As the wind howls and the treat bags are filled, parents and their children are making last minutes preparations on the eve of Halloween. There are pumpkins to carve, seeds to roast, cookies to bake, and last minute costume adjustments to make. The excitement for All Hallow’s Eve is hardly bearable! Throughout the city, the scenes are set for a spooky and delightful Halloween and we captured a few of them to share with you. Be on the watch for scary ghosts, creepy goblins, and wicked witches - they’ll be comin’ a knockin’ tomorrow as daylight fades into darkness. Happy Halloween!

Portage la Prairie is the fifth largest city in Manitoba that was originally built as a fur trading post. It is known as the Strawberry Capital of the World, home to the Portage Terriers, and the community welcomes people from all over who come to use their popular recreational facilities located at Island Park. Vionell Holdings is pleased to announce that it will also be home to a brand new 128 unit rental community that will be located in close proximity to Arthur Meighen School. While decisions on how and where to invest in housing properties often involve number crunching, there are many other considerations that come into play. Although Vionell Holdings is based in Brandon, there are many reasons as to why this family-owned property management firm is excited to enter the market in Portage la Prairie. While strong economic growth in this central region of the province is a factor, other reasons for branching out into this market include:   There is a great group of local investors that have a shared vision of the new project. The general belief is that new housing options will have a positive effect on the city as a whole. With the new expansion at Simplot and the construction of a pea processing plant, many new jobs have and will be created in the city. Add this to a number of value-added agricultural jobs that already exist and there is plenty of potential for economic growth and development. City administration (especially the planning department) and city council members have been integral and helpful in getting this project off the ground. Even though the community is progressive, there are very few rental units that have been added to the market in the last 20 years. This means that we expect that there will very likely be a lot of interest in the new rentals and demand will be strong. Portage la Prairie has invested in great recreational and medical clinic facilities, which makes the community a great place to work, play and raise a family. And, in case you didn’t know, this small city is home to the world’s best hamburger. But, don’t take my word for it, visit Jimmy’s Submarine and Dairy Delight to find out for yourself! As we continue to make plans for the new rental property, we want to keep the community informed as well. As such, Vionell Holdings will be hosting an information session on Thursday, November 22 at 10 a.m. at Stride Place in Portage la Prairie. See you there!   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.

The Brandon Police Service Monster Mash Committee is currently planning the annual event, which takes place on Wednesday, October 31, 2018, at the Keystone Centre UCT Pavilion Room. The event runs from 6:30 to 11:00 p.m. for students of the Brandon School Division Grades 7 to 12. Students must provide their BSD Student ID. All students must check their coats and bags/backpacks. No alcohol. Anyone suspected of alcohol or drug use will not be allowed entry. There will be mandatory pat-down security checks upon entering the event. Once you leave the UCT Pavilion Room, you cannot come back inside.   The event provides students with a safe, fun and free place to gather who may otherwise be on the streets. Since inception, incidents of vandalism in Brandon have significantly been reduced on Halloween night. Food, music, games, and prizes are just a few things that create a fun and festive evening of enjoyment for all involved. It is only through the generous financial support of the Brandon Business Community and the numerous volunteers that the event remains a success.

