The Manitoba government released its kindergarten to Grade 12 strategy with a focus on putting students first, Education Minister Cliff Cullen announced today, saying the Better Education Starts Today (BEST) strategy that will shift resources to the classroom while giving parents and guardians much more input, as it rebuilds Manitoba’s kindergarten to Grade 12 education system through the proposed putting students first bill. “The strategy introduces much-needed change to create a unified provincial education system that is accountable for results, classroom focused, student centred and parent friendly, leading to the most improved education system in Canada,” said Cullen. “We want students to graduate high school with the knowledge, skills and competencies they need to move into post-secondary education, the labour market, or whatever path they choose, and have the best opportunity to succeed.” Manitoba is one of the highest spending provinces on education and getting among the country's lowest student achievement results. Per capita, Manitoba has the highest number of school divisions and elected trustees across all provinces. The government’s plan streamlines administration by unifying 37 school divisions into one Provincial Education Authority (authority) while maintaining the French school division, Division Scolaire franco-manitobaine (DSFM). The authority will deliver kindergarten to Grade 12 education, manage shared administrative services such as collective bargaining, procurement, IT and workforce planning – money that will be reinvested directly into classrooms. Within the authority, 15 regions will provide a focus on local needs. Parents will have involvement that is more meaningful in local decision-making through new School Community Councils. “Our government believes in a robust education system that addresses the inequalities of the current system,” Cullen said. “We have committed to building 20 new schools and followed that up with our $1.6 billion education funding guarantee. However, we want to ensure we have a system focused on students, teachers and, ultimately, results.” Within the next five years, Manitoba’s government is committed to becoming the most improved education system in Canada by:• shifting resources to the classroom to ensure that student learning and achievement come first;• ensuring that teachers, school staff and leaders have the capacity, knowledge and tools they need to support student performance;• unifying the education system with a focus on accountability for results, outcomes and addressing the vast disparities in the system;• giving parents and caregivers more opportunity to participate and play a meaningful role in the design and oversight of the system; and• considering the provincial needs and ensuring that all students are ready for life-long success regardless of where in the province they live. “Maintaining the status quo puts our students further behind, and that is why our government is making the necessary reforms and investing in our children’s futures,” said Cullen. “By unifying our system and focusing educators on what matters most – student outcomes – the government expects up to $40 million will be shifted to the classrooms to support educational results.” Manitoba Education will be undertaking public consultations on a variety of areas as it builds a roadmap for the future on topics such as curriculum development, teacher training and learning, and ways to support the most vulnerable students. This includes further conversation with education partners, parents, and the wider Manitoba community, and a survey that will be available on http://engagemb.ca. The BEST strategy was informed by the Manitoba’s Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education report, Our Children’s Success: Manitoba’s Future, received in March 2020. The 75 recommendations of the commission represent the most extensive reformation of Manitoba’s kindergarten to Grade 12 education system in decades and presents a clear plan of action for becoming the most improved education system in Canada. The BEST strategy also drew on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic from across Manitoba’s education system. For more information, visit www.bettereducationmb.ca. (Province of MB News Release)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release Two men were arrested on Saturday evening for Use of Counterfeit Money. Officers responded to a report from restaurant in the 1900 block of Richmond Ave. A man had used two counterfeit $50 American bills. He left in a taxi which was located at a department store on 18th St north shortly after. The man was located inside the store and he was arrested. He was found to be on a court order which he was also breaching. The same man was also charged with Using Counterfeit Money on March 11th at a convenience store on 1st St. A man used four counterfeit $50 American bills to buy merchandise. He was identified from surveillance video. The accused, a 24 year old who resides in Griswold, will appear in court on Sunday morning. A second man was also arrested for Use of Counterfeit Money and Possession of Counterfeit Money. Shortly after 10:00 pm on Saturday, the same restaurant in the 1900 block Richmond Ave reported the man ordered food and used a counterfeit $50 American bill as payment. The man left in a taxi but was located at a residence in the 600 block of 16th St. He was in possession of several counterfeit American bill in $100, $50 and $20 denominations. He was arrested and released to appear in court in May.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On March 11 2021, a backpack belonging to a suspect was located at a break and enter in the 00blk 22nd St. Inside the backpack officers located property belonging to another break and enter to a business in the 400 blk 8th St on March 10th. On March 12, 2021 at approx. 10:00 pm, the suspect was located in the 700 block of Rosser Ave. The suspect, a 49 year old male, was arrested. Property taken from the business was found in his possession. He will appear in court in the morning on charges of Break, Enter and Theft X2

City of Brandon’s Development Services invites all residents to attend a virtual open house on the Conceptual Design and Streetscape Strategy of Pacific Avenue Project (the Pacific Avenue Project). The virtual open house will be held on Thursday, March 25th, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. via the City’s YouTube channel.  Background  In August 2020, the City of Brandon initiated a project to implement an action item in The Downtown Brandon Secondary Plan to improve the connectivity of Pacific Avenue between 1st Street and 18th Street. Since then, a series of public and stakeholder engagement events have been held by the project team.  Stakeholders included City departments, property owners, business owners, and the ward’s Councillor.  Engagement events included:  a pop-up bike lane pilot project with an online interactive map used by participants stakeholder workshops  webinars for residents and stakeholders, and online survey for stakeholders to share their experiences.  Feedback from stakeholders, along with the technical evaluation of the proposed conceptual designs, have assisted the City in selecting the preferred design option.  Next Steps in This Project  All members of the public are invited to attend a virtual open house Thursday, March 25th, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. via the City’s YouTube channel.  They will learn about the selected conceptual design and streetscape strategy for Pacific Avenue.   More information on the Pacific Avenue Project can be found at City of Brandon - Conceptual Design and Streetscape Strategy of Pacific Avenue. (City of Brandon PSA)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On March 12, 2021, police conducted a vehicle stop in the 1000 block of 34th street shortly after 2:00 am.  Officers observed a handgun in the vehicle.  All the occupants were then removed from the vehicle and arrested.  Police seized the Glock 9 mm pistol, which was found to be loaded.  A 49-year-old male, and 60-year-old male were released to appear in court on May 13, 2021 on charges of Possess Restricted Firearm with Ammunition.  The third individual, a 56-year-old male from Saskatchewan was lodged at Brandon Police Service and will appear in court today on the same charge.