Local company, Ram Air Gear Dryer (Ram Air), donated an 8 place Ram Air Gear Dryer ($12,300) to the Brandon Fire Emergency Services on behalf of Norman Roziere on Thursday, September 18th, 2021. Roziere was a Brandon fire fighter for 35 years and a mentor to Ram Air owner, Lance Dornn. Roziere passed away in 2016 at the age of 66 and Dornn made the donation in his memory. The ceremony was at Brandon Fire Emergency Services – Hall 1, at 10 a.m. on Thursday and Roziere’s wife Norma, two children, grandchildren and Fire Chief Scott McDonald were in attendance to receive the donation. Gear dryers have become vital to fire fighters over the years as cancer is now the leading cause of death in the industry, not fires. Their specialized personal protective equipment shouldn’t be placed in a standard tumble style dryer. Without gear dryers like theirs the drying process can take 24-48 hours to hang dry. This is often not enough time between shifts for a fire fighter to wash their gear after a structure fire and return to dry gear the next day. They are left using the same soiled suit which can be covered in carcinogens from man made products burning at the fire. Additional information is available in the below links: https://www.cdnfirefighter.com/studying-the-statistics/ https://www.ramairgeardryer.com/tg-8h/ (Submitted)

A group of friends and family (Darian and Caitlin Kennedy, Steven Nickle, Aushya Houle, Candice Kennedy) recently made an announcement their intention to open an Indigenous restaurant in Brandon. Three Sisters Bannock House is hoping for a January 2022 opening. The restaurant will be located at 908 Rosser Avenue in downtown Brandon. The name Three Sisters Bannock House is derived from three key ingredients (baking powder, salt and sugar) used to make soft, fluffy bannock! Speaking with bdnmb.ca earlier today Darian said the group was excited to share the food that they grew up with alongside the culture. The space will undergo minimal renovations over the next several months as the group works further on their concept and menu. Menu items will include fried bannock, baked bannock, bannock burgers, and other traditional recipes that have been handed down over generations. For additional information on the restaurant and it's progress, please follow their Facebook page here.

Fabriculous, a full service quilting, sewing and furniture finessing shop, recently opened their doors at Unit “I” 435 Rosser Ave in Brandon. Owner Wendy Van Der Walt has been operating the business for a total of fourteen years, with locations previously in Gimli and most recently Swan River. The business relocated to Brandon as her husband, a teacher, had moved to the city for work.   Fabriculous offers modern quilting fabric, complete quilting kits, APQS Longarm sales, Bernina and Janome Sewing Machine sales and repair, in addition to  professional Long Arm Quilting services.  Recently they expanded their selection of embroidery, cross stitch and needlework patterns and supplies. They also carry various gift ware including teas, Manitoba made soaps and bath bombs, handmade fudge, art and home decor and much more. Van Der Walt told bdnmb.ca that she views her store as a place for the creative minded and hobby enthusiasts, not just as a fabric store. Fusion Mineral Paint, DIY Paint, and Iron Orchid Design are among the products you will find filling the shelves. For additional information, or hours of operation, please visit their Facebook page here.

If you like fresh Mexican food, we’ve got good news for you–popular chain BarBurrito is planning to open a location in Brandon based on signs displayed in the commercial storefront at 751 18th St. Renovations appear well underway in the unit, which is located in the same building that also houses Mary Brown's Chicken & Taters. The first BarBurrito opened in Toronto in 2005 and there is currently three locations in Winnipeg. The "fresh Mexican grill" menu includes tacos, burritos, quesadillas, bowls and sides. There is a number of proteins, toppings, tortillas and sauces to select from to customize your order.

Melynda Ostrowski has spent several years planning and preparing to finally open a place of her own. Tantopia is now open at 138 - 10th Street (former location of Euphoria Hair and Nails). Melynda saw the location was available and thought the space was a perfect fit for her ideas. She said the search for a location was long and that she was always being sent in a different direction. Melynda told bdnmb.ca that she she has lived and worked downtown for years and felt a high end tanning salon was needed. At one time Brandon had 5 tanning locations and now including Tantopia the city features 3 locations. Various packages starting at $29.00 per month are available. Services available include a Mystic Kyss spray tan booth, UV tanning, and a a high-quality infrared sauna. https://www.facebook.com/tanningsafe