For a fourth consecutive year, Fusion Credit Union is proud to present “Community Infusion”, the business idea competition that infuses economic growth and prosperity into our local communities. Past winners of Community Infusion include Dusty’s Butcher Shop from Dauphin, Fierce Female Hockey from Brandon, and Danielle’s Studio 12 from Rivers. Entrepreneurs with a new business idea or an existing business they are looking to grow, or purchase, are asked to submit an application by Sunday, June 16, 2024, at midnight. Selected applicants will move to the next phase of the competition which will require a business plan submission. Up to five finalists will then be selected to pitch their idea to a panel of judges on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, for a chance to share in up to $30,000.00 in financial grants. “At Fusion, we are Here for Good, and to us, that means we are committed to our communities today and for the long term,” says CEO Darwin Johns. “We are proud to offer Community Infusion for a fourth year as a tangible means of sparking ongoing economic development in our communities across the province.” Mike Csversko, Business Development Manager for Fusion notes that, “Community impact is a foundational pillar for our organization. As a locally based financial institution in the Parkland and Southwestern Manitoba, we consider community impact and contribution to be at the core of our DNA. The Community Infusion initiative is one more way in which Fusion will play a role in supporting job creation, entrepreneurial support, community engagement, and business development in our trading area.” Full details regarding the competition can be found at www.fusioncu.com.

Westman Communications Group (WCG) hosted a charity barbecue event in Notre Dame de Lourdes on May 23, 2024. All proceeds went to the Notre Dame Splash Park, a cause chosen by the residents of Notre Dame. After a matched donation from WCG, the event raised $7,964. The Connecting Westman Tour is a community-driven initiative that allows WCG to serve its members and support the projects that matter most to community members. WCG served hotdogs and smokies from Notre Dame Park from 11:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. with donation-based pricing. Attendees donated $3,982, which was matched by WCG to bring the total amount raised to $7,964. “Our first stop on the 2024 Connecting Westman Tour was our most successful Tour debut, and I am incredibly inspired by the community engagement we saw,” said WCG Marketing Manager Brandi Crowe. “The Connecting Westman Tour is the culmination of member-cooperative relations, with local initiatives being supported by both the community and our cooperative. We are excited to keep the Tour going throughout the summer, and I expect we will see great enthusiasm from Dauphin, Gladstone, and Boissevain.” The Connecting Westman Tour will continue on June 27th in Dauphin, followed by Gladstone on July 18th, and will wrap up in Boissevain on August 15th. For more information on the Connecting Westman Tour, or to submit a community initiative for funding from the Tour, please visit the WCG website.

The city now has a new convenience store that aims to provides residents of Brandon's west-end with easy access to essential goods and services. Hardies Mini Mart, located at 4110 Victoria Ave, recently opened their doors to the public. This convenience store aims to cater to a broad range of customer needs with its diverse product selection and service. Some of the key offerings include snack foods, confectionery, hard & soft ice-cream, soft drinks, coffee, ice, and more.

The totals have been tallied for McHappy Day and we’re thrilled to announce that local franchisee Jason Ammar, in Brandon, was one of the Top-5 fundraisers across Manitoba on McHappy Day! Thanks to their efforts, and with the help of Canadians from every corner of the country, over $8.9M was raised for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Canada and various local children's charities. Jason Ammar says that the local community and media all came together to participate and help raise money for McHappy Day, leading to successful fundraising results for their store this year. “It was all a group effort and we wouldn’t have achieved these results without the help of everyone,” said Ammar. “It just shows how much McHappy Day means to people and how everyone can come together to support a great cause.” McHappy Day has always been a cherished tradition in Canada, and this year was particularly special as McDonald’s Canada celebrated its 30th McHappy Day. If you have any questions or if you would like to schedule an interview with Jason Ammar, I’d be more than happy to arrange that for you. If you’d like to see the full results from this year’s McHappy Day, you can view the release HERE.

Fans asked, and A&W answered, again! The last time A&W brought back the Whistle Dog in 2022, certain markets sold out in just two days. Starting today, the fan-favourite Whistle Dog will make its highly-anticipated comeback at all A&W locations across Canada, for a limited time only. The Whistle Dog is a delicious hot dog nested in a toasted bun, topped with relish, real cheddar cheese, and bacon. Celebrated as a legacy menu item, the Whistle Dog is the one A&W product that has sparked overwhelming demand from fans since its discontinuation from the permanent menu in 2017. Here for a delicious time, not a long time 🌭🌭🌭 ----- Le Whistle Dog est (encore) de retour. C’est votre chance d’y goûter. 🌭🌭🌭 pic.twitter.com/iE0HzDC3uf — A&W Canada (@AWCanada) May 21, 2024 "We were totally caught off guard by the demand for Whistle Dogs in 2022. We sold out so quickly we had to completely halt our marketing," said Amanda Wang, Director of Marketing at A&W. "We've prepared a ridiculous number of wieners this time around. There's no way we're running out again." The return of the Whistle Dog for another round is a result of the fandom's continued efforts to bring it back and relieve their nostalgic memories. Dedicated to the Whistle Dog fandom, A&W released a short film documentary aptly titled "Bring Back The Whistle Dog." This award-winning 18-minute film explains to Canadians the love for the Whistle Dog, as told by real die-hard fans. You can watch it at www.bringbackthewhistledog.ca. Don't miss your chance to experience the iconic Whistle Dog at an A&W restaurant near you, while supplies last.