Community Futures Westman has administered interest free loans for 35 Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) in Western Manitoba totaling $1.25 million since the RRRF program launched in May.   The Western Diversification funding program is intended to provide support to businesses who are ineligible for other government COVID-19 relief measures.  In early December, $500,000 in additional funds have been received and applications continue to be received. “With so many SMEs impacted by COVID-19 our staff went the extra mile to meet the demand for RRRF loans over the summer and are ready to meet the needs of new clients now that additional funds have been provided to us”, indicates Community Futures Westman Chairperson Gerald Cathcart. “SME’s are the backbone of the region and as such their survival and success are vital to the local economy through recovery and ongoing growth and prosperity” explained Executive Director Andrew Arksey, “Support for small business through the RRRF and other CF programs is paramount as we navigate the effects of COVID-19, the role we can play in that will be vital.” RRRF Loans of up to $40,000 have been provided to qualifying applicants at 0% (zero) interest, with no scheduled principal payments until January 2023. Principal repayments can be made at any time and 25% of the loan can be forgiven provided the recipient has paid 75% of the original loan amount prior to December 31, 2022. The Community Futures Program has been serving rural communities for over 30 years. Each office operates as an individual non-profit corporation, with its own volunteer board of directors and its own portfolio of lending products and services.  To learn more about the financing and business support services available through Community Futures Westman please contact: Community Futures Westman Email: arkseya@cfwestman.ca Website: www.cfmanitoba.ca/westman (submitted)

When faced with the difficulties of a Covid world, the United Way worked harder on making sure their annual Holiday Tree Auction still happened.  Due to the current Code Red health ordered restrictions, the auction was held virtually with great success. Utilizing a Zoom webinar platform, many of the 28 participants were able to bid on the trees by simply entering a “y” in it’s chat window.  Seen in real time, auctioneer Jesse Campbell of Fraser Auction Services was able to drive the values up steadily. In total, $20,820.00 was raised and will go towards for the United Way’s annual campaign.  One of the entries, from Remax Valleyview Realty, garnished a $10,000 winning bid! Overall, twelve local businesses each entered items into the auction.  Each contained a tree, decorations and an assortment of gifts, which were wrapped and ready for delivery. Throughout Thursday, the companies used their scheduled times to drop off their items at the Victoria Inn’s Imperial Ballroom, keeping socially distant and safe.  Today, those will all be collected and delivered by United Way staff & a volunteer, as well as a service employee familiar with the recipient. For more information on the Holiday Tree Auction, and other United Way Brandon & District news, please contact their office at 204-571-8929.  Emails can be sent to office@brandonuw.ca (submitted)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On December 2, 2020, police conducted a traffic stop in the 1800 block of Middleton Ave shortly after 8:00 pm. Police observed open liquor in the vehicle. Further investigation into the passengers revealed that they were in possession of nearly $20,000, and 8 grams fentanyl individually packaged for sale. A 34-year-old female from Regina SK and a 36-year-old male from Winnipeg were arrested and lodged at Brandon Police Service. They will appear in court today on charges of Possess for the Purpose of Trafficking Fentanyl, and Possess Proceeds of Crime.

Twenty plus years at any job in today’s day and age is rare.   Today Tyler Glen Morning Man of Star FM  will step away from the microphone on December 18th leaving a 30 year broadcasting legacy. Tyler will remain as the stations Program Director.  Being a Program Director according to Glen is like a hockey coach getting his hockey players ready for a game.   Arranging on air talent – supervising what they say on air and as well digitally what they say on social media.  Plus dealing with advertisers to a degree, promotions and contests, and music selection and staying within CRTC compliance. Glen is happy that in this day and age of downsizing and automation that his stations have not done that.   He did say that his job is filled with various “mind fields” that you have to navigate through. One of his favorite memories was the Star Jet that they started in 2006 and would fly fans of the station to Mexico plus not to mention doing his morning show.  Thousands of people over those years Tyler had a unique chance to interact with those listeners for 7 days in Mexico.  Now with the good comes the bad memories as he says without a doubt COVID 19 and flying back on the Star Jet and landing in Winnipeg and finding out the NBA cancelled their season and it was a snowball of cancellations and news that Tyler and the Star Jet listeners found out once they landed in Winnipeg. People can critique music on any station and he says that is and will be always difficult to make a station that everyone likes.  Of note Tyler says he really isn’t a huge music fan or have a favorite artist but feels he is more of an entertainer. No on air replacements have been selected and will be announced within a few weeks. BDNMB.CA did report earlier this year that Tyler has a professional voice over company where he will voice and produce TV and Radio commercials for companies all over the world so his voice will still live on.

Compass Coach Lines, a newly established business in Brandon, is looking to spread a little holiday cheer this festive season. For three straight days (December 4-6) they will be hitting the streets of Brandon (along three different routes) in hopes of putting smiles on some faces. The buses will be painted and lit up along with Christmas carols playing. A link of the various routes and times can be found at this link.