BRANDON, MB 09.01.20 – Westoba Inspire Community Investment Program is accepting applications during the month of September 2020 for major projects supporting community infrastructure. “We are focusing on projects that will enhance community infrastructure,” said Jim Rediger, Westoba Credit Union President and 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 Applications will be accepted through an online application form available at westobainspire.com. ABOUT WESTOBA INSPIRE Created in 2017, Westoba Inspire is the result of Westoba’s Community Investment Fund in partnership with the Brandon Area Community Foundation. To be eligible for funding, applicants must be a non-profit charitable organization, support community infrastructure projects that are initiated locally or have a clear local impact; are inclusive and bring people together; are long-termor multi-functional; and promote staying, participating and engaging in an enriched community. (submitted)

Westman Communications Group is excited to announce that its 2020 #ConnectingWestman initiative donated $19,500 to local communities in which they serve. This year Westman Communications Group was unable to take their annual #ConnectingWestman Tour on the road due to COVID-19 restrictions, so they decided to take it digital. “Taking our #ConnectingWestman initiative digital allowed us to get all 39 of our communities involved and provide them with a donation. It is evident that now more than ever, all our communities need our support, and we want to make sure they know we are here for them, and we are in this together,” said Chief Customer Officer John Quail. Westman Communications Group services 39 communities across Western Manitoba, and each one of these communities received a $500 donation to a charity of their choice. The digital initiative allowed members of each community to submit which charity they thought was deserving of the $500 donation. The charities that received the most submissions from each community were the winners of the $500 donation. The 2020 #ConnectingWestman winners from each community are: Brandon – Brandon Humane Society Binscarth – Binscarth Little Bloomers Daycare Birtle – Birtle Riverside Golf Course Boissevain – Boissevain & Morton Community Foundation Carberry – Art Sear Memorial Park Play Structure Fundraising Committee Dauphin – Parkland Humane Society Deloraine – Deloraine Winchester Historical Society Elkhorn – Elkhorn Elks Community Fund Erickson – Score Store, Inc. Forrest – Elton Community Centre Gilbert Plains – Gilbert Plains Drop-In Senior Center Gladstone – Gladstone District Museum Glenboro – Glenboro Gaiety Theatre Grandview – Watson Crossley Museum Hamiota – Hamiota Community Foundation Inglis – Inglis and District Community Club Killarney – Killarney Turtle Mountain Arts Council McCreary – McCreary Heritage Advisory Committee Melita – Melita Food Bank Minitonas – Minitonas & District Arena Minnedosa – Friends of Lake Minnedosa Minto – Minto Recreation Facilities Committee Neepawa – Neepawa Salvation Army Rapid City - Rapid City Regional Library Rivers – Riverdale Early Learning Centre Roblin – Roblin and District Food Bank Rossburn – Rossburn Senior Resource Russell – Expanding Community Cancer Care Project Sandy Lake – Sandy Lake Playground Project Shilo – One At A Time Rescue Shoal Lake – Senior Services of Prairie Parkland Inc. Souris – Souris Railway Museum St. Claude – St. Claude Wellness Center St. Lazare – St. Lazare Athletics Ste Rose – Ste Rose Food Bank Strathclair – Strathclair United Church Swan River – Swan Valley Animal Protection League Virden – Virden Area Foundation Westman Communications Group looks forward to taking their 2021 #ConnectingWestman Tour back on the road to visit three communities. For more information about the #ConnectingWestman initiative, visit westmancom.com/personal/connectingwestman/connectingwestman-tour

I Want That Stuff, a local collectables/gaming store, recently shared an announcement on their Facebook page that the store would be moving to a new location at the Just4Kidz building on Park Avenue. In conversation with bdnmb.ca earlier today, they said they are targeting an October 1st opening at the new address. They have been in business for 11 years, over 4 of those years at the 19th Street location. Ownership is extremely excited to be relocating for a number of reasons including being able to offer an expanded selection of merchandise and new systems to make your visit as excellent as possible. I Want That Stuff will occupy approximately 40% off the space in the building including 2,000 sq feet on the main floor for a gaming area and 2,500 sq feet on the upper level for inflatable axe throwing for kids and other interActive fun zone activities. Renovations are currently underway. For additional/updated information, please visit their Facebook page. Just4Kidz will continue to operate out of the address as well. Private parties and bookings will soon be available and a potential daycare is in the works.

In the past few months, we have introduced readers to several under-the-radar, road trip worthy restaurants serving up some unique and wonderful food. The canteen, located inside the Oak Lake arena 35 minutes from Brandon, is another must-visit restaurant worth getting into your car for. Marge Van Meer has been running the restaurant at this location since 2016. Open year round the menu has a little bit of everything, including breakfast and daily lunch specials. The canteen is best known (in the local hockey community) for making an amazing home-made rink burger. Once a week, on Friday, the restaurant likes to serve up a Bannock inspired menu. Marge tells bdnmb.ca that she started running the weekly Bannock specials, with the assistance of Lola, in May of this year. Among the featured items is a perfectly grilled, juicy, mouth watering bison Bannock burger and an absolutely delicious Bannock taco.  Several dessert options are also available: Bannock bliss: fried Bannock with a cherry, blueberry, or apple topping, & whipped cream Elephant ears: fried Bannock served with cinnamon and sugar Hours of operation: Open 7 days a week: 7:30 am-1 pm, 4 pm-6 pm Dine-in or takeout. For updates on daily lunch specials, or scheduled bannock days, please visit this link. As with most small town restaurants, the service is always friendly and the food always reasonably priced.

If you are looking for a family day trip that won't break the bank then you need to check out CJ's Snack Shack and Mini Golf.  Located at Rivers Provincial Park (beach and campground), CJ's has been in operation for approximately 25 years now. Lorne & Sue Green have operated the business since the summer of 2015. The couple told bdnmb.ca that one of the first things they did when taking over the business was to expand the menu. The burgers, perogies, and mozza sticks are all homemade and the fries are hand-cut daily. They recently added several flavors of wings to the menu. In addition to all the hot food, CJ's also offers a variety of ice cream treats like hard ice cream, floats, milkshakes, deep fried ice cream, and a funnel cake sundae. One of the first things you will notice about Cj's Snack Shack and Mini Golf, in addition to the outstanding customer service, is how reasonably priced everything is. The food portions are not only large but also very easy on the wallet. A round of mini golf is only $5 for adults and $3 for children. Cj's Snack Shack and Mini Golf has a number of activities for visitors to participate in including an 18-hole mini golf course. Kayak and paddle boat rentals (life-jackets provided) are also available for rent by the hour, for those looking to spend a relaxing afternoon on the lake. Hours of Operation: Daily from 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/cjssnackshack/ CJ’s Snack Shack and Mini Golf is open from mid-May to mid-September.