Jena Ratz is the proud new owner of Black Tie Event, a full service (delivery, installation, removal) venue decoration, custom design and floral company in Brandon, MB. Black Tie Event, located at Unit #4 1051 26th street specializes in creating unique weddings and events. Jena graduated from the Hospitality Administration course, offered at ACC, in 2005 and immediately began working in the the local hotel industry. During her time at Royal Oak Inn & Suites (now Clarion Hotel and Suites) she became a Certified Wedding Consultant and Coordinator. Jena briefly left the hospitality industry, and spent in a year and a half in the financial planning world, before deciding to re-enter the wedding and event planning scene. She takes over from current owners, sisters Hazel Thorne and Heather Merck, on April the 3rd.

The Esso gas station, located at 1209 Richmond Ave in Brandon, is days away from closing their doors. A sign, recently posted in the lot, indicates that the store will be closing permanently on March 29, 2017. Inside,what merchandise is left, is being offered at greatly reduced pricing.

Article submitted by Darren Darvill For many years Rick Macl had been fighting major back problems, having surgery left him with nothing but more pain and fear that he may end up in a wheelchair sooner rather than later. Rick had searched for a doctor that “knew what he was talking about” unfortunately for him, he didn’t find a doctor that could help any more than they already had. However, living with chronic back pain wasn’t on his agenda, so Rick and his wife Chantelle started doing research on their own and CHRONIC is where they found Rick’s saviour. 5 years ago Macl finally found a doctor that was going to award him with a prescription for medical marijuana, as easy as it sounds; it wasn’t, it was probably one of the most difficult things Rick ever had to do. He went through numerous doctors to try and get the prescription but every doctor said the same thing “it doesn’t work” but with determination Rick and his loving wife were able to find a doctor that would at least refer him to a doctor that would consider it, I mean it’s the least he could do, Rick found the doctor and did all the research himself even supplied the doctor with the necessary paperwork. Unfortunately a little while later the doctor who had issued his prescription had passed away, so Rick was back on the search for a prescription renewal. Desperate to find a doctor who could renew his prescription he went to outside agencies and was successful to not only find a doctor who believed in the purpose of medical marijuana but also taught Rick a thing or 2 about it. In the past months Rick had learned a lot; OxyContin’s were not for him, they made him drowsy, they made him irritable, they made him feel like a zombie and last of all he felt drugged. He realized that street marijuana was not the same as prescription marijuana supplied by licensed producers because with street marijuana you never know what you’re going to get in it, where marijuana from licensed producers are regulated THC levels, CBG levels, CBC Levels, ETC. These are the levels that effect different parts of your mind and body much like prescribed pills. For each diagnosis such as PTSD, Back Pain, Spinal Pain, Depression, Crohns, Cancer Care, ADD/ADHD and even HIV/Aids there is a different strain for it. After discovering all this Rick was up to a new challenge. When he left the doctor’s office he was legally allowed to not only possess Marijuana but was also allowed to grow for his own supply… however, we didn’t learn this stuff in school; in fact Rick recently spoke with a Grad student who just finished his masters in medical and he asked him what he learned about medical marijuana and the new grads answer was simple “nothing, they group it on the same scale as cocaine, meth and other major narcotics”.. but that’s a story you’ll have to ask Rick yourself. So after Rick was granted the marijuana prescription he didn’t know how to grow his own plants and even often asked himself “what if I don’t want to smoke it, what if I want to use it in cooking or maybe Vape?” As anything today he learned a lot by research and internet, he made a lot of errors, probably more errors than anticipated but he has become a connoisseur of the product and in this, after a lot of thought and a recent trip to Mexico where he didn’t take any medication for his back and dealt with spasm after spasm simply confirming that medical marijuana works.. Not that he had any doubt. He decided to start Growers n’ Smokers here in Brandon. Growers n’ Smokers won’t be your typical hydroponics/pot shop, Rick is only aiming to sell items that pertain to the medical marijuana field and educate people looking to get a prescription for medical marijuana or help people who already have it. At Growers n’ Smokers located at 223 18th Street North you can expect to see a newly renovated suite with earthy tones, a big guy with a happy smile and loud friendly voice, glass cabinets filled with a variety of glass and silicone pipes and bongs (Trailer Park Boyz and Cheech & Chong), rolling papers and machines, Grinders, Items to make edibles, butter makers, hydroponic grow tools and food and LOTS more. You can also expect to see educational posters up from Lefly.com which is a great source to find additional information. In my time spent with Rick while he renovates this location for his GRAND OPENING weekend (and Birthday) March 17th and 18th, I learned A LOT that I didn’t know and have become a strong believer of the purposes behind medical marijuana. I enjoyed hanging out with Rick listening to his stories of the journey’s he embarked while trying to make his life a little more comfortable living with back pain. I heard some stories a time or two but they never got old and I seemed to take a little more from them each and every time. I would encourage everyone smoker or non-smoker to visit with Rick at his new shop this weekend and listen or take in as much as possible from someone who truly understands. Don’t forget to wish him a happy birthday. GROWERS n’ SMOKERS is located at 223 18th Street North By phone at 204-717-WEED Visit the Facebook page at Growers n’ Smokers. Good luck to the Macl Family on their new journey. Darren Darvill  

