Westman Communications Group (WCG) has announced the Connecting Westman Funding Program will return for 2023. Applications are now open for all communities WCG serves. The program offers funding opportunities to schools with the intent to help fund school projects and school-driven initiatives. In 2022, WCG helped fund eight projects by contributing $25,000. The Connecting Westman Funding Program was implemented in 2021 and has been integral to WCG’s priority to give back to its communities. Schools will be able to apply for funding projects and other school-based initiatives. By investing in education institutes, WCG is working to foster growth and sustainability in communities across Manitoba. “The Connecting Westman Funding Program is an integral part of our cooperative ideals,” said WCG Marketing Manager Brandi Crowe. “The growth and success of WCG is due to the continued support of our members, and we’re happy to show our appreciation. This program has been a wonderful opportunity to give back in the past, and we expect this year to be just as impactful.” The Connecting Westman Funding Program is now open for applications until December 15, 2023. Before applying, please view our guidelines and application criteria at https://westmancom.com/connectingwestman-funding.

Little Chief’s Place, a family-run corner store in Brandon's south end, recently changed ownership. For more than two decades, Jim & Bonnie Osiname had been the friendly faces behind the counter providing groceries and goodwill to area residents. Under their guidance, Little Chiefs was a throwback to the small-town convenience stores of the past  where the store owner knows your name and your favorite snacks. Their friendly demeanor and dedication to customer service proved that it's not just the products on the shelves that make a store special but also the people who work there. Located at 2025 Lyndale Dr, the cozy convenience store has been a fixture of the neighborhood since December of 1997. The convenience store stocks a range of everyday items for people on the go such as snack foods, confectionery, lottery tickets, soft drinks, coffee, tobacco products, and more. Little Chief’s Place also is a Chester’s Fried Chicken location as well as an M&M Food Market Express location. Congratulations to the new owners and best of luck to Jim & Bonnie on their retirement.

NorthStar Insurance & Real Estate is hosting an Open House at their new Brandon location on Wednesday, November 8th. The new location, which officially opened on September 5th, offers personal, leisure, business/commercial and agriculture insurance to Brandon and surrounding communities. Brian Currie, Manager of Insurance Services at NorthStar is welcoming the public to the  event to help celebrate and meet Marley Enns, Insurance Broker at the Brandon location. “We’re inviting new and existing clients to stop by, meet Marley and learn more about our insurance options,” states Currie. The Open  House is taking place on Wednesday, November 8th between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. “We’ll be offering treats, refreshments, giveaways and a chance to win door prizes,” says Currie. “Everyone is welcome to attend.” NorthStar Insurance and Real Estate is proud to deliver expertise within their communities, while helping their communities grow  stronger, one household and one business at a time. “The opening of a new office takes a considerable amount of time and work behind the scenes and we’re so excited to now be open to the public,” says Marlene Heise, Director of Wealth and Insurance Services at Fusion  Credit Union. “The community of Brandon has been so welcoming to us since we opened our doors. We’re inviting everyone to celebrate this huge milestone with us. It’s our way of thanking and giving back to the community.” The office is conveniently located beside Fusion Credit Union, at Unit E-1212 18th Street in Brandon. For more information regarding the grand opening, call 204-571-3929.

The City of Brandon is pleased to announce that Heritage Co-op has entered into a 5-year agreement for the naming rights of Soccer Field C at the Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex. Soccer Field C will be known as Heritage Co-op Field. Located at First Street and Veterans Way, the Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex will include a FIFA sized soccer field, up to eight 11 v 11 soccer fields, one dedicated 9 v 9 soccer field, a cricket pitch, a clubhouse with changerooms and washrooms, and 3.6 km of pathways. With investments from the governments of Canada and Manitoba, the City of Brandon is on track to see the project completed by early 2025. “Heritage Co-op has a proven track record of investing in local communities,” said Mayor Jeff Fawcett. “We are thrilled that they are a key partner in ensuring that Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex will be a great resource to the residents of Brandon and the surrounding region.” Heritage Co-op is a local retail Co-op that has proudly served communities in Western Manitoba for over 90 years.  Today, Heritage Co-op serves more than 30,000 Members in and around the communities of Brandon, Erickson, Minnedosa, Rivers, Sandy Lake, Strathclair, and Wawanesa. The City of Brandon strives to provide quality events, programs, facilities, and services to all residents, while being mindful of how its main revenue source, property tax dollars, are utilized. The sale of naming rights provides the City with alternate funding sources to benefit the quality of life for the residents of Brandon and the surrounding area. Sponsorship is an excellent way to partner with the City of Brandon and promote your business or organization. Several sponsorship opportunities remain for various fields and amenities. Businesses or residents that are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact City of Brandon Parks & Recreation Services at parks@brandon.ca or 204-729-2148. Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex Site Plan - Oct 2023

Westoba Credit Union (Westoba) announces it is finalizing renovations to its 220 - 10th Street building in Brandon, MB, as it goes on the market this week. Since the pandemic, Westoba has evolved to leverage digital banking technologies and find efficiencies through virtual platforms to meet their members’ banking needs. Garnet McBurney, Westoba Board of Directors Chair, said, “For 60 years, we have been fiscally responsible to our entire membership. We make decisions that are in the best interest of our members and with the sale of this building the focus will be to reinvest back into the organization through personnel development, technology, and innovation that benefits members. Westoba remains invested in the city of Brandon. The 220 – 10th Street office space is the corporate headquarters for Westoba and does not serve members directly. Employees will continue to work out of the main floor at the 220 - 10th Street building. There will be no impact on the services provided to members through Virtual Services and at branches, including the three conveniently located in Brandon. Westoba offers a hybrid workforce policy and 46 per cent of their employees are currently using the hybrid model and primarily working remotely. This hybrid model coupled with the digitization of daily work has significantly lowered employee foot traffic to the 10th Street building. “In both 2021 and 2022, Westoba had a strong financial performance,” said President and CEO, Jim Rediger, “Part of our success is the satisfaction of our employees; including listening to our staff who voiced their preference for a hybrid work environment.” Westoba’s former 1020 Princess branch and 220 - 10th Street building are being listed as a package by Brian Baker of Royal LePage of Brandon.