Is your mother’s meatloaf not what it used to be? Are you getting tired of your dad’s outbursts of laughter while watching the Big Bang Theory?  Maybe it’s time to take the plunge and consider moving out of your parents’ basement. While the idea of moving out on your own and getting your own pad is intriguing, it takes a bit of time and energy to become an approved tenant. Generally, most landlords have an application process. They are looking for good prospects who will be diligent in paying their rent on time and who will be respectful of their property. They will often consider the following: Is the potential tenant able to afford the monthly rent based on their current income and other monthly expenses as shown on a credit bureau report? Does the prospect have a good credit history? That is, do they pay their bills and rent on time and in full? Does the applicant have good references to support their rental history and employment status? In order to speed up the application process, as well as improve the likelihood of being approved as a tenant, consider doing the following: Obtain a letter of employment from your employer (on company letterhead) stating your current position and income level. This saves the landlord from calling your employer to obtain information, plus it eliminate the hassle of the employer trying to determine whether or not they should disclose the information. If you have had a positive rental experience in the past, have your former (or current) landlord write you a letter of reference stating that you were prompt in paying rent and there were no significant damages when you moved out. If you have a less than satisfactory credit history, are a student or do not currently have income to support the rent at your desired rental property, recognize these potential barriers for approval. It may help to submit a co-signor application along with your original application. If the place you are hoping to rent is more expensive than what your income can support, consider choosing a good roommate. Have them complete steps one through three and be sure to do your own homework! You might want also want to determine some ground rules, so that your living arrangements are satisfactory to both parties. It isn’t necessary to take these steps to become an approved applicant, however the extra effort will show how serious and responsible you are. Plus your application will be approved quicker, which means you’ll be able to give up the futon at your parents’ place sooner than you think! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Santa will be making his annual visit to the Wheat City during the Brandon Santa Parade which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November the 18th starting at 6:00 pm.  A variety of floats will be on-hand along the parade route which covers several blocks around Rosser and Princess Avenues   As one of the most exciting community events in Brandon each year the parade would not be possible without the assistance from numerous local businesses, charities, schools and sponsors along with volunteers from the community.  Parade spectators are encouraged to being a non perishable food item in support of Canada Post and their food drive.   Tim Hortons will be providing free hot chocolate and coffee during the parade. They will be set up in the front parking lot of the Town Centre ! Parade Route   (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Toys "R" Us News Release (TORONTO) October 26, 2017 -Attention moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas and holiday gift-givers! Today Toys“R”Us® Canada unveiled its 2017 “Holiplay” Hot Toy List - the most anticipated toy list of the year. As the authority on all things toy and baby, the Toys“R”Us team has travelled the world to uncover hot trends and toy phenomena so they can provide parents and gift-givers with the inside scoop on kids’ most-wanted playthings. The list features the hottest toys kids can’t wait to get their hands on, including exclusives such as furReal Roarin Ivory, the playful tiger and the new Hatchimals Surprise Puppadee. Each toy on the list corresponds to Toys“R”Us Canada’s Top Toy Trends: pet tech, DIY play, S.T.E.M and more. “As Canada’s toy authority, we’re on a mission to help kids of all ages Play More. Our teams are working diligently behind the scenes to ensure we deliver on our commitment to be Champions of Play. We are dedicated to bringing an incredible play experience to every kid, parent and gift-giver this holiday season,” said Clint Gaudry, Vice President, Marketing and Store Planning, Toys“R”Us Canada. “Our stores from coast to coast are filled with this year’s most sought-after toys – many that simply cannot be found anywhere else. We look forward to many events throughout