You'll find another hidden gem, just west of Precision Toyota. An adorable Christmas village display sits just in front of Westbran Training Centre and guides the way to Brandon's outdoor skating oval. So which is the hidden gem? Truly, all three. The village is crafted and set up on-site at Westbran Training Centre. It's located at 2005 McGregor Avenue. (Turn at Precision Toyota and drive to the end of the road.) The village consists of a model train, a general store, a church and a log cabin. It's really well done and definitely photo worthy. Secondly, Westbran Training Centre is a government funded site that offers employment counseling, training and one-on-one skill development services. There are drop in hours Tuesday to Thursday evenings. All services are free of charge. It's a division of WEM (Workplace Education Manitoba). http://www.wem.mb.ca/west_centre_brandon.aspx Thirdly, the skating oval. It's a city-operated, free site where families can ice skate outdoors. There is a warming hut where you can put your skates on and even a port-a-potty on site. The skating oval is lined with Christmas lights and displays are sponsored by Manitoba Hydro. All three are worth your time and contribute added value in our community.  

The Westman Wedding Expo is taking place at the Keystone Centre, inside the Manitoba Room, on February 5th,. Brandon's biggest wedding show will be home for one day to many different wedding specialists, a custom fashion show, and the opportunity for one lucky bride to win a Grand Prize Ultimate Wedding Give-Away estimated to be over $18,000 in value. The Westman Wedding Expo, hosted by Party Professionals & Wedding Expressions, 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. The event runs from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and admission price is only $10 in advance, or $15 at the door.

You’ve probably got at least one cause you’re passionate about. And, your hard work and success have placed you and your family in a position to give back to your community. To make sure your donation makes the biggest impact possible, you need a plan. Step 1 – decide what matters most With so many ways to make a difference, deciding which charities to support can be overwhelming. When you’re choosing where to direct your money, consider: Do your core values align with a specific cause or organization? Are you or someone you care about personally affected by an issue? Is there a cause you think needs more attention? Are there organizations you already support that you’d like to do more for? How does the charity distribute their funds? Luckily, there are a lot of independent sites, including Charity Intelligence Canada, that offer comprehensive ratings based on transparency, need and operating efficiency. Step 2 – direct your donation dollars Once you find a cause you’re passionate about, decide how you want to make your mark. Will all your donation dollars go to one organization or to several? Will it be a one-time gift or ongoing? Is this a personal project or will your family and friends join the cause? Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Want to inspire innovation? Create your own charity, grant or scholarship fund. Or maybe there’s an organization you could partner with to match your gift. The sky’s the limit when it comes to your charitable legacy. Step 3 – build a team to help you realize your dream Seek the advice of professionals who can help you make the most of your gift. A financial security advisor can help you: Align your philanthropic plans with the core values and issues that matter most to you and your family Identify a plan to involve your family – today and tomorrow Take advantage of tax efficiencies and benefits Your team might also include: Lawyers Accountants Philanthropy consultants Ready, set, give! Contact me today to see how you can maximize your gift today to help create a better tomorrow.

The MacGregor Tubing Hill, formerly known as Rodgers Hill, will officially open to the public on Monday, December the 26th from 2-9 pm. For those looking looking for an affordable way to have fun and get active this winter then this is the place for you. Cost is only $8 per person, and children 5 and under are FREE. Facilities on-site include a fully groomed hill, tow rope system, and an outdoor warm-up area with fire pit. There is also a chalet building with bathrooms, a wood stove, tables and canteen. Last year they played host to just over 8,600 sliders and they are looking to surpass that total this winter. Holiday hours (December 26th until January 8th ) will be from 2pm to 9pm daily. Regular hours of operation outside of the holiday season will be: Friday 6pm-10pm, Saturday 2pm-10pm, & Sunday 2pm-9pm The MacGregor Tubing Hill is located 5 miles south of MacGregor, Manitoba on Road 59W (Rosehill Road) and 1 mile west on Rd 60N. There are signs posted eastbound and westbound on the Trans-Canada Highway #1.  

Take The Shot by Audrey Sabiston Saturday evenings in the winter, when I was a young girl, meant my father tuned the television to Hockey Night in Canada. If I close my eyes I can still feel the heat from the old wood stove and hear the crackling sounds of the fire consuming each stick of carefully placed wood. Often I would make myself a cup of blue ribbon tea (and a teaspoon of white sugar, just like my Dad) and set it on the very most edge of the wood stove keeping it warm throughout the evening for me to sip on. The games I always liked the best were when the Edmonton Oilers were on television so I could watch Wayne Gretzky and his teammates.  A famous line that Wayne Gretzky says is "You miss 100% of the shots you never take" There is much to be learned from that. Did you know that Wayne Gretzky FAILED to Score 82.4% of the time he took a shot on net but he DID score 17.6% of the time? So what have I learned from that statistic? TAKE THE SHOT! Wayne Gretzky missed his shot a lot and every time he did he learned just a little bit more about the rest of the players on the ice and about himself but it never kept him from trying and again and again until he succeeded. I've certainly tried many things in my life. I've taken many shots. On many I've missed, failed and flopped but I did get the experience of disappointment and failure which is one of life's greatest teachers. On some though I took a shot and I was a success. So keep taking your shots. You may miss many, many times but when you succeed it will make all the sacrifices and hard work all worth it.