With key COVID-19 indicators stabilizing or improving, Manitoba is moving forward with a plan to further reduce public health restrictions next week, Premier Heather Stefanson announced today, noting Manitoba will continue to make adjustments as needed in the coming weeks based on the guidance of public health officials, including requirements for proof of vaccination. “I want to thank Manitobans who have made personal, professional and financial sacrifices over the past two years, and have done their part by getting vaccinated and following the fundamentals,” said Stefanson. “It is because of Manitobans’ collective efforts and dedication, compassion and willingness to protect one another that we are able to move forward once again to lift restrictions and allow Manitobans to get their lives back.” New public health orders will come into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15 that will move all of Manitoba to the Yellow (Caution) level under the Pandemic Response System. Capacity limits will be eliminated in venues such as restaurants, licensed premises, entertainment venues, indoor and outdoor sporting events and casinos, as well as gatherings at private residences. Capacity limits will be removed for outdoor public gatherings but will be limited to 50 people indoors unless proof of vaccination is required. Young people ages 12 to 17 participating in indoor sports and recreation will no longer be required to provide proof of vaccination or recent testing. There are no changes to retail and personal services. As of Feb. 15, close contacts of a person who tests positive for COVID-19 will no longer be required to self-isolate. Public health continues to recommend self-isolation for people who live in a household with others who have symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 but it will no longer be required. Additionally, public health will remove self-isolation requirements for individuals entering the province. However, anyone travelling from international destinations will continue to be required to meet requirements under the federal Quarantine Act. Public health orders restricting travel to northern Manitoba remain in place. “Based on the information and data monitored by public health, we are seeing strong signals that the Omicron wave has peaked and is now having a reduced impact here in Manitoba,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer. “As a result, it’s prudent to continue to reduce our public health restrictions. I want to remind Manitobans that this is an important time of transition and we still need to get vaccinated, wear a mask and do simple but important things like washing our hands and staying home when we are sick. We need to remain cautious about gathering sizes, even as we shift from public health rules to public health recommendations.” Effective Feb. 15, schools will return to Yellow (Caution) under the Pandemic Response System, which requires cohorts in kindergarten to Grade 6. Masks are required indoors for staff and students but will not be required during physical education classes. Medical masks will be recommended but no longer required for school staff. Schools will continue to send out community notification letters if public health officials have identified increased transmission or recommended remote learning for a class, cohort or entire school. The online dashboard will continue to post this information but will no longer include case numbers. Children, school staff and child-care staff will only be eligible for PCR testing if medically indicated, in line with eligibility criteria for all Manitobans. The province plans to remove proof of vaccination requirements effective March 1. In some settings, such as personal care homes, shelters, and health-care facilities, public health officials have continued to work with facilities to notify close contacts. Effective March 8, this will no longer occur. Mask requirements and other restrictions will be lifted effective March 15. For more information about COVID-19 and the pandemic response in Manitoba, visit manitoba.ca/covid19.

The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba has a new Board President. Kathy Cleaver replaces Greg Crisanti who held the position since February 2020. Crisanti will remain on the Executive as Past President. “We’re looking forward to getting through this year,” says Cleaver, who had been a member of the Executive Board for the past seventeen years. “Hard work has helped get us to where we are today and I have to say that we’re proud of where we’re at and excited about the future.” Meanwhile Clint Swain was elected Vice President of the Provincial Exhibition Board during Monday night’s Directors Annual General Meeting at the Dome Building. Swain, who is entering his fourth year with the Board, is excited to be taking on a larger role with the Provincial Exhibition. “The Provincial Ex has been so important for this community and I believe that its important to have strong voices and a strategic plan as we look down the road. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead,” says Swain. In addition to the appointments of Swain and Cleaver, five directors were chosen to the Executive Board. Connie Bok, Dallas Johnston, Clarke Swain and Shirley Neudorf were reelected while Brent Miller was elected to a new two-year term. Joining them on the Executive are Mitchell Easley, Ange Pearen and Wayne Buhr. The Provincial Exhibition continues to prepare for two upcoming events – February’s President’s Dinner at the Victoria Inn and the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in March. The Fair has been cancelled the past two years due to the covid-19 pandemic while the Dinner was unable to go ahead in 2021. While ticket sales to the dinner, scheduled for Thursday, February 24, have been going well, there are a limited number of tickets available. To order or for more information, call (204) 726-3590. Proceeds from the dinner and auctions will benefit Agriculture Education. (Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Release)

“CRIME STOPPERS WANTED” for: February 11th , 2022 The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in locating this person who is: “WANTED BY POLICE” Joseph James DYCK (42 yrs) FOR Failing to Attend Court The accused, Joseph DYCK, is presently on charge for numerous offences. These offenses include theft, two counts of failing to attend court, and six counts of failing to comply with court orders. On January 7 th , 2022, Joseph DYCK once again failed to attend court to deal with the charges. His current whereabouts is unknown, and a warrant of arrest has been issued. CRIME OF THE WEEK for February 11, 2022 The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in solving a; Residential Break & Enter On February 3rd , 2022, shortly after 9pm, a lone suspect broke into two residential apartment buildings located in the 000’ block of 16 th Street. The suspect gained entry by prying the doors with a screwdriver. Once inside, the suspect attempted to gain entry through several other interior doors. The suspect appears to have lighter skin and hair, wearing glasses, a dark grey toque, dark navy winter coat with black on the shoulders, and tan coloured work gloves. The incident was recorded on surveillance video, a copy of which is being circulated with this release. ************** If you have information about this or any other crime you are asked to contact Brandon Crime Stoppers @ 204-727-TIPS (8477), www.brandoncrimestoppers.com or by texting BCSTIP+your message to CRIMES (274637). Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to Call Display. Your call is not recorded and your identity will remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2000.00 cash for information that leads to the solution of a crime.

