BDNMB.CA loves to find people who we consider contribute to this city on a day to day basis. This can be said for Precision Toyota owner Scott Ball. After a recent rebuild of Precision Toyota (over the past 12 months) we wanted to check in with Scott to how he would do with some questions that the public are wanting to know. I have read that Toyota vehicles sell themselves and the salesperson is just really directing traffic in the showroom, would you agree with that statement: I do agree Toyota’s do sell themselves but my belief is our staff need to sell our guests on the experience they will have while purchasing a vehicle and I believe that’s why were successful. When you father Ron handed over the keys to the business that must have been one of the most exciting and yet scary days of your life: Well there really wasn’t any key handing ceremony at all. I’ve ran the dealership for many years prior to the transition so it was honestly just another day at the office for us. You started at Precision in 1998, what was your job: I started out in the wash bay for the first while, then moved to a service advisor role shortly after. COVID 19 has had for some businesses both short and long term financial strains, how has COVID effected Precision Toyota: Well I think in some capacity it has affected our business in the spring but other than that we have had a great year in our new facility. Did you and your family ever consider buying the Wheat Kings: No we didn’t, but I’m happy for Jared and his family, Kelly picked the right guy to keep the Wheaties in Brandon long-term On a scale of 1 – 100, what percentage of clients are good to deal with: 99% I would say. We rarely have any bad experiences Should the Winnipeg Jets trade Laine, and why: No that would be crazy! He’s what 22 years old and an elite scorer! He would be hard to replace You have been married for almost a decade, what is something you miss about being single: I honestly don’t miss anything about being single! Naydia and I have been together 18 years and married 15 with 3 great kids. She’s the reason I am where I am today Your wife Naydia and your sister Angie and others are the new driving force (bad cliché I know) behind Westman Dreams For Kids.  What kind of pride do you and your family feel from that project: Obviously we take a lot of pride on what WMDK has become over the years. It’s helped a lot of families in need. Would you say Scott Glennie is the best Wheat King of all time and Jordan Hale the worst: Scott would be top 10 for sure in my books but Provy to me was the best Wheatie of our era. One business Brandon needs: I’d really like to see a Drive Inn theatre make its way back. We did one in the summer as a fundraiser and it was very successful. Would you consider yourself a techy nerd: No, I wouldn’t at all Favorite family vacation spot: Hawaii, Naydia and I try to take the kids there every couple of years Why do you have a cabin in Sandy Lake and not Clear Lake: Well my parents have a cabin there and that’s where I spent my summers as a kid. We’ve had no desire to move to a different lake we really enjoy it up there. How big of a role model has your father been in your life: I could write a book on what he’s taught me over the years and I’m grateful for that. He’s the smartest man I know that’s for sure. Would you ever run for City Council: I do appreciate what they do for our city but I don’t think I could ever run. Favorite bag of chips: BBQ Pepsi or Coke: Either I’m not picky Worst business memory to date: Honestly don’t have one Rumor has it you golf with Scott Major (local real estate agent) a bit in the summer, is he really that bad at golf: Well I do poke fun at him often on Facebook and yeah he awful. Golfed with the guy 15 years and he just isn’t getting any better hopefully he reads this and get lessons this winter

MNP, one of Canada’s largest national accounting and business consulting firms, is pleased to announce that it will be joining forces with Lise Deleurme Chartered Professional Accountant Inc. from Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba effective January 1, 2021. Lise says she and her team are delighted to be joining a like-minded firm in MNP that complements their current service offerings and has the same commitment to delivering personalized solutions to clients. MNP is excited to build on its fast-growing presence and commitment to the business community in southern Manitoba. Unprecedented and dynamic market conditions are impacting the way all businesses must operate. Lise says the merger strengthens her team’s ability to help their clients achieve their goals: “MNP complements and enhances our current service offerings and brings greater bench strength that will help us service clients across Manitoba. We believe that joining MNP is a perfect example of how we can come together to give our clients the edge they need to stay competitive and overcome current business and industry challenges in what is an historically unusual time for all organizations. By joining MNP we will add more resources and specialized services, which will help to provide our clients with even greater value in the future.” Founded in 1958, MNP has grown to more than 80 locations across Canada and delivers a wide range of services and specialized expertise in every sector and area of business. In addition to tax and accounting expertise, MNP delivers a diverse range of advisory services, including succession planning, estate planning, enterprise risk, corporate finance, valuation and litigation support, insolvency and restructuring, technology solutions, cross-border taxation, and much more. Not only is MNP the largest of the mid-market focused firms in Canada, it has continued to maintain its Canadian roots, helping Canadian businesses at home and abroad. “We are growing fast but we’re absolutely committed to maintaining our culture and so have always been very strategic about who we invite to join our team,” adds Patti Bell, Regional Managing Partner, Southern Manitoba. “We are known across the communities we work with as being one of Canada’s most-trusted accounting, tax and business consulting firms, so we are excited to welcome in Lise Deleurme and her team members into the MNP family. Our cultures and values are well-aligned, and we share the same entrepreneurial, trusted approach to doing business.” Lise says that one of her deciding factors to join MNP was the culture: “Although MNP is a large national firm, it’s always been known for being local in focus with a small-firm culture and commitment to supporting the local communities that its teams live and work in. This is something that is very important to me, and to our people, and so the ‘fit’ had to be right. I just felt that the chance to join a firm with the depth of resources that MNP offers, while maintaining our local focus, was a truly unique and exceptional opportunity.” The Lise Deleurme Chartered Professional Accountant Inc. team will remain at their present locations and work closely with MNP’s existing teams across Manitoba to enjoy access to greater resources and services to help businesses across the province. “This merger is truly a win-win for all of our firms and the broader Manitoba marketplace,” says Sean Wallace, MNP’s Executive Vice President, Prairies. “With skills and experiences across Manitoba we will be able to provide our clients with unparalleled access to teams who can help their organizations to succeed. We are thrilled to have found Lise Deleurme Chartered Professional Accountant Inc. to join forces with - a group that shares our values and is focused on putting clients first.” (MNP News release)

