“School!” Shhh, don’t say that too loud. To some, hearing the ’s’ word at this time of the year is worse than hearing a drunken sailor cursing at the local watering hole. Unfortunately, whether we want to or not, we do have to start thinking about what September will bring. If you’re moving to Brandon or Winnipeg to enter the post-secondary world then it’s time to start looking for a suitable place to live. Here are some tips to help make your search for proper accommodations go smoothly: Start Looking Now – If you wait until the end of August you will have a limited selection and run the risk of not being able to find something in your price range or the neighbourhood you had your heart set on. Consider Location – While it might be most convenient to live near your school, you may also save on parking or transit fees by living within walking distance. Also, don’t have blinders on when you’re considering the neighbourhood. Go for a walk or drive through the neighbourhood at night (where the apartment or condominium is located). You want to make sure that you feel safe being there at all times of the day. Save with a Roommate – Quite often two or three-bedroom apartments are more affordable than a one-bedroom. For example, there are newer one-bedroom apartments in Brandon for $1,000 per month. On the flip side, you can find a nice two-bedroom apartment for $1,200; with two people living there, each person would save $400 each month (versus each having their own apartment). For tips on selecting a roommate, check out this article: https://www.vhproperties.ca/tips-for-selecting-a-roommate/ Have a Co-signor – While students may have a savings account or student loans to help pay for school, most landlords screen applications based on rent to income ratios and credit scores. Some students do maintain part-time jobs, but often the money from those jobs does not support the rent value. Be prepared to have a parent or guardian co-sign for the apartment. Yearly Lease – Most landlords require tenants to sign a one-year lease for an apartment. In some centres, there is a trend for students to return home in the spring and start their apartment hunt all over again in the fall. In many cases, there is little or no savings from moving home for the summer months. If you do sign a yearly lease and decide to return to your hometown in the spring, you could always assign your lease to another interested tenant. For more information on this, check out this article: https://www.vhproperties.ca/should-i-stay-or-should-i-go/ Ask about Promotions – Fall is the time when property owners are hoping to fill any vacant units before winter hits. If you are looking to save a few dollars, ask the landlord if there are any specials, promotions or discounts available. If you can get $200 off the monthly rental fee, throughout the year that would add up to a free month of rent. Poll your Friends & Contacts – If you know of someone from your area that went to school in the same city, ask them where they stayed and what they liked and didn’t like about their accommodations. They may be able to offer tips and advice that will help you to find the perfect place to live. Vionell Holdings Partnership (VHP) provides rental housing and property management for an array of residential and commercial customers, including Condominium Management. VHP currently has over 4,000 units under management in Manitoba.  For more information please visit www.vhproperties.ca. (article submitted)

Healthy Brandon in motion, in partnership with BU Recreation, the BU Healthy Living Centre and the Westman Physical Literacy Committee, is excited about the upcoming 3rd Annual FREE Community Family Fun Fest taking place on Sunday, September 8th from 10:00am – 12:00pm. Community members will have the opportunity to meet and learn a variety of sports and activities from the Bobcat athletes themselves, including basketball, soccer, pickle ball, and volleyball. There will also be a physical literacy motion zone put on by Fit Kids Healthy Kids and the opportunity to become a ‘Bobcat Ninja’ and try out a challenging obstacle course. NEW this year – we will also be collecting gently used athletic footwear in all sizes at the event – these shoes will be donated to someone in need. The event will be a fun way to learn about physical literacy and physical activity, as well as try out some new sports and activities. There will be prizes for everyone that fills out the event ‘passport’! The event is drop-in and stay as long or as little as you want. For more information, please call Nikki Dean, Healthy Brandon in motion at (204) 578-2194 or e-mail ndean@pmh-mb.ca. (submitted article)

Open tomorrow, weather permitting. Please check their Facebook page for any changes to their opening times and dates due to poor weather conditions. Grab your bike, stay the night, have a bite to eat in the pub - they can’t wait to see you! There will be 3 trails open, 2 runs are created for single track and the bunny hill has been created for multi track use. Ride the chair lift to the top and then bike your way down through the trails. Mountain Bike Trails / Shell Valley Campground / Pub - all opening weekends ONLY. Fridays Noon - 8pm Saturdays 10am - 10pm Sundays 9am - 4pm For a price list, please click here.

