Police initiated a traffic stop in the 400 block of 6th street with a suspected impaired. The driver was a 26-year-old male who displayed signs of intoxication. A Mandatory Alcohol Screening device was used to which he failed on the roadside. The driver was also found to be on orders to abstain from the consumption and possession of alcohol. He was charged accordingly and was released to appear in court at a later time. A female passenger in this stop was also found to be intoxicated, uncooperative and lodged for her safety. At 2300 hrs. a vehicle was observed leaving a business in the 1900 block of Brandon Ave. The driver exhibited some questionable driving and was stopped shortly thereafter. A Mandatory Alcohol Screening Device was administered and the 19-year-old female failed. An Immediate Roadside Prohibition was administered and her vehicle was towed. A 37-year-old male was arrested for breaching his undertaking by contacted a person he was not to have communication with. He was released to appear in court at a later date.

At its regular meeting on Mon, Jan. 19, Brandon City Council discussed a range of initiatives and operational matters. Key highlights are summarized below. View the full agenda at brandon.ca/media/00ddorm5/agenda-january-19-2026.pdf. Pilot Sharps Enhancement Program Council received an update regarding the Pilot Sharps Enhancement Program. This initiative initially deployed several sharps containers primarily in the downtown area. Following community consultation, additional priority locations across several areas of the city have been identified and will be incorporated into the pilot program. Joint Use Agreement with Brandon School Division Council received a report regarding the Joint Use of Community Facilities Agreement with the Brandon School Division. The existing Memorandum of Understanding will be maintained while a task force is formed to review the agreement, assess the current facility booking system, evaluate the role of School Resource Officers, and review the shared-cost elections agreement. 2026 Pre-Budget Discussions – Additional Funding Requests Council received a report on additional funding requests from community organizations. Council will review these requests during budget deliberations on Jan. 30 – 31, 2026. 2026 Citizen Appointments to Council Committees Council appointed Andrew Lepp and Garry Miller to the Brandon Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee with the term of office from Jan. 20, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027. Council appointed Aidan Punak Murphy to the Environment and Climate Change Committee with the term of office from Jan. 20, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2026. By-Laws: Council approved By-Law No. 7434 to amend Borrowing By-law No. 7295 to borrow funds for the purpose of constructing an outdoor sports field complex (known as the Canada Packers Sports Complex). Council approved By-Law No. 7439 to rezone the property located at 2202 Rosser Ave. from Residential Low Density (RLD) to Residential Moderate Density (RMD) for the development of a three-storey six-unit residential building. Council approved By-Law No. 7440 to rezone 215 – 12th St. N. from Industrial Restricted (IR) to Educational & Institutional (EI) to allow for the development of supportive housing. Reminder: Have Your Say on the Proposed 2026 Municipal Budget! The City of Brandon is inviting the public to provide feedback regarding the proposed 2026 municipal budget on Mon, Jan. 26, 2026. Residents are invited to join Mayor & Council and City administration for coffee in the City Hall Foyer from 6 - 6:45 p.m. Immediately following, a Special Council Meeting will be held in Council Chambers, beginning at 7 p.m., where public comments and feedback can be presented to City Council regarding the proposed budget. Individuals interested in registering as speakers for the Special Council Meeting are asked to contact Legislative Services by Fri, Jan. 23, 2026, at 4 p.m. by calling 204-729-2296 or emailing cityclerk@brandon.ca. Registered speakers will be allotted up to 10 minutes to present their feedback. The next regular City Council meeting will be held on Mon, Feb. 2, 2026, at 7 p.m. View all Council Agendas and Minutes on brandon.ca/city-hall/agendas-and-minutes. Watch all City Council Meetings on youtube.com/@CityofBrandonMB/streams.

(File Photo) The Manitoba government is launching a $1-million Security Enhancement Fund to support Manitoba communities facing acts of hate, targeted intimidation and vandalism by helping community organizations strengthen safety measures, improve preparedness and install security infrastructure to meets specific needs, Premier Wab Kinew and Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced today. “Hate has no place in Manitoba. Acts of hatred and intimidation do more than damage property, they threaten the sense of safety and security every person deserves,” said Kinew. “When people commit a hate crime, they’re committing a crime against all of us as Manitobans. Today we’re standing up and saying that everyone is welcome in Manitoba, and everyone deserves to feel safe.” Eligible organizations, including cultural groups and places of worship, will be able to apply for support for projects such as enhanced lighting, alarm systems, security cameras, controlled access systems, safety training and restoring property damaged in hate-motivated incidents. The fund will also support organizations in developing community-driven security plans. “Antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of hate are on the rise across Canada,” said Wiebe. “The announcement today is an important message to communities being targeted by hate crimes that Manitobans stand with them, and that there are ways that we can work together to make this province a safer, more inclusive place for everyone.” To ensure projects are evaluated fairly and benefit from specialized expertise, the Manitoba government will establish a security team chaired by Dave Dalal, a security professional and former member of the Winnipeg Police Service. The security team will review applications, conduct or oversee security assessments, and provide recommendations to ensure funding goes to measures that will have the greatest impact on community safety. “All Manitobans should be concerned about the serious security threats from rising hate and extremism. Governments at all levels also have a role to play, and their leadership is essential to ensure communities are protected without bearing this burden alone,” said Gustavo Zentner, vice-president, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs Manitoba/Saskatchewan. “That's why we welcome Manitoba's investment today and stress that more must be done to confront the sources of hate. Decisive action is required to send a clear message that hate will not be tolerated.” The Manitoba government will work closely with affected communities as application details and timelines are finalized. Further information on eligibility and the application process will be released in the coming weeks Applicants can connect with the fund by email at SecurityEnhancementFund@gov.mb.ca