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, very few malls and photo studios across the country will offer in-person visits with Santa Claus this holiday season. A local photographer (Mitchell Stevens Photography) is hoping to fill the void, and keep the holiday tradition alive, by offering virtual visits with Santa. In conversation with bdnmb.ca earlier today, Mitchell said he shifted his photography business to offer a live virtual video call with Santa, after having to postpone his upcoming indoor photo sessions. The concept is an ideal way for families looking for holiday-related activities at home. While the kiddos may not be sitting on Santa's lap, this option is certain to place a smile on every youngsters face while ensuring everyone stays safe amid the pandemic. Booking a video call with the big man himself started today and goes until December 23nd! Customers can select from a number of available times by clicking on this link. Payment ($20, per session) is also handled online.

Rogers Communications today announced that it has turned on its 5G service on Canada’s most trusted and reliable network¹ in Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba. Customers in these locations on Rogers Infinite and Rogers for Business Shared Unlimited Data plans with compatible 5G devices will now have access to this next generation wireless technology. More than 2.2 million Canadians are on 5G-ready Rogers Infinite unlimited data plans. Including these communities, Rogers 5G network powered by Ericsson, now reaches a total of 134 cities and towns across the country offering 10x more coverage than any other carrier. See full 5G coverage map here. “The arrival of 5G in Manitoba will change the way we live, work and do business here,” said Larry Goerzen, President of Prairies and Alberta, Rogers Communications. “5G represents a massive technological transformation that will connect everything in our world from people and machines, to homes and cities. Beyond that, strong digital infrastructure and this next generation technology are critical to fuel productivity and innovation in the future as we reset the competitive landscape in Manitoba and for Canada, globally.” 5G will introduce new capabilities that are significantly more advanced than previous generations of wireless technology. Over the next several years, 5G will transform businesses and industries with increased speed and capacity, more efficient use of spectrum and lower latency. 5G will also support a massive increase in the number of connected devices that require near instantaneous access for applications like augmented and virtual reality, smart cities, robotics and driverless vehicles. “On behalf of the Manitoba government, we welcome the expansion of Rogers 5G network into Winnipeg and Brandon, along with the benefits it will bring to our economy and communities,” said Hon. Ralph Eichler, Manitoba Minister of Economic Development and Training. “This expansion will bring new technology to our businesses and contribute to Manitoba’s long-term competitiveness.” In addition to providing Canadians with the latest technology, wireless industry investments in 5G networks are expected to contribute an estimated $40 billion annually to the country’s economy and 250,000 permanent new jobs by 2026.³ “We are extremely pleased to see business investment in our Province towards more robust technology for individuals and businesses alike and we’re specifically thrilled to see Brandon included in Rogers map of 5G communities,” said Mayor of Brandon, Rick Chrest. Rogers has invested over $30 billion over the past 35 years to build Canada’s most trusted and reliable wireless network. 1 In 2020, the company was awarded the best wireless network in Canada for the second year in a row by umlaut, the global leader in mobile network testing and benchmarking. Rogers is also ranked number one in the West, including Manitoba, and Ontario in the J.D. Power 2020 Canada Wireless Network Quality Study. A recent 2020 Ookla Speedtest report found Rogers wireless network delivers the most consistent speeds of any national wireless network in Canada. (Rogers News Release)

Current professional estimate for COVID – 19 losses globally will far surpass 16 Trillion dollars. As of October, the loss is estimated to be 8.5 Trillion dollars. On a local level small businesses such as Party Professionals, who have been in business for well over 10 years, have made a formal decision to close operations and sell assets to another local company (Pinnacle Event Rentals). The loss of Party Professionals is only one of many event based businesses in Brandon, and the Westman region, deeply affected by the virus. Based on a heartfelt message posted on their Facebook page, Sean and Katrina obviously had tireless nights debating how and if they could keep the business open. This business was without a doubt something very close and personal to both of them and the Westman region suffers another loss due to COVID – 19. Customers of Party Professionals in the past, Jordan and Alex Trotter loved what they did for them at their wedding.  “This is incredibly sad news for our community" said Trotter. The transition to Ty Worthington, and Pinnacle Event Rentals, has been in the works for a short time. Worthington told BDNMB.CA it was mutual agreement and he knew what he was buying was of extremely good quality. Ty also said that his business has diversified over the last while by acquiring VIP rentals (portable bathroom business) and that he has been able to keep his staff busy, adding a few full time members during Covid.