Fusion Credit Union has been named a Top Manitoba Employer for the third consecutive year. The annual competition recognizes Manitoba employers that lead their industries in offering an exceptional employee experience and work environment. “Since our amalgamation, we have developed a brand that matters, and it’s our extraordinary people behind the brand that makes Fusion such an incredible place to work,” comments Darwin Johns, CEO of Fusion Credit Union. As full-service financial institution with 189 employees, Fusion serves more than 32,000 members through 18 branches across communities in Parkland and southwestern Manitoba. Administering assets of more than 1.34 billion, Fusion has the capacity, the shared commitment, and the opportunity to support growth and prosperity, locally and beyond. “I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished this past year, especially given the uncertain times we were facing,” remarks Johns. “Despite all of the challenges of a pandemic, we were able to experience growth in many areas of our organization.” Providing the ideal employee experience is a model Fusion strives to achieve as an organization. From personalized coaching sessions to professional development to career planning, Fusion provides the tools employees need to develop their skills and further their career. “We gathered feedback from our employees and learned what they need to succeed in their current roles, as well as how we can support them to achieve their future career aspirations,” states Johns. “A sense of fulfillment within their work life is critical to an employee’s success on both a professional and personal level.” Providing meaningful work in an employee’s daily job is important, and that concept extends to volunteerism opportunities as well. At Fusion, staff are encouraged to volunteer at local events and within local organizations. “We want to help nourish these important roles our employees play in their communities, as it leads to both employee growth and community growth, which is something we all benefit from.” During the pandemic many companies had to adjust their employee experience model and Fusion was no exception. Implementing work-from-home strategies and offering additional ‘Covid Days’ off for onsite employees were two ways Fusion supported their team. “We offered the flexibility, the tools, and the resources our employees needed to navigate through the pandemic,” says Leanne DeVliegere, Chief Operations Officer at Fusion. “Even though this model was created out of necessity, we’ve built a robust framework that will last beyond the pandemic.” Fusion is now formalizing their work-from-home policy by providing clear expectations for employees who want to continue working remotely. When designing the model, all aspects of an individual’s life were taken into consideration, not just their role at work. “If working remotely fits into the job role and meets the expectations of our members, we want to provide that choice,” comments DeVliegere. “Offering flexibility and work-home balance leads to happier, healthier employees.” For information about career opportunities with Fusion Credit Union, visit fusioncu.com.

Ryan and Nycolle Adams felt that the marketplace could use a new and unique way to promote and market your home.   Therefore they started a new local company called Vi Media. By looking at your product I think that I have an idea what it is but maybe you could give us a brief idea exactly what it does. I use a special camera that captures high resolution 360-degree scans. The scans are processed and meshed to create the final product, a 3D virtual tour. Tours are enhanced using several techniques, the most common being custom tags. The tags are strategically placed within a tour, using text, photos, videos, and links to enhance the experience of a space. From a cost perspective what will those cost realtors to use or people selling privately  For residential properties, 3D virtual tours start as low as $199. The price is dependent on the square footage and tour features. Although tours are commonly used in real estate, they are also a great fit for marketing hospitality, retail shops, showrooms, service industries and venues. In addition, tours are used for documentation purposes such as content inventory, asset management and restoration. In the short time period of being in business what kind of response or feedback have you received. The response has been great! The one thing I’ve noticed is clients are excited and proud to showcase their space. Clients know their space inside and out, but the tour provides them a unique opportunity to see it from a digital bird's eye view. Are you prepared to go outside of Brandon with this? Absolutely! I’m always open to opportunities that present themselves. How did this concept come about was it due to COVID 19 or were the wheels in motion before? The technology has been around for some time, but COVID has emphasized the need and use cases for the technology across all industries for various purposes. Vi Media can be found on both Instagram and Facebook using @vimedia2022