Entrepreneur Geoff Gregoire answers 20 questions in this installment of Community Connection. Geoff, along with his brother Tim, is the owner of Contractor's Corner Design Centre. He also owns the Pelican Campground & Lounge. Sopranos or Seinfeld:  Neither, sports center or The Profit, Billionaire Buyer  Would people consider yourself a good athlete:  Id say I used to be Best business decision: Contractors Corner, but Pelican Lake is becoming a close second quickly. Worst business decision:  The unsuccessful ones  If you had a private plane for one day and you could take 5 people on a trip, who would they be:  Grandma, Mom, Dad, Tim, Corlee Do you recycle:  Yes, Mom & Grams would be very upset if I didn't What is the one food you could never give up:  Wings or Pizza Who works harder you or your brother:  We are a team, but outside that I'll say me   Have you ever taken advice from anyone, and if so who: Grandpa Keith  Biggest role model:  Grandpa and Grandma Blight  Trump or Biden: Trump  Does anything excite you:  Not Really, but if I had to pick something id say success excites me. Weird travel habits:  I like my travels to include golf Describe your dad in one word:  Role Model  What will you be famous for:  Working too much, trying to run too many businesses   What annoys you:  People who cant think and plan ahead  Do you live your life by any quotes:  Work Hard, Play Harder; Your only as good as your team  Favorite Wheat King player of all time, and you can’t say Scott Glennie: Ryan Craig  Would you go to a foreign country alone: No  Go to meal at Joe Beeverz:  Wings

With high school graduations coming up, and college and university students already done for the summer. It is time to look at the benefits of hiring students. VHP has hired students off and on since it’s inception in 1997, however in 2012 the company started a seasonal lawn crew consisting of students & athletes home for the summer. These students bring a bit of life and a different perspective to the business each year. We have had some students back as many as five years in a row and have offered them different opportunities for advancement within the organization. It is really rewarding to see these kids grow up into responsible adults developing a work ethic and progressing into their careers. Brock Sutherland was the first member of the lawn crew back in 2012, he was joined by Cory Rae and Cole McCaig. It is amazing how time flies, both Cory and Brock have their own families now and all three members have moved on to very successful careers. With the energy comes fun. Since the first year of the lawn crew VHP has hosted staff Bar-be-ques to bring the team together to build appreciation for the hard work of all team members. This has evolved into entering a staff hockey team into the Wendy’s Summer Hockey League where the students and other employees can have some fun outside of work. Finally, in 2016 a tradition started called the “Jake Cup”, named after VHP’s founder Vionell Bertineous (Jake) Jacobson who was an entrepreneur and a competitive guy. The Jake Cup which started as a fun hockey game at the end of the summer where staff members could invite their friends out and have a challenge game for the Jake Cup. Last year this evolved into an event where VHP and RE/MAX Valleyview Realty would team up to play against Royal Lepage Martin Liberty Realty. This provided an opportunity to bring the competition level up a bit, add a bit of pride to the event, but to also help two local charities, as the losing team donated $500 to the winning team’s charity of choice. 50/50 proceeds were also donated to the charity of losing team. Last year Career Connections and the YWCA shared over $800. This year’s event is planned for August 15th at a location to be named in the near future. VHP and RE/MAX Valleyview Realty will be looking to win the Jake Cup back from Royal Lepage Martin Liberty Realty. Looking forward to seeing people come out to support a couple of local charities again this year. All of these great things: Friday barbeques, the Jake Cup and the summer hockey team were started because VHP decided to hire a group of students back in 2012, not to mention having the best kept grounds in the city for our apartment complexes. When considering adding a student to your team this summer, don’t think of the costs; think of the benefits of providing employment for young people and what they bring to your organization. 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 the first 64 units will be ready for occupancy in fall of 2019.