Assiniboine Community College’s Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture has received $100,000 from the McCain Foundation. Agriculture and food are the largest areas of applied research at Assiniboine. The Prairie Innovation Centre will provide an integrated learning environment with a mixture of collaborative learning spaces, applied research labs, multipurpose spaces, and amenities. “The McCain Foundation is proud to support initiatives that recognize the importance of global environmental challenges, like food security” said Linda McCain, Chair of the McCain Foundation. “By investing in education and supporting agriculture programming at Assiniboine, The Foundation hopes to contribute to a strong, sustainable future for agriculture in Manitoba.” The Centre will repurpose the Parkland building on the North Hill campus, joining the grow plots, orchard and the weed identification garden and Sustainable Greenhouse, which was also supported by the McCain Foundation, to provide interdisciplinary training, practical education and applied research. The Prairie Innovation Centre will increase opportunities for students—the future agricultural workforce—to gain real-world professional experiences through additional engagement with industry partners, and will enhance the college’s contribution to economic prosperity in Manitoba through applied research, work-integrated learning, extension and innovation. “The agriculture industry is evolving to a place where technology and food innovations coupled with a strong commitment to sustainability are fundamental to things like agronomy, farming or land management and value-added food processing,” said Tim Hore, Dean of the Russ Edwards School of Agriculture and Environment at Assiniboine. “You can’t do one without having knowledge of the other parts. The McCain Foundation donation supports our mission to become a leader in agriculture education and applied research to ensure we are producing well educated students who enter the ag sector with the advanced skills to champion sustainability in the agriculture industry. The college launched the Prairie Innovation Centre campaign in 2019 and has increased its fundraising goal twice, from $10 to 15 million, and has now exceeded the new $20 million goal. In January, 2023 the Province of Manitoba made an initial commitment of $10 million toward design and costing. The Prairie Innovation Centre will create an enhanced agricultural training capacity, increasing seats in agriculture, environment and related technology programs from 300 to more than 800 to fill the growing agricultural labour gap.

In a move that will have students buzzing with excitement, a new convenience store is scheduled to open a location in close proximity (155 18th St) to Brandon University. The convenience store, Quikstop is poised to become a go-to destination for students seeking a quick and accessible solution for their daily needs. The convenience store is going to be strategically positioned within walking distance of the university campus, providing unparalleled convenience for students and faculty members alike. Its proximity ensures that students can easily access a wide array of products without the need for lengthy commutes. From snacks and beverages to cell phone accessories, personal care items, and basic groceries, the store aims to cater to a variety of needs. No word as of yet on an expected opening day.

In the heart of our bustling community, a delightful addition is making its mark on the local scene—a brand-new neighborhood coffee shop (2106 Currie Blvd) is gearing up for it's soft launch this Friday, the 2nd of February. As you enter the building, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee will fill the air as you step into the newly opened coffee shop, aptly named "Second Cup". The design of the coffee shop is meticulously thought out, combining modern aesthetics with comfortable seating arrangements, earthy tones, and an abundance of natural light that creates a welcoming atmosphere. Beyond the carefully crafted coffee beverages, Second Cup takes pride in its diverse menu including a variety of baked goods and breakfast options. The Brandon opening will be Second Cups 5th location in the province. Regular Hours 6am-10pm A second business in the same building, Chocolato will be opening approximately 2-3 weeks following the opening of Second Cup. Chocolato is best identified as “a chocolate factory paired with an ice cream parlor”. The menu includes a selection of soft ice cream, gelato, Royal Sundaes, dessert pizza’s, waffles, fondues and hot drinks. They have been in operation in Canada since 2015.

The McRib is rising from the ashes once again. Yesterday, McDonald's Restaurant's of Brandon announced via their Facebook page that the McRib would me making a limited time return to the Wheat City starting January 30, 2024. The sandwich first debuted at McDonald's back in 1981 in Kansas City, Kansas and has continued to have limited runs since.

Westman Communications Group (WCG) is pleased to announce that XSTREAM GIG Internet will be available in Rossburn beginning January 22, 2024. This Internet plan offers a download speed of up to 950 Mbps and an upload speed of up to 50 Mbps. XSTREAM GIG delivers the fast Internet speed that members need for the modern era of communication. “As members continue to add more devices and take part in more online activities on our home or business networks, more Internet bandwidth is needed to have the best online experience. XSTREAM GIG, one of our fastest Internet plans, can now provide this capability to anyone in Rossburn,” said Brandi Crowe, Westman Communications Group’s Marketing Manager. “WCG made it a priority to proactively upgrade our network earlier this year, which has allowed us to offer XSTREAM GIG service everywhere in Rossburn. We will continue working to make XSTREAM GIG available in more communities throughout 2024 for residences and businesses.” Rossburn residents can now subscribe to the XSTREAM GIG Internet plan by contacting WCG Customer Service at 204.725.4300 or 1.800.665.3337. In addition, Westman Business Solutions has a gigabit service available to commercial customers in Rossburn. Call 204-717-2839 or 1- 888-759-2225 for more information on their Ultimate GIG service. For more information about Westman Communications Group and its Internet offers, follow WCG on social media or head to westmancom.com/personal/internet/plans.