BRANDON, MB 03.01.21 – Westoba Inspire, Westoba Credit Unions' Community Investment Program is accepting applications during the month of March 2021 for major projects supporting community infrastructure. “We are focusing on projects that will enhance community infrastructure,” said Jim Rediger, Westoba Credit Union CEO. “Initiatives and projects that have lasting impact and offer sustainability to community resources will be given priority.” Westoba will provide funding to deserving non-profit, charitable or community organizations across the province who are helping build stronger communities through facilities or programming. Applications are reviewed by Westoba’s Community Investment Committee that includes staff, member and Board representation. Successful applications are chosen based on their ability to align with Westoba’s goal to support community infrastructure. HOW TO APPLY to Westoba Inspire:Applications will be accepted through an online application form available at westobainspire.com.

A couple of ice cream shops in Brandon have opened recently, with more expected to follow suit in the coming days. For hours of operation please check out their respective Facebook pages. Tastee's Ice Cream and Grill (1405 1st S) opened on Wednesday of this week. In addition to a number of ice cream treats they also serve a variety of hot food including burgers, fries, hot dogs, appetizers and sides. Tastee's has been in operation in Brandon since 1967. Twisters Ice Cream Shoppe (305A 18th St N) opened for the season on Friday, February 26. Choose from 24 hard ice cream flavours. 11 flavours of soft ice cream, ice cream cakes & many more yummy treats! Churros are now also available. Velvet Dip (820 Victoria Ave) is scheduled to open on March 5 at noon . They have been serving Brandon and area residents an array of soft/hard ice cream, milkshakes, sundaes and other novelty treats since 1965. Dairy Queen, located at 904-18th Street, has been in Brandon since 1954. Once again the extremely popular seasonal DQ is re-opening for their traditional date of March 1st. Stop by for a cool, delicious ice cream cone, sundae, Blizzard, banana split or ice cream cake.

Brandon’s Brady Damsgaard (now Von Niessen) left Brandon in 2006 to move to B.C and now calls Salt Spring Island home. She is the Owner/Creator of West Von, a company that "offers a boutique collection of premium women’s hats made with 100% pure Australian wool and natural straw" which are designed in Canada. Brady tell us where you found your Entrepreneurial spirit? After taking Business Management in College in Vancouver, I ended up getting into sales and wasn’t really thinking about starting my own business. I really just stumbled upon it after having my daughter in 2014. In 2015 you started your first business, Macey & Co - tell us a bit about that business and how you started it.  I was having a hard time finding quality, modern hair bows and headwraps for my very bald baby girl when she was born. I decided to make my own (with the help of my mother in-laws sewing machine) and started to sell them online. Throughout my Maternity leave, I was able to build the business and not have to go back to my wine rep job, after my maternity leave was over. I grew the business over the course of 6 years, selling bows worldwide. The majority of the business was build through social media. I had a small team of seamstresses who sewed the bows and then I would assemble, pack and ship each order. I also had a virtual assistant who helped me online with launches, e-mails etc. It was extremely rewarding and allowed me work and still be at home with my two young children.  You started your new business, West Von in 2020 how did you come up with that business and how did you manage running both businesses?  Honestly, West Von started after a Saturday night online shopping with a glass of wine! I was searching for a quality, wool hat and wasn’t able to find one from a Canadian company. I figured there had to be a market here and immediately started getting to work on a new brand. After nine months of designing hats, custom boxes, samples and branding, I launched West Von at the peak of the pandemic in June 2020. The business took off right away and I was having a really hard time juggling both businesses. In August, an acquaintance of mine approached me about selling Macey + Co. It was a hard decision for me because it was something that I worked on for so long, but I knew it was time and that I wouldn’t be able to manage both businesses. I sold Macey + Co in September 2020 to pursue West Von full-time.  You have some really amazing logos and branding plus the photos are exceptional, is this all you or did you hire a marketing company. Everything from the website to social media, is all me! I learned so much when it came to marketing and branding over the 6 years of building my first business through social media. I had a clear vision of this brand, but I do have to give credit to my husband who helped come up with the final logo! We had a designer bring it to life after he drafted a quick drawing. In terms of the photography, I’m super fortunate to have worked with many talented photographers over the years. I collaborate with them to get the content for our social media and the website. I also receive so many images from customers and love sharing their pictures on our social media accounts.  On your website you state that you have to be a boutique or brick and mortar store to sell your hat, I assume you don’t want people flogging your hats on Amazon.com A lot of people want to be able to see, feel and try on the hats for themselves and because we are an online shop, that can be a bit difficult! I received a lot of wholesale inquires as soon as we launched and decided to expand that part of the business 3 months into launching. We are now in approximately 25 stores from BC to Ontario right now, with a long wait list of stores who are also wanting to carry them. Managing  online orders and wholesale orders over the past 7 months has been pretty crazy. I am slowly taking on more wholesale accounts, but hope to be in more stores over the next year.  What would you say is the best selling feature of your hats? I think ultimately the quality of the hats along with our sizing. Many struggle to find a quality made hat that fits well. We offer two sizes and all of our hats have a tab on the inner band to allow the hat to be tightened for the perfect fit.  Is your husband at all involved with this or is it you working 80 hours a week? Life is pretty crazy around here! My husband works full-time as a Captain for BC Ferries. I manage the majority of the business and we really just juggle kids, dinners, school pick ups as best we can and work together as a team. He has been extremely supportive with the whole transition of businesses and we are just learning as we go on how to manage it all. You mentioned that CBC show Dragon’s Den emailed you about considering applying to the show.  I was pretty surprised to receive an email from Dragon’s Den, to be honest! It wasn’t really something that I have ever seriously considered. I’m planning on applying for the upcoming season and hope to get on, so we can get help scaling and expanding the business. 

