The theory in business is that if you can make it 2 to 3 years financially you should be OK. After a successful run of over 30 years, Brandon Avenue Electric owner Vern Snyder has sold his business and will retire in one year. Paul Johnston has purchased the company which includes the assets, contracts, clientele, and the trust & goodwill within the community. The business will continue to operate in the current building however they could make plans for a new location soon. A few months ago bdnmb.ca asked his son Joel if he would take on the family business and he said his passion wasn’t power. According to Vern, growing up as a kid that wasn’t Joel's thing..."he tried it out it wasn’t his thing so I didn’t push him". When asked what advice he could give a young person in regards to stating their own business Vern said "It’s a lot harder than you think...it depends on the person and lots of times when you pay your gas and insurance and supplier in advance and then you wait for money from jobs and customers and you don’t get paid. Lots of evenings and weekends and for sure isn’t as glamorous as it could appear". Vern, who is known to golf frequently at Deer Ridge and at The Tamarack, plans on slowly adding to an expanded golf schedule in his last year of work as he transitions into retirement.

Prairie204 Home & Gift Boutique, a new retail store specializing in local handmade items will be opening in Brandon on Saturday, January 4. The store, located at 728 10th Street, will showcase merchandise from 40 vendors including Iron Age Welding, Young Living Essential Oils, Wazi Wears, Lil Métis Shop in The Prairies, and more. According to owner Natasha Lamb, the concept for the store was a 3-4 year process of planning, acquiring vendors, and putting everything into motion. There are a few final tasks left to complete prior to opening including some paint touch ups and inventory from select vendors. For more information on Prairie204 Home & Gift Boutique, please visit their Facebook page here.

The Roost Barbershop opened their doors in Brandon (717 Rosser Avenue) on November 1, 2019. The barbershop is owned by Tyson Gormley who has five years experience in the industry including four in Brandon and one in Minnedosa. For Gormley, there's a variety of reasons that he decided to open his own barbershop including the opportunity to be his own boss, do his own thing, and set his own hours. He offers a variety of services including straight cuts for men and children, buzz cuts, beard trims, and hot-towel shaves. Gormley encourages everyone to come and check out his new shop noting he offers discounts to first responders, MB Hydro employees, police, and members of the military. Booking an appointment can be done via phone (204-573-8506) or else online. For more, check out their Facebook page. Business Hours Mon: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm Tue: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm Wed: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm Thu: Closed Fri: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm Sat: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Sun: Closed

Katie McMillan has been employed at Vionell Holdings Partnership since March of 2016. She is currently the VP of Operations and lives in Brandon with her husband (Steve) and two children. Best Christmas movie: Christmas Vacation, obviously! If you could choose a super power, what would it be: The ability to read minds. A TV show would you like to make a cameo in: Kim Possible (because my daughter would think I’m so cool!) What is your go to cocktail: My go to is always red wine... but since that’s not technically a “cocktail”, I’ll go with Moscow Mule. What city in Canada have you never visited but you're dying to get there: Next time I’m out west, I’d love to island hop some of the smaller gulf islands in BC (Thetis Island, Galiano Island etc). Would you rather go 30 days without your cell phone or your entire life without dessert: I’m not really a dessert person so I could easily give that up. If the question was phone or pizza, I’d give up my phone in a heart beat!! Three local people you would like to see featured in upcoming editions of 20 questions on bdnmb.ca:-Rico, Jared Jacobson, Jason Roblin would all be entertaining Morning person or a night person: Morning person (after I’ve had coffee). Best way to decompress after a day at the office: See #4. Cheers! Of Popeyes, Smoke's Poutinerie, Carl's Jr., or Taco Del Mar which would you like to see make an appearance in Brandon in 2020: Smoke’s Poutinerie. Can we make this happen? What is a cause that is important to you: Canadian Cancer Society. Heels, flats, or sneakers: Flats. Window or aisle seat: My bladder is tiny so I always opt for the aisle seat. What's one thing you always wanted to try but you've been too scared to do: Skydive. What three words would you use to describe Brandon: Community, friendly, home. If you could go to any concert past or present, what would it be: Baby Shark. What color of dress did you wear to grad: Pink Favourite Disney character: I find Rolly from 101 Dalmatians pretty relatable. If you had a warning label, what would yours say: “Warning: approach with caution prior to caffeine consumption." If you see a puddle on the ground, do you walk around it or over it: Jump in it!

Edmonton, AB, December 17, 2019 – Cando Rail Services has started construction of the Cando Sturgeon Terminal in Sturgeon County, Alberta. Phase 1 of the terminal will provide additional rail capacity to Alberta’s Industrial Heartland and utilize a loop-track system to enable storage of up to 1900 railcars. Early works and site mobilization have begun with completion expected in 2020. The new terminal will offer services seven days per week for railcar staging and storage, including unit-train storage capability, for short or long-term, loaded or empty rail cars. Additional value-added services include railcar switching, air testing, rail car repair and cleaning, transloading, material handling, inventory management, car stenciling, placard replacement, AEI tags, DG inspections and graffiti touch-ups. This investment marks a major milestone for Cando Rail Services, Sturgeon County and Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. The majority of the value-added products produced in the Heartland, Canada’s largest hydrocarbon processing region, are shipped to national and global consumers by rail. Cando’s investment will increase market access and allow industrial facilities in the Heartland to concentrate on their core business, while partnering with Cando to access increased transportation and logistics solutions. World-class rail infrastructure will further enhance the competitiveness of Sturgeon County and Alberta’s Industrial Heartland for petrochemical, downstream energy and heavy industrial investment. The Cando Sturgeon Terminal is centrally located in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland directly West of the CN “Beamer Spur” and serviced by the CN mainline. The terminal is South of the $4.5 billion Canada Kuwait Petrochemical Corporation (CKPC) integrated propane dehydrogenation and polypropylene upgrading project (currently under construction), and southwest of Pembina Pipeline’s Redwater Fractionation Site (RFS). “The undertaking of our newest terminal in Sturgeon County is a defining moment for Cando Rail Services. This terminal will allow us to expand our nation-wide logistics planning network, thereby enabling greater movement of Canada’s resources in a key industrial hub of the country.”- Brian Cornick, President & CEO, Cando Rail Services “We are delighted to welcome Cando Rail Services into our community and pleased that they have recognized the strategic benefits of investing in Sturgeon County and Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. Access to cost-advantaged feed-stock, world-class transportation and logistics infrastructure and readily available labour are allowing the Heartland to capitalize on the current petrochemical investment cycle.- Alanna Hnatiw, Mayor, Sturgeon County “Alberta Environment and Parks is pleased to have been able to create increased certainty for Cando Rail Services as the company has moved through the approvals process in anticipation of the construction of the Sturgeon Terminal. This project will drive job creation and get more of our best-in-class oil and gas products to market while further cementing the Industrial Heartland’s status as the country’s most significant hydrocarbon-producing region – exemplifying our government’s commitment to balancing protection of our shared environment while boosting economic activity.”- Honourable Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks “The investment by Cando Rail Services in a new rail terminal is further demonstration of the tremendous value proposition available to companies in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. The increased railcar staging, storage and value-added services by Cando Rail will complement the world-class logistics infrastructure that already exists in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, further increasing the region’s competitive advantage for value-add energy processing.” - Mark Plamondon, Executive Director, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association (AIHA) (submitted)