Assiniboine Community College has announced a $1 million donation toward its Prairie Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture from Brandon-founded, national professional services firm, MNP. The donation, made in honour of the late Don Penny, who co-founded the firm in 1958, will help to create space for collaboration among farmers, industry, students and government. “Don Penny’s warmth and charisma made him the consummate people person who was known to lead with both his head and his heart. He believed in people, in discovery, in technology, and in hard work —exactly the activities that will take place in this new Prairie Innovation Centre,” said Jason Tuffs, Chairman and CEO of MNP. A vital part of the Prairie Innovation Centre vision is integrating education and connection, providing a venue where producers, industry, researchers, government and students can come together, solve problems and share ideas. “With roots in Westman, both Don Penny and MNP, have long been valuable partners to Assiniboine. Don’s passion for collaboration and innovation, willingness to share knowledge, and his inspirational leadership align closely with what we are working to achieve with the Prairie Innovation Centre,” said Mark Frison, President of Assiniboine. In 2017, Assiniboine awarded Don Penny its first ever Courage Award for his courage to take risks and pursue a vision that saw a Westman-based firm become a major national leader in accounting, consulting, tax and technology services, all while dedicating himself to community organizations and efforts along the way. “It will be a pleasure to see his legacy live on through this Centre. Don understood that Canadian agriculture is driven by people working together, and this generous contribution in his honour will be transformational for the agricultural industry and in the lives of so many students,” said Frison. The Prairie Innovation Centre is a one-of-a-kind Canadian college project that will bring together collaborative learning spaces, applied research labs, multipurpose spaces and amenities that will serve both industry and the college community. “When this opportunity was presented, it wasn’t a long or hard decision for us. We felt the Prairie Innovation Centre represents what Don was all about—bringing visionary minds together to create successful activations that got results. The fit couldn’t be more ideal,” said Tuffs. (Source: ACC News)

Source: BPS Media Release On June 21, 2022 at approximately 7:00 pm, police responded to a report of a female who had just stolen merchandise from a business in the 800 block of 18th street. Employees watched the female proceed to a vehicle before attempting to drive away when she struck a parked vehicle.  The owner of the parked vehicle attempted to speak with the female suspect, but she assaulted him several times. When police arrived and attempted to arrest the female, she resisted and assaulted one of the officers several times before she was placed in custody. Neither the officer nor the owner of the parked vehicle required medical attention because of the assaults. Investigation revealed that the vehicle she was driving had recently been stolen from the 900 block of 1st street. The 27-year-old female was lodged at Brandon Police Service.  She will appear in court today on charges of Theft Under $5000, Assault Peace Officer, Resist Arrest, Assault, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime X2.  She will also receive several fines under the Highway Traffic Act.

