FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE “Food, not waste” food rescue grocery store opening this week Brandon, MB – New grocery store for low-income individuals, and those concerned about environmental sustainability. The Food Rescue Grocery Store accepts donations from producers, processors, and food rescue organizations that meet and follow health and food safety regulations. They have a goal of rescuing 100,000 pounds of food this year. The store accepts debit or cash transactions, and proceeds will go towards the store's continued operation. They will open their doors this coming Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at the Blue Door Project in downtown Brandon. The issue of food insecurity is an income issue that affects 14.4% of Manitobans. Because lack of financial resources is the root of the issue, this problem won’t be solved by giving people food. Food security, as defined by the 5 A's, means that food is available, accessible, adequate, acceptable, and ensures agency. At the same time, research undertaken by Second Harvest Food Rescue shows that in Canada 11.2 metric tonnes of edible food are going into the landfill every year, with an estimated value of 49.46 billion dollars. “At the foundation of the Food Rescue Grocery Store is a philosophy of respect for people, the environment, and the food itself. We’re supporting our community by lowering financial barriers, providing agency, or choice in individual food selection, and ensuring equitable participation. So everyone can choose when they would like to shop during our set store hours. They can shop just like you would at a regular grocery store and then they can purchase those items with dignity,” says Olivia Boyce, Chair of the Brandon Food Council. The Food Rescue Store is a partnership project developed by the Brandon Food Council, John Howard Society, and Prairie Oasis Seniors Centre. The idea was developed to distribute rescued food received over and above what can be used in Everyone Eats Brandon and Meals on Wheels Brandon. https://www.foodrescuegrocery.com/ Contacts Brandon Food Council            Olivia Boyce                204-724-3311 John Howard Society              Ross Robinson            204-727-1696 ext. 3

For sixteen years, Weiming has followed a daily regimen of standing in the great outdoors painting landscapes rain or shine. An easel in tow, a few tubes of oil colors, and paint brushes packed - he paints what he sees. It is Weiming’s desire to invoke a sense of wonder in the familiarity and beauty of the landscapes that surround us. In so doing, he hopes to unite us with joy as they relate to the locations, & over a shared love of community. Hot on the heels of last year’s success with their Brandon Calendar - Weiming Zhao & Webber Printing offer you five new locations to choose from. Please find Brandon, Neepawa, Souris, Wasagaming And Winnipeg. They are offering 13” X 18 art calendars printed on premium paper that contain: 14 beautiful images related to that location, views of next & last month, a large monthly calendar that is easy to write on, notes area & art quotes for $34.99. plus tax. In addition, they have 6”X 9” prints for $14.99 plus tax, and 8”X 10” prints with double matts for $34.99. New for Christmas are Greetings Cards & Envelopes featuring the best of each series. The complete line of Weiming Zhao Products such as Calendars, Art Prints And Greeting Cards are available online at webberprinting.com/shop.

Following a one year absence, due to the uncertain Covid restrictions in 2020, the Westman & Area Traditional Christmas Dinner returns in 2021 as a delivery only service (12pm to 6pm). Last year the annual holiday meal was hosted by the Brandon group, Everyone Eats Brandon. Organizer Gladden Smith told bdnmb.ca that this year they were looking at easing back into it with the hope of hosting the full dine-in and takeout service once again in 2022.  According to Gladden the demand has been high to date and they are prepping to deliver 2500 meals of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, vegetables, and pumpkin pie. Once again this year the local community has stepped up providing everything from a kitchen to prep the food (Kuipers, Heritage Co-Op Marketplace, Crocus Plains) to food donations (Sobeys, Superstore, Safeway, Maple Leaf & more). With the food lined up, Smith said they are still in need of donations and volunteers to help deliver the food. Those wanting to make a donation or volunteer can visit their website here. The tradition was started in 1985 by Rocky Addison, his family, and a few close friends.

