Following feedback from Manitobans and advice from public health leaders, the province is loosening a variety of restrictions while ensuring protocols are in place to protect Manitobans from the risks of COVID-19, Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial health officer, announced today. “Today is another big day for Manitobans, especially for our local business owners who are eager to safely reopen their doors, and provide the goods and services that Manitobans have missed the past few months,” said Pallister. “With fewer restrictions, we must remain cautious, in fact, even more cautious. In the absence of COVID-19 vaccines from the federal government, following the fundamentals is how we continue to protect each other and save lives.” The orders will formalize the following changes for all of Manitoba, replacing the General COVID-19 Prevention Orders made on Jan. 28 and the Northern Manitoba COVID-19 Prevention Orders made on Feb. 1, 2021. The orders will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 12 and will last for three weeks. The orders include the following changes, with further pandemic safety measures in place:• allowing restaurants and licensed premises to reopen at 25 per cent capacity with patron groups limited to members of the same household only;• allowing outdoor sports facilities to reopen for casual sports as well as organized practices and games, with multi-team tournaments not permitted;• allowing gyms, fitness centres and yoga studios to reopen at 25 per cent capacity;• allowing indoor sporting facilities such as rinks, gymnastic clubs and martial arts studios to reopen at 25 per cent capacity for individual instruction only;• allowing places of worship to hold regular religious services if a service does not exceed 10 per cent of usual capacity or 50 people, whichever is lower;• allowing self-help groups for persons dealing with addictions or other behaviours to hold meetings at 25 per cent capacity of the premise where meetings take place;• allowing museums, art galleries and libraries to operate at 25 per cent capacity;• allowing personal service businesses, such as those providing pedicures, electrolysis, cosmetic application, tanning, tattooing or massage services to reopen at 25 per cent capacity;• allowing up to 10 people to attend a wedding in addition to the officiant and a photographer or videographer;• allowing photographers and videographers to offer services to individual clients or those residing in the same household in addition to providing services at weddings, with the exception of visiting client homes; and• allowing the film industry to operate fully with physical distancing and other safety measures in place. “These new orders allow us to resume more activities and services we enjoy, but we cannot let our guard down yet,” said Roussin. “We will continue to carefully monitor COVID-19 developments and case numbers to ensure we protect each other and our health-care system. Manitobans need to continue to follow the fundamentals at all times including staying home when sick, frequent handwashing and wearing masks. We all have a part to play in keeping our COVID-19 curve down so we can continue making measured progress towards getting back to the things we love.” The new orders also bring the entire province under the same restrictions, where the northern region had previously been under separate orders to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the region. Under the new orders, northern Manitoba will see the changes listed above in addition to the restrictions in place over the last three weeks for the rest of the province including:• household visitor restrictions of up to two designated people,• visits of five people plus members of a household on an outdoor private property,• retail stores open at 25 per cent capacity or 250 people maximum with adequate physical distancing, and• non-regulated health services, hair salons and barbershops open with 25 per cent capacity and adequate physical distancing. Since Feb. 4, over 33,000 responses were provided on the proposed changes to the orders. Feedback indicated:• 65 per cent of respondents felt somewhat or very comfortable going to restaurants;• 57 per cent of respondents felt somewhat or very comfortable going to the gym or to a yoga studio; and• opening food services was ranked the highest priority for respondents, followed by opening personal services like nail salons and tattoo parlors, allowing gyms to reopen for individual training and allowing outdoor organized outdoor sports to resume for games or practices. Final survey results will be posted on the EngageMB website once compiled. For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19. (Province of MB News Release)

February 11 (2/11) is 211 day and this is the first year it will be marked across the entire country. Funding from the federal government’s COVID-19 response allowed United Way Centraide Canada to increase capacity among existing 211s and expand the service to ensure every part of the country is covered. It’s now reached Westman. What is 211? Most people know when to call 911 but many are still learning about the 211 helpline. If someone is struggling to pay rent, or needs help finding food, 211 can help. If someone is struggling with their mental health, dial 2-1-1! What is 211 DAY? It’s a day to remind people of the helpline that connects people with information on government and community-based programs and services. United Way Brandon & District is asking for the community to show us your glow in order to spread the word, and make it red! Some ideas include lighting in offices and at home, wearing red to work and around the house and changing profile pictures to red. Take pictures, post them in social media, and show off your support. In planning for the day, and with help from the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, the Dome building at the Keystone Centre Grounds was washed in red. It turned out great, and it was fun to work with a classic, heritage filled building in Brandon. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the value of the service as a large number of people try to sort through changing government programs and find access to supports such as food banks, utility relief, programs for seniors, and employment assistance. 211 is available in every community for every community. For more information, head to mb.211.ca. For more information on National 211 Day, and other United Way Brandon & District news, please contact their office at 204-571-8929. Emails can be sent to office@brandonuw.ca.

As of this afternoon, the city of Brandon remains under an extreme cold warning. From Environment Canada, "An Arctic ridge of high pressure has allowed for a very cold air mass to settle over southern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba". Wind chill values in some regions of southern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba could eclipse the -50 mark tonight into Monday morning. The cold air is expected to remain for much of the week and it is advised you dress warmly in layers that you can remove if you get too warm. 

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On February 5, 2021, police responded to a report of a vehicle alarm sounding from a compound in the 400 block of Rosser Ave.  The locked gate to the compound had been cut.  An unknown suspect forcibly entered two sheds within the compound prior to police arrival.  Taken from one of the sheds was a metal bed frame.  Anyone with information regarding this Break and Enter and Theft is encouraged to contact Brandon Police service. 

Manitoba’s public schools system will see another increase in the Funding of Schools Program for the 2021-22 school year of $20.8 million, or 1.56 per cent, for a total $1.35 billion, the highest total investment in Manitoba’s history, Education Minister Cliff Cullen announced today. The increase includes $6.7 million, or a 0.5 per cent increase to base funding for public schools, and this year’s commitment includes an additional $5.5 million for special needs funding for school divisions, along with other grants. This special needs funding supports students with disabilities and with exceptional needs, providing student specific supports determined by school teams such as educational assistants or assistive technology. “This announcement continues our commitment to the success of students by making record levels of annual investment in our student’s education while also keeping our students, teachers and staff safe,” said Cullen. “Our education system is one of the best funded in Canada, and parents need to know that our government will continue to support their children’s futures.” Manitoba has the third-highest spending per student in Canada at $14,815, after Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. The province committed that school divisions would not see their funding reduced due to enrolment variations because of COVID-19. The province will also continue to ensure all school divisions receive no less than 98 per cent of the operating funding they received a year earlier. School divisions also raise revenue through local education property taxes. The Manitoba government will continue to support Manitobans by reducing the local property tax burden for ratepayers. School divisions will freeze their education property taxes and the province will provide a Property Tax Offset Grant equivalent to a two per cent property tax increase or $22.8 million. This is over and above the $20.8 million commitment for the Funding of Schools Program. “The province remains committed to modernizing Manitoba’s education system to ensure our students are well prepared for whatever path they choose, whether it is post-secondary education, joining the workforce or staring their own business,” said Cullen. “Our students, parents and education staff need to know that regardless of the challenges we are facing, we will be there to support their educational needs and to ensure their children have the best opportunity for success.” This annual funding commitment builds upon the previous announcement to support schools with the $185-million Safe Schools Funding for COVID-related expenses. (Province of MB News Release)