its outstanding preservation and collection of historic buildings. You don’t have to walk far to see ghost signs (turn of the century painted on advertisements) on buildings or a restored CPR hotel in downtown Virden. On Nelson Street, and across from the Old CPR Station, you will see the Alexandra Hotel. Build in 1907 and renovated as recently at 2016, it boasts the original round-arched windows and brick work which was a signature of Canadian Pacific Hotels. The gorgeous fieldstone railway station itself is home to the Virden Chamber of Commerce and Arts Council. In the parking lot you’ll see a retired rail car but also a very modern electric car charging station. While in Virden, you may wish to stop and snap a few photos in the community gardens and parks. Virden takes a lot of pride in their public spaces. There’s a picnic park downtown on Nelson Street, a sitting garden on King Street (just off the Trans Canada Highway) and a community recreation park (Victoria Park) with tennis courts, lawn bowling, swings and a band shell. Do stop by and see the war memorial in the centre of Victoria Park. As for hidden gem in Virden, find T’s Dining & Lounge for upscale dining. It’s on Nelson Street a block away from the Derrick Theatre. Incidentally, the Derrick Theatre, which has hosted movie goers since the 1950s, is for sale. Listed by Sutton Realty its asking price is $399,999. It would be fantastic to see this town’s movie legacy continue whether it’s hosting new movie shoots or reviving the one-screen theatre. Virden is worth a drive. To fully enjoy this fun drive and a movie experience, watch A Dog’s Purpose first, then travel to Virden. For a movie double-header also catch the sequel, A Dog’s Journey (filmed in Winnipeg and released in the big screen in 2019). The sequel was equally successful at the box office bringing in more than 75 million dollars world-wide. These movies have been a beacon for attracting new movie making projects to Manitoba. Even in Covid times, Hallmark has chose to film their latest Christmas here in this province. Seems we have more star power here than just the northern lights. For more tourist information or to plan your visit go to Virden.ca