Brandon, MB: Introducing Westman Promotions, formally Pro Pretty Prints, a division of Progressive Westman. New name, new look but same great team continuing to provide the same exceptional small-town service you have come to know and trust. What began as a need to better serve our uniform department, Westman Promotions has transformed into so much more. Westman Promotions is Southwestern Manitoba’s place to go for all of your promotional goods, corporate, team apparel and all things custom printed. The Westman Promotions operation includes a creative sales team, multiple designers, seamstress’ and print technicians. Tell us your idea, choose your items, and we will create it for you! Westman Promotions is a division of locally owned and operated Progressive Westman. Progressive Westman is Brandon's leading supplier of sanitation supplies & equipment and matting & uniform rentals. For more information about Westman Promotions products and services please connect with us on social media at Westman Promotions on both Facebook and Instagram, or you can call our office at 204-729-9210 or email kathryn@progressivewestman.ca. We look forward to continuing to support the needs of our local Westman businesses.

With Halloween now officially in the rear-view mirror, retailers across the city have quickly transitioned their retail spaces in anticipation of the busy holiday Season. Alternative Choice Garden Centre (on the corner of 34th and Patricia in Brandon) is no exception, in fact they have taken it one step further. For the second straight year, the company is offering customers an opportunity to take their safe Christmas photos/selfies in one of their Santa themed displays. The display is free to use and no appointment is required at this time. Owner/Operator Karin Griffin tells bdnmb.ca that one of the new features they added this season was a life sized Santa. "We had set up an area last year just for some fun selfie fun and when I did my Christmas Shopping last January I saw this awesome life size Santa and had to have him…and who knew that he was going to be our “Safe Santa” this year". "So when all the Christmas things were getting cancelled and I mean how do kids sit on Santas lap right now?? So we set this up as a family photo area, so we invite anyone to come in and take their photo, bring in there photographer, do a selfie…we don’t care, but we just couldn’t see Christmas get cancelled. Our whole store is Christmas right now, so it’s a happy place…winter in the front and summer in the GH all winter!! added Karin. Alternative Choice Garden Centre features fresh cut Christmas Trees, live greens, custom winter containers, workshops that work for you…(book your group on the day that works for you), house plants, Christmas décor, Napoleon BBQ & accessories, Lechuza self-water planters, garden décor, & more..all this @ Alternative on the corner of 34th and Patricia in Brandon Christmas Winter hours are Monday – Wednesday 9-6 Thursday- Friday 9-8 Saturday 9-5 and Sunday’s 11-5.

Launch: Friday, November 6th at 3:00 PM After months of dedication and hard work, the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba is pleased to announce the launch of a brand-new online Gift Shop! Our goal with this site is to provide an exceptional browsing and unique shopping experience for our customers; in addition to providing an additional platform to showcase all of our wonderful artists and their work! The online Gift Shop features a selection of small works for sale including ceramic works, paintings, drawings, prints, wood items, fibre work, and jewellery. A collection of larger and more delicate works may be found under our In-Store Collection, which may only be purchased in person. To access the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba’s Online Gift Shop please visit agsm.store. The Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba is located at 710 Rosser Avenue. It can be accessed either from the Town Centre parkade, or from the first floor of the Town Centre Mall through the elevators near the library.

The Hansel and Gretels Schnitzelhouse recently released a statement (below) on their Facebook page that for health and family reasons they would be closing until further notice. For the past several weeks, the restaurant had been sharing the space at 363-1st Street with Los Brothers Street Food. Los Brothers Street Food had been running Monday-Thursday and The Hansel and Gretels Schnitzelhouse operational Friday-Sunday. With the departure of The Hansel and Gretels Schnitzelhouse, the restaurant will now be operated full time by Los Brothers Street Food as they look to expand both the hours of operation and days they are open. Los Brothers Street Food serves a variety of tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas, hot dogs, and hamburgers.

This year, things are a little different. And we thought, “How can we bring a vacation to you?” So, to shake up your normal routine, we created the Staycation Box! Just in time for the holidays, this comfy, cozy box is packed full of amazing Manitoba made products and a themed travel itinerary creating hours of engaging fun. As you open the box you are walked through every aspect from local music to setting the mood, tasting delicious beverages, learning to cook local delicacies, virtual tours and tips on how to make the experience exceptional. Our mission is to create a memorable "travel" experience in the comfort of your home while incorporating local Manitoba made products. One of our focal points is supporting local businesses and with so many wonderful products made here in Manitoba, it's easier than ever to buy local. We want to showcase these unique and delicious items, as well as inspire you to explore countries from around the world. We currently have two products. Our standard size box comes with a 48- hour itinerary of recipes, activities and 6-7 made-in-Manitoba goods, so that you can use the products to create two full days of restful, engaging fun. Then our mini-boxes were created for those who simply have an evening to serene escape. Each box includes 5 made in Manitoba products and a 4-6hr travel itinerary designed to create memories and fun experiences. We at McPhail Travel Brandon have poured our heart and soul into creating the Staycation Box and honestly, it couldn’t have been done without the amazing companies we have partnered with. We hand-picked each and every one of our gift boxes with a selection of local artisan products from across Manitoba. To give you an idea of what to expect, in our fabulous Paris box we have scrumptious macarons from Jenna Rae Cakes. In our Hawaii box, you can enjoy a cocktail on Its Charlow Darling while preparing a fun Luau dinner. And in our Active & Adventure box, grab your GORP energy bar as you head out on a hike. Are you a family looking for something to do this weekend? A company seeking to treat their employees? A couple longing for a date night? Or a busy individual needing a quick gift? You value aesthetics and convenience and are excited to have a fun experience from the comfort of your home. No more rushing around, pulling things together at the last minute. Let us do the work for you. Available for purchase at www.staycationbox.ca or by email info@mcphailtravel.net.