The Westman Multicultural Festival takes place this weekend (February 1-3, 2018) in Brandon at various locations throughout the city.  This year's festival includes two new Pavilions: India & Mexico,  The Metis Pavilion will be returning after taking a brief hiatus for one year.  A map of the pavilions can be found at this link. English: Victoria Inn (3550 Victoria Inn) Entertainment includes cover band the Beetles and the Village Green Morris Dancers. The menu includes “Authentic English Pug Grub” like bangers & mash with veggies and gravy, meat pies,  apple crumble and custard, and blackberry crumble and custard.  A number of English beers, cider, martinis & English cocktails will be among the alcohol served. Honduras: Ukrainian Reading Hall (1005 Assiniboine Ave) Pupusas & Baleadas are on the menu and alcohol is not served.  This will mark their 3rd year participating in the festival.  Performers in colorful costumes serve as the entertainment every hour with each show lasting 24 minutes. India: North End Community Centre (1313 Stickney Ave) This year will mark their first year at the festival.  Entertainment includes various types and ages of dance groups. Butter Chicken with Rice and Naan, Chickpea curry with Rice and Naan, and Gelabi are the featured eats.  While they will not serve alcohol there will be a selection of soft drinks. Ireland: Clarion Hotel & Suites (3130 Victoria Ave) One of more popular Pavilions they serve a wide array of alcohol including beer (Guinness, Harp, Kilkenny, + more), whiskey (Bushmills, Jameson, + more) and liquor (Bailey’s Irish Cream, Irish coffee, Rum, Vodka).  Irish Stew, scones & biscuits and a variety of desserts will be available if you get hungry while watching the live music and dance offered at this Pavilion.   Metis : WMCA (205-20th Street) In their first year back, after taking a brief hiatus for one year, they will be serving up an extensive menu of food items including: bannock, bison stew, elk smokies, bison smokies/burgers and rice pudding.  The Metis Pavilion will offer a variety of Metis Culture through the sharing of traditional music, dance, & food. Mexican: Brandon Shrine Club (1110 McTavish Ave E) "The Mexican Pavilion will showcase the Mexican culture with traditional dancers, music and cultural displays".  Entertainment is coming all the way from Cancun, Mexico for this event.   Traditional food and drinks like pozole soup, tamales (pork / chicken), tacos (veggie / beef / pork), Mexican beer, classic margaritas, and tequila shots will be served throughout the three days. Philippine: St. Mattews Church (403-13th St) "The Philippine/Filipino Pavilion will be the mirror of the Filipino culture and traditions, a showcase of talent in music and dance."  In addition to  dance performances a band will also be performing at the end of each hour to give you a taste of Original Filipino Music.  Alcohol will not be served however they do have a really extensive food menu to chose from including: Pancit (stir-fried noodles with chicken & veggies), Chicken Adobo (chicken cooked in vinegar and soy sauce), steamed rice, spring rolls and for dessert Buko Pandan (dessert with coconut, jello, tapioca pearls and milk). Scottish: Victoria Inn (3550 Victoria Ave)  Haggis Pie with Neeps & Taties (turnips & potatoes) and meat pies are on the menu as well as a shortbread for dessert.  The Scotch Corner Bar will be serving Scottish beers & whisky.  Entertainment includes solo and band performances, rock bands, and traditional dancers.  Now in their 14th year in the festival the Scottish Pavilion will have you tapping your toes to the lively tunes of the fiddle, and singing along to some old favourites. Ukrainian: Ukrainian National Home (1133 Stickney Avenue) Who doesn't love perogies, borscht, cabbage rolls, and koubassa?  Entertained scheduled for the weekend includes 100 Dancers from Brandon Troyanda School of Ukrainian Dance, The Stykalo’s & Co., Ukrainian-Canadian Association Tryzub & other bands to be announced.  They will also be serving alcohol including beer and vodka imported from the Ukraine as well as vodka, rye, rum, scotch, beer, wine & coolers. For additional information on the festival please follow this link.    

The 40 is taking it back to the 90's with Wannabe - A Spice Girls Tribute Presents: Spice World 20th Anniversary!! Soo tell me what you want, what you really, really want........The band has sold out various venues already and made a huge hit in Winnipeg, let's show them some Brandon love! "When it comes to celebrations, epic dance parties and conjuring up serious 90's nostalgia, no one does it better than the darlings of Toronto's cover-band scene. This 11-member outfit is a staple in venues, festivals and soft seaters across Canada." Tickets will be sold starting January 25, 2018 at 10am at the Front Desk of the Trails West Inn OR The 40 bar (cash only). Advance tickets are $20 +GST and they will sell until they are SOLD OUT! Doors open at 8pm and the show starts at 9pm! The show is 18+ only show, please have ID's ready at the door, no refunds for paid tickets.

