Sunrise Credit Union's 2023 Our Manitoba Photo Contest winner is Jodi Baker of Neepawa. A panel of Sunrise staff selected Baker's photo & "Sunflower Sunset" as one of the 30 finalists from approximately 250 entries for this year's contest. Sunrise held a week-long public vote on the 30 finalists in April through the ourmanitoba.org website, with Baker's photo earning the most nods to be declared the winner. Baker captured the winning photo south of Neepawa in mid-August, but it was only partially planned. "I had planned to go out and get some sunflower photos, but the stunning sunset took me by surprise" said Baker. "Winning this contest is a great honour – there were so many amazing photos!" Baker entered the Our Manitoba Photo Contest for the first time in 2023 after hearing about the contest on social media and being encouraged to join by family and friends. "Ensure you have inte2023 marked the 11th edition of the Our Manitoba Photo Contest. The unveiling of the grand prize winner on Friday (May 12) coincided with Manitoba Day.resting subject matter" said Baker, "Use landscape mode and have the highest resolution possible." All 13 finalists will receive a canvas print of the winning photograph, be featured in the 2024 Sunrise Credit Union calendar, and have appeared on Sunrise Credit Union's branch TVs and social media channels. In addition, Baker earned the Grand Prize of a $500 One-Year Term Deposit from Sunrise Credit Union.

The Global Market space at the corner of 12 th Street and Rosser Avenue, in the heart of downtown Brandon, is undergoing a transformation! The Global Market opens for the season on Saturday, May 13, 2023, and is relocating inside the Building Re-Fit Store at 23-12 th street. The Market will run every Saturday until the end of September from 10-3 at the Building Re-Fit Store. Vendors will be located throughout the main floor of the Building Re-Fit Store, and feature homemade preserves, baking, home décor, kitchen and bath products, wreaths, wooden signs, and many more items! Opening day of the Market will feature The Wheat City Jug Band performing live during Market hours, bringing a folksy feeling to the space. Come down and wander this 108-year-old character building, look at our new murals, and check out your favourite returning Global Market vendor!

For the third year in a row, 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 and Fierce Female Hockey from Brandon. Entrepreneurs with either a new business idea, or existing business they are looking to grow or purchase, are asked to apply by Sunday, June 18, 2023, 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 live judging panel on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, in Brandon, for a chance to share in up to $30,000 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 Fusion CEO Darwin Johns. “We are proud to offer Community Infusion for a third 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, “Positive community impact is a foundational pillar within 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, providing entrepreneurial support, and encouraging community engagement and business development in our trading area.” Full details regarding the competition can be found at www.fusioncu.com.

On April 29th, 2023, the Keystone Centre will be filled with many tables offering unique items as part of Brandon’s Largest Garage Sale 2023. The event hosted by United Way of Brandon & District will see vendors setup inside the Manitoba Room and UCT Pavilion. There will be tons of treasures to find including household items, furniture, collectibles, sporting goods, clothing, toys and more. The United Way Spring Garage Sale gets underway at 9:00 a.m. and runs until 3:00 p.m. Admission $2.00 (Children 12 and under FREE)

Chilli Chutney owner Laxman Negi recently shared with bdnmb.ca that he would soon be expanding his operations into a larger market. Chilli Chutney Street Food is scheduled to open in the coming weeks in Winnipeg and will be located at 1663 Kenaston Blvd. The menu will be very similar to the one offered in Brandon with a little more emphasis on "street food". Like the Brandon location, there will also be a daily buffet. Negi first took ownership of Chilli Chutney in 2011, when the restaurant was located on Rosser Ave. In 2015, he moved the restaurant to its current location at 555-34th St. They serve fresh authentic East Indian food made from scratch. https://www.restaurantji.com/mb/brandon/chilli-chutney-/