Shortly before 3:00 on Wednesday afternoon, Brandon Fire & Emergency Services and Brandon Police Service responded to the 2300 block of 10th St. for reports of a side-by-side on fire. Upon arrival it was realized that much more than just a side-by-side was on fire. It appeared that a side-by-side, shed, garage, industrial-type trailer, and multiple tall trees were on fire, with flames quickly spreading towards the house on the property. Firefighting efforts were hampered due to a downed live powerline and reports of propane/explosive material canisters in the fire area. Manitoba Hydro attended the scene to help shut down power, which allowed crews to move in and finish extinguishing the fire. No reports of injuries, and as of 5:45pm most of the fire units had cleared the scene.

The