The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 Manitoba Summer Fair, which was scheduled for the beginning of June. “The health and safety of our community is of the utmost importance,” said Greg Crisanti, President. Due to the current health concerns related to COVID-19, as well as the provincially mandated regulations for public health and safety, the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba made this difficult decision to cancel this event for the second year in a row. Already having cancelled the 2020 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, 2020 Manitoba Summer Fair, 2020 Manitoba Ag Ex, and cancelling the in person 2021 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair and hosting it virtually, our Board of Directors has decided this is the most responsible course of action at this time. Plans are underway to hopefully be able to put on some “Covid Friendly” family activities later in the summer. Stay tuned for dates and details once plans have been finalized. We have worked closely with other fairs and our exhibitors to monitor the situation and adjust plans as we could. The current evolving situation and the regulations for public safety means we are unable to host this event. The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba will continue to monitor the evolving COVID situation and will update the public on the status of future events as the situation unfolds. Nevertheless, the Provincial Exhibition will do everything in its power to continue to bring high quality community events for years to come, continuing to be an integral part of the community as we have been for more than 138 years. “We are committed to producing the events our community needs, and look forward to hosting an in person family event when the time is right,” says Crisanti. To donate to the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba during this difficult time please head to our website at https://pst.cr/nDQU3 (Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba News Release)

he Manitoba government is committing up to $1.9 million to support and protect families and early learning and child-care (ELCC) facilities affected by the new move to remote learning in Winnipeg and Brandon as part of the province’s public health measures, Families Minister Rochelle Squires announced today. “Our government is taking strong action to protect Manitobans from the spread of COVID-19 and we recognize the significant impacts of these measures,” said Squires. “This new support will help ensure parents do not pay for child-care spaces they cannot use and will protect facilities from financial hardship while they cannot accept school-aged children during this period of remote learning.” The minister noted early learning and child-care facilities that provide school-aged care in Winnipeg and Brandon will experience reduced attendance as schools move today to remote learning, which could affect more than 10,000 school-aged spaces. Parents of children in these spaces will not be expected to pay child-care fees during this time, while the province provides this funding to these ELCC facilities to offset their losses of revenue. Families will also retain their child-care spaces during this period. The new funding will be provided to the affected facilities in addition to their continued operating grants, the minister said. “As a critical service that relies on parent fees in order to operate, this investment will enable our centres to remain open to support additional critical workers during this period of remote learning,” said Bonnie Ash, executive director, Morrow Early Learning and Child Development, Programs for Families. “This announcement will be welcomed by the early learning and child-care sector, as well as our families.” The minister recognized the ongoing commitment of the child-care sector to quality care, while also ensuring precautions are taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. She noted the province is further supporting early learning and child care by increasing its monthly investment in personal protective equipment for the sector by an additional $415,000 per month, to increase its monthly allocation of protective masks to 1.1 million from 100,000 and to raise the daily provision of masks for each ELCC worker to four from one. In addition, the quality of the masks is improving to the Level 3 medical grade to enhance protection for workers, children and their families. Details on access to the new funding will be shared with facilities soon. (Province of MB News Release)

Alysa Ferguson of Thompson is the winner of this year's Sunrise Credit Union Our Manitoba Photo Contest. Alysa’s photo ‘Minosiw’ (below) emerged as the winner from over 400 entries for this year's contest. A shortlist of 30 images was put through one-week public voting last month through the ourmanitoba.org website. The week-long voting period saw close to 9,300 votes cast, with the 12 finalists and the grand prize winner receiving the most votes. Ferguson, who is originally from Minnedosa, took the winning photo at Fish Lake, Manitoba, on September 25, 2020. The name ‘Minosiw’ (pronounced min-NOOSE-sue) is Cree for ‘Beauty.’ “That picture, we were out moose-hunting, so we were out sleeping on an island, and the lights were out all around us.” said Ferguson, “They’re usually out when we go out moose-hunting, so I knew they (the Northern Lights) would be out. But the clouds had just cleared off, and they came dancing.” A self-taught photographer, Ferguson moved to Thompson in 2007 but still maintains her account at the Minnedosa branch and vacations frequently with her family at their cottage at Minnedosa Lake. “Just the last few years, I got into it when the kids were young because I needed a hobby.” Said Ferguson, “It seemed the only time I had to myself was nighttime. Some friends took me out to do aurora shooting, and I just fell in love with it.” All 13 finalists will also receive a canvas print of the winning photograph, be featured in the 2022 Sunrise Credit Union calendar, and appear on Sunrise Credit Union's branch TVs and social media channels. In addition, Alysa Ferguson earned the Grant Prize of a $500 One-Year Term Deposit from Sunrise Credit Union. 2021 marked the ninth edition of the Our Manitoba Photo Contest, and the unveiling of the grand prize winner on Wednesday (May 12) coincided with Manitoba Day.(submitted)

Source: Brandon Police Servive Media Release On May 10, 2021 shortly after 6:00 pm, police responded to a report of two individuals believed to be carrying knives in the 100 block of McTavish Ave.  The 52-year-old male was found in possession of a machete and a pocketknife.  He was also to abide by conditions not to be in the company of the second individual.  He was arrested and lodged at Brandon Police Service.  He will appear in court today on charges of Carry a Concealed Weapon and Fail to Comply with Undertaking. The 29-year-old female, kept trying to step in front of the police cruiser as police were attempting to leave with the male.  She too was arrested due to her intoxication level and lodged for Breach of Peace at Brandon Police Service until sober.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On May 10, 2021, police responded to several reports of a dispute between family members at a residence after midnight. The 16-year-old son who was causing the disturbance was given an opportunity to remain at home; however, after several hours, his behavior escalated and he proceeded to spray another family member with bear mace. Police returned and arrested the youth. He was lodged and will be released to appear in court on June 8, 2021 on charges of Assault with a Weapon, Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, And Administer Noxious Thing with Intent.