the season to help Canadians deliver holiday happiness however they choose to shop. If you want to be a hero this holiday, there’s no reason to shop anywhere else.” Toys“R”Us, Canada’s Hot Toy List Each toy on the “Holiplay” Hot Toy List has been carefully selected by the toy experts at Toys“R”Us Canada and given the kid stamp of approval by Chief Play Officer, Émile Burbidge. The 2017 Toys“R”Us Canada Hot Toy List includes: Paw Patrol Sea Patroller Transforming Vehicle from Spin Master™ Imaginarium Express Power Rails Gold Mountain Train Set from Toys“R”Us (Toys“R”Us Exclusive) LEGO BOOST Creative Toolbox from LEGO™ Hatchimals Surprise Puppadee from Spin Master™ (Toys“R”Us Exclusive) L.O.L. Surprise! Big Surprise from MGA™ Fingerlings™ Baby Unicorn Gigi from WowWee (Toys“R”Us Exclusive) Nintendo Switch & Nintendo Switch - Super Mario Odyssey Nerf Modulus Regulator Baby So Sweet by You & Me - 16" Nursery Doll (Toys“R”Us Exclusive) furReal Roarin Ivory (Toys“R”Us Exclusive) & furReal Roarin Tyler from HASBRO™ Star Wars The Last Jedi Choose Your Path Bladebuilders Path of the Force Lightsaber from HASBRO™ Barbie Pink Passport Cruise Ship (Toys“R”Us Exclusive) “I love the toys on this year’s list; each toy is super fun to play with and there is something for everyone, no matter how kids play,” said Émile Burbidge, Toys“R”Us Canada’s Chief Play Officer.

A recent posting on Expedia.ca has Brandon's downtown ranked 5th among Canada's Coolest Downtowns. The article lists “cute coffee shops and boutiques” and the Global Market among the reasons why Brandon made the list. The Komfort Kitchen was identified as the “taste of the town” and the Dock on Princess was included as the place to be seen on a Friday night.   For the purposes of this article they searched high and low for innovative art scenes, top walk scores, and the the little je ne sais quoi that makes a city's downtown unforgettable. Other cities to make the list include Moose Jaw, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Vancouver.  

A Brandon, Manitoba author is excited to announce the release of “My Active Imagination”, a children’s picture book that aims to bring the values of an active lifestyle to family story time.    As a mother, operator of a popular online fitness group and former fitness instructor, Brandon’s Karlyn Rubeniuk saw an opportunity to further put her passions and experience to work.  Knowing the struggles parents face in getting their children to step away from “screentime” to go outside and play, turning a poem that she wrote primarily for her son into an engaging picture book seemed the natural way to support the kinds of conversations she feels parents and children can be having in the name of laying the foundation for an active life.    "I hope My Active Imagination will not only introduce young children to the concept of exercise but also  speak to the parent about all the reasons they should be making time to be physically active too., “ says Rubeniuk.    The book comes with a very relevant endorsement from someone that knows much about the topic of an active lifestyle in California-based Fitness Entrepreneur, Jillian Michaels.  Karlyn took the opportunity to share the book with Michaels on recent visit to Los Angeles and was thrilled when Michaels offered that the story “is the perfect tool for parents and teachers who want to introduce the concept of fitness to young children in an entertaining and whimsical way”.    “I was very honoured to be able to give Ms. Michaels a pre-print copy of this book since I was inspired by her to ‘step outside my comfort zone’ and self-publish it. An endorsement from someone whom I admire and who inspires millions of people around the world to get fit and live their best lives makes the project even more special to me,” said Rubeniuk.    The story has been released in support of KidSport, an organization which shares the same values of striving to create opportunity for youth to be active.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the books will be directed to the charity as part of its efforts to remove financial barriers that prevent kids from playing organized sports.    My Active Imagination is now available for purchase via Amazon.com as well as at the Eye Opener Book Store at 314 10th Street in Brandon. As part of its introduction within the community, a book signing will take place on October 28th at the Eye Opener Book Store in Brandon from 10am to 1pm.    The book is also available for any fundraising endeavours that promote physical activity such as those fundraising for playground equipment, organized sports fees/equipment, school gym equipment, sporting uniforms, etc. The first to come on board is Linden Lanes School in an effort help raise funds for their new playground project.