The Manitoba government is launching a new provincewide lottery that will award nearly $2 million in cash and scholarships this summer to encourage Manitobans to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible, Premier Brian Pallister announced today. “Vaccination is the fastest way to overcome COVID-19 and safely restore our services and activities,” said Pallister. “Urgency is important. We need Manitobans to get vaccinated to protect each other and protect our health-care system. The sooner we get vaccinated, the sooner we can get our lives back. This lottery gives Manitobans even more reasons to roll up their sleeves – not once, but twice.” Manitoba will hold two lottery draws over the summer. All Manitobans aged 12 and up who have received at least one dose of vaccine on or before Aug. 2 will be eligible for the first draw. All Manitobans aged 12 and up who have received two doses on or before Sept. 6 will be eligible for the second draw. Each lottery draw will award: • three prizes of $100,000 in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (excluding Churchill); • a $100,000 prize in each of the remaining regional health authorities: Prairie Mountain Health, Southern Health–Santé Sud, Interlake–Eastern Regional Health Authority and Northern Regional Health Authority (including Churchill); and • 10 draws for $25,000 scholarships for young people aged 12 to 17 across the province, for a total of $250,000. All people who have been immunized with either a first or second dose are automatically eligible and will be entered into the lottery for a chance to win. A process has been put in place to ensure all information used for the purposes of the draw is protected and secure. Each draw will be held once eligible immunizations administered as of the lottery deadlines have been entered in the provincial database. Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries will be responsible for conducting the lotteries and a third-party auditor will provide additional oversight. “Trust and accountability are an integral part of every lottery, and we will ensure that all Manitobans can have confidence in the fairness and integrity of this process,” said Manny Atwal, president and CEO, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries. “As we have seen in other jurisdictions, lotteries can act as an incentive to encourage vaccination. We are proud of our role in the goal to get as many Manitobans immunized as quickly as possible.” This includes setting out how Manitobans who were vaccinated outside of the province may ensure their eligibility by reporting their vaccination to a public health office. Any Manitoban who wishes not to be part of the lottery may opt out via a simple process to be outlined in the near future. For more information about the Manitoba Vaccination Lottery, visit https://protectmb.ca/lottery.  Additional details on the lottery will also be provided at this site in the coming weeks. (Province of MB News Release)

On Friday June 4th, a handful of Vincent Massey High School students competed in the 7th annual Winnipeg Brain Bee (held virtually), a competition for high school students that tests their neuroscience knowledge. Antoni Klonowski, a Grade 9 student at Vincent Massey High School, advanced from the preliminary rounds to the championship final of the top three students where he won first place. As the winner of the Winnipeg Brain Bee, he then won the right to compete in the CIHR Canadian National Brain Bee, hosted virtually on Saturday June 5th by McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. He competed in the preliminary round of competition against 15 other top students from across Canada before advancing to the championship final between the top 3 students. The championship round was challenging and full of suspense as Antoni and another student from Guelph earned tied scores. It was close, but in the end, Antoni was able to secure the 1st place prize and title. This marks the 4th time a Vincent Massey student has placed 1st at the Winnipeg Brain Bee and this is the first time a Manitoba student has won the CIHR Canadian National Brain Bee Competition. Having won the National Brain Bee, Antoni will advance to the international competition to be held in fall 2021. Congratulations Antoni on the exceptional achievement!

Fully immunized Manitobans will now be able to travel without having to self-isolate for two weeks upon return with a new, secure immunization card that will be available to people two weeks after they have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, Premier Brian Pallister announced today. “Many Manitobans have rolled up their sleeves over these past few months and done their part in protecting our province, and I want to commend them for doing so,” said Pallister. “Manitobans have told us that getting back to the things they love and miss is one of the biggest incentives to getting vaccinated. As a government, we are doing everything we can to bolster vaccine availability and accessibility, and equipping Manitobans with the information and support they need to make the right decision to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community.” The premier noted that inter-provincial travel without being required to self-isolate on the return to Manitoba is one of the first benefits from being fully immunized. In addition, Manitoba health-care facilities, including hospitals and personal care homes, will permit expanded visitation if both the patient/resident and visitor are fully vaccinated. This benefit is expected to be extended to health-care facility visitation in the coming week. Individuals also will continue to be exempt from self-isolation if they are an identified close contact of a COVID-19 case if they are fully vaccinated, with direction provided from public health officials. Additional benefits are expected to be added in the coming weeks. To be eligible to receive an immunization card, Manitobans must: • have a Manitoba health card; • have received two doses of a vaccine; and • wait 14 days after getting the second dose of vaccine, so it can take full effect. The premier noted the process to order a new immunization card is quick, simple and secure. Two weeks after receiving a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, Manitobans may apply for the card using the new online portal at https://immunizationcard.manitoba.ca/. The digital and physical cards contain no personal health information or data. Rather, the cards only show the person’s first and last names and a QR code. When scanned, the QR code will show the person is fully vaccinated. Once someone has successfully completed the online request, they will automatically receive access to a digital card. There is also an option to request a physical card that will be mailed to the address on the applicant’s Manitoba health card. If a physical card is requested, it can be expected in the mail within 14 days. People who would like to request their card but do not have internet access can contact the insured benefits branch of Manitoba Health and Seniors Care at 204-786-7101 or 1-800-392-1207 (toll-free) to request a card. Individuals are encouraged to seek assistance from family and friends before contacting the province. “We are all eager to be able to travel, visit family and friends, and enjoy the many freedoms we have taken for granted and missed these many months,” said Pallister. “Getting vaccinated and following public health orders to protect each other and our health-care system is the fastest way to save our summer and get back to doing some of the things we love and see the people we miss.” The new card provides proof of immunization status only. Other details, such as dates of immunization and the type of vaccine received are part of an individual’s COVID-19 immunization record, which is also available online at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/immunization-record.html. For more information or to apply for a secure immunization card, visit: https://immunizationcard.manitoba.ca/. (Province of MB News Release)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release' On June 6, 2021, police responded to a report of a Break and Enter to a residence in the 100 block of Victoria Ave at approximately 8:00 am.  The homeowner found an individual sleeping in the basement.  Police arrested the 39-year-old male suspect, who had cut the screen door to gain entry.  He was lodged at Brandon Police Service until sober and later released to appear in court on August 30, 2021 on a charge of Break and Enter with Intent.

Brandon Riverbank Inc. is pleased to announce that construction of the All Nations Sharing Circle is now underway. The area, which is located on the east end of the Riverbank grounds where the trail forks north, south, and west near the Assiniboine River, will be a safe place for all people to share knowledge, experiences, stories and more. It’s expected the Sharing Circle will be completed by mid-June in an effort to have the area ready for National Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The project is made possible thanks to the generous support from Westoba Credit Union and the Westoba Inspire community investment program.(submitted)