Condominium living essential means less stress and less to worry about especially when it comes to repair and maintenance, and it certainly is a preferred method of home ownership for many, especially snowbirds. Even though maintenance of exterior services continues to coast on autopilot while you’re down south (for the condo owner, not for the hustling property manager!), there are several things that condo owners must be aware of before packing the golf clubs, crocs, and sunscreen and leaving behind the cold Manitoba winter. The first task is to check your homeowners’ insurance. Make sure you understand what is required of your personal policy to maintain your insurance while you’re away. Most insurance companies require house checks to be carried out on a regular basis if you’re away from the premises for an extended period of time. Even if house checks aren’t required by your insurance company, your condo corporation may require them. Having some check your property on a regular basis may prevent damage that you could be liable for. For instance, they may discover a leak in the hot water tank and get it fixed before it leaks down to the unit below or next door. The interior of the condo is, as you know, your responsibility. It is important to maintain a comfortable temperature inside your unit to ensure that pipes and water lines do not freeze so shutting off your heat completely is not recommended. A common practice for snowbirds to avoid the hassle of a water leak or burst pipe is to shut the water off. However, before you reach for the off lever, make sure you don’t house the main line to your neighbours’ unit as well. Quite often, the main water shut off is shared between several units. If you’re unsure whether or not your valve will affect any other condo units, contact your property manager. If you rent out your unit or have house-sitters while you are away, make sure they are aware of the rules governing the use of the unit and common areas. Fines levied by the condominium corporation are ultimately the responsibility of the homeowner, not the tenant. And lastly, remember to leave emergency contact information with your property manager. The property managers of a condo corporation will not have a key to your individual unit, so if you’re out of town and need to gain access to your unit for an emergency, the property manager will need the name and phone number of someone in close vicinity. So, with all these tasks taken care of, enjoy the sunshine and be rest assured that you’ve done everything you need to in order to keep your home-sweet-home safe. Vionell Holdings Partnership (VHP) provides rental housing and property management for an array of residential and commercial customers, including Condominium Management. VHP currently has nearly 4,000 units under management in Manitoba. For more information please visit www.vhproperties.ca. VHP has committed to constructing 128 multifamily residential units in Portage la Prairie that will be ready for occupancy in fall of 2019

Vincent Massey High School is running a Fine Arts Show at the Shoppers Mall. The show features the works of Grade 9-11 students and will be running January 25-29, 2019, during regular mall hours. The students of Vincent Massey High School (Brandon, MB) have come together to create an exceptional art exhibit. Drawing on a vast array of inspiration from Greek sculptures to portraits, to surrealism. This collection relies on a variety of mediums, such as acrylic, watercolors, pastel, pencil, and ink. Please come to the mall and support these fantastic artists!

A group of local local community volunteers have come together to build something very unique in Onanole--a skating rink with a trail system.  This awesome winter attraction is open to the public and you are encouraged to bring a shovel with you to help with the upkeep of the trail.  A cool video, by Chris Pugh, can be viewed at the following link. Directions: "When driving south on #10 from Wasagaming take a left on 'Denoon Ave' in Onanole. Follow the street until you come to a dead end, you will see the Octopus Lake Pond Skating Rink and Trail System to your right".

The 11th annual Westman Wedding Expo is taking place at the Keystone Centre on Sunday, January 13th.  Brandon's biggest wedding show will be home for one day to many different wedding specialists, a custom fashion show, and the opportunity for two lucky brides to win amazing wedding packages. The Westman Wedding Expo has everything you will need to plan an extravagant wedding or a quiet destination wedding. Brides and their guests will have the opportunity to visit a wide variety of exhibitors for help in planning their special day.  This year's event includes a number of new exhibitors including Sightlines Photography, Hairistocracy, Brunette by Melodie, Karta House Cards & Stationary and more. The event runs from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.  The Facebook event page can be found here.

A winter sleigh ride is a wonderful way to take in the sights and sounds of winter. It’s also a perfect way to enjoy this winter wonderland during family outings, wedding parties, conventions and holidays. Our Lil Barnyard, located approximately 15 minutes from Brandon, offers 45 minute sleigh rides along a beautiful trail through a peaceful snow covered bush on the south side of the Brandon Hills. They also have available a fire-pit area for you to gather around with your group or family. They can accommodate either large (15-20), or small groups, and are currently accepting bookings most evenings and weekends. Daytime bookings may be available for larger groups. Pricing for a group of 10, or more, is only $8 a person, and for groups of less than 10 the minimum cost is $80. The fire-pit rental is available for $20/half hour use. To book a ride please contact them at 204-728-3645 or email jenn.neufeld@yahoo.ca.