With under 50 days to the first day of competition, the 2017 Canada Summer Games Host Society and Co-hosts gave the public a taste of the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Canada Games Festival that will act as a central hub for spectators, athletes, volunteers and the Manitoba community during the Canada Summer Games. The festival that will run from July 29 to August 12 at The Forks, will be free, easily accessible, and open to the public. A MUSICAL CELEBRATION FROM COAST TO COAST TO COAST The Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Canada Games Festival will celebrate the many unique facets of Canadian culture by showcasing professional artists from across Canada. The Games will have a distinctly festive atmosphere in light of the 50th anniversary of the Canada Games and Canada’s 150th. “The Forks have been a gathering place for thousands of years,” said Jeff Hnatiuk, President and CEO of the 2017 Canada Summer Games Host Society. “It seemed only natural to stage the biggest Canada Games Festival here. We’re very excited to share the stellar line-up that our team - led by Festival Producer Jason Smith - has put together. We are grateful for the support of Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, legacy partner of the Games and presenting sponsor of the Festival. ” Each province and territory has been invited to join in creating an exciting festival atmosphere that will incorporate family-friendly activities and include an array of music along with Indigenous, francophone and cultural content from across Canada. The Festival will also feature local artisans, food vendors and sponsor activations. Each night’s concert will be capped off with fireworks. With more than 150 acts performing over 11 days, there will truly be something for everyone as we showcase the talent and diversity of Canada’s finest performers. Headliners include Ontario’s Serena Ryder and Kardinal Offishall; Saskatchewan’s The Sheepdogs and Buffy Sainte-Marie; Nova Scotia’s Natalie MacMaster and The Trews; Newfoundland’s Alan Doyle, P.E.I’s Jenn Grant; New Brunswick’s Matt Andersen and Les Hay Babies; Québec’s Coeur de Pirate, Nunavut’s Tanya Tagaq and the Jerry Cans; B.C.’s Loverboy; and Alberta’s Brett Kissel. Manitoba Night will include Royal Canoe, William Prince, Fred Penner, and a special performance by the Crash Test Dummies with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. The Host Society and Co-hosts also announced CN as the Official Safety Sponsor of the 2017 Canada Summer Games and the presenting sponsor of Diving. Little Obie, a scale model of a CN locomotive, with a flatcar and caboose will make an appearance at the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Canada Games Festival on August 11 and 12. Little Obie helps educate kids about the dangers of playing near the railroad tracks — in a fun and informative way. Full schedule of the performances and activities is available at canadagames.ca/2017. This event was made possible in part by the Government of Canada, Canada 150, Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg. “Fifty days from now, I hope Canadians will experience a true sense of the Canada Games’ 50 years of dynamic history and the important role the Games have played in helping young Canadian athletes develop and reach international podium success,” said the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. “As people from across the country gather to demonstrate our sporting excellence, celebrate our cultural diversity, and share in the spirit of competition, we will witness our next generation of high-performance athletes push their limits—and inspire our young people to do the same.” “Excitement continues to build as we get even closer to the opening ceremonies,” continued Mayor Brian Bowman. “Winnipeg is thrilled to host coaches, athletes and spectators from coast to coast to coast, and is ready to show the nation that Winnipeg is one of the hottest places to be this summer.”

The Sand Hills Casino will be extending their weekend hours as today the casino released a statement, on their Facebook page, that they will be open 24 hours a day every Friday to Sunday. Prior to today's announcement the Carberry Casino's hours were: Mon - Sat 10:00am – 3:00am and Sun 12:00pm – 3:00am.

June 6, 2017 Brandon, MB – The Manitoba Summer Fair starts tomorrow at the Keystone Centre in Brandon with 39 midway rides, daily sideshow entertainment, children activities, an open heavy and light horse show, an ApHC & ApHCC sanctioned show and the RCMP Musical Ride on Wednesday & Thursday evenings at 7:30 PM in the outdoor ring. All of these attractions are included in regular gate admission. “Having the RCMP Musical Ride join us for our 135th anniversary is the icing on the cake.” said Ron Kristjansson, General Manager at the Provincial Exhibition. “We are very proud to have the Honourable Janice C. Filmon, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba joining us for Thursday night’s show. The pre-show starts at 7 PM with the Mini Chuckwagon racing followed by the Musical ride at 7:30 PM.” As a kick off to the Provincial Exhibition’s Canada 150 celebrations, 150 new citizens will be participating in a Citizenship Ceremony at 2 PM in the UCT pavilion. The fair wraps up on Sunday with the annual Cando Pancake breakfast, classic car and bike show, demo derby and youth cattle show. Kids 10 and under pay only $20 for unlimited rides.

Alberta-based singer-songwriter JJ Shiplett has been confirmed as the headliner for the 2017 Summer Lights Concert Series kick-off on Thursday, June 15th. Shiplett had spent the better part of 12 years working in the music industry prior to his big break joining multi-platinum entertainer Johnny Reid on his “What Love Is All About” 2016 national tour. The 204, a Brandon based band, will open for Shiplett. Show time is 7 pm in Princess Park. The event, held at Princess Park each summer offers FREE concerts from high-calibre regional and national talent one Thursday a month through the months of June, July and August. Announcements will be forthcoming for performers for the months of July and August, as well as for the all-day Summer Lights Music Festival held in September.

Award-winning comedian Ron James has been selling out theatres for 15 years with his marathon, side-splitting, kinetically charged performances. Marshalling a comedian's eye for satire and a writer's ear for language, Ron takes his audience on a breath-taking, non-stop roller coaster ride, cutting a wide swath through contemporary culture with his razor-sharp ribald wit, uncompromising standards and unique, poetically-honed delivery. A stand-out amongst "stand-ups"... "Utterly Brilliant" - Ottawa Sun; "a man of a million words and a million laughs ... genius" - Globe & Mail; "a unique brand of funny all his own" - Winnipeg Free Press; "fits of helpless laughter" - Halifax Chronicle Herald; "hysterically funny ... at the top of his game" - Toronto Star; "funniest man in Canada" - Victoria Times-Colonist; "a wheezing, snorting, chortling, gasping night of hilarity" - Edmonton Sun; "fast, funny and smart" - Montreal Gazette; "simply the best" - Toronto Sun; "thunderous standing ovation" - Saskatoon Star Phoenix. With eight critically acclaimed one-hour comedy specials under his belt, plus five seasons starring in his own series, "The Ron James Show", Canada's #1 road warrior is back doing what he does best: delivering laughs face-to-face and coast-to-coast ... a full throttle Pedal To The Metal ride! Reserved seating tickets for Ron James - Pedal To The Metal are $55.00 (tax and facility fees included). Showtime is 7:30 pm on Friday, November the 17th. For more info, pics and comedy clips, visit www.shantero.com or www.ronjames.ca.