May 25, 2018 Update:  BDNMB.CA caught up with Don Ditchfield today and Don let us know that he plans on opening an 18-hole mini golf course at Crow's General Store in the summer of 2019.  For the next several months, as time permits, Don said that he will work on the layout of the course.  He plans to incorporate many different items (old tractors, signs, antiques) so that the course is both fun and educational.  Once fall rolls around he hopes to have much of the work completed so that he can plant the trees, shrubs, etc.  The last step prior to opening in the summer of 2019 would involve covering the course with green carpet. Every now and again a person stumbles into a location, or some local attraction, that makes them ask themselves “how is it that I did not know that this place existed before?”.  Crow’s General Store in Brandon, MB is just one of those places.  Located at 33-17th St. East (just up the street around the corner from the Greenspot) you will find this hidden gem that is a must see for locals and out of towners alike.  The main floor of the building has been converted into a throwback ice cream shop complete with an old soda fountain, classic milkshake mixers, sundae glasses, coke machines and signage that takes a person back down memory lane.  Inside the ice cream shop you can find the old cream sign which was once located in the store next to Danceland at Clear Lake.  The tin roof is from the old Oddfellows dance hall in Neepawa and the chairs are all over 100 years old.  Initially the concept was to have the building resemble an old general store and one quick look at the outside you can clearly see the vision. The project is the workings of Don Ditchfield, who prefers to go by his lifelong nickname of Crow.  He purchased the property approximately 26 years ago and has spent the last 20+ years turning it into what it is today.  By trade, Don was a landscaper, and over the years he accumulated most of his merchandise from garage sales, auction sales and flea markets all over Brandon and Manitoba. Currently hard ice cream and novelty ice cream are available for sale to those who visit the attraction.  The plan is remain open all year round.  In the winter months people who are out snowshoeing or cross country skiing will be able to stop in for a hot chocolate or coffee.  If you have a few minutes to spare it’s the perfect spot to head out for a nature walk, grab an ice cream, and enjoy both the craftsmanship and detail that has gone into this unique attraction. This summer alone he has had visitors from Vancouver to Toronto and he said what he enjoys most is seeing the smiles on people’s faces.  Originally Don built the attraction thinking it would appeal to the older generation who were looking to relive a little of their youth and reminisce about the old days. Much to his surprise Don said that he finds it extremely gratifying that teenagers have enjoyed visiting his establishment as much as they have.  He said that it can serve as a history lesson for many who have never before experienced such a place.  The word has quickly spread and now teachers have started to inquire about day trips for their students to tour the site and to also serve as a quick history lesson for their students. Crows General Store is the perfect place to host your event, go for a nature walk or enjoy an ice cream on a hot summer’s day.  Wedding parties looking for that special, unique place to take their wedding photos will love the  spectacular backdrop that Crow’s has to offer.  Interested wedding parties are encouraged to call Don for a booking at 571-6875. Don wanted everyone to know that “Time spent here, is time well spent!”