BDNMB.CA welcomes Reliance Home Comfort to Brandon and Western Manitoba and we had time to speak to the local area GM Colin Chalmers. BDNMB - explain the services Reliance Home Comfort provides plus what makes us different from our competition. Colin "We provide whole home comfort solutions that include heating and cooling systems, water purifiers, smart home products, plus our plumbing and electrical services.  What will set us apart from our competition is our 100% satisfaction guarantee while making any decision more affordable for our customers." BDNMB - Do you expect to hire some local staff? Colin - "We will bring a national presence with a local feeling by hiring local.  We will be expecting to hire HVAC install crews, plumbers, technicians, etc." BDNMB - What are the reasons for your success over the past 5 years. Colin - "The reasons for our success is we strive to deliver best-in-class customer experiences that will provide them with options that will have economic, safety and health benefits.  Besides just heating and cooling your home, we believe in providing complete home comfort solutions." BDNMB - How far will our services go outside of Brandon. Colin - Our branch in Brandon will have a service area of roughly 115 Kilometers. To get in touch with Colin Chalmers at Reliance (431) 541-7963 https://reliancehomecomfort.com/brandon/

Manitobans living in Western Manitoba will soon benefit from a new hospital in Neepawa as part of the province’s commitment to provide better health care for all Manitobans by focusing on reducing wait times, improving access to care and providing more services closer to home, Premier Heather Stefanson and Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon announced here today. “Across the province, strategic investments in modern buildings, equipment and technology will support the delivery of many health services locally, improve access and wait times, and reduce the need for many patients to travel to Winnipeg for care,” said Stefanson. “By investing in the new Neepawa Hospital, our government is building a strong foundation for the future of health care in this region of our province, a future that will offer reliable, consistent and high-quality health services.” The new facility represents an investment of at least $127 million. A site for the new facility is being finalized and will be announced at a later date. While located in Neepawa, the facility will serve patients from the broader geographic area in need of more specialized services, reducing their need to travel to larger centres like Brandon or Winnipeg, the premier noted. Features of the new facility, which will replace the existing Neepawa Health Centre, include: ·       at least 60 acute care inpatient beds, up from 35 at the current Neepawa site; ·       an expanded emergency department designed to best practice standards that includes treatment and assessment rooms, a trauma room, stretcher bay and an ambulance bay; and ·       enhanced space for a number of programs, such as surgery, diagnostics and palliative care as well as various outpatient services including dialysis and chemotherapy. The new facility is expected to be at least twice the size of the current site. Construction is tentatively slated for completion in 2025. “This significant investment reflects our government’s strong commitment to meeting the evolving health needs of residents from across the Westman region,” said Gordon. “The new hospital will provide a newer, more modern space for residents of Neepawa and surrounding communities as well as additional care options closer to home.” First announced in Budget 2021, Manitoba is investing a historic $812-million capital investment in building, expanding and renovating health-care facilities across the province in support of Manitoba’s Clinical and Preventive Services Plan led and developed by clinicians. The new Neepawa facility will perform an important role within the new provincial clinical network, which will deliver health services to Manitobans through a geographically organized, integrated network of care. “The Neepawa Health Centre provides essential services for a growing population in Neepawa and the surrounding area. The area is supported by a group of physicians whose skills support the delivery of many important specialized services locally,” said Brian Schoonbaert, CEO, Prairie Mountain Health. “This investment and expanded physical space will allow for our services to grow alongside our population, continuing our region’s focus on providing high-quality, coordinated care in this part of the province.” These projects are the latest in Manitoba’s commitment to better care sooner, which has seen significant infrastructure investments at health facilities throughout the province, including the new Selkirk Regional Health Centre, Health Sciences Centre Women’s Hospital and new emergency departments in Flin Flon, Dauphin and at Winnipeg’s Grace and St. Boniface hospitals. For more information on Manitoba’s Clinical and Preventive Services Plan, visit https://sharedhealthmb.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPSP_Overview_NL.pdf. (Province of MB News Release)