BRANDON, MB10.07.20–The community of Glenboro is coming together to develop programming to address the need for healthy food. Jim Rediger, Westoba President and CEO said Westoba’s involvement in this initiative is a direct result of staff recognizing need in their community and responding. “In the spring of 2020, Westoba provided much needed financial support to the food banks and food security programs in our communities,“ said Rediger. “Our staff noticed there was a gap in services for Glenboro and took it upon themselves to do something about it.” Glenboro Branch Manager, Marie Bodnarchuk has been the catalyst for this initiative united with Charlene Claeys-Godard from the Glenboro UCT. Together, they have put the wheels in motion to establish a food security program in Glenboro. “We know our regions are already doing great things on the issue of food security,“said Bodnarchuk. “We distributed a questionnaire to other food banks in the area to collect information on how they are operating and to lay the foundation for a similar program in Glenboro. “ The program is still in the initial planning stage,but local support has already started coming in. Tracy Rimmer of Rimmer Technology Partners has agreed to provide space for program delivery at their 504 Railway Avenue location in Glenboro. “The owners and staff of Rimmer Technology Partners are devoted to seeing their communities not only survive but thrive,“said Rimmer. “For us, people going to bed hungry, having to choose to pay bills over buying groceries to feed their families, should not happen in a country as rich and diverse as Canada. Especially rural Canada, where agriculture is such a mainstay of our economy.We are pleased to be able to provide space for this important program. ” A virtual community meeting to discuss the program and to recruit volunteers and resources will be held on Tuesday, October 20th via Microsoft Teams. “Everyone deserves access to healthy food” said Marie Bodnarchuk. “With respect for COVID distancing recommendations, we are asking the community to join us virtually to review the plans for this local food security program and find out more about how you can get involved whether it’s by giving your time or financial resources.” Those interested in attending the meeting are asked to email karen.burton@westoba.comto RSVP and receive a URL link to the meeting.

BRANDON—A new computerized tomography (CT) scanner has been installed and is now operational at the Brandon Regional Health Centre, bolstering diagnostic services for patients by providing faster scans with sharper images and lower exposure to radiation than the machine it replaced, Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen announced here today. “Our government is committed to improving health care for all Manitobans by investing in necessary equipment upgrades that ensure we are able to deliver care closer to home,” said Friesen. “The new CT scanner enhances the diagnostic services in Brandon by substantial advanced technology and allows more patients to receive service.” The new CT scanner, which cost about $2 million to purchase and install, began operation July 29, and replaced aging equipment that was nearing the end of its expected lifespan. The news scanner is expected to increase the number of scans able to be performed at the Brandon Regional Health Centre once staff are fully trained on the new equipment, which offers faster scans with sharper images. A CT scanner uses X-rays to make detailed pictures of structures inside the body. It can be used to study many parts of the body including organs, blood vessels, bones and the spinal cord. In 2019-20, the Brandon Regional Health Centre performed 13,745 scans. “Diagnostics equipment and the skilled staff who operate it are vital to our ability to improve the care we provide to patients at facilities across Manitoba,” said Petr Kresta, chief operating officer of diagnostic services, Shared Health. “Manitoba’s population is growing and aging, and our health system is modernizing to be responsive to the changing health-care needs of patients including efforts to provide services in communities throughout the province. This new CT scanner is a significant investment that will benefit the health of residents of western Manitoba for years to come.” “CT scanners are a vital tool for clinical staff in the diagnosis of patients for a wide variety of ailments,” said Penny Gilson, CEO, Prairie Mountain Health. “Investing in new equipment at the Brandon Regional Health Centre reflects the government’s continued commitment to the people in this city and the Westman region.” Manitoba has made significant investments in health care for the Brandon and Westman region in recent years including an extensive $15.8-million renovation and redevelopment of the Brandon Regional Health Centre, the hiring of 10 new full-time rural paramedic positions for the Prairie Mountain Health region last winter and expanded dialysis services in the region. Manitoba’s Clinical and Preventive Services Plan, released last November, positions the Brandon Regional Health Centre as an intermediate hub in the province’s transformed health system, with recommendations to enhance its capacity to provide higher acuity and specialty services in the future. Since 2016, the Manitoba government has invested significantly to improve diagnostic services. This includes the launch earlier this year of echocardiography services at the Selkirk Regional Health Centre, the installation of a linear accelerator for radiation treatment at CancerCare Manitoba and general duty X-ray machines at Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach and the Altona Community Memorial Health Centre. Other diagnostic equipment purchase and installations in progress include a: • general duty X-ray machine and a liquid chromatography system at HSC Winnipeg; • CT scanners at Portage District General Hospital and Victoria General Hospital in Winnipeg; and • a new interventional radiology unit at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg. For more information on Manitoba’s Clinical and Preventive Services Plan, visit: https://sharedhealthmb.ca/wp-content/uploads/Final_PCPSP_Final-Report_2019Nov-28.pdf. (Province of MB News Release)

The Manitoba government is proud to welcome Amazon Logistics to the province, Economic Development and Training Minister Ralph Eichler announced today. “The Manitoba government has worked hard to create a good business environment where companies want to grow and create jobs,” said Eichler. “Manitoba is a great place to do business and we thank Amazon for its investment and for showing confidence in our economy.” Amazon plans to open a new delivery station in the Inkster Industrial Park, northeast of Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.  The 113,000-sq.-ft. site is set to launch in 2021. “We are excited to continue our growth in Canada with our first Manitoba delivery station in Winnipeg,” said Tushar Kumar, regional director, Amazon last mile logistics operations for Amazon Canada. “This new delivery station will allow us to provide fast and efficient delivery for customers, and provide hundreds of job opportunities for the talented local workforce.” The station will create hundreds of direct and indirect full-time and part-time jobs in areas such as parcel sorting, management and third-party delivery services. The delivery station will receive and sort parcels from other distribution centres and co-ordinate deliveries to homes and businesses in the Winnipeg area through local third-party service providers. The delivery station will power Amazon’s last-mile capabilities to speed up deliveries for customers in the Winnipeg metro region and enable Amazon logistics to supplement the capacity and flexibility of its delivery capabilities, said Kumar. Delivery stations also offer Manitoba entrepreneurs the opportunity to build their own business delivering Amazon packages, as well as independent contractors the flexibility to be their own boss and create their own schedule delivering for Amazon Flex. The minister noted the job creation opportunity is particularly welcome as the Manitoba government works to restart its economy from the COVID-19 pandemic and safely return Manitobans to work. (Province of MB News release)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At approximately midnight on Saturday night, police conducted a pedestrian stop with a 35-year-old male from Brandon.  The male was found to be carrying a replica handgun, a concealed knife, a small quantity of methamphetamine and a quantity of cash.  The male was charged with carry a concealed weapon, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possess proceeds of crime and possession of a dangerous weapon.  The male was released from custody and will appear in court in November.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On 2020-10-01 at approximately 12:50 P.M. a traffic stop was conducted in the 1700 block of Highland Avenue.  The driver of the vehicle was found to be driving without a valid licence.  The license plate on the vehicle was also found to be off another vehicle.  The member conducting the stop observed drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.  The 35 year old driver from British Columbia and a 21 year old female were placed under arrest.  A search of the vehicle incidental to the arrest resulted in the seizure of Methamphetamines, Fentanyl, and stolen identification which included two Canadian Passports.  Both subjects were held in custody to appear in court on October 2nd, 2020.