A Taste of Brandon, a summer festival held in Brandon, Manitoba, took place yesterday in Brandon at the Brandon Riverbank. The event featured a variety of activities, including: a range of cuisines and food trucks, live musical performances, cultural exhibits, children's activities and entertainment, and craft vendors. The festival celebrated the city's diversity and community spirit, showcasing local talent, food, and culture. All photos by Scramble Studio.

The City of Brandon Parks and Recreation Department announced the seasonal opening of the Kinsmen Pool, an outdoor community swimming facility beloved by local residents. The pool is set to open its gates on June 22, welcoming swimmers of all ages to enjoy its refreshing waters throughout the summer months. The city's spray parks & paddle pools opened June 6th for the season. The Kinsmen Pool has long been a cornerstone of summer activities in Brandon. Known for its family-friendly atmosphere and well-maintained facilities, the pool offers a wide range of aquatic programs and recreational opportunities. For more details on Kinsmen Pool’s schedule and programs, residents can visit the City of Brandon Parks and Recreation web page here.

A number of provincial parks in southern Manitoba will welcome campers this weekend, officially kicking off the 2024 season, Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today. “I know many Manitobans, like me and my family, are eager to head out to the great outdoors to camp at one of our province’s beautiful provincial parks,” said Schmidt. “We encourage all Manitobans to take the opportunity this spring and summer to explore our provincial parks and make lasting memories.” Campers will notice improvements in several provincial campgrounds this season including: redevelopment of the Nutimik Lake Museum in Whiteshell Provincial Park; new playgrounds at Kiche Manitou in Spruce Woods, Winnipeg Beach, White Lake in Whiteshell and Whitefish Lake; completed work on water and wastewater treatment system upgrades at Asessippi, Birds Hill and Paint Lake provincial parks; and new washroom and shower facility at Bakers Narrows Provincial Park. All other provincial park campgrounds will open for the May long weekend. Manitobans can make a reservation for campsites, cabins, yurts and group-use areas through the Parks Reservation Service, online at www.manitobaparks.com or by calling (toll-free) 1-888-482-2267. Reminders for visitors and campers at Manitoba provincial parks include: check the Manitoba Parks website at www.manitobaparks.com for advisories before travelling; buy and print provincial park vehicle permits online before leaving home at www.manitobaelicensing.ca; all campers must check in at campground offices upon arrival to receive camping permits; have reservation confirmation and personal identification ready for check-in; be ‘Wildlife Smart’ by maintaining a clean campsite, keeping all food, trash, toiletries and cooking utensils locked in a vehicle or trailer, and pack out trash and recyclables before leaving; keep all pets on leash; and keep all campfires in approved pits such as those found in campsites and check with the campground office for any campfire restriction. Do not transport firewood from Winnipeg to areas outside the city to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer, an invasive species of beetle. To avoid charges and fines, purchase firewood from local retailers at or near most campgrounds. For more information on provincial parks, visit www.manitobaparks.com and follow Manitoba Parks on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

The Manitoba government is freezing provincial park fees for this camping season, Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today. “Manitobans are starting to plan trips to our beautiful provincial parks and our government knows affordability is top of mind for many families,” said Schmidt. “That’s why we’re freezing provincial park pass fees and camping fees this season. While the previous government opted to privatize park passes which raised fees, our government is focused on keeping parks affordable and accessible for Manitoba families.” In 2020, the Manitoba government announced it was signing a contract with an American-based service provider to administer the park pass program. The fees associated with the contract were scheduled to increase this year. In Budget 2024, the Manitoba government is investing $46 million in Manitoba parks. The government is taking action to make sure no Manitoban has to pay more to enjoy the province’s beautiful parks, the minister noted, adding Manitoba has some of the most affordable park entrance and camping fees in North America. Additionally, several times a year, the Manitoba government offers free provincial park entry, meaning a vehicle permit is not required to visit one of Manitoba’s parks. This includes a free parks entry during a week in July, the Labour Day long weekend and the entire month of February. Upcoming free provincial park entry dates include: June 7 to 9; July 15 to 21; Aug. 30 to Sept. 2; and Feb. 1 to 28, 2025. Campsite reservations for the 2024 season opened earlier this week. This year, reservations are staggered over five days to accommodate the high demand and make it easier for Manitobans to book a site at their favourite campground. To see the detailed list of campground reservation opening days, visit www.manitobaparks.com.

The Manitoba government wants you to mark your calendar and start planning your getaway as reservations for campgrounds in provincial parks are set to open on April 8, Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today. “Manitoba is home to some spectacular parks and as warmer weather approaches, more and more Manitobans are preparing to book quality time out in nature,” said Schmidt. “As a parent who takes their children camping every year, I know how important a fast, convenient reservation system is. Our government has taken steps to streamline the booking process so Manitobans can reserve their favourite sites headache-free.” Reservations will be staggered over five days to accommodate the high demand and make it easier for Manitobans to book at their favourite campground. Customers making online reservations are advised to check their user accounts and passwords prior to the opening days and review reservation rules. Customers can also browse the reservation service to view photos and descriptions of campsites. On opening days, an enhanced virtual waiting room and queuing system will be used to ensure a better experience for online users. For more information on how to prepare for opening day, visit www.manitobaparks.com. On opening day, the Parks Reservation Service, online and call centre services will begin at 7 a.m. online at www.manitobaparks.com, 204-948-3333 (in Winnipeg) or 1 888-482-2267 (toll-free). The Manitoba Parks Reservation Service will open over five days in April: Monday, April 8 at 7 a.m., reservations open for all cabins, yurts and group-use areas; Tuesday, April 9 at 7 a.m., reservations open for campsites at Birds Hill, Winnipeg Beach and Grand Beach campgrounds; Wednesday, April 10 at 7 a.m., reservations open for campsites in all campgrounds in Whiteshell Provincial Park including Betula Lake, Big Whiteshell Lake, Brereton Lake, Caddy Lake, Falcon Beach, Falcon Lakeshore, Nutimik Lake, Opapiskaw, Otter Falls, West Hawk Lake and White Lake; Thursday, April 11 at 7 a.m., reservations open for campsites in all northern and western campgrounds including Asessippi, Bakers Narrows, Clearwater Lake (Campers Cove and Pioneer Bay), Duck Mountain (Blue Lakes, Childs Lake and Wellman Lake), Manipogo, Rainbow Beach, Rivers, Paint Lake, Spruce Woods (Kiche Manitou), Turtle Mountain (Adam Lake), Wekusko Falls and William Lake; and Friday, April 12 at 7 a.m., reservations open for campsites in all remaining campground locations including Birch Point, Camp Morton, Hecla (Gull Harbour), Hnausa Beach, Lundar Beach, Moose Lake, Nopiming (Beresford Lake, Bird Lake, Black Lake, Shoe Lake and Tulabi Falls), St. Malo, Stephenfield and Watchorn. Walk-in reservations and in-person payment arrangements can also be made at 1181 Portage Ave. in Winnipeg and will be available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning April 8 for the parks and facilities described above. For more information on provincial parks, visit www.manitobaparks.com and follow Manitoba Parks on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Annual park vehicle permits for 2024-25 are available for purchase online at www.manitobaelicensing.ca as well as at retail outlets or provincial park offices. Manitoba Parks is also recruiting seasonal staff for the upcoming summer. Those looking for summer employment and career opportunities in provincial parks should visit www.manitobaparks.com frequently as more job opportunities are posted.