The City of Brandon in partnership with the Downtown Wellness and Safety Taskforce is introducing the Pilot Graffiti Removal Program. The pilot program has been created in response to the increase in graffiti throughout the downtown area. It is also an acknowledgment of the ongoing costs to commercial and residential owners associated with the clean-up costs. Funding for the Pilot Graffiti Removal Program was initially approved by City Council during the 2022 budget deliberations. It was also prioritized as a recommendation from the Downtown Wellness and Safety Taskforce. To ensure a streamlined approach, the online reporting tool was created in-house by the City of Brandon’s Innovation, Technology & Communications Department. This pilot program will also utilize a professional cleaning company to complete the clean-up at no cost to residents or businesses. To qualify for this program, the following conditions must be met: The property must be within the designated downtown area (see map as attached) The report must include at least one picture of the graffiti that is to be removed. The online reporting tool accepts up to three pictures The City of Brandon and authorized personnel will need access to the property. Requests for the pilot program can be submitted online at graffiti.brandon.ca. Requests will be responded to within two business days by a City of Brandon program administrator. If the request is approved, arrangements will be made for a professional cleaning company to visit the property and attempt to remove the graffiti via a power wash. This program does not include other services, such as painting or anti-graffiti coating. Requests submitted using this online tool are not sent to Brandon Police Service (BPS). To fill out a police report, please visit BPS at 1020 Victoria Avenue or call 204-729-2345.

Food Truck Warz is Brandon’s largest food truck event bringing together the best food trucks from across the province. Twenty-six different food trucks will converge at the Keystone Centre on September 15-18. The public is invited to come down and experience the delicious food creations being served by the many different culinary experts. Along with showcasing delectable curbside cuisine, bdnmb.ca will be handing out an award to recognize the public’s favorite truck. Smoked & Sauced Mobile BBQ and KYU Grill, two previous winners will be on-hand looking for your vote. Voting will take place at the Fusion Credit Union tent on the festival site. Voting closes Sunday the 18th at 2pm. The winner will be announced at 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 18, 2022! *voting must take place at the information booth.  Vendors are NOT permitted to take voting pads to their respective trucks and pre-filling them out.

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Manitoba On September 12, 2022, at 9:21 am, Boissevain RCMP received a report that two children had not been returned to their mother after they had spent time with their father. Chyanne Bailey, a 12-year-old female, and Brock Bailey, a 10-year-old male, rode their bikes from school to the Hartney, Manitoba home of their father Michael Bailey, 41, on September 8, 2022, as per agreement. The children were supposed to be back with their mother on Saturday afternoon, but nobody has seen or heard from Michael or the children since the children left school. Michael did not show up for work today. Chyanne is described as 5’6” tall, 110 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair. She was wearing a dark green jumper and sweater, green pants, and neon pink running shoes last time she was seen. Brock is described as 5’ tall and 88 pounds, with green eyes and brown hair. He has scrapes on his knees from riding his bike. He was last seen wearing a grey and maroon hoodie, shorts, and running shoes. Michael is described as 6’5” tall, 198 pounds, with hazel eyes. He drives a grey Dodge pickup truck with Manitoba licence plate KNB 764. If you have information, please call Boissevain RCMP at 204-534-7262, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On September 8, 2022, at approximately 2:30 pm, police responded to a request to check on the wellbeing of a family with young children.  While at the residence, police observed a firearm.  Members of the Major Crime Section then secured the home and obtained a search warrant, which resulted on officers locating and seizing the following: Sawed off shotgun with ammunition Sawed of .22 with ammunition Three replica pellet guns Stolen Giant Mountain bike Stolen Trek Mountain bike Approximately ½ oz. Cocaine individually packaged for sale Canadian Currency As well as other property which has yet to be determined if it is stolen property as well. The two bikes were able to be returned to their rightful owners as they had documented the serial numbers when they reported them stolen. Arrested at the home was a 34-year-old female.  She was later released to appear in court on November 10, 2022 on charges of: Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm X2, Careless Storage of a Firearm X2, Possession of a Firearm Knowing it is Unauthorized X2, Possession of a Prohibited Firearm with Ammunition X2, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, CDSA Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine, and Possession of Proceeds of Crime and Fail to Comply with Undertaking. A second individual who was wanted on outstanding charges was found on the property and arrested.  The 27-year-old male was later released to appear in court on October 26, 2022 on charges of Theft Under $5000 and Fail to Attend Court.

At approximately 10:00 pm on September 9th a homeowner attended to their residence on the 400 block of 5th St and found the front door kicked in and house ransacked. Several items were stolen.   Just prior to 10:30 pm a garage on the 200 block of 2nd Street was broken into.  Several tools and a 2015 Honda Odyssey van was stolen.  The suspects were described as a male and female in their late teens, early 20’s, Indigenous in appearance.  Male wearing black pants, black Champion jacket with a red hoodie and a red bandana with white markings over his face. The female was wearing all black, burgundy shoes, hair up in a bun or pony tail.   At approximately 4:00 am on September 10th an alarm was received at a business on the 900 block of Rosser Ave.  Upon police arrival it was learned that the back door was forced open.  It is unknown what was stolen at this time.