June 16, 2016 NEWS RELEASE One of Brandon’s oldest businesses set to close its doors For Immediate Release – Patmore Garden Center and Nursery has announced that they will be closing the business permanently this summer . Marci Bomford, current owner and horticulturalist, said that there were many factors that came into play when the decision was made to shut down the business.  “The costs involved in operating a greenhouse business are exceptionally challenging. Rising costs of things such as inputs, heat, labour and property taxes are all big components. Plus, the buildings and greenhouses are over 40 years old and in need of major repair and renovation,” said Bomford. n addition, Bomford said that things have changed significantly in the business world since Patmore’s originally opened over 133 years ago and that it’s much more challenging in today’s consumer market for small, local businesses to survive. “The increase in garden center presence in large, box stores has been a significant factor. Plants and other products that you used to be able to only find at specialized garden centres are now available everywhere and at loss leader pricing,” said Bomford. Patmore Nursery Sales has been in business in Brandon since 1883. Henry Patmore assisted in greening this part of the world by contributing to the planting of street trees, shelter belts and to the development of the Patmore Green Ash species. Bomford purchased the business in 2012 and has worked hard to ensure that quality products and outstanding service were part of the shopping experience for local gardeners. “I am a professional horticulturist and my dream and passion has always been to run my own garden center and nursery. We all poured our hearts into Patmore’s, but it was also about quality of life and family balance. It is certainly the end of a dream for many of us,” said Bomford. “I am so thankful to all the customers who have supported Patmore's for all these years. They are the reason we’ve stayed in business so long and it has truly been an honour to assist them in all of their gardening needs.” Patmore Garden Center and Nursery is scheduled to close for good on July 9. Customers are encouraged to use outstanding gift certificates prior to that, as they are only are valid while the business remains open. A final Closing Out Sale will start on June 18th. All inventory will be 50-75% off and everything must go. All sales will be final; cash or debit is preferred as there will be a 3% charge for credit card use. The new land owners will take possession of the property at the beginning of September, but they have no intentions of operating a garden center. For more information or to contact regarding an interview: Marci Bomford marci@patmorenursery.com 204.728.1321

Residents of the North Hill in Brandon, MB will shortly have a new dining option as Boston Pizza plans to open a second location here in the Wheat City. Construction is expected to start in two weeks.  The new location will be located directly behind the McDonalds on Middleton Ave and will quickly become a popular destination for guests of the area hotels as well travelers heading east or west along the Trans-Canada highway.   (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});  

When Direct Liquidation swings open its doors in Brandon, MB on Friday customers should know they can expect only the best.   Direct Liquidation, owned and operated by Darcy Willey, will open this Friday the 13th with a grand opening spectacular scheduled to take place on Saturday the 14th.  Willey said he was searching around the city for a space large enough to locate his type of business, when he noticed a vacant warehouse building that fit the bill.  The building -- a former Sobeys Cash & Carry location -- fit his needs. It had 10,200 square feet of space, a substantial parking lot and a ready-made warehouse to house his merchandise. Thanks to new relationships he has forged over the past several months Darcy plans to sell anything he can find a deal on, from beds to household supplies and from tools to camping supplies. These offerings will always vary, he said. "Every time you walk in here, you will be able to find something different." In addition to furniture, beds, patio furniture and other larger items, there are plenty of deals on everyday items including clothing, autographed sports prints, vases, tools, yard care items, toys, accessories, food items and more.  One look around the store and you quickly notice the brand names scattered throughout.  Mattresses from major brands like Sealy, Serta and Kingsdown fill the shelving to the west.  There is men’s and women’s clothing as far as the eye can see! Brand names such as Banana Republic, American Eagle, Tommy Hilfiger and more fill the racks! All new with original tags.  On-Tour golf shirts, available in all sizes, priced at only $2.00 per shirt.  Other brand names filling the shelves include recognizable names like Dyson, Beaver Canoe, Sunbeam, Coleman, and Danby. While the store officially opens on Friday, you don’t want to miss the events they have planned for the Saturday.  Included in the festivities for Saturday are three separate giveaways: a wine cooler, a Sealy mattress and a patio furniture set.  They are going to be having a Fort McMurray Charity BBQ on Saturday from noon to 5:00 pm including hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and soft drinks.  STAR-FM is scheduled to be onsite covering the charity BBQ starting at around 2:15 pm.  For the children there will be a bouncy castle setup on site. NOTES: Direct Liquation will be open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am -7:00 pm , Saturdays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Sundays from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. For more information, call Direct Liquidation at 204-717-SHOP (7467), email darcy@liquidated.ca, or visit their Facebook page.  Located at 205-16th Street North in Brandon, MB.   (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});  