Grey Ridge Coffee, Cafe and Events started as a coffee trailer in 2018. They could be found serving their fresh locally roasted coffee at many events in Brandon and surrounding area. In September of 2021, they introduced a snazzy new trailer at Food Truck Warz. That was just the start of the company's expansion. Owner Christopher Ridgen told bdnmb.ca that in November of 2021, Grey Ridge Coffee took over the Town Center cafe. A new menu, additional coffees, and a new paint job were among some the changes made at the Town Centre location. The company recently purchased Pro Coffee Services in Brandon. They can now provide coffee brewers, grinders and supplies to business's and offices in Brandon and around Westman. Starting sometime in April Grey Ridge Coffee, along side Made in MB, will be opening a location inside the Shoppers Mall. The store will be called Grey Ridge Cafe and Gift and will feature a full cafe menu as well as a local showcase of vendor items.

Ralph “Raccoon” Carney has assumed the role of Program Director at 94.7 Star FM and 91.5 Q Country. Ralph has been in the “Broadcast and Communication Game” for many years. He started in the late 70’s behind the mic’ as a “Screaming Rock Jock”, doing evenings on Vancouver's legendary 14 CFUN and later shifting to drive on 73 CKLG, all-the-while setting Canadian ratings records that have never been broken on both stations. In the 80’s, he added Television Host in Vancouver and Winnipeg to his CV. As a Voice Actor, he applied his vocal talents, (And still does), to commercials aired in every English-speaking country on the planet, voicing radio and tv spots for hundreds of clients, more memorably including: K-Tel, (Yes! He was their voice for 34 years), McDonalds, Safeway, Boston Pizza, United Airlines, Esso, All Seniors Care, General Motors and many more.   Rarely content with the status quo, Rac’ broadened his broadcasting aspirations to include radio programming; helping radio stations and their personalities find their audience and shape their presentation. Always searching for ways to “Monetize the Media Magic”, his promo’ concepts like: “Good Guys Wear White”, (Later renamed the Winnipeg Jets “Whiteout”), changed the sales promotion landscape. That led to a stint in broadcast marketing which took Rac’ to Palmer Jarvis Advertising with the goal to create a dedicated Sales Promotion Service. In turn, that spawned a strong relationship with Canada Safeway’s management team who convinced him to open his own boutique advertising and production agency. Ralph Carney Communications went on to generate brand and product-focused creative for Safeway and a cadre of clients such as: McMillan Bloedel Building Materials, Behlen Industries, Richardson Greenshields, Canada Trust, Captain’s Club Travel, Sobeys’ and many others.  A life-long champion of shaping and sharing powerful “Messaging”, Ralph Carney Communications later evolved into Carney-Albani & Associates, a retail & corporate concept-consultancy. In 2009, Rac’ decided to once again pursue his radio "Hobby", joining CFRW in Winnipeg to do afternoon drive, then music, and then programming. He programmed CFRW for one book prior to its shift to sports talk, achieving a "Modest" twelve-hundred percent growth in audience in one book. CFRW then became TSN Radio, where he created the operating infrastructure, develop d the brand and imaging, and took the programming reins in 2017 establishing TSN Winnipeg as the most successful property in the seven station TSN radio network. In February, 2021, when BellMedia chose to abandon the TSN Brand in several markets, Rac' stepped away from broadcasting and began designing and developing integrated marketing communications for select corporate brands, products and services with the Ragtag Communications Group. But alas, his love of this business and appetite to solve the unique challenges of terrestrial and digital communications...brought him back. ( submitted story)

The all-you-can-eat shawarma & donair buffet has returned to one of Brandon's most popular restaurants. Shawarma Queen first opened on Rosser Ave in February of 2018. The restaurant moved to its current location (#4-2430 Victoria Ave) in July of 2020. At the time of the move, owner Kyle Koksal introduced many new items to the menu, however the buffet was shelved for the time being. Buffet Hours: Every Thursday to Saturday: Lunch: noon-2pm  $15.99+tax, includes fountain drink Supper: 5pm-8pm $19.99+tax, includes fountain drink For more information on Shawarma Queen, or their menu, please visit their Facebook page or website.