The City of Brandon is encouraging all eligible residents to take the opportunity to cast their ballot next Wednesday, October 26th to elect the Mayor, City Councillors and Brandon School Board Trustees for the 2022-2026 term of office. Along with a mayoral candidate elected, a total of six City Councillor representatives will be elected; one for each ward in Wards 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10. Council members in Wards 4, 6, 7 and 9 have been filled by acclamation. A selection of eight candidates (City-wide) will be elected to serve on the Brandon School Board of Trustees, with the board’s rural ward representative already acclaimed. Voters are reminded that to cast a ballot, they must produce appropriate identification providing evidence of their identity and current address. Acceptable identification includes an official, government-issued document that contains the voter’s name, address, and photograph; OR at least two documents that provide evidence satisfactory to the election official. CITY OF BRANDON VOTING PLACES Electors may vote at the Voting Place within their ward which they find most convenient. Voting stations will be open for voting on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the following locations: WARD 1 Monterey Estates Recreation Hall, 40 Mockingbird Drive Brandon’s Community Sportsplex, 30 Knowlton Drive WARD 2 North End Community Centre, 1313 Stickney Avenue Park Community Centre, 1428 Louise Avenue WARD 3 Riverheights School, 32 E. Fotheringham Drive Imperial Ballroom, Victoria Inn, 3550 Victoria Avenue WARD 4 McDiarmid Drive Alliance Church, 635 McDiarmid Drive Valleyview Community Centre, 77 Whillier Drive WARD 5 JR Reid School, 813 - 26th Street Richmond Park Church, 1525 - 26th Street WARD 6 Brandon School Division Office, 1031 - 6th Street Central Community Centre, 529 - 4th Street WARD 7  Linden Lanes School, 49 Silver Birch Drive Richmond Park MB Church, 1526 – 26th Street WARD 8 Richmond Park Church, 1525 - 26th Street Brandon Shoppers Mall, Unit 22, 1570 – 18th Street (closest entrance would be the south doors by Dollarama or east doors by Smitty’s) Riverview Curling Club, 420 Maryland Avenue WARD 9  Shriners Hall, 1110 McTavish Avenue East East End Community Centre, 405 Park Street WARD 10  Bethel Christian Assembly, 440 Richmond Avenue Riverview Curling Club, 420 Maryland Avenue ALL WARD VOTING PLACES (available to all eligible voters in any ward) Keystone Centre, Pioneer Lounge, 1175 – 18th Street | 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. o   This voting location will be available to all eligible voters in any ward Brandon University, Knowles Douglas Area, 270-18th Street | 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. o   This voting location is designated to serve the students from Brandon University who consider Brandon as their ordinary place of residence and who meet the eligibility requirements, as well as all eligible voters in any ward. MOBILE VOTING To accommodate persons who are qualified to vote, and reside at the following facilities, mobile voting stations will be set up on Election Day at the following location and times: Location                                         Address                                         Times Lions Manor                                 35 Victoria Ave. E.                      8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Rideau Park PCH                         525 Victoria Ave E.                     12:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Victoria Landing                         10 Victoria Ave. E                       3:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m. Rotary Villa/Crocus Gardens   1340 - 10th Street                      8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Fairview PCH                                1351 - 13th Street                      12:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Dinsdale PCH                                510 - 6th Street                           5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Sokol Manor                                 30 - 13th Street N.                     8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Grand Valley Place                     218 - 4th Street                           11:45 a.m. -1:45 p.m. Kiwanis Court                               121 - 4th Street                           2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Winnipeg House                         212 - 15th Street                        5:15 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Riverheights Terrace                 4525 Victoria Avenue               8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Hillcrest PCH                                 930 26th Street                           1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Valleyview PCH (Revera)          3015 Victoria Ave                       5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Village Green                                2040 Ottawa Ave                       5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ADVANCE VOTING To accommodate persons who are qualified to vote, but who have reason to believe that they will be absent or otherwise unable to attend their proper voting place on Election Day, advance voting opportunities include: Thursday, October 20, 2022 between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. in the Main Foyer of City Hall, 410 – 9th Street Saturday, October 22, 2022 between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in the Pioneer Lounge, Keystone Centre, 1175 - 18th Street APPLICATION TO VOTE BY SEALED ENVELOPE A voter who is unable to go in person to the voting place or vote in advance, may apply in person, in writing or by email to the Senior Election Official at Brandon Votes Office, City Hall, 410 – 9th Street, Brandon, R7A 6A2. Deadline for applications is October 23, 2022. Please contact the Senior Election Official to request an application or for more information. WARD MAPS To find in which ward you live, visit City of Brandon - Ward Maps. Information about voting locations and voter eligibility can also be obtained from the Senior Election Official by calling 204-729-2206. ELECTION RESULTS After the polls close on Wednesday, October 26th, results will be posted online at brandonvotes.ca, and released on the City of Brandon social media accounts.

