The City of Brandon is excited to announce that a conceptual design of the Brandon Library / Arts Building (710 Rosser Avenue) has been released, with focus on creating a cultural destination in Downtown Brandon. All members of the public are invited to provide feedback prior to the project being considered for detailed design and construction. This project, which creates a new vision for the first floor of a 'cultural hub' building at 710 Rosser Avenue, was initiated in the fall of 2021 through a partnership between the City of Brandon, the Western Manitoba Regional Library (WMRL), the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba (AGSM), and the Brandon General Museum and Archives (BGMA). The conceptual design, made by a consulting architect, f-BLOK architecture, is focused on: modernizing and maximizing the library footprint accommodating space for the BGMA on the first floor improving access to the AGSM on the second floor linking all uses through common areas How To Provide Feedback All members of the public are invited to provide feedback though an online survey, an interactive map, or in person at the WMRL, AGSM, or BGMA (19-9th Street). Printed boards are also placed in each physical location. The public engagement period is open until Thursday, June 30th, 2022. For more information about this project, please contact Bernice Leyeza, Community Planner, at b.leyeza@brandon.ca. (City of Brandon PSA)

As a vocational school, students at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School have the privilege to take part in Skills Manitoba and Skills Canada Competitions annually. “The highlight of Skills Canada Manitoba is our Skills Competition. Students participate in challenges designed to test skills required in trades and technology careers. The philosophy of the Skills Competition is to reward students for excellence, directly involve industry in evaluating student performance, and keep training programs relevant to employers’ needs.” Skills Manitoba Website Students from Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School stepped up to compete and have shown a sense of resilience and determination to continue when there are more barriers than they would usually face. Please join us in recognizing 11 CPRSS Students as Medal Recipients for the 2022 Skills Manitoba Competition: James Blyth, Automobile Technology –Gold Medal James Blyth is a Grade 12 student who has completed the Senior Years Technology Diploma in Automotive Technology and has earned his Level 1 Apprenticeship. James completed six different stations during the Skills Manitoba competition where he confidently worked his way to a gold medal. James is working as an Agricultural Technician here in Brandon and looks to be on a particularly good start to his mechanical career. James will be completing in the Skills Canada Competition on May 26-27, 2022. Faith Kasprick, Job Skills Demonstration – Gold Medal Faith Kasprick is a Grade 12 student pursuing an Academic and Technical Diploma in Design Drafting. She competed and received a gold in the Job Skill Demonstration competition. She demonstrated a skill using mechanical engineering. Over Spring Break, she recorded her demonstration after planning, practicing, and perfecting it. A follow-up day included fielding questions from a panel of judges. Faith will be completing in the Skills Canada Competition on May 26-27, 2022. Andres Rincon, Cooking – Gold Medal Andres is a Grade 12 student pursuing a Senior Years Technology Diploma for the Culinary Arts. Andres represented Crocus Plains in the Culinary Arts cooking competition for which he won the gold medal. After graduation, Andres plans to continue his culinary studies by attending the Manitoba Institute of Culinary Arts. His goal is to become a certified chef and open his own restaurant. Andres will be completing in the Skills Canada Competition on May 26-27, 2022. Wade Robbins, Mechanical Engineering CAD – Gold Medal Wade is a Grade 11 student pursuing a Senior Years Technology Diploma for the Design Drafting vocation, in which he studies engineering and architectural projects. Wade represented Crocus Plains this year in the Mechanical Engineering CAD competition, for which he won the gold medal. This achievement is the result of hours of study outside of regular class, including his participation in the CP Design and Racing F1 in Schools Team where he has applied and honed his design skills. Wade will be completing in the Skills Canada Competition on May 26-27, 2022. Alicia DeCosse, Baking – Silver Medal Alicia is a Grade 10 Culinary Arts student and is currently taking the Grade 11 Baking and Patisserie course. Alicia represented Crocus Plains this year in the baking competition, for which she won the silver medal. She spent many hours in and outside of school practicing for the Skills competition. Alicia is planning to find employment in the food industry after she graduates high school in a few years. Well done, Alicia. Darcy