Political junkies are constantly looking for a way to satiate their cravings. From March 16 to April 19, these addicts were on a constant high with the provincial election campaign. Now that the campaign is over — with a history-making Progressive Conservative thumping of the sad-sack governing NDP — the withdrawal symptoms are starting to show in the political peanut gallery. So now, pundits, players and “whimsical columnists” such as myself (the latter are former premier Gary Doer’s words) are turning to the guessing game of who will be in Premier-designate Brian Pallister’s cabinet. And it’s a fun game. The Top Tories will be an inner-circle of only 12 people, down from the NDP’s 18. It was one of Pallister’s cost-savings election promises. Now it’s fine and dandy to make that type of campaign pledge, but now the rubber hits the road for Pallister. With such a huge number of MLAs elected — 40 with 24 being new faces in the caucus — come swearing-in day May 3, there are bound to be some testy Tory reps who are left out. The rest of the caucus will be sworn in May 11. On the day after the thrilling election night, Pallister told the media he will make his picks based on merit, rather than trying to achieve gender parity. Why is gender parity such a top-of-mind topic for the media? Well the gender parity concept was instilled in the Canadian consciousness by the King of Political Correctness, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He made headlines in November when he appointed Canada’s first gender-balanced cabinet. Merit be damned. Affirmative action was now de rigueur in the most powerful boardroom in Canada. When asked why gender parity was so important to him, Trudeau said, “because it’s 2015.” Now while gender parity is a worthy goal indeed, it’s a stretch right now as there are simply not enough women running for office waving the PC Party flag (or getting elected if they do). Pallister has stated that gender parity in cabinet will take time. The Tories did run the largest number of women in the party’s history this past campaign. But after the votes were cast, the Tory caucus consists of eight women and 32 men. “As the father of two daughters I believe (women) should have equal opportunity in life, but they should also understand that merit is what matters most,” Pallister said. He avoided quipping: “And because it’s 2016.” Which would have been funny. Yeah, about as humorous as the “sacred cows” blooper he made at the start of the campaign. But I digress. With 16 incumbents to choose from, only two of the veterans are women. In recent media conferences Pallister would not commit to putting his two veteran female MLAs into cabinet. He would also not commit to having a cabinet rep from Brandon. So without further ado (drum roll please…) here’s my list: Steven Fletcher (Assiniboia) Reg Helwer (Brandon West) Myrna Driedger (Charleswood) Scott Fielding (Kirkfield Park) Blaine Pederson (Midland) Shannon Martin (Morris) Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie) Rochelle Squires (Riel) Janice Morley Lecomte (Seine River) Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach) Kelly Bindle (Thompson) Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo) Ron Schuler (St. Paul) without a doubt, should be Speaker. Elected in a secret ballot by all Members of the Assembly, the Speaker occupies the position of highest authority in the Legislative Assembly. And he gets to wear a cool tri-corner hat and judicial-style robes. My dozen picks give the Tories an equal balance between urban and rural (yes, Brandon is considered rural, geez), plus one-third of the cabinet will be women. All regions of the province are represented and Pallister can lean on his most experienced former Opposition critics to shoulder some weight in key portfolios. I’m not going to get into detailed reasons why each of my picks deserves to be in cabinet. Just to say I’m following Pallister’s lead on merit first and a natural need for a rural/urban balance for his first cabinet. In a couple of years, he can then tinker a bit and consider shuffling in people such as Jon Reyes (St. Norbert) of the provincial capital’s Filipino community or Alan Lagimodiere (Selkirk) and Bob Lagassé (Dawson Trail) who identify as Indigenous. This especially if some of his debut cabinet bright lights turn out to be falling stars. Most ministers in the new Tory cabinet will have to handle several portfolios, so their assistants and staff will likely come into play much more so than under the NDP regime. The deputy ministers, many of whom will likely stay on under the new Tory government — as they are supposed to be non-political career bureaucrats — will also have to vie for time on their minister’s busy schedules. Just for comparison to my cabinet picks, here are a couple of others that popped up after election night. I note that both selections only have a few different picks than mine, I placed them at the bottom of each list: Winnipeg Sun: Steven Fletcher (Assiniboia) Reg Helwer (Brandon West) Myrna Driedger (Charleswood) Scott Fielding (Kirkfield Park) Shannon Martin (Morris) Ian Wishart  (Portage la Prairie) Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach) Kelly Bindle (Thompson) Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo) Cathy Cox (River East) Jon Reyes (St. Norbert) Ron Schuler (St. Paul) CBC Manitoba (only came up with 10 names): Steven Fletcher (Assiniboia) Myrna Driedger (Charleswood) Scott Fielding (Kirkfield Park) Ian Wishart (Portage La Prairie) Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach) Kelly Bindle (Thompson) Heather Stefanson Tuxedo) Cathy Cox (River East) Ron Schuler (St. Paul) Len Isleifson (Brandon East) If you want to make your own fantasy cabinet, you can start here: http://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Results/ENR