BRANDON, MANITOBA--(April 1, 2017) – The respective ownership groups from HomeLife Home Professional Realty and Remax Valleyview Realty are pleased to announce they are merging their companies effective April 1, 2017. The merger is seen as the most ideal shift for HomeLife Home Professional Real Estate following an extensive search for a new broker to replace Eleanor McCallum, the company’s current broker, who plans to retire after a very successful 20+ year career in real estate under the HomeLife Higher Standards™ Brand. Jason Roblin, CEO of Vionell Holdings Partnership (a shareholder of HomeLife Home Professional Realty) says “HomeLife has been a great franchise to work with, their team led by Joseph Lo has been very supportive and accommodating. Unfortunately, there are very few Real Estate Brokers out there who do not already own a brokerage in each market. After realizing attracting a new broker to replace Eleanor McCallum would not be very likely, we began to look at merger options and are happy about the opportunity that has come from this decision”. Mr. Roblin also notes “The team at Remax Valleyview is led by Dave Town, Jodi Logan, Graham Garden and Christie Garden-Conway who I am confident are going to be a very good fit for the agents currently with HomeLife who are looking forward to what the merger will do in terms of continuing a sustainable future for their careers in real estate.” The new formed brokerage will operate under the Remax banner and combine staff at the existing Remax Valleyview office located at 1040 Princess Avenue. Both agencies look forward in working together to provide excellent service to customers in the Brandon and surrounding areas. No administrative positions were negatively affected as a result of this transaction. HomeLife Realty Serices Inc. will continue to search for a replacement to reestablish an office in Brandon and expand throughout Manitoba in order to continue to service its numerous customers. Headquartered in Brandon, Manitoba, Vionell Holdings Partnership (VHP) has operations in Brandon and Thompson. VHP provides rental housing and property management for an array of residential and commercial customers, including Condominium Management. VHP currently has over 2,500 units under management in Manitoba.  

A local restaurant, Pizza Express has been recognized as the Family Enterprise Xchange Family Enterprise of the Year in Manitoba for 2017.  The award, dished out annually now for 10 years, is set out “to recognize, celebrate and promote the achievements of Canadian family businesses and the considerable contribution they make to both their local communities and our national economy.” Pizza Express, started in 1982, has now been in business in Brandon for over 35 years serving unique, handmade, high-quality food including pizza, pasta, subs, salads and poutines. Combining a solid food program, with a focus on friendly service and reasonable prices, they have been voted the #1 restaurant in Brandon on Trip Advisor in both 2013 and 2014. Pizza Express will now be representing Manitoba at the National level for Canada's Family Business of the Year being held at the Family Enterprise Symposium June 12, 2017, in Halifax, NS. Pizza Express Website