Travel Manitoba announced today that 50 tourism businesses will be supported in their efforts to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by adapting to changing customer expectations and offering innovative experiences. The Tourism Innovation and Recovery Fund was launched last November as a one time support initiative designed to increase the number of enticing tourism experiences in the province and support existing attractions in recovering from the impacts of the pandemic. Over 120 applications were received for the program, under one of two streams: Experience Enhancement, which offered up to $15,000 in funding to operators of an existing experience to improve their offering, and New Experience Development, which provided up to $25,000 in funding to enable tourism operators to create new experiences. Initially the program was budgeted at $500,000, but as a result of demand, over $1 million in project support will be provided. Twenty six percent of the program funding went to Indigenous owned tourism businesses, exceeding the original target of 15 per cent. One of those recipients is the Kikiwak Inn, which will be using the $25,000 in funding to offer northern tipi camping in Opaskwayak Cree Nation, located near The Pas, approximately 600 km north of Winnipeg. Guests will be able to stay in one of two 22 foot tipis in the summer. “We want to gain more tourism attractions to the North and we’re hoping that this opens up more opportunities for us for experiences that include fishing, hiking, canoeing and much more that is offered in the North”, said Jade Richards, Assistant General Manager of the Kikiwak Inn. “The idea has been discussed for awhile now but this funding was critical to make the dream come true”. Manitoba’s Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage, the Honourable Andrew Smith, said the fund is a means to help the tourism industry recover. “Tourism is a crucial part of Manitoba’s economy”, Smith said. “Prior to the pandemic, the tourism sector supported over 20,000 full time jobs and contributed over $300 million to provincial revenue. By increasing the number of quality tourism experiences through this program, Manitoba is able to be more competitive on the national and international stage.” Projects receiving support are located throughout the province and are expected to provide an economic benefit to businesses and the province by increasing visitation, visitor spending, and visitors’ length of stay in Manitoba. Cat Eye Outfitter will use their $14,000 in funding to offer anglers a fully equipped winter camping experience on Lake Winnipeg. “It’s wonderful to give people an experience on the lake that is manageable and safe, and at the same time, is transformative for them. You see changes in people when they see the aurora borealis, they hear the ice forming, and they learn about the history of the lake and the surrounding communities. They see what a wonderful resource we have”, said Daniel Kiazyk, owner of Cat Eye Outfitters. “It’s especially important now. People need to try something new and unique that is close to home”. Colin Ferguson, President and CEO of Travel Manitoba, said while the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been felt in all sectors, the travel, tourism and hospitality industry has been hit harder than most, was the first to feel its effects and will likely be among the last to fully recover. “The Tourism Innovation and Recovery Fund not only helps existing operations to recover from the pandemic, but also fosters the creation of new experiences for us to offer. Special consideration was given to projects that align with Manitoba’s high interest sectors, like winter, Indigenous, water-based experiences, Francophone and human rights education”. A new Manitoba Tourism Strategy, launched in July and led by a collaboration of the Government of Manitoba, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and Travel Manitoba, has a target to grow visitor spending by 50 per cent to reach $2.5 billion by 2030. Travel Manitoba is a Crown Corporation under provincial legislation that leads and stimulates sustainable tourism growth in Manitoba’s $1.6 billion pre-pandemic tourism industry. In partnership with the tourism industry, the agency is responsible for tourism marketing, visitor information services, research and public information. (submitted)

If you are an online buyer with eBa,y etc you will notice some sellers will not ship to Canada. Therefore you need packages shipped somewhere in North Dakota. Ryan Gottbreht, from ShipIt in Dunseith North Dakota, has the solution. USPS, FedEx and UPS plus various other companies can ship to Ryans address and he will text you to come and pick it up. His costs are 7 dollars US per package or 2 packages for 10 dollars. Additional fees for larger shipments.   He can accept pallets as he has a forklift on site. Ryan Gottbreht Dunseith is roughly 15 minutes south of the border crossing. Few details to remember: Depending if the shipment is personal or commercial you may require a customs broker to clear your shipment. Also for now you will require a US based COVID test.   A NAAT ID Now or PCR test is accepted by Canada Customs.   Also the ArriveCAN APP must be completed each time you cross the border.   The border will not accept Canadian COVID tests from Shoppers Drug Mart etc. Ryan is in the process of working with a Brandon shipper to pick up packages and rates and costs are now being established. Hardware Hank where ShipIt is located Contact / Text Ryan Gottbreht 701 871 9849 shipitnd@hotmail.com Hours 8am -530 Monday to Friday Hours 8am - 5pm Saturday Closed Sunday