The Manitoba government is introducing the $30 million Healthy Hire Manitoba Program, a new wage support to help private-sector employers reopen and encourage employees to get vaccinated and return to work, Premier Brian Pallister announced today. “As we emerge from this third wave towards a post-pandemic Manitoba with fewer restrictions and more freedoms, our focus remains on getting all eligible Manitobans fully vaccinated, as quickly and safely as possible,” said Pallister. “As we continue to loosen restrictions this summer as vaccination rates increase, this new wage support will help ensure a smooth and steady reopening path and support employers as they staff up to offer Manitobans the goods and services they rely on and enjoy most.” Under the Healthy Hire Manitoba Program, local employers can apply for up to $50,000 in provincial support to help cover the wages of new employees who can attest they have been vaccinated or will be vaccinated. Eligible employers will receive a grant equivalent to 50 per cent of wages for a maximum of 10 employees, with a maximum of $5,000 per employee. The wage support covers full pay periods for employees hired on or after June 10, 2021 with the last pay period ending Oct. 15. Employers must be an active and permanent Manitoba-based business, not-for-profit or registered charity physically operating in the province. The Healthy Hire Manitoba Program is available for newly-hired employees who started working no earlier than June 10 or a rehired employee who worked for that employer in a previous year or who was laid off as a result of the public health restrictions. “The Healthy Hire Manitoba Program will incentivize employers to safely bring more employees back to work and encourage more Manitobans to get fully vaccinated,” said Pallister. “This new program supports our ‘4-3-2-One Great Summer’ Reopening Path, which rewards Manitobans with greater freedoms and fewer restrictions on our lives and economy as more of us get vaccinated.” Pallister noted that employers that are participating in a different government program may receive funding from Healthy Hire Manitoba to hire additional employees. More information and full eligibility criteria for the new Healthy Hire Manitoba Program will be posted online next week and listed with other COVID-19 support programs for individuals and businesses at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/programs/index.html. (Province of MB News Release)

“It is with great excitement and anticipation that we are thrilled to announce that Ag Ex 2021 will take place October 27th-30th. Cattle producers look forward to exhibiting their cattle at Manitoba’s largest purebred cattle show.” says Dallas Johnston, co-chair of the Manitoba Ag Ex committee. Manitoba Ag Ex is the largest all-breeds cattle show in Manitoba. It usually attracts exhibitors and guests from Manitoba,Saskatchewan, and Alberta. In past years we have hosted prestigious national cattle shows and sales for many breeds,which are major draws for cattle producers across Canada. In addition to breed specific shows, the Manitoba Ag Ex hosts a Jackpot Heifer Show, Bull Show, and Junior Show all culminating in the Supreme Breed Extravaganza, which sends winners on to Canadian Western Agribition in Regina.Along with the cattle portion of the event it was expanded to feature additional agricultural entertainment and events in past years. After the cancellations of all our major events since the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in March of 2020, the planning for Manitoba Ag Ex has commenced in the hope that health restrictions in October will allow the event to take place. “We are thrilled to get back at what we do best and thankful our Board of Directors can make the long overdue announcement of the return of one of our Fairs!Thanks to our community and partners for their support during this pandemic!Our organization will be ready to host a fantastic event this coming October”.–Greg Crisanti, President of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba. We are looking forward to bringing people together once again and celebrating the resilience of Manitoba’s agricultural community with an event that families have attended for generations. So, it is with great joy that we say, “Mark your calendars!” Manitoba Ag Ex is coming to the Keystone Centre October 27th to October 30th, 2021! Stay tuned for more details coming soon! *Please note: This event will only take place if health orders at the time allow. All Manitoba Health Orders will be followed and plans for safety and sanitation during the event will be released at a later date.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On June 22, 2021, at 3:18 pm, a 26-year-old female was stabbed by another female following a fight in the 000 block of 9th street. Members of BPS Major Crime Unit happened to be in the immediate area during the assault and the suspect was arrested on scene. Police provided first aid to the victim until paramedics arrived to transport her to hospital.  The victim remains in the hospital with serious injuries.  The most recent update on her condition was that she is in stable condition. The 33-year-old female suspect was lodged at Brandon Police Service and will appear in court today on a charge of Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Weapon.

