Let’s be honest right away, Climate Change is real, despite what Donald Trump says.  It is a real issue this world faces, which is only getting worse. Here are 6 Quick Facts about climate change. 1 – 600,000 die a year due to weather related events. 2 – 2005, 2010, and 2014 are the hottest years recorded in history. 3 – Montana’s Glacier Park has lost 125 of the 150 glaciers they used to have. 4 – Cows cause more methane than the oil industry, 5 – 99.84 percent of California’s land is in a drought. 6 - Thirty-seven percent of Americans believe that global warming is a hoax, and 64 percent don't believe that climate change will seriously affect their way of life. Or basically all those people have no clue what reality is. I decided to do some research about ways I can help the environment and came across a local company that is providing a new wave of energy ideas to Brandon, and Western Manitoba. This company is called Solar Manitoba. Their goal is to change the way we all think about the environment by using Solar Energy, which could mean eliminating Hydro costs after 10 years. Currently in Manitoba, Solar Energy is used in only 60 homes and business’s, which isn't a lot. Lucky for people, Manitoba Hydro has a plan to increase that. If you decide to install solar panels in your home, they will give a grant of up to 25-30 percent, which would help with the roughly $30,000 in install prices.  Yes that's right, an average home can expect a 30k bill to install solar, but when you break it down the math, it's not as bad as it seems. $30,000 installation of solar panels and system and APP for your home $10,000 grant from Manitoba Hydro So roughly, you are out of pocket $20,000 dollars. Perhaps a big number, but if your bill is $200 dollars on average per month you would pay for this entire system in approximately 10 years as well as adding value to your home. Imagine having NO hydro bill after 10 years. Now for lots of us that is an eternity but the long term savings for yourself plus the environment would be very valuable. The solar energy system can also be added to your house insurance. In the photos featured below you will see the largest installation of its kind in Manitoba. These photos are from a farm installation outside of Rapid City. BDNMB had a chance to ask some questions to Rob Mulligan, a local electrician and contractor, with Solar Manitoba. BDNMB - How far is Manitoba behind in solar? Rob – we are very far behind compared to say India, California and Germany. BDNMB – Explain how Manitoba Hydro decides if you get a grant and how much? Rob – MB Hydro gives you a dollar a watt based on your average bill over the past two years. BDNMB – Can anyone apply to get this done? Rob – Well no if your house if blocked by trees or if it faces North then this project would be difficult. If you are interested in getting solar for your home, cabin or business here are the steps to follow: Email: earthpowerinfo@hydro.mb.ca and ask what would my maximum solar rebate be? Provide them with your name, address and Hydro account number. When you send the email, please CC the president of Solar Manitoba at justin.phillips@sycamoreenergy.com and mention Rob. BDNMB reached out to Manitoba Hydro and at this time they are not prepared to answer questions in regards to Solar Energy. However they do urge you all to use LED lights according to their Twitter account and website.

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.

Much to the delight of gardeners all around Brandon, the Brandon Garden Club held their annual plant sale this past weekend. The sale is their one and only fundraiser that helps to support the organization with over 100 members. The club is one of the oldest gardening groups in Western Canada and next year they will be celebrating their 120th anniversary. This year’s sale featured a variety of perennials, annuals, vegetable plants, water plants and more; many of which were donated by club members. If gardening is your passion, there are a number of advantages to becoming a member of the Brandon Garden Club. They offer workshops, host speakers and provide an opportunity to share ideas with fellow green thumbs. Members also get discounts at some of the local gardening centres. The club’s meetings are held on the third Wednesday of every month starting at 7 p.m. Visit their website for details on how to become involved: http://thebrandongardenclub.weebly.com or look for them on Facebook.

Brandon, get ready to party. Bringing Down the Decker 3 featuring different musical acts, on three different floors, goes Friday, June the 23rd at the Double Decker Tavern. Headlining the event on the tops floor is Doom Squad, a Hip Hop group from Edmonton, AB consisting of 3 artists; Kryple, NineLivez & Trippz. The group has been together since the end of 2010 and have released three albums to date. They have already gained a huge fan base across Canada & the rest of the world and have opened for almost every big Hip Hop artist that has come to Edmonton in the last 4 years. Their 2-month long, 36 show Canadian tour also includes stops in Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary & Kelowna. DJ TEE KAY will take center stage on the main floor, while DJ Dirtybird will hold down the fort in the basement, in the form of a rave. Organizers, Prarie Dawg Entertainment tell bdnmb.ca that they expect 400-500 people to pass through the doors on the Friday night.

May 26, 2017 (Dauphin MB) -- There’s just over a month to go until the gates open to Dauphin’s Countryfest, Canada’s longest running country music festival, taking place June 29 to July 2.  With superstar names like Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Johnny Reid, Doc Walker and many more, Dauphin is where you want to be this July long weekend. Fans who don’t want to miss this epic lineup are encouraged to get their Countryfest tickets now, as they are selling out fast, and only limited tickets are remaining.  VIP Deluxe - SOLD OUT VIP Bar Seated - SOLD OUT VIP Bar Passes - LESS THAN 40 LEFT Weekend Passes – LESS THAN 1000 LEFT Upper Camping - SOLD OUT Heritage Camping - SOLD OUT Fisher Premium Camping - LESS THAN 45 SITES LEFT Fisher Quiet Camping - SOLD OUT Fisher Regular Camping - SOLD OUT Back 40 Rush Camping - LESS THAN 160 SITES LEFT Back 40 Reserved Camping - LESS THAN 65 SITES LEFT Lower Reserved Camping - SOLD OUT Tickets can be purchased online at www.countryfest.ca, by calling 1-800-361-7300, or in-person at the Dauphin’s Countryfest office (28 2nd Avenue NE in Dauphin).