The Manitoba government will provide more than $25 million that will support more than 8,000 youth employment opportunities this summer through the new Manitoba Youth Jobs Program and existing Green Team grants, Premier Brian Pallister and Municipal Relations Minister Derek Johnson announced today. “Our government is working to protect Manitoba’s youth from the health and economic impacts of the pandemic, as they have been hit particularly hard and face unemployment rates of nearly double the rest of the population,” said Pallister. “Our new wage subsidy program will directly contribute to our government’s growth and jobs agenda outlined in Budget 2021 by supporting our businesses and organizations that will be the drivers of Manitoba’s economic recovery.” The new $15-million Manitoba Youth Jobs Program will provide employers a 50 per cent subsidy on wages paid to eligible employees during the program period of May to September 2021, with a maximum of up to $25,000 per employer. The premier said he anticipates the program will support more than 2,000 Manitoba employers recover from the pandemic and create sustainable long-term, seasonal and short-term employment opportunities for more than 6,000 Manitoba youth. The Manitoba Youth Jobs Program builds upon and streamlines the Manitoba Summer Student Recovery Jobs and Back to Work This Summer programs, which helped create and sustain more than 6,000 jobs for young Manitobans in 2020. The new program:• gets money to businesses faster, as employers will be eligible to apply for an advance payment of up to $750 per eligible employee, up to $7,500;• broadens eligibility criteria to include all Manitoba youth under the age of 30;• allows employers to claim employees hired as early as April 1, 2021;• aligns the program’s eligible wage subsidy period to the employer’s own pay schedule to cover full pay periods between May 1 and Sept. 5; and• provides a 50 per cent wage subsidy on all regular, overtime and statutory wages earned during the 18-week period as opposed to a flat per-hour wage subsidy. The province is also investing more than $10 million in Green Team grant programs to help an estimated 2,000 young Manitobans find summer employment and gain valuable work experience. This includes nearly $9 million for the Urban and Hometown Green Team Program and more than $1 million for the Manitoba Parks Green Team. “These have been challenging times and now more than ever, we need to support local projects and give our youth the work experience they need to take advantage of future career opportunities,” said Johnson. “We also recognize the critical role of Manitoba’s community-based organizations as they help shape sustainable and thriving neighbourhoods and communities.” Urban and Hometown Green Team grants allow communities to hire youth aged 15 to 29 to work on community projects between May 1 and Sept. 30. Non-profit organizations in Winnipeg and rural Manitoba are eligible to receive 100 per cent of wage costs and $250 per position for support costs, while eligible municipal governments in rural Manitoba receive 50 per cent of wage costs and $125 per position for support costs, on a cost-shared basis. Johnson noted priorities for the 2021 summer season are focused on community-based organizations and municipal governments that can offer full-time employment opportunities for youth, and projects that support COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.  The province is maintaining its 2020 funding level for Green Teams, which had doubled from 2019 to stimulate youth job creation during the pandemic, to meet significant program demand. At the Feb. 15 application intake deadline for the Urban and Hometown Green Team Program, the province had received record funding requests. The province has completed its review of project applications and will begin to notify applicants of funding decisions today. More information is available online for the Green Team program at www.manitobago.ca and Manitoba Youth Jobs Program at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/programs/youth-jobs.html. (Province of MB News Release)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release Following a six-week joint agency investigation involving the Manitoba Finance Taxation Special Services Investigations Unit and Brandon Police Service Major Crime Section, a significant quantity of illegal tobacco was seized. The investigation revealed that a group of Manitoba residents were smuggling the tobacco into the province. On April 23, 2021, members intercepted a shipment of illicit cigarettes in the RM of Whitehead.  Five males were taken into custody.  Three vehicles and three trailers were seized and warrants to search these vehicles were acted on April 27, 2021. 92 cases of unmarked contraband tobacco cigarettes were seized.  Within each case are 10,000 cigarettes.  Also seized was over 53 pounds of illicit marihuana and over $25,000 in cash. Five males were arrested, ranging in ages from 46-60 years-old.  Four of them are residents of Brandon, with the fifth male being from Gilbert Plains.  They were each charged under section 121.1(1) of the Criminal code; Possession of Unauthorized stamped Tobacco and section 80(2) (a) of the Tax Administrative and Miscellaneous Taxes Act; Possess greater than 25 Units of Unmarked Tobacco.  The male from Gilbert Plains was also charged with section 9(2) of the Cannabis Act; Possession for the Purpose of Distributing as well as Possession of Proceeds of Crime under Section 235(1) of the Criminal code.  They were released from custody and will all be appearing in court in July 2021. The tobacco represented a potential tax loss of over a million dollars to the Province of Manitoba. Photo: Brandon Police Service