Jackson, Workplace Safety – Silver Medal As a Grade 9 student at Crocus Plains, Darcy Jackson wasted no time getting involved in the Skills competition. Darcy completed two tests based on scenarios and hazard searches. He also presented on workplace safety. Darcy received a silver in the Workplace Safety competition. He has since joined the Workplace Health and Safety committee at Crocus Plains to get ready for next year’s competition. Sidak Kalra, Public Speaking – Silver Medal Sidak Kalra is a Grade 10 student at Crocus Plains. He competed in the Public Speaking Competition. As part of this competition, he had to create a seven-minute speech on the influence technology would have on the Skilled Trades and Technologies in the future. Once he perfected his speech, he presented it to a panel of judges. The second part of the competition consisted of an impromptu speech about the myths of the skilled trades. Sidak earned a silver medal in the competition. Iza Loreto, Job Skills Demonstration – Silver Medal Iza Loreto is a Grade 12 Applied Commerce Education student at Crocus Plains. As a competitor in the Job Skills Demonstration competition, she presented her knowledge of basic photography skills while recording her demonstration. The follow-up day included fielding questions from a panel of judges. She was awarded a silver medal. Diego Mejia Melendez, Cooking – Silver Medal Diego is a Grade 12 student pursuing a Senior Years Technology Diploma for the Culinary Arts. Diego represented Crocus Plains in the Culinary Arts cooking competition for which he won the silver medal. He spent many hours in and outside of school practicing for the event which culminated in him preparing a 2-course luncheon for the judging panel virtually. Well done, Diego! Archi Patel, Job Search – Silver Medal Archi Patel is a Grade 11 Applied Commerce Education student. She competed in and was awarded a silver medal in the Job Search competition. For this competition, she prepared her cover letter and resume for a job position. She applied and was virtually interviewed by a panel of judges regarding her qualifications for the position. Hannah Leckie, Photography – Bronze Medal Fourth-year Crocus Plains photography student, Hannah Leckie, earned the bronze medal in photography at the Manitoba Skills Competition. This was Hannah’s second time competing in the Manitoba Skills photography competition earning a second bronze medal. For further information regarding the Skills Manitoba Competition and to see a complete list of 2022 medalists, please click here: 2022 Skills Manitoba Competition.

Source: BPS News Release On May 2, 2022 at 2:23 am, police responded to a report of a female with a knife, who had assaulted three individuals in the 000 block of 10th street. Investigation revealed that the female confronted and threatened the trio, who were moving items from an apartment.  The female damaged some of their property by throwing it against a wall, and she brandished a knife during the altercation.  One of the victims urged the suspect to stop, so she turned her attention towards him and attempted to stab him.  He was able to throw her to the ground, but was cut by the knife in the process.  He was treated at hospital for his injuries. When police arrived at the scene, the 32-year-old female suspect attempted to run away, but she was apprehended and arrested by police.  She was lodged at Brandon Police Service and will appear in court today on charges of Assault with a Weapon, Possess Weapon, and Utter Threats, Mischief to Property.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At approx. 3:30 PM Saturday police were called regarding a 15 year old male who had attended to the hospital with multiple stab wounds.  The male had been assaulted in the area of the 500 block between 6th and 7th St just prior to attending to the hospital.  The victim sustained stab wounds to his torso and was being treated for what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.  A suspect has been identified as the assailant is known to the victim.  The matter is still under investigation and the suspect has not yet been located.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On April 27, 2022, police received a report of a sexual assault at a residence. Investigation revealed that a 33-year-old male suspect befriended a 15-year-old female on Snapchat.  The victim attended his residence on the evening of April 27, 2022 where the suspect sexually assaulted her. After the victim left the residence, she sought assistance from an adult, who brought her to Brandon Police Service. During the investigation, police learned that there was a second 13-year-old female victim, who was also sexually assaulted by the suspect on a separate occasion approximately one week prior. On April 28, 2022, police arrested the 33-year-old male suspect.  He was later released and will appear in court on July 4, 2022 on charges of Sexual Assault X2 and Sexual Interference X2.