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.

Westman Communications Group (WCG) announced its latest endeavour in environmental responsibility with a donation of $10,000 to the Assiniboine West Watershed District (AWWD). This donation was a part of WCG’s initiative to offer its annual report in a digital format, reflecting WCG’s dedication to reducing its environmental impact while giving back to the community. “We are proud to continue our efforts in environmental stewardship through initiatives such as our tree-planting partnership with the Assiniboine West Watershed District,” said WCG’s Marketing Manager Brandi Crowe. “This initiative underscores WCG’s commitment to sustainability and community engagement, reflecting our values as an organization.” In a significant stride towards environmental sustainability, WCG unveiled digital annual reports in October 2023. Members switching to digital reports were eligible for a draw, offering a chance to win free WCG services for a year. Furthermore, WCG committed to an eco-conscious pledge: for each member opting for digital reports, the company would finance the planting of a tree. This initiative, capped at a $10,000 donation, was carried out in collaboration with AWWD. hrough this partnership, numerous trees have been planted across the Westman region, enhancing local ecosystems and supporting crucial shelterbelt projects. WCG is proud to contribute to the region's environmental health and sustainability through these efforts. “Our mission at AWWD is to assist and educate watershed stakeholders to identify and implement programs that protect and enhance resources for generations,” said Regional Manager Lance Routledge. “With the grateful support of WCG, our vision to create a health resilient watershed by planting trees, ensures a long-lasting and far-reaching benefit to our communities.”

Westman Communications Group (WCG) and Rionet jointly announced WCG's acquisition of Rionet's wireless and fibre networks. Rionet is a Dauphin-based communications company that was started in 2009 by Jarett Robak.. "We have been proud partners with Jarett Robak at Rionet for over 14 years, working together to provide the best services to his customers," said E.J. (Bud) Keys, WCG's President and CEO." Adding Rionet wireless and fibre networks to our portfolio was a natural progression for WCG, reflecting our shared commitment to quality and reliability." A business born out of necessity, Rionet has been working for 15 years to improve wireless services and connectivity in rural Manitoba; a mindset echoed by WCG. This acquisition will allow WCG to operate the wireless and fibre networks in the Parkland region while completing the planned fibre builds for Dauphin Beach and adjacent communities. "We are excited to maintain this long-standing relationship with Jarett and Rionet," added Keys. "I look forward to collaborating on future construction projects to better serve our customers." Acquiring Rionet wireless and fibre networks reflects the WCG cooperative's focus on providing and future-proofing advanced communication services and enabling a better "digital quality of life" for residents and businesses outside major urban centres. "Our company has strived to offer quality internet to the communities of Grandview, Gilbert Plains, Dauphin and nearby regions," said Rionet Owner Jarett Robak. "We are very excited that WCG, a cooperative with a strong community focus, will continue to advance these services. Our team looks forward to supporting WCG's mission to expand and improve services across the Parkland region. A big thank you to all our customers for their support over the years."

Sunrise Credit Union's 2024 Our Manitoba Photo Contest winner is Corinne Einarsson of Arborg. A panel of Sunrise staff selected Einarsson's photo ‘The Old Train Station’ as one of the 30 finalists from approximately 433 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 Einarsson's photo garnering the majority vote and claiming the top spot. Einarsson was exploring the town of Riverton in mid-July, with her camera in hand, and pulled up to the old train station as the rain clouds were rolling in. “It just looked so picture perfect – I had to stop. I’m glad I did it,” said Einarsson. Being crowned the winner of the 2024 edition of the Our Manitoba Photo Contest is a dream come true says Einarsson, “It’s an incredible feeling my photo resonated with the judges and audience. I am so grateful and humbled by this recognition. It means the world to me. I’m ecstatic and proud. Love you all.” Einarsson is proud to have captured the spirit of Manitoba, a province that honours the past, present and future in her winning photo. Photography is an outlet for Einarsson to preserve memories and tell stories. “When I am out and about, I love to capture the beauty around the Interlake area of the old and new. I usually never leave home without my camera,” says Einarsson. All 13 finalists will receive a canvas print of the winning photograph, be featured in the 2025 Sunrise Credit Union calendar, and have appeared on Sunrise Credit Union's branch TVs and social media channels. In addition, Einarsson earned the Grand Prize of a $500 One-Year Term Deposit from Sunrise Credit Union. 2024 marked the 12th edition of the Our Manitoba Photo Contest. Einarsson was revealed as the winner of the grand prize on Sunday May 12, which coincided with Manitoba Day.