An empowering event and annual tradition to end gender-based violence is returning to the city this week. “Take Back the Night” will march from Princess Park to Brandon University on Thursday evening, where refreshments, resources and more will welcome participants. “‘Take Back the Night’ has been a tradition in Brandon for nearly 20 years,” said Sandy Smith, Advocacy and Community Engagement Coordinator at the Women’s Resource Centre, which is partnering with Brandon University and the YWCA to restart the event after a hiatus during the pandemic. “The goal of this event is to build awareness in our community around gender-based violence and empower people in a collaborative way,” she said. “We stand on the shoulders of the women who have come before us and this event is about bringing all generations together.” “Take Back The Night” starts in Princess Park at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday evening, Oct. 20. At about 6 p.m., participants will march from the park to the Brandon University campus. On campus, a small resource fair and refreshments like hot chocolate and treats will await in the Mingling Area of the Knowles–Douglas Student Union Centre. The resource fair will include organizations like the YWCA, SERC, The Women’s Resource Centre, and Westman Teams Against Sexual Exploitation. “‘Take Back The Night’ is the oldest worldwide movement to stand against sexual violence in all forms, dating to the 1970s, and we’re thrilled to bring it back,” said BU professor Dr. Kelly Saunders, who is involved in organizing the event. ‘Take Back the Night’ is open to everyone. “We encourage allies to participate,” Smith said. “Come out and join us for a powerful, positive event with a great group. We’d love to see you there.” (BU News Release)

The Manitoba government is providing $400,000 to support the Brandon Downtown Revitalization Incentive Program, an initiative aimed at supporting the post-pandemic rejuvenation of the city’s downtown business community, Economic Development, Investment and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen announced here today. “Economies around the world continue to feel the detrimental effects of the global pandemic, so we are proud to support the Brandon Downtown Revitalization Incentive Program as part of the continuing collaborative effort of local authorities to rejuvenate the business community in downtown Brandon,” said Cullen. “Encouraging a healthy, vibrant downtown is vital to sustaining economic growth for Brandon and a stronger province for us all.” Created by the Brandon Downtown Development Corporation, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and the City of Brandon’s economic development department, the program aims to specifically address the unique concerns affecting the resurgence of the downtown business community. This includes downtown investment, main floor business incubation and a marketing strategy, Cullen noted. “We want to continue driving downtown Brandon’s revitalization by identifying and encouraging investment and revitalization opportunities. Our city's downtown area has a critical and unique role in economic and social development,” said Emeka Egeson, executive director, Brandon Downtown Development Corporation. “It continues to create a critical mass where commercial, cultural, and civic activities are concentrated. This concentration facilitates business, learning, and cultural exchange.” “The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce is so proud to recommend funding for and to be working with the Brandon Downtown Development Corporation and Brandon Chamber of Commerce in executing on this critical proposal, and to continue upholding a commitment to accelerating downtown revitalization,” said Chuck Davidson, president and CEO, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. “This fund will create and maintain jobs, support existing businesses and attract new businesses to support downtown growth.” Recent economic indicators from Statistics Canada show Manitoba is the national leader in economic recovery, Cullen added. The $400,000 investment is part of the province’s $50-million Pandemic Long-Term Recovery Fund, administered by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, which provides businesses and industries with support to invest in employees, expand and diversify operations and remain competitive in the global market. The Brandon Downtown Revitalization Incentive Program will be administered by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, and will be launched as an open call for grants. For details about the grants, eligibility criteria, funding streams, application process, deadlines and more visit: https://brandondowntowndevelopment.ca/.

Leaves are falling in Brandon and that means the City of Brandon Streets & Roads Section is back out on the streets with its street sweeping equipment! Work to clear catch basins of tree leaves, seeds and other debris prior to the winter season has begun in Residential Zone G, which is the downtown core. Crews have also begun sweeping in Zone A, which includes Richmond Avenue to Victoria Avenue. Crews may move between zones from day-to-day depending on when the regular refuse, recycle and green cart collection is taking place. Residents are encouraged to check the Brandon Street Sweeping Map for regular updates. Weather-permitting, all municipally maintained streets will be swept prior to the onset of winter. Residents are not required to move their vehicles off the street when street sweeping crews are in their neighbourhood unless no parking signs are posted. Moving your vehicle off the street will assist sweeping efforts. The street sweeping program may involve posting of temporary no parking signs. Please watch for signs in your area and remove vehicles from the affected streets so the sweepers can complete a thorough job. Failure to remove vehicles when no parking signs are posted may result in a parking ticket and/or tow. Residents can also greatly assist the process by refraining from raking leaves from their yards and boulevards into the streets or on top of storm sewer catch basins. Once raked, yard debris should be properly bagged and either placed in your residential Green Cart or taken to any of the City’s yard waste drop-off depots listed here. More information related to services provided by the Streets and Roads Section can be found at brandon.ca/streets-and-roads. City of Brandon PSA

Source: BPS News Release On October 17, 2022 at approximately 9:40 pm, police received a report that a group of approximately eight female youth were fighting near the exit of a business in the 900 block of Victoria Ave. One of the youth in the group dropped a knife, which was picked up by another youth who then used it to stab a 16-year-old female five times. The business was secured and members of BPS Major Crime Section and Forensic Identification Unit attended to investigate. The 15-year-old female suspect who assaulted the victim was arrested.  She was later released to a parent and will appear in court on December 6, 2022 on a charge of Aggravated Assault. The injuries the victim received were serious.  She was transported to the hospital to receive treatment, where she remains in stable condition.