Following a period of successful negotiations and due diligence, Vanguard and Catalyst Credit Unions are pleased to announce that they will be asking their members to vote, on November 21, on a proposal to amalgamate their operations. If successful, the amalgamation would come into effect April 1, 2018. The proposal is in response to the pace and magnitude of change occurring in the financial services industry. The scale of the amalgamated credit union would make it better positioned to compete with the banks and new, primarily digital, competitors. “Credit unions aren’t immune to the realities of the environment in which all financial institutions operate,” said Guy Huberdeau, Chair of the Vanguard Credit Union Board of Directors. “Change is being driven by technology, the economy, regulation and competition — and we need to change to continue to meet the evolving needs of our members.” The amalgamated credit union would have 29,000 members, assets under administration of over $1-billion, 180 employees, and 18 branches serving 40 communities throughout Western Manitoba from Brandon to Winnipegosis. It would also comprise other assets, including one real estate, two wealth management, and five insurance operations. “The business case for this amalgamation shows that there will be growth on the top line and improvements in many areas that will have a positive effect on the bottom line,” said Catalyst Chair Richard Dereniwski. “Simply stated, the sum of our parts will be better than each of us on our own.” Vanguard CEO Ian Gerrard says both credit unions are “doing great today,” but that this proposal is about sustainability and positioning the organization for the future. “If approved by members, their credit union would have deeper expertise in the areas of agriculture, wealth management and technology,” he says. “There would also be major advantages to working together as it relates to our complex regulatory environment.” Catalyst CEO Ron Hedley is particularly pleased that this would be a partnership of equals. “Merging at this time allows us to pick the partner that we want to merge with, rather than potentially being forced to merge with an organization down the line in what would essentially be a takeover. This allows us to maintain important aspects of our culture and identity, and remain closer to the roots of our communities.”

Knappers Liquidation has posted details about a "store closing" sale on their Facebook page.  They are located at 1815 14th St E Brandon - just off Richmond Avenue East and carry a wide assortment of merchandise including furniture, clothes, tools, beds, electronics and more.

A popular pizza chain, Papa Johns, is planning to open this Monday, October the 16th.  Parth Patel tells bdnmb.ca that they will be ready to open to the public at 11:00 am.  He said that they have hired 13 staff to date and plan to hire several more in the coming days. Running short at lunch?  Call ahead and order their daily lunch special which includes a 10", 1-topping pizza with a 250ml Pepsi product for only $7.99.  Parth said the pizza ovens cook their pizza in 5 minutes meaning your pizza will be ready for by time you pull into the parking lot.  If you have a hungrier appetite then you can always try their 4-topping, 12" pan pizza, for $12.99.  Flyers with additional specials will be mailed out in the next several weeks. You can check out their Canadian web site here. The city’s first Papa John’s pizzeria will be located at unit 30-99-18th Street. Papa John's is the third largest pizza delivery and take-out chain in the United States.  Their corporate slogan is "Better Ingredients. Better Pizza." Hours of operation: Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 am to 2:00 am Friday & Saturday: 11:00 am to 3:00 am Phone: 717-7272

BDNMB.CA always attempts to find local and regional “HIDDEN GEMS” and today we made the trip to Alexander, about a 20-minute drive from Brandon, to visit the people at Dundee Designs. Now, this is not a new business by any means and according to Shirley Lloyd-Davies she has taken what was originally a hobby and grew it into a thriving business. They have been working out of their current building since roughly 2002. “We are always evolving to keep things new and fresh like our Dundee Design Nights where people can design layered art and family calendars” said Shirley. Coming up with new ideas and concepts help keep her and husband Kelly very busy. Currently Dundee is in the process of designing their trade show booth to get ready for a big show in Toronto. According to Davies “very few Canadian made companies exist at these trade shows and the event organizer is excited to see companies such as ours”. One item Dundee specializes in is their custom metal signs and house numbers. For example, the Brandon Wheat Kings sign posted below is made up entirely inside their facility. And the prices are more than reasonable as well. To see samples of all their signs, click this link. The store has almost everything for a person looking to upgrade their home with small items, to larger items, that can’t be found in any box store. Without a doubt this is an amazing shopping destination located very close to Brandon. Best of luck to Shirley, Kelly and their daughter Teal. >

In the past few months bdnmb.ca has introduced you to numerous businesses (Chez Angela Bakery & Cafe, Shawarma Queen Kebab House, Chocolate Dreams) who will be setting up shop in downtown Brandon in the next several months. Now, you can add one more name to the list. Paradise Island Curry House Bar & Grill, located at 935 Rosser Avenue, hope to open their new dining experience in the next 30-45 days. Chef Ajay Pal tells bndmb.ca that the new restaurant will be serving a variety of authentic East Indian food and Mauritian cuisine, with an emphasis on the East Indian offering. For for the past 10 years, chef Ajay has been working in many Brandon restaurants including Joe Beeverz, Blu, and Chilli Chutney.