Manitoba will move ahead with the first milestone of its ‘4-3-2 One Great Summer’ Reopening Path one week early and open many businesses and facilities to 25 per cent capacity beginning on June 26th, Premier Brian Pallister and Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin announced today. This week, Manitobans achieved and surpassed the first key vaccination benchmarks set out under the ‘4-3-2 One Great Summer’ Reopening Path, with over 71 per cent of eligible Manitobans at least partially immunized and more than 27 per cent having received both doses. Together with declining COVID-19 cases, test positivity and hospitalization rates, Manitobans are now able to begin to enjoy more freedoms and fewer public health restrictions. “Manitobans have earned an earlier reopening,” said Pallister. “Together, we have beat back the third wave and have booked first and second dose vaccinations in record numbers. After nearly a year and half fighting COVID-19, it is time for Manitobans to regain their freedoms and enjoy a summer we all want, and have rightfully earned.” Manitobans who are fully immunized (two vaccine doses plus two weeks from the time of their second dose) will now benefit from the following exemptions: ·    visit fully immunized loved ones in personal care homes or hospitals; ·    participate in social or communal activities, if you are a resident of a personal care home or congregate living facility; ·    travel domestically for essential and non-essential purposes outside of Manitoba without the requirement to self-isolate on their return; and, ·    dine indoors at restaurants and bars with other fully immunized friends and family from outside your household. Large-scale, outdoor professional sports or performing arts events may also allow fully immunized Manitobans to attend, subject to approval by Manitoba Public Health. The province will work with sports and arts organization to implement proof of vaccination protocols for these events. Additional benefits for fully immunized Manitobans will be announced in July, including increasing capacity for fully immunized people at weddings, funerals, faith-based and other gatherings, based on continued vaccination rate increases and improvements in the province’s overall COVID-19 situation. Under this first milestone of the ‘4-3-2 One Great Summer’ Reopening Path, Manitobans will also be able to gather in larger numbers, dine out in restaurants and on patios, attend faith-based services, and go to gyms, hair salons and retail stores in every region of the province, with some restrictions. Effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 26, all Manitobans will benefit from these changes, including: ·    outdoor gathering sizes on private property to double to 10 persons, and to allow outdoor visitors to briefly access homes for essential activities (e.g. to use a washroom); ·    public outdoor gathering sizes to increase to 25 persons; ·    retail businesses to open with increased capacity at 25 per cent to a limit of 250 persons, with no restrictions on the number of household members permitted to shop together; ·    personal service businesses (hair and nail salons, estheticians, barbers, etc.) to reopen at 50 per cent capacity, on an appointment basis only; ·    restaurants and bars to reopen at 25 per cent capacity for indoors and 50 per cent for outdoor dining. For indoor dining, patrons seated together must be from the same household unless all patrons at the table are fully immunized. Patrons who are fully immunized and from different households may dine together. For outdoor dining, tables are limited to a maximum of 8 patrons and can be from different households regardless of immunization status; ·    indoor faith-based services and organized community gatherings (e.g. pow wows, sun dance ceremonies) to resume at 25 per cent capacity to a limit of 25 persons with masks worn at all times; ·    outdoor faith-based and organized community gatherings (e.g. pow wows, sun dance ceremonies) to resume for up to 50 persons, provided distance can be maintained between households. Drive-in services continue to be permitted; ·    outdoor weddings and funerals may take place with up to 25 participants, in addition to photographer and officiants. Indoor weddings and funerals remain limited to 10 persons; ·    indoor dance, music, theatre and other organized sports and recreation activities may reopen at 25 per cent capacity to a limit of five persons, with no tournaments allowed; ·    outdoor dance, music and theatre classes and other organized recreation activities may reopen for groups up to 25 people, with no tournaments allowed; ·    swimming and wading pools, both indoor and outdoor, may reopen at 25 per cent capacity; ·    gyms and fitness facilities may reopen for individual and group fitness classes at 25 per cent capacity with three metres distance maintained between patrons; and; ·    summer day camps may reopen to a maximum of 20 participants in groups. Following the COVID-19 safety fundamentals, including indoor mask use and physical distancing, is still required. The orders are scheduled to expire at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Aug. 2, the next milestone in the 4-3-2 One Great Summer Reopening Path. However, reopening capacities may be increased earlier if vaccination rate goals are reached sooner and the province’s overall COVID-19 situation continues to improve. Despite the progress made over the past two months against the COVID-19 third wave both the premier and Roussin reinforced that public health restrictions are required. “While the case numbers and our health system are improving, the pandemic is not over and variants of concern, especially the B.1.617.2 (delta) variant, are still circulating. This is why Manitobans need to continue to practice the fundamentals – washing your hands, physical distancing, wearing a mask, and getting fully vaccinated,” said Roussin. “Today’s reopening fits with the public health advice on where we are in the fight against the pandemic and where we still have to go.” The next provincial milestone is set for Terry Fox Day, Aug. 2. At that time, the province will reopen to 50 per cent capacity or greater if 75 per cent of Manitobans aged 12 and above have received their first vaccination dose and 50 per cent of Manitobans aged 12 and above have received their second dose, while taking ongoing account of COVID-19 transmission. An earlier reopening will be considered depending on progress toward these goals. “We must remain cautious, careful, and vigilant against a COVID-19 comeback,” said Pallister. “The path we are on is improving but we are not yet fully out of the woods. But I am hopeful we will be able to reopen even more, sooner, if Manitobans keep getting vaccinated as soon as they can.” For more information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit: https://www.manitoba.ca/COVID19.

The Keystone Centre grounds will be closed to the public June 25th until June 29th to accommodate drive-thru graduation ceremonies. “While every graduating student typically looks forward to celebrating their years of hard work with a commencement ceremony, this year things are a little different. But that doesn’t mean the celebration can’t be just as enjoyable,” says Connie Lawrence, Keystone Centre assistant general manager and VP of sales. “During this time of social distancing, we’ve come up with a creative way to make sure every grad can enjoy their special day.” The Keystone Centre will be hosting drive-thru graduation ceremonies at the brand new pavilion on the facility’s south-east grounds June 25th, and June 28th. At that time, the public is asked not to congregate on the property to ensure all COVID-19 regulations are followed.