Assembly of the new kayak/canoe dock at the Brandon Riverbank started earlier today. The total cost of the project is estimated at $179,452 and funded by the City of Brandon, Province, ICIP Federal fund and Brandon Area Community Foundation. Kayak rentals are $15 for the first hour and $10 for additional hours. Paddles, life jackets, and baler included. The dock will open Thursday, July 14th.

MPI News Release Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) filed its provisional 2023/24 General Rate Application with the Public Utilities Board (PUB) today, requesting an average rate decrease of 0.9 per cent. “During this time of widespread volatility in financial markets as well as increasing inflation, we are pleased to be in a position to request a rate decrease for Manitobans as a result of the Corporation’s ongoing prudent fiscal management,” said Mark Giesbrecht, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, MPI. This fourth consecutive annual rate decrease request is primarily the result of emerging claims trends and the continued strength of MPI’s rate stabilization reserve. By ensuring sufficient capital is available in the reserve to absorb any unforeseen variations in revenues and claims costs allows Basic compulsory rates to be kept as stable, predictable and affordable as possible for Manitoba drivers. This reserve has been additionally important in 2022 as MPI has seen claims volumes increase substantially from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as Manitobans returned to more predictable driving patterns through a very difficult winter season as well as continued inflationary pressures. “Over the course of the last two years, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in fewer claims, which meant MPI returned nearly $500 million to policyholders in rebates ─ $312 million in February 2022, $110 million in May 2020 and $69 million in December 2020,” said Giesbrecht. “However, as many Manitobans have returned to previous driving behaviours, so have our overall claims and subsequently our financial forecasting, as reflected in this year’s application.” Proposed changes to the Driver Safety Rating system In this year’s application, the Corporation is also proposing an expansion to the Driver Safety Rating (DSR) system to allow the safest drivers to receive the greatest benefits, consistent with the five-year plan first brought forward in last year’s application. One of the ways MPI encourages and rewards safe driving is through the DSR system, which recognizes safe driving behaviour in a fair and simple way. Manitobans’ position on the scale depends on an individual’s driving record. If approved, in 2023/24, the top of the DSR scale will expand from +16 to +17. Capital release As part of this application, MPI will also be requesting to remove the Capital Release Provision, which previously has translated into a discount of five per cent as part of the overall rate. The capital release was a one-time discount based on the state of the Corporation’s capital reserve fund when rates were being determined. It appeared on customers’ annual statement of accounts and renewal notices and did not affect the customer’s base premium in future years. All of the Corporation’s excess capital has now been returned to Manitobans through the last round of rebates. MPI’s request at the time of the filing is provisional, based on its fiscal-year end financials and current interest rates. MPI routinely adjusts its overall rate indication after the initial filing as it refines its forecast closer to the start of the hearing. The PUB hearings will begin in October, concluding later in the month, and the board normally issues its order in December. The proposed rates would be effective April 1, 2023, but because renewal dates are staggered, some vehicle owners won’t pay their new rates until March 31, 2024.

BPS News Release On May 30, 1882, the City of Brandon received its Charter recognizing it as an incorporated City in the Province of Manitoba.  July 3rd, 1882 saw the newly formed City of Brandon hold its inaugural meeting in the schoolhouse located on the 100th block of 10th Street.  On the next scheduled meeting, held on July 12, 1882 the new Brandon City Council formed the Brandon Police Force as it was initially called.  The Mayor and Council hired Chief Constable Archibald L. McMillan and Donald Campbell as well as John Keays as Constables.  Today, we mark 140 years of dedicated service to the City of Brandon and its citizens. In the years following the initial hiring of those three members, 410 women and men have joined the Brandon Police Service.  Today, our workforce includes 35 civilian employees and 100 sworn members, which includes six Special Constables.  Some of those who served as members over the years were part of our organization for as little as 3 days but most spent the better part of their working life serving the City of Brandon, like our longest serving member of 44 years Retired Constable Gerry Paddock.  Many of our members have served this community but also served our country on the battlefields in Europe in both World Wars and some of those officers made the ultimate sacrifice in those conflicts. Constable Carol Fisher joined the Brandon City Police Department in 1979, becoming the first female member of our Service, retiring at the rank of Sergeant in January of 2012.   Our Police Service is proud to be able to say that we now have 12 women serving in our ranks. The Brandon Police Service has been housed in many buildings over the years.  When initially formed in 1882, we shared accommodation arrangement with the City Administration, Fire Department and Court Room in a building on the corner of 7th Street and Princess Avenue. Our Police Service has been fortunate to be on the ground floor of many technological advances supporting police work, including training in the science of fingerprint analysis as early as the 1920’s.  In the late 1960’s Retired Sergeant Doug Bottley was trained in the skill of forensic analysis and formed our first Forensic Unit. As larger cities throughout North America introduced what was then known as the 9-9-9 system, the City of Brandon was one of the smallest cities at the time to adopt this technology, allowing emergency access to police assistance through this 3-digit dialing.  Later of course, the 9-9-9 system was revamped into the 9-1-1 system that we use today. In 1980, the Brandon Police introduced the Canine Unit, with then Constable Leon Flannigan and Police Service Dog “Mac” receiving training from the Calgary Police Service.  Ten years later, in 1990, Chief Brian Scott introduced the first formal version of a Tactical Response Unit to our Police Service. The Brandon Police Force, Brandon City Police Department and Brandon Police Service is proud of our 140-year history.  We commit our Service to ensuring the safety of the citizens of Brandon, then, now and in the future.  We proudly dedicate our work to our “Community First” motto.

Super Run, one of Western Canada’s largest classic car shows, is taking place in Brandon July 29-31. Originally scheduled to take place on the grounds of the Grand Valley Campground, the event has moved locations to: Mazer Farm, 9 kilometres West on highway 1A from 34th Street and Victoria Avenue. Here is the link to the site: https://goo.gl/maps/vsQwsyPKFwrtEcyu8 Due to covid related restrictions, the organization had to cancel their 2020 (Saskatoon) & 2021 (Red Deer) shows. The event was last hosted in Brandon (2019) and featured approximately 650 vehicles: vintage, muscle cars, vintage campers, vintage motorcycles and more. Vehicles compete for a number of different titles including Best of Show, People’s Choice, Best Hot Rod, Best Pickup, etc. You can find additional information on the event on their Facebook page here.

“CRIME STOPPERS WANTED” for: July 8th, 2022 The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in locating this person who is: “WANTED BY POLICE” Paul Virgil LAVALLEE (31 yrs)  FOR  Assault and Failing to Comply with Release Order Paul Virgil LAVALLEE is wanted for two separate counts of assault that occurred in June 2022, as well as breaching a release order.  On June 16th, 2022, a warrant of his arrest was issued by the courts as his current whereabouts is unknown. If you have any information as to the whereabouts of this person or anyone else “Wanted by Police” 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. ****************************************************************** CRIME OF THE WEEK for July 8th, 2022 The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in solving a; Theft of Fuel  On June 12th, 2022, at 5:00pm, a male suspect filled a grey ford explorer with gasoline from a business in the 900’ block of 18th Street North.  The male then fled the scene without paying for the gas.  The license plate on the vehicle does not match the registration.  The suspect is described as being in his 30’s with facial hair.  He was wearing a grey t-shirt with a volcom logo on the front, black pants, and white Adidas runners.  The suspect also has a tattoo on the upper half of his left arm.