The City of Brandon has been working on the Brandon City Plan, a 30-year vision for the City of Brandon since January 2022. Over 100 public engagement sessions have been held by the Planning & Buildings Department with over 2,000 residents participating in the project and providing feedback that formed the vision. The project is currently in the final phase of community engagement where residents are being asked to view and confirm the vision. Recently, two public engagement events were held at community centres. A small group of citizens used these events to discuss theories not related to the Brandon City Plan project and city staff were treated disrespectfully. Democracy and freedom of speech is important to the City of Brandon. However, due to such inappropriate and unsafe behaviour, all Brandon City Plan public engagement has been paused. The City will continue the pathway to establish a City Plan that represents our entire community. Updates regarding the Brandon City Plan will be provided in the future.

CancerCare Manitoba Foundation is pleased to announce a gift that will enable construction of a new Centre for Hope at the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre in Brandon. The Paul Albrechtsen Foundation has donated $3.5 million to establish the Paul Albrechtsen Centre for Hope, providing care and support closer to home for people on a journey with cancer in the Westman region. The announcement was made this morning by Chair of the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation Board Lee Meagher at a ground-breaking event for the facility. The Paul Albrechtsen Centre for Hope will offer expanded access to cancer services for hundreds of patients and their families living in the area. Services will include physical and emotional wellness programs, which are critical to improving patient experience and outcomes. In addition, the Centre will offer individualized education and resources for patients and families to help navigate their way through the cancer system. “It’s hard to put into words how impactful this gift is. It will change the cancer experience for Manitobans and their families for many, many years to come,” said Patti Smith, President & CEO, CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. “I would like to extend my heartful thanks to the Paul Albrechtsen Foundation for believing in this vision and understanding the importance of supporting patients through all aspects of their cancer journey.” “Our support of the Centre for Hope builds on Paul’s well recognized legacy of philanthropy in Manitoba and continues his vision of enhancing and expanding important healthcare services for everyone,” said Judy Hill, trustee of the Paul Albrechtsen Foundation. “Paul began his career and built his business in the Westman area and I know he would be very proud to give back to the community in this way.” “Research and experience tell us when patients are well supported through their cancer experiences, clinical treatments are more effective, and recovery is more complete,” said Dr. Sri Navaratnam, President & CEO, CancerCare Manitoba. “On behalf of cancer patients and their families, we are very grateful to the Paul Albrechtsen Foundation for making this possible. This gift will bring an immediate impact to Manitobans who live in the Westman region.” Construction is set to begin immediately. Design plans for the Centre include approximately 3,000 square feet of dedicated indoor space, a solarium for yoga and other wellness activities, as well as an outdoor courtyard space and healing gardens intended to provide respite from the clinical environment.

On March 27, 2023, shortly after 4:00 pm, a complainant attended Brandon Police Service to make a report that a 21-year-old male had fired a .22 cal rifle approximately 5 times while inside a residence in the 300 block of 5th street earlier in the day.  He had also assaulted the complainant, but she did not require medical attention.  Investigation also revealed that the suspect had relocated to a residence in the 200 block of Maryland, and that he had his firearms with him. The BPS ERT team was activated, members of BPS Tactical Response Unit and Crisis Negotiation Unit worked to safely have the suspect peacefully surrender from the Maryland home by 7:24 pm. Police searched the residence and seized a loaded .22 Cal Lakefield Mark ll rifle, a bag containing assorted ammunition, a Nightstalker CO2 pistol, a replica Glock CO2 pistol, 2 cans of bear mace and a set of body armour. The 21-year-old male was lodged at Brandon Police Service and will appear in court today on charges of Assault, Assault with a Weapon, Careless Use of a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm knowing its Possession is Unauthorized, Possess Firearm Contrary to a Firearms Prohibition Order X3, Possess Ammunition Contrary to Firearms Prohibition Order, Pointing a Firearm, Use Firearm in Commission of Indictable Offence and Possession of Body Armour.