On Tuesday, January 23rd at 6:00 pm, our tenth annual “Jazz @ the 40” evening will take place in collaboration with Jazz Groups from: Vincent Massey High School; Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School; École secondaire Neelin High School; Brandon West Middle School Band Program (Grade 8 Students); and Brandon East Side Band Program (Grade 8 Students); Special Guests, the "Allbums" Community Jazz Ensemble This is a very special event for our Jazz musicians as they will have the opportunity to perform in an exciting and more “authentic” venue for this style of music. This evening of great food and music will happen at “The 40”, attached to the Trails West Inn (210 18th Street North). The club will be shut down and closed to regular customers for the evening so that minors can be allowed inside as either performers or audience members; alcoholic drinks will not be served for this evening. This is a great opportunity to hear BSD students perform in a more informal and relaxed atmosphere! A buffet dinner is included as part of the ticket price. Tickets are $20 (in advance only) which covers admission and the meal (fountain drinks are available for an extra charge). Tickets are now available and can be obtained by sending cash or cheque (made to “BWMSB”). Tickets are available in advance at the following locations: Vincent Massey High School 715 McDiarmid Drive, Brandon, MB R7B 2H7 Phone: 204-729-3170 Meaghan Walker – walker.meaghan@bsd.ca Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School 1930 - 1st Street, Brandon, MB R7A 6Y6 Phone: 204-729-3900 Anna Penno – penno.anna@bsd.ca Earl Oxford School 540 - 18th Street, Brandon, MB R7A 5B2 Phone: 204-729-3270 Jarrett Fuller – fuller.jarrett@bsd.ca Waverly Park School 3800 Park Avenue, Brandon, MB R7B 3X2 Phone: 204-729-3250 Graydon Cramer – cramer.graydon@bsd.ca

Prairie Joe, will be at the Brandon Shoppers Mall tonight at 6:30pm performing their trending parody hit "Cold In Canada". Join everyone today at the Kia Court to hear this popular song live, plus other hits. Tap your toes to some tunes and meet the band too. Fun for the whole family!

January 8, 2018 (Winnipeg, Manitoba) -- Sam Karney left his small western Manitoba town to pursue an education and career in the city. Little did he know the road would one day circle back, return him to his rural roots, and reveal the secrets of one of Canada’s oldest professions. A Life on the Life is the story of a young man returning to the fur-trapping life he turned his back on. The one-hour documentary premieres on APTN this month: Ø  January 14 @ 7:00pm Eastern Ø  January 16 @ 11:00am Eastern (rebroadcast) Ø  January 19 @ 5:00pm Eastern (rebroadcast) Watch the trailer here:  www.alifeontheline.com ABOUT THE IDEA Even though Canada today has largely forgotten about the fur trade, there are still men and women dedicated to preserving this way of life, and passing it down to the next generation. A Life on the Line explores this important part of Canadian history, set against the stunning backdrop of Manitoba’s rugged boreal forest. “For as long as I can remember, fur trapping has been in my life,” says Karney, a Métis filmmaker from Roblin, Manitoba, who is making his feature documentary debut with A Life on the Line. “My dad Chuck started working on a trapline when I was very young, so to me, the sights and smells became everyday things. But as I got older and moved away for school and work, the trapline got further and further away.” “A few years ago, through my work at a TV station, I was given the opportunity to produce short documentaries. I pitched the idea of spending a weekend on my dad’s trapline, documenting the activities, and exploring the challenges in a modernized world. After that, I began thinking there was something bigger here.” And he was right. What turned out to be ‘something bigger’ was the story of Sam returning to his roots, and reconnecting with his father. The idea eventually turned into A Life on the Line, Sam’s first full-length documentary as a filmmaker, and the first time turning the camera on himself. “Never have I had any desire to be in front of the camera, but with my father as the subject, I figured the best way to give this film the life it deserved was to immerse myself fully and actually learn what it takes to maintain the line. Needless to say, it was not easy.” ABOUT THE STORY Chuck Karney is a fur trapper with over 20 years of experience. Though not Indigenous himself, he married a Métis woman and spent the better part of his life living a traditional “on the land” existence. Growing up, Chuck’s son Sam had little interest in trapping. In fact, like many typical teens, he had little interest in most things his father tried to teach him. So he left behind his rural home to seek an education and career. After a decade of living in cities, Sam felt compelled to return to the wilderness. In particular, he felt drawn to his father’s trapline. Throughout the 2016-2017 trapping season, Sam spent time with Chuck, learning what it takes to run a trapline. From bone chilling cold to the gruesome realities of the job, Sam went hands on – and all in – every step of the way. For the successes, and failures. “No matter how macho you think you are living in the city, there are things that happen on the trapline that make even the strongest men wilt,” says Sam. Often humorous and occasionally heartwarming, A Life on the Line shows a father’s desire to teach his son a dying way of life, and passing on traditional knowledge that would otherwise be lost. The documentary also takes a look at Sam’s Métis roots, on his mother’s side. “It’s kind of funny actually,” says Sam. “Here’s my dad, a full-fledged Ukrainian, living a traditional Métis lifestyle. It’s quite something.” ABOUT THE PRODUCTION A Life on the Line is co-produced by Winnipeg-based production companies Ice River Films (www.iceriverfilms.com) and Wookey Films (www.wookeyfilms.com). It is directed by Sam Karney, produced by Andrew Wiens and Jérémie Wookey, and executive produced by Janelle Wookey, with Rudy Gauer as director of photography. The documentary has been produced with support from APTN, Canada Media Fund, Manitoba Film & Music, and the Canadian Film or Video Tax Credit Program.