At the regular council meeting on Monday, June 20th, 2022, City Council passed a motion to begin city-wide fogging for nuisance mosquitoes immediately. City of Brandon Parks & Recreation Services are moving forward with an overnight fogging program for nuisance mosquitoes as soon as possible. Fogging will proceed overnight on Wednesday, June 22nd and Thursday, June 23rd beginning after 10 p.m. each evening - AS LONG AS weather conditions are suitable to proceed. It is particularly important for the public to note that fogging will NOT be undertaken if it is raining, if the temperature dips below 13 degrees Celsius, or if the wind speed is more than 16 kilometres/hour. In the event fogging is postponed due to weather conditions, the public will be notified, and fogging activity will be re-scheduled to the next suitable evening. In terms of the fogging schedule, all areas south of Victoria Avenue (from Victoria Avenue to 2 miles south of Patricia Avenue and from 66th Street to 49th Street East) will be fogged on Wednesday, June 22nd, beginning at approximately 10 p.m. All areas north of Victoria Avenue (from Victoria Avenue to Sandison Road at the Brandon Municipal Airport and from 66th Street to 49th Street East) will be fogged on Thursday, June 23rd, beginning at approximately 10 p.m. Residents are encouraged to follow the City of Brandon’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram social media accounts for regular updates. The insecticide being used in this fogging program is DeltaGard 20EW. This product is approved for use by Health Canada and is a lower-risk product compared to the product used in past years’ City of Brandon fogging program. The exposure to bees, birds, mammals, fish, and plants is expected to be minimal, given the reduced application rate, timing of application, and the minimal deposits in soil, water and plants that are anticipated from this application.   Residents can take the following actions to minimize exposure during a fogging program: Whenever possible, stay indoors during and immediately after spraying; Close all windows and doors. Turn off air conditioning units and close vents to circulate indoor air, before the spraying begins; Bring laundry, toys, and pets indoors before the spraying occurs; Cover swimming pool surfaces when possible; Wash homegrown fruit and vegetables with water before cooking or eating them; Rinse play equipment with water after the spraying is finished. More information about DeltaGard 20EW can be found on the City of Brandon website at brandon.ca/images/pdf/MosquitoAbatement/Mosquito_DeltaGard_Factsheet.pdf. The provision of a 90-metre buffer zone for residents who wish to be excluded from a fogging program is regulated by the Province of Manitoba and is a condition of the City of Brandon’s annual Pesticide Use Permit. As such, the City of Brandon will be accepting applications until Wednesday, June 22 at 3:00 p.m. from residents who wish to have a buffer zone applied to their property. Applications can be submitted online via Buffer Zone Registration Form or in person at the City’s Parks Complex (2020 McGregor Avenue). Residents should be aware they need to register annually if they wish to be placed on a buffer zone list for Brandon’s mosquito fogging program. This means last year’s buffer zone lists are not applicable. More information about the buffer zone registration process can be obtained by calling City of Brandon Parks Services at 204-729-2148 during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)  Due to the quick turnaround to spray, city staff will not be able to answer enquiries from residents asking if they are in a buffer zone. Residents can also help reduce the impact of this year’s mosquito populations. Simple things like dumping out any containers of standing water, draining any eavestroughing, covering rainwater collection containers; filling in any low-lying areas, or treating problem areas with biological larvicide can minimize the number of mosquitoes. The annoyance of mosquitoes can also greatly be reduced by using repellants, wearing light-coloured clothing, limiting your time outside between the hours of dusk and dawn and using screened-in areas. More information about the City of Brandon’s Mosquito Surveillance and Abatement Program can be found at brandon.ca/mosquito-abatement/mosquito-abatement-program (City of Brandon Public Notice)

Jordan Ross was last seen around 8:15am on Friday, June 17 as he left home to work at his campground - Grand Valley Park. His vehicle was located on the shoulder of #1 hwy near the Assiniboine River. This event (Jam for Jordan) is to raise money for Jordan’s family and search and rescue efforts. A number of local bands including Vertigo, Misty Street, and more will be taking to the stage at The 40 on Thursday. July 7. The event gets underway at 7pm. Those who unable to attend but wish to donate can do so to: hearteam.ca or directly to Jordan’s wife: kathjeroski@gmail.com

More than $16 million in new funding will be invested this year to expand staffing and training in personal care homes (PCHs), aligned with the Manitoba government’s commitment to fulfill all recommendations of the Stevenson Review, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Scott Johnston and Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced today. “Our government will continue to make improvements and staffing investments in the short- and long-term to ensure older Manitobans are supported and receive safe and person-centred services,” said Johnston. “This investment will increase staffing within the personal care home sector provincewide and build on our government’s commitment to implement all of the recommendations set out in the Stevenson Review.” This new funding will support the: recruitment and hiring of more than 350 health-care aides to increase the amount of daily direct care provided to residents; addition of 72 new positions for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses combined; establishment of medical leads to provide leadership and guidance to PCH medical services and infection prevention and control enhancements; and investment of $1.5 million in tuition supports and direct care staff recruitment incentives to help build this workforce. “Strengthening healthcare is the top priority for our government including the health and well-being of people living in personal care homes,” said Gordon. “We are investing in staffing and training to improve care and building an environment to support better health outcomes and safer lives for older Manitobans.” This new funding is in addition to more than $15 million announced in April 2022 to improve infection prevention and control in the long-term care sector, add housekeeping and allied health staff, and improve information and communication technology related to patient care and operations. In April 2022, the province released the final report of the Stevenson Review, an independent external report following a serious COVID-19 outbreak at the Maples Long Term Care Home between Oct. 20, 2020, and Jan. 12, 2021. The government commissioned an external review led by Dr. Lynn Stevenson and accepted all of the report’s 17 recommendations for action, reflecting four themes: resident safety, staffing complements, infectious prevention and control, pandemic preparedness and communication with families and staff. For more information or to read the Final Report of the Provincial Implementation Plan for the Stevenson Review, visit https://gov.mb.ca/seniors/maples_review.html. (Province of MB News Release)