The Manitoba government announced the spring construction tendering schedule today and will proceed with over $630 million in infrastructure projects in the 2021-22 fiscal year, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced today. “Our government announced in Budget 2021 that we will make significant investments in infrastructure around the province, to create jobs and to move our economy forward,” said Schuler. “Our strategic infrastructure investments are the largest amount ever in provincial history, and we will continue to prioritize safe and sustainable roads that will benefit all Manitobans.” “These are very important projects, and the heavy construction industry is proud to be part of making Manitoba’s roads safer and our bridges and water control structures stronger, serving the interests of all Manitobans,” said Chris Lorenc, president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association. Projects announced this fiscal year include a number of investments into Manitoba’s International Trade Hub including $90 million in the Trans-Canada Highway and $20 million in Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 75, as well as rehabilitation of the dams at Rapid City and Rivers. The 2021-22 tendering list also includes major structure projects such as:• structure replacement on PTH 10 in Brandon at Daly Overpass;• structure replacement on PTH 59 at the Red River Floodway; and• interchange construction of PTH 100 (South Perimeter) at PR 200 (St. Mary’s Road) and the design build request for proposals is planned to be advertised this spring with construction to begin in September. Daly Overpass project. Photo: Province of Manitoba The minister also noted that additional maintenance and construction projects across the province will be tendered including various paving activities and upgrades to PTH 59 from the U.S. border to allow truck weight limits for trade and commercial routes for RTAC loading. The full tendering list can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/mit/contracts/index.html. (Province of MB News Release)

Brandon School Division Board of Trustees and Senior Administration are pleased to announce the following appointments within the Brandon School Division Senior Administration Team: Mr. Jon Zilkey has been named Assistant Superintendent –Curriculum & Continuous Improvement, commencing in the 2021-2022 school year. Jon Zilkey comes to Brandon School Division with five years of experience as a Senior Administrator, including as Superintendent/CEO and Assistant Superintendent. Mr. Zilkey has 25 years of experience in K-12 education, with 8 years of work in administration. During his career with Swan Valley School Division, Mr. Zilkey developed strong relationships with students, parents, the Board, principals, and all levels of staff. He has worked in partnership with Indigenous Education Authorities and communities in his region. Having led a school division during the COVID-19 pandemic, he has demonstrated his ability to effectively provide leadership and adapt to changing government requirements while ensuring students and staff feel supported. Mr. Zilkey’s education includes: Master’s in Educational Administration; Bachelor of Education after Degree; Bachelor of Physical Education; and Bachelor of Science. Ms. Susan Gilleshammer has been named Assistant Superintendent –Student Achievement Support Services, effective July 1, 2021. Susan Gilleshammer continues her career at Brandon School Division, building on six years of administration experience, including her current position of Principal of École secondaire Neelin High School. Prior to her leadership role at Neelin, she was Vice Principal of the Off Campus program, and was appointed Acting Principal once it was recognized as a stand-alone school and renamed Prairie Hope High School. Prior to Ms. Gilleshammer’s leadership roles in the Division, she spent 11 years at Vincent Massey High School. The first five of those years were spent teaching in the English department, followed by six years as Guidance Counsellor. Ms. Gilleshammer has a strong background in Student Services and also has experience with English as an Additional Language programming. She has demonstrated leadership on a number of important initiatives, including the consolidation of the Off Campus, At-Risk Youth, and Upper Deck programs into Prairie Hope High School. Ms. Gilleshammer’seducation includes a Master’s in Education, Guidance and Counselling; Bachelor of Education; and Bachelor of Arts. On behalf ofthe Board of Trustees and Senior Administration, we extend the very best wishes to Mr. Zilkey and Ms. Gilleshammer in their exciting new leadership roles within our Division. )Brandon School Division Media Release)

Community Futures Westman invests $30,000 in a Makerspace Coordinator position and equipment at Brandon Neighborhood Renewal Corporations Creation Nation Makerspace. With this investment Creation Nation makerspace will be able to focus on growing the membership of the space and helping members flourish in whatever it is they endeavor to create. “Creation Nation”, located in downtown Brandon for budding hobbyists, contractors and entrepreneurs is open and ready to take on new memberships.  Memberships cost $50/month and provides 24-hour access to a full woodshop, laser cutter, vinyl cutters, large classroom space, 3D printers, electronics equipment, bike shop, sewing machines and more. Training is provided for the various pieces of equipment so no need to have experience. Creation Nation Makerspace is a 6,000 sq foot membership-based space that initially opened in the summer of 2019 by BNRC. The goal of the program is to promote community engagement, safety, and fostering local entrepreneurs and their ideas. With the large woodshop and creator’s area combined with the generous donation of funds from Community Futures Westman it is the perfect place to foster your passion for making or to start and grow your small business. Members will have the opportunity to be referred to Community Futures Westman to help them with any other aspects of their business development that they may require. Creation Nation has equipment to print logos on shirts and other fabrics, Vinyl cutter to create decals for your car, home, or anything else you can think of, 3D printers to prototype your ideas with, a large woodshop, laser cutter and CNC router for making those items to sell in your store or webpage and our latest addition a recording booth to start a podcast, record music or to do voice over for your training videos or YouTube videos. Your imagination is your only limit with Community Futures Westman and Creation Nation. Our list of equipment and training in Creation Nation Makerspace is continually growing to help meet the needs of our growing membership. To book a tour of Creation Nation Makerspace or for more information contact Russ Mitchell at 204 570-0195 or makers@bnrc.ca “Creation Nation assists startup entrepreneurs by providing them a space to help them kickstart their business. Turning ideas and prototypes into realities is crucial in business development, and we are happy to work with the BNRC to further enhance this great space. We encourage all Westman entrepreneurs to take advantage of this great space and the resources that come with it so we can further enhance our vibrant rural economies as we emerge from these challenging times.” said Andrew Arksey, Executive Director of Community Futures Westman. (submitted)