The Salamander Summer Music Festival 2025 is set to return to Rideau Park in Brandon, Manitoba from July 18-20. This community-focused festival aims to celebrate the arts, music, and culture, bringing together local talent and providing a vibrant space for artistic expression and community engagement. Festival attendees can look forward to a variety of activities, including live music performances, art workshops, a free kids’ zone, an artisan market, and food trucks. Recently organizers revealed the names of the artists who would be performing at the festival this year. Among the artists scheduled to appear include: THE HAILEYS • Silas Presley Band • Route 10 Collective • Ruzz Guitar Trio • Prince Eddy and the Wrecking Balls • Daelyn Elise • No Fuss • BatBotS • Zach Riley and more. Early bird tickets are on sale until May 23rd — grab yours NOW at salamanderfest.ca For more information and updates, you can visit the Salamander Summer Music Festival website​.

One of the best local events will return next Sunday May 25th Sunday, May 25 - 10am to 4pm FREE EVENT TO ATTEND - hosted by Westman Dreams for Kids Keystone Centre Grounds “Clara” Tent Cash Canteen on site (drinks, hot dogs, chips, etc) Here’s some of the vendors: Be Power Smart! - Manitoba Hydro Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowling - T-Birds Brandon Fire Emergecny Services Brandon Police Servicce Brandon University Mini U Bubble Man - Karl Heinz Bouncers / Obstacle Course - Circle B Fitness Cookie Decorating - Hillbilly Cookies (See the) Dogs - Alliance of Therapy Dogs Glitter Tattoos / Hair Color - H&CO Academy Once Upon a Child Paint/Craft Station Petting Zoo - Ricklyn Farms Plant a Seed - Alternative Garden Centre Science Show - Mad Science Wagon Rides - Easty Huntly Farms Inflatables: Zipline Game Zone Caution Obstacle Course & Slide Leaps and Bounds Ninja Warrior Dome Corn Hole And much more!

Parks Canada has made the difficult decision to continue to restrict the use of motorized watercraft on Clear Lake in 2025. This approach is a continuation of Parks Canada’s attempts to reduce zebra mussel spread in Clear Lake and the potential damage that may be caused to downstream waterbodies and related infrastructure. This action means Parks Canada will permit only non-motorized watercraft on Clear Lake in 2025. Users of non-motorized watercraft, including kayaks and canoes, may choose between an annual permit to use only Clear Lake or an annual permit to use the various outlying waterbodies in Riding Mountain National Park, such as Lake Audy, Moon Lake and Lake Katherine. All non-motorized watercraft, fishing equipment, wetsuits, and inflatables must complete a Parks Canada aquatic invasive species inspection and comply with Clean, Drain, Dry protocol. Parks Canada is taking a precautionary approach in an effort to reduce the rate of spread of zebra mussels, thereby continuing to protect the health of Clear Lake and outlying waterbodies in Riding Mountain National Park and downstream water courses so that visitors and residents can continue to enjoy them in the future. In the coming year, Parks Canada will initiate a comprehensive research approach to determine how motorized watercraft affect ecological, socioeconomic and cultural components of Clear Lake. Parks Canada appreciates resident and visitor engagement and recognizes the important place Clear Lake holds in their hearts. Similarly, we greatly respect the strong connections that Indigenous communities and residents, both permanent and seasonal, have with Clear Lake. Parks Canada takes their role to protect the ecological and cultural health of Clear Lake seriously. This approach to aquatic invasive species risk reduction will help protect all waterbodies in Riding Mountain National Park while ensuring lake users can resume many of the activities they missed in 2024. Parks Canada is committed to providing visitors and community members with high quality and meaningful experiences and supporting the continued vitality of tourism in communities around Riding Mountain National Park. For more information visit the 2025 aquatic invasive species prevention program (Government of Canada Bulletin)

Brock Lesnar's son — Duke Lesnar - was drafted by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the recent WHL draft. Lesnar, 14, had 13 goals, 28 points through 30 games played with the Notre Dame Hounds U15 Prep (CSSHL U15) this season. Athens Shingoose of Waywayseecappo was selected in the 1st round (16th overall) in the same draft. Shingoose, RHA Winnipeg, led the CSSHL in powerplay goals this past season. Canadian Wrestling's Elite makes a special stop in Rivers, Manitoba on the Point To Prove Tour for their annual fundraiser for the Rivers Firefighters Association on Saturday, May 24th! The roster for the event features TNA Legend "Cowboy" James Storm, CWE Champion "Chizzled" Chad Daniels, "Tornado" Tony Kozina, "The Headline" Shaun Martens and "The Zombie Killer" MENTALLO. The 2nd annual CFB Shilo co-ed softball tournament (7 men, 3 women) is taking place on June 7&8 and they are looking to add a few more teams. First place takes home $1,000 and the entry fee is $325. Contact Melissa (613-483-2523) to register or for additional information. While selecting a number of players in the 2025 WHL Draft and acquiring two new players (Grayson Burzynski and Luke Mistelbacher) in a massive deal with the Swift Current Broncos, the Brandon Wheat Kings also saw three players leave the organization. Dominik Petr was traded to the Saskatoon Blades, Alex Letourneau went to Swift Current, and Isaac Davies was scooped up by Penticton in the expansion draft. The female u18AAA Wheat Kings will be holding u18 AAA ID skates on May 21 and 26. Players interested in joining the Female U18 AAA hockey program for the upcoming season are encouraged to attend these evaluation skates. Please pre-register with Hockey Brandon by May 16 by calling the office at 204-726-3550. The cost for the two skate sessions is $40.

Sunrise Credit Union's 2025 Our Manitoba Photo Contest winner is Dylan Bertholet of Lauder, Manitoba. A panel of Sunrise staff selected Bertholet's photo, ‘Prairie Storm,' as one of the 30 finalists from approximately 217 entries for this year's contest. Sunrise held a week-long public vote on the 30 finalists in April through the ourmanitoba.org website, with Bertholet's photo garnering the majority vote and claiming the top spot. Bertholet captured the winning image on a stormy September evening in Napinka, Manitoba. "I thought it would be a great to get a photo of a train with the old elevator! So I waited about an hour, and I got the perfect shot!" said Bertholet. Winning the 2025 edition of the Our Manitoba Photo Contest brings a sense of pride to Bertholet. He noted how awesome it feels to have his photo voted as the winner and how happy he is that so many people love his photo. "I Love capturing that perfect moment through my lens," exclaimed Bertholet, "Capturing the memories of these old Grain elevators! And the stories that they could tell!" All 13 finalists will receive a canvas print of the winning photograph, be featured in the 2026 Sunrise Credit Union calendar, and have appeared on Sunrise Credit Union's branch TVs and social media channels. In addition, Bertholet earned the Grand Prize of a $500 One-Year Term Deposit from Sunrise Credit Union. 2025 marked the 13th edition of the Our Manitoba Photo Contest. Bertholet was revealed as the grand prize winner on Monday, May 12, which coincided with Manitoba Day.