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.

Pilot Mound & District Museum Inc. is thrilled to receive $1500.00 from the Westoba Credit Union Inspire Program to purchase a much-needed computer system. “We are excited and grateful for the grant from Westoba’s Inspire program and thank Westoba for supporting the museum,” said Heather Brewster, Museum Chairperson. “This computer will enable us to create a top-notch cataloguing system for our collection and enable us to create posters and display information within the museum saving us both time and money.”  The staff at the local Pilot Mound Westoba branch are excited to see one of their member projects rewarded.   “Community is about doing something together that makes belonging matter, “ said Theresa Cronin, Pilot Mound Branch Manager. “Westoba is proud to belong to The Pilot Mound & District community and to be able to contribute to this important piece of retaining this area’s history.” The Pilot Mound Museum is in its final phase of setting up the displays in their new location at the Millennium Complex in Pilot Mound.  Visit their Facebook page for updates. https://www.facebook.com/pilotmoundmuseum/ (Summitted)