The Manitoba government is supporting a new crisis response unit in Brandon that provides mental health services on the scene of police crisis calls, Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith and Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced here today. “This program is about meeting people where they are. Every Manitoban either has experienced, or knows someone who has experienced, a mental health crisis and wants people treated with care and compassion,” said Smith. “When someone needs support, this team can show up with understanding. I want to uplift and thank the Brandon Police Service and Prairie Mountain Health for providing services that support Manitobans.” Launched last fall, the Prairie Mountain Health-Brandon Police Service Collaborative Crisis Response Unit is a joint initiative between the Brandon Police Service (BPS) and Prairie Mountain Health (PMH). The unit pairs a BPS officer with a mental health clinician from Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) to respond to calls where people are experiencing a mental health crisis. The goal is to de-escalate situations and provide clinical intervention, with coverage offered seven days a week. “This initiative prioritizes Brandon residents’ safety and well-being, and helps reduce risks to individuals in crisis, their families and the broader community,” said Wiebe. “The crisis response unit highlights the importance of collaboration between police services and community partners to enhance front-line responses and provide a wider range of supports that help redirect people away from police intervention.” The announcement comes as local officials highlight the importance of compassionate crisis intervention for families and residents. “Brandon families deserve to know that when someone is in crisis help will arrive with care, expertise and compassion,” said Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard. “Brandon’s crisis response unit is already proving its value and is an important addition to the community’s network of services. I’m grateful to everyone involved for their commitment to improving mental health responses in our community.” BPS and PMH have developed policies, safety protocols and a triaging system that includes pathways to engage community agencies. Two BPS constables are dedicated to the unit, which is also staffed by mental health professionals and peer support workers to ensure a comprehensive response to mental health calls. “The crisis response unit represents a critical step forward in how we respond to mental health crises, bringing police, health professionals and community partners together to deliver timely, trauma-informed care with dignity and compassion,” said Tyler Bates, chief, BPS. “This unit is already reducing unnecessary hospital transfers, supporting front-line officers and ensuring people in crisis are connected to the right help, strengthening community safety and well-being.” The unit will provide year-round coverage for mental health-related calls The Manitoba government is providing ongoing annual funding of $290,000 to Prairie Mountain Health to support a team including two full-time police officers and three full-time mental health clinicians, along with peer support workers from Peer Connections Manitoba. “The new PMH-BPS Collaborative Crisis Response Unit is a significant step forward in how Brandon supports individuals experiencing mental health or addiction crises,” said Chris Bromley, director of health services, mental health and addiction, PMH. “This unit builds on PMH’s existing crisis resources. PMH continues to operate its 24-hour Mobile Crisis Unit, and the Brandon area benefits from a strong Community Mobilization Westman program. Together, these teams create a more co-ordinated and comprehensive response system for people in crisis in our community.” The project supports the mandate of the Department of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness to hire 100 mental health workers to work alongside law enforcement and community organizations, Smith noted.

Traffic Stop Leads to Charges On January 14th at 10:29 a.m. a traffic stop in the 2700 block of Richmond Avenue resulted in three individuals receiving charges/tickets. Investigation led to locating 4.8 grams of cocaine, liquor containers, and drug paraphernalia. All individuals were arrested and held for processing. A 21-year-old male was held for court and received charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cocaine) and Breach of Release Order (No contact). He will attend court January 15th, 2026. A 34-year-old female was charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cocaine) and later released with a future court date of March 12th, 2026. A 44-year-old male was given a ticket under the LGCCA. Released. Assault / Assault with a Weapon On January 14th at 5:40 p.m. police were informed a woman had been assaulted at a residential bay off Pacific Avenue. A 25-year-old male was arrested and later released via Undertaking with a court date of March 26th, 2026. Theft Under $5000 On January 14th at 5:40 p.m., while attending an unrelated call, police located a 20-year-old male who was wanted in relation to a previous theft from a store in the 3400 block of Victoria Avenue, involving merchandise valued at approximately $50. The male was arrested and later released on an Appearance Notice with a future court date.