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)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On Friday afternoon, members of the Major Crimes Section and Patrol Section assisted by members of Manitoba Finance Taxation Special Investigations Unit arrested five men at a residence west of Brandon in the RM of Whitehead.  An ongoing investigation involving the transportation and sale of illegal cigarettes led to the residence where two trucks, an SUV and three cargo trailers were seized along with approximately 680,000 cigarettes, 20.5 kilos of illicit marihuana and more the $20,000 cash.  The following subjects are charged and were released on undertakings to appear in court in June and July. A 34 year old Brandon man charged with Possession of Contraband Tobacco and Possession of Proceeds of Crime A 43 year old Brandon man charged with Possession of Contraband Tobacco A 33 year old man from Gilbert Plains charged with Possession of Contraband Tobacco and Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Distribution A 43 year old Brandon man charged with Possession of Contraband Tobacco A 52 year old man from the RM of Whitehead charged with Possession of Contraband Tobacco.

City of Brandon Parks & Recreation Services invites interested residents and businesses that may be able to make use of excess wood chip mulch to visit the large pile located just East of the Parks Complex on McGregor Avenue. Please take as much mulch as you can use!  Interested individuals may take as much mulch as they would like at no cost but should note that the pile has not been cleaned, so there may be debris in the mulch. The mulch is available on a first come, first-served basis while quantities last.   Residents attending the area are asked to respect all current COVID-19 Provincial Public Health Orders. The Parks Complex building located at 2020 McGregor Avenue remains closed to public access at this time.  When loading vehicles, people are asked to enter the area via 20th Street North and exit via 19th Street North. City staff WILL NOT provide any assistance with mulch loading and delivery is NOT available for this free mulch.  Anyone interested in soil amendment may contact the Eastview Landfill by calling 204-729-2281 for options on purchasing material as per the City of Brandon Fee Schedule.  (City of Brandon PSA)