In today's society couples are looking for the perfect balance of good schools for their children, being close to modern conveniences, as well as quiet stress free living in the country.  Sheldon and Shelley Kokorudz feel they have created that environment with their rural community called KoKo Estates.  Located only a 7 minute drive from the Corral Centre down Grand Valley Road, turn on Hunter Road for roughly one kilometer and you will find 10 lots ranging in size from 2 - 5 acres.  Customers have a choice to choose whomever they wish for a contractor and KoKo Estates has some local builders to suggest on their website. After several years of planning and zoning this project is finally off the ground.  "We always had this vision to subdivide and presented it to the RM and then we had to wait for them to do their part and then we officially pursed it".  BDNMB asked Sheldon was this a difficult process?  " The process from hearings  - water drilling  -  hydro studies and civil engineers plus follow Brandon Area Planning at the time criteria to follow and two and a half years we are ready". For many people the transition from city to country living can be a daunting task but Shelley Kokorudz promises the process isn't at all difficult. She added that people want additional room for their dogs and horses and with a 5 acre lot you will have more than enough room. Click here to see the Promotional Video designed by Brett Meilleur from https://www.instagram.com/meilleurmedia/ www.kokoestates.comwww.facebook.com/kokoestates For further information contactDon Mitchell at Century 21204 724 2743https://don-mitchell.c21.ca/

Two new stores have recently opened in the Brandon Shoppers Mall. Mobile Klinik repairs all major brands of smartphones and tablets including Samsung, Apple, LG, BlackBerry, & more. Your equipment is repaired on-site (same day) by one of their skilled technicians using premium quality parts that are backed by a lifetime warranty. They also sell certified pre-owned phones. Mobile Klinik has 80+ locations across the country. T.Kettle "is a luxury brand experience that offers premium loose leaf teas, accessories, hardware, giftables, and your favorite hot-cold beverage". The tea blends are naturally sourced, certified vegan, kosher, and organic yielding rich flavours. The tea shop has locations scattered across Canada as well as the US.