Brandon, MB – The annual Halloween Food Drive will take place again this year on Halloween night, October 31st, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Volunteers will be canvasing the neighbourhoods, collecting donations of non-perishable food and hygiene items. Historically this initiative has been co-hosted by the Assiniboine Community College Students’ Association, and the Brandon University Student Union, to collect food for their student food banks. BUSU collects food from 18th Street – West in Brandon, to go towards their student food bank hosted on their campus. ACCSA collects food from 18th Street – East in Brandon, to go to the Samaritan House community food bank. Last year A&W and Progressive Westman joined the ACCSA in coordinating and collecting food for the Samaritan House. Six community organizations/clubs came together, including the ACC Student’s Association, A&W, Progressive Westman, Telus, AAA Wheat Kings Hockey, Crocus Plains Rugby and Crocus Plains Football teams. A total of 5000 lbs of food was collected for the Samaritan House. This year their goal is set to collect 10,000 lbs of food, which is 10% of what the Samaritan House needs per year. “We’re hoping to have 150 volunteers this year to help bring in more food”, said Janice Penziwol, Administrator Officer, A&W Rootbeer Holdings. “There’s also donation boxes located at the Trans-Canada and Queens A&W locations. For every visit, with a donation, you will receive a coupon for a free root beer. There’s also a donation cup, where you can leave change. Last year we purchased $300 worth of diapers that we donated to the Samaritan House.” The Samaritan House distributes more than 147,000 pounds of food each year, which is approximately 22,000 hampers, to local families. Nearly 50% of Samaritan House clients are children. The roster of teams collecting food east of 18th Street, so far this year, includes the ACC Students’ Association, A&W, Progressive Westman, ACC Cougars Hockey Team, Telus, Paramount Services, Brandon Youth Hockey Association, Westoba, Heritage Co-op, and Benny’s Restaurant. We welcome all other organizations/groups to volunteer with us for the evening. If you would like to join the effort, please email accsa@assiniboine.net or call Karleigh Paul, ACCSA Events & Marketing Coordinator, (204) 725-8700 x. 6644, and she will get you set up with a neighbourhood map, volunteer badges, bags & boxes, and provide you with instructions to help make the evenings efforts a success. “The ACCSA is proud to be involved in the Halloween Food Drive again this year”, said Shelby Mymko, ACCSA Vice President of Events & Marketing. “This community event gives Assiniboine students the opportunity to not only be involved in supporting the Samaritan House but also in supporting other Assiniboine students who may be in need.” The Samaritan House provides food hampers for Assiniboine students and members of the community in need. To make an appointment and access their Food Hamper Program, call (204) 726-0758 Ext. 1. It runs Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., along with access designed for students and those who are working from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays only. Brandon University Students’ Union collected just under 3000 lbs of food west of 18th Street last year, for their student food bank. Their goal is to increase that amount this year. The Brandon University Bobcats have come on board to help this year as well. “The Halloween Food Drive is incredibly important to BUSU’s foodbank due to it being the only way we stock food for our foodbank”, said Emily Simon, BUSU’s Vice President Internal. “Being able to partner with ACCSA is a great opportunity for our organizations to cover a larger area and share the work and benefits. We are so lucky to be in the community of Brandon. Due to it being a smaller city, people have the opportunity to see where their contributions go. You never know, when you are out and about, if maybe your waiter or cashier used your donated goods to eat so they could pay their bills.” Brandon University students can access BUSU’s foodbank every Friday afternoon from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., but arrangements can be made for emergency hampers when students need. Students receive a milk coupon or half a dozen eggs with each hamper given out. Although we put out our best effort every year, we may not be able to get to every house and neighbourhood. Next day pick-up is available for this reason. If you live from 18th Street-West in Brandon, please call BUSU at (204) 741-0248. If you live from 18th Street-East in Brandon, please call ACCSA at (204) 725-8710.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brandon will be holding their thirteenth annual Halloween Town & Haunted Forest at Turtle Crossing starting on October 18, 2018.   The absolutely terrifying, yet safe and harmless, haunted forest is the primary fundraiser for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brandon and all proceeds are used to support programs and services for local youth.  Non-scare (until 7pm) is suitable for kids of all ages. Additional features at this year's event include a children's carnival, a ghost story hayride, children's face painting, and the Smoked & Sauced Mobile BBQ food truck. Dates/Times October 18-21, 25-30 Weekdays 6-9pm Fridays 6-10pm Saturdays 5-10pm Sundays 4-9pm   Come face to face with your living nightmares at the Halloween Town & Haunted Forest (Oct 18– 30) in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brandon.