As part of the 2023 Multi-Year Infrastructure Investment Strategy, the Manitoba government is investing more than $50 million over the next five years to build on its multimodal transportation hub and trade gateways to create economic opportunities for all Manitobans, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk announced here today. “We are undertaking a range of strategic initiatives to support our government’s vision of growing Manitoba as a transportation hub that better enable trade access to markets and support investment in trade-based industries,” said Piwniuk. “These investments will ensure the enhanced safety and sustainability of infrastructure for the safe movement of people and goods across the province.” The Manitoba government’s 2023 Multi-year Infrastructure Investment Strategy provides a five-year plan that details the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure’s plans to invest in new and existing highway, water, airport and general assets. This is the first time a five-year capital strategy has been shared, offering a preview of planned capital projects to the public and industry. Capital project highlights in the plan include: $10.3 million for 1.6 km of surface rehabilitation of the Trans-Canada Highway from Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 10 to PTH 1A (rear south service road); $7.1 million for surface rehabilitation of the Trans-Canada Highway from 0.3 km west of the west junction of PTH 10 to 0.3 km east of the east junction of PTH 10; $6.5 million for surface rehabilitation of Provincial Road (PR) 270 from the Trans-Canada Highway to PTH 25; $6.5 million for structure replacement on the Trans-Canada Highway westbound lanes at Willow Creek East Branch; $6.4 million for structure replacement on Trans-Canada Highway westbound lanes at Willow Creek West Branch; $5.3 million for surface rehabilitation PTH 10 from the Trans-Canada Highway to PTH 25; $3.6 million for structure replacement Trans-Canada Highway westbound lanes at South Boggy Creek from 1.1 km east of PR 340; and $1.36 million works on PR 457 from 0.5 km east of PR 110 to 0.5 km east of PR 468; “Today’s announcement is great news for Brandon and the Westman region,” said Mayor Jeff Fawcett, City of Brandon. “These multi-year improvements, continued repairs to 18th Street, and the ongoing project to replace Daly Overpass Bridge ensure that Brandon is set up for a prosperous future.” In addition to these investments, the department has increased its maintenance and operations budget this upcoming fiscal year by $11 million—the first time there has been such an increase in the last decade. Significant repairs have been undertaken in the last few weeks in the Brandon area including regular maintenance to be undertaken on 18th Street in Brandon, with staff being mobilized for work on spring break-up repairs and patching potholes as the temperatures rise, noted the minister. “These investments also build on the previously announced $88-million Daly Bridge project to reflect our government’s continued commitment to improving Brandon’s transportation infrastructure and enhancing pedestrian and road safety,” said Piwniuk. “It is encouraging to see the progress made on this project and especially for residents and visitors to witness some of the largest cranes ever in the Brandon and Westman region as a visible reminder of the important work underway.” To read the 2023 Multi-year Infrastructure Investment Strategy, visit https://gov.mb.ca/mit/myhis/index.html.

March 23, 2023 Members from the Brandon Police Service's Tactical Response Unit, along with other police sections, were seen in the 300 block of 11th St. on Thursday morning conducting a police operation. Details of the operation are unknown, but BPS's Armoured Rescue Vehicle was on scene with a large battering-ram-style attachment on the front of the vehicle. Tactical officers were seen with rifles and ballistic shields, among other weaponry. Just after 12:00pm police notified the public via Twitter and Facebook that the road was no longer blocked by police vehicles, but that the investigation was still ongoing. UPDATE: BPS News Release March 24, 2023 On March 23, 2023, members of BPS Major Crime Unit obtained a search warrant for a residence in the 300 block of 11th street following an investigation into illicit firearms. Members of BPS ERT and general patrol assisted with executing the search warrant at approximately 10:00 am, and traffic in the area was closed as a precaution.  Three individuals inside the residence were arrested and held at Brandon Police Service. Following the search, police seized a modified COOEY model 82 .22cal firearm, bear mace, a small amount of meth and a variety of other weapons. A 38-year-old male and a 25-year-old female will appear in court today on charges of CDSA Possess Meth, Careless Storage of a Firearm and Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. A 30-year-old female will appear in court today on charges of Fail to Comply with Release Order X2, Possess Firearm contrary to Prohibition Order, CDSA Possess Meth, Possession of Firearm knowing its possession is Unauthorized, and Careless Storage of a Firearm.