Snow Angels Brandon, a good Samaritan-style community program overseen by the City of Brandon, is back for another winter season. It is currently looking to match up volunteers from the community willing to shovel for residents in their neighbourhoods requiring snow-shovelling assistance for the public sidewalks in front of their home. Through the program, volunteers are asked to help clear the municipally owned sidewalks around a resident’s property to keep Brandon’s neighbourhoods safer and more accessible. Individuals can register as either a person looking for shovelling assistance, or as someone willing to volunteer by visiting snowangels.brandon.ca, emailing snowangels@brandon.ca, or by calling the City of Brandon General Enquiry Phone Line at 204-729-2186. Each month, a list of addresses where residents have requested snow shovelling assistance will be shared with registered volunteers, who would then take it upon themselves to ensure the public sidewalk in front of those addresses are cleared of snow and ice following a snowfall. There is no cost to register to receive shovelling assistance, and the program does not allow for any payment for shovelling services provided. An important reminder that the program does not cover any volunteer shovelling that may occur on private property. Volunteers or persons who have signed up for shovelling assistance can opt out of the program at any time by contacting the City of Brandon in the same method they applied to participate. An important note that all program participants must re-register annually, even if they have been part of the program in previous years. The City of Brandon thanks all participants in advance for assistance in ensuring safe, accessible public walkways for all this winter season! (City of Brandon PSA)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media release On Friday November 13th, Police received a report of a Home Invasion in the 200 block of 4th Street.  The caller reports that three armed individuals entered his residence and stole property including two shotguns and a rifle.  The caller was able to identify one of the subjects.  On Saturday November 14th, Brandon Police arrested and charged a 34-year-old and 33-year-old Brandon male with Robbery with Violence. A search warrant was executed in the 100 block of 15th Street at which police recovered some of the property, which had been stolen.  The firearms and one unknown accused are still outstanding.  Both of the accused who were charged have been remanded in custody. Also arrested in relation to the above-mentioned search warrant a 35-year-old Brandon Male as well as a 20-year-old Brandon Female have each been charged with Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.  The female has been remanded in custody and the male has been released to attend court in January 2021.

Demolition will soon begin to support the redevelopment of the Daly Overpass (PTH 10), Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced today. “Our government is committed to improving this critical infrastructure for the City of Brandon,” said Schuler. “Due to the growth in the region and the importance of PTH 10 as a major route, the current Daly Overpass has created an undesirable bottleneck system for motorists and pedestrians. We are pleased to have a strong working relationship with the City of Brandon on the construction of this project.” The Daly Overpass project will include a new four-lane bridge with a separate pedestrian and active transportation bridge. The $65 million design will also include new on and off ramps to connect 18th Street with Pacific Avenue, new pathways, and sidewalk and pavement upgrades. On-site project work will begin this month with demolition to begin in December, including the Kullberg’s building. Manitoba Infrastructure will continue to provide project updates to the public and the City of Brandon throughout the construction period. For more information on the Daly Overpass project, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/mit/wms/structures/construction.html. (Province of MB News Release)

Brandon, MB – In following the Province of Manitoba’s Public Health Orders that took effect 12:01 a.m. November 12, the City of Brandon wishes to advise that it will be suspending access to the following City of Brandon maintained facilities: playground structures and equipment outdoor fitness equipment stations located in the community dog parks skating oval and warming shacks toboggan hills and warming shack skating areas on retention ponds Please note that access to the skating areas on retention ponds have not been opened yet due to thin ice conditions. Signs will be posted on structures, equipment and in the recreation areas in the coming days and we would ask the entire community for cooperation in this matter. Please note that the City of Brandon does not sanitize such equipment. As per public health orders for November 12, 2020, parks/greenspaces in the City of Brandon will remain open at this time.  However, social gatherings are not permitted. Anyone using these spaces must follow the Manitoba Public Health Orders, which can be found at manitoba.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs. (City of Brandon PSA)

(Province of MB News Release) Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, announced that as of 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12, the province of Manitoba will move to the Critical level (red) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System to halt COVID-19 transmission and protect Manitoba’s most vulnerable citizens. “We are at a critical point in our fight against COVID-19, and we must do everything we can to protect our most vulnerable Manitobans and ensure our health-care system is there for Manitobans, when they need it,” said Pallister. “This is a team effort, and we all have a role to play in protecting ourselves, our loved ones and our community. By taking these measures seriously, we are going to save lives.” The new Critical (red) level restrictions will be in effect provincewide and include: • Social contacts reduced to your household only. Social gatherings are not permitted. • Travel to and from northern Manitoba is restricted and non-essential travel is discouraged. • Retail businesses listed as critical services, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, can remain open at 25 per cent capacity. • Retail businesses not on the list are able to provide e-service, curbside pickup or delivery services. • All personal service businesses, including hair salons, barbers and sites offering manicures, pedicures and other esthetic services, must close. • Gyms and fitness centres must close. • Religious and cultural gatherings must close or be provided virtually only. • Restaurants must close to the public and may be open for delivery, drive-thru or takeout only. • All recreational activities, sports facilities, casinos, museums, galleries, libraries, movie theatres and concert halls must close. “We have taken steps in individual regions, but it’s time to take a more drastic approach to halt the rising case number and wide-spread community transmission of this deadly virus,” said Roussin. “I cannot stress enough to all Manitobans – now is the time to stay home and reduce your close contacts.” In addition, no changes will be made to child-care services or to kindergarten to Grade 12 education delivery at this time. Roussin noted the province has not seen widespread transmission among children, students and staff. There are a number of things Manitobans can do themselves to reduce the spread that go beyond the restrictions put in place, Roussin added. These include: • Reduce the number of shoppers from your household to the lowest possible number. Send only one person to shop. • Work from home if at all possible. • Reduce travel unless absolutely essential. • Remember all those you have come in contact with recently. As these restrictions go into place and in all regions, Manitobans are reminded that compliance and enforcement issues can be reported by visiting  and completing the reporting form at www.manitoba.ca/COVID19, or by calling 204-945-3744 or 1-866-626-4862 (toll-free) and pressing option three on the call menu. Fines for breaching or failing to comply with public health or emergency orders have recently been increased to $1,296 for individuals and $5,000 for corporations. Manitobans are still strongly encouraged to focus on these fundamentals to help stop the spread of COVID-19: • Stay home if you are sick or when any member of your family is sick. • Reduce your contacts to your household only and avoid closed-in or crowded spaces. • Wash/sanitize your hands, cover your cough and physically distance when you must be with people outside your household. • If you cannot physically distance, you should wear a mask to help reduce your risk. • Get a flu shot. Unless recommended by public health officials, only individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should go for testing. Individuals with symptoms are asked to seek testing as soon as possible once symptoms are present. Employers are asked to only send employees for testing if they have symptoms or if testing has been recommended by public health officials. Public health officials are advising Manitobans that if you are symptomatic, or if someone in your household is symptomatic, your entire household needs to self-isolate pending COVID-19 test results. The symptomatic individual needs to stay in their own room and, if possible, use their own bathroom and not use common areas.  This does not apply to asymptomatic household members if they are an essential worker required to wear PPE while at work such as health-care workers or first responders. For information on self-isolation, visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/resources.html#collapse2. The online assessment tool can be found at https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/and COVID-19 symptoms can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/about.html#collapse4. For questions about critical services and changes to the Pandemic Response System, visit http://engagemb.ca. For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19. For up-to-date information on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System, visit: https://manitoba.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/index.html.