On June 15, 2025, the Brandon Police Service received a report of a missing adult male, Owen Robert BEDFORED BEDFORD was last seen at an establishment in the 3100 block of Victoria Ave at approximately 2:00am, possibly getting into a taxi. He was last seen wearing a grey hoodie with Las Vegas on it, light colored blue jeans, a white baseball cap and white shoes. BEDFORD is described as 5’7, 120 lbs, shaggy blonde hair with blue eyes. The Brandon Police Service is concerned about Owen’s wellbeing and is asking anyone with any information regarding HIS whereabouts to contact the Brandon Police Service Missing Persons Unit at 204-729-2392. For information Contact the Brandon Police Service Missing Persons Coordinator - Cst. Adam Potter – 204-729-2392 Crime Stoppers – (204)727-TIPS (8477) https://www.brandon.ca/missing-persons

Disguise with Intent On June 14, 2025, at approximately 12:30 pm, police responded to a report of an attempt theft from a business in the 800 block of 18th street N.  Three males wearing gloves and masks attempted to steal property when the employee intervened.  One of the males was still in the area when police arrived.  He was in possession of a pocketknife contrary to his probation conditions upon his arrest.  The 34-year-old male was lodged to appear in court today on charges of Attempt Theft Under $5000, Possess Weapon, Fail to Comply with Probation and Disguise with Intent. Assault Peace Officer On June 14, 2025, shortly after 11:00 am, an intoxicated male attended to Brandon Police Service and became combative with officers when he was asked to leave.  Members then attempted to detain him, but he punched two officers during the struggle.  The officers were uninjured.  The male caused damage to a police cruiser when he kicked it, prior to being taken for medical clearance.  The 23-year-old male was lodged to appear in court today on charges of Resist Arrest, Assault Peace Officer X2 and Mischief to Property.  

(ACC News) Assiniboine College saw 2,760 graduates this academic year, with 1,900 of those graduates recognized at ceremonies this month—the largest took place in Brandon Friday. Friday’s ceremony celebrated graduates from 85 certificate, diploma, apprenticeship and post-graduate diploma programs at the college’s largest ceremonies of the year. Of note, 27 per cent of domestic graduates this year are Indigenous. “Graduation day is a powerful milestone, especially in a world that is evolving faster than ever,” said Assiniboine President, Mark Frison. “Each year, I’m inspired to see our students not only reach this moment but shape it—bringing fresh ideas, innovation and resilience to their training. Completing an educational journey demands adaptability and vision, and our students continue to rise to that challenge. Today, we celebrate their achievements and recognize the families, faculty, and staff who supported them along the way.” Many of these new graduates with industry-ready training are expected to step into careers right here in Manitoba, recent graduate follow-up survey results indicate. Assiniboine’s track record of training, retaining and gaining graduates remains strong. Graduate follow-up survey results released earlier this week showed that 96 per cent of last year’s graduates remaining in province, when only 71 per cent of total grads from this year originated here. An interesting note is the total number of Practical Nursing grads projected for the 2024-25 academic year is 154, further bolstering Manitoba’s healthcare sector. And 91 per cent of graduates from four years ago live in Manitoba. Only 74 per cent of that graduating class were originally from the province. Among the 2024-25 graduates are 154 new Practical Nursing grads poised to enter the healthcare field. “Congratulations to each graduate of Assiniboine College,” said Renée Cable, Minister of Advanced Education and Training. It is incredible to see so many graduates choosing to stay in Manitoba or choosing to make Manitoba their new home. As you step into your next chapter, know that you’re helping to shape the future of our province by supporting local industries, strengthening communities, and inspiring those who follow in your footsteps. Manitoba is proud of you.” Assiniboine is proud to mark today’s ceremonies with two valedictorians, Aidyn Pearce and Chrissa Bayabay. For Pearce, a graduate of the Civil Engineering Technology (Municipal Engineering Specialization), the day was a significant step on his journey to a career in Engineering. Following graduation, Pearce will be pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering degree at Lakehead University as part of a diploma to degree program. “My time at Assiniboine offered a wide variety of opportunities right at your fingertips,” said Pearce. He encouraged students to get involved and be on the lookout for unique opportunities, “it will make your experience at Assiniboine unforgettable.” Bayabay, graduated from Business Administration, with a specialization in Human Resource Management. “Coming in as an international student, I never had any regrets choosing Assiniboine College. I always tell people how accommodating and responsive the staff were, with all my questions about the program and process,” said Bayabay. “It feels great to reach this milestone, knowing it was all worth it. I'm looking forward to growing professionally, using all I've learned from Assiniboine and seeing where it leads. I'm also excited to reconnect with classmates on graduation day, as I haven't seen them in a while, to celebrate our achievements together.” Each year, the Province of Manitoba awards a Governor General’s Medal to the student who has achieved the highest overall average in a diploma program from each of our permanent campus locations. This year’s recipients were Early Childhood Education graduate Payton Murray (Brandon), and Practical Nursing graduates Kayla Cool (Portage), and Norvic Tolentino (Winnipeg). The province also awards Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medals to students who have achieved outstanding academic performance and contributed in significant ways to the college and their community. This year’s recipients for Brandon are Land and Water Management student Natalie Carolina Loureiro and Carpentry and Woodworking student Caroline Dubois. True to our mission of transforming lives and strengthening Manitoba, Assiniboine’s most recent Graduate Satisfaction and Employment Survey shows that 96 per cent of graduates have jobs within nine months of completing their studies, with 96 per cent remaining in Manitoba.

The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in locating this person who is: “WANTED BY POLICE”: William ZAZALAK FOR Fail to Comply with Order. William ZAZALAK was convicted of Possession of Child Pornography and as part of his release conditions he is to report to the National Sex Offender Registry. ZAZALAK failed to report and his whereabouts are unknown, therefore a warrant of arrest has been issued for William ZAZALAK. ************* CRIME OF THE WEEK for June 12, 2025 The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in solving a Break Enter & Theft. On June 10th, 2025, it was reported two males were caught on video surveillance breaking into a locked compound in the 4800 block of Victoria Avenue East. The males then broke into 3 sheds and a utility trailer stealing a generator and construction tools. ************** If you have information about this or any other crime you are asked to contact Brandon Crime Stoppers @ 204-727-TIPS (8477), www.brandoncrimestoppers.com or by texting BCSTIP+your message to CRIMES (274637). Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to Call Display. Your call is not recorded and your identity will remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2000.00 cash for information that leads to the solution of a crime.

City of Brandon City Manager Dave Wardrop is pleased to announce the promotion of Todd Burton to the role of General Manager of Operations, effective Mon, June 16, 2025. In this position, Burton will oversee the City’s Transportation Services, Parks & Recreation, Public Works, and Underground Utilities. Burton brings 15 years of experience with the City of Brandon, most recently serving as Director of Innovation, Technology & Communications. He holds a degree in Computer Science from Brandon University. His appointment follows the retirement of Patrick Pulak, who dedicated 36 years of service to the city. “Todd brings strong leadership and a forward-thinking approach to the Operations portfolio,” said City Manager Dave Wardrop. “His experience and commitment to innovation will be invaluable as we continue to enhance the delivery of essential services to our community.” In his new role, Burton will lead the City’s outdoor operations, including public works, parks, the airport, and transportation services. He will work closely with the senior leadership team to guide staffing, labour relations, budgeting, and public engagement strategies. A key focus will be evaluating and evolving service delivery to meet the changing needs of Brandon’s residents. “I’m honoured to take on this new role and excited to collaborate with the talented Operations team,” said Burton. “Together, we’ll continue to build a culture of innovation, foster strong relationships, and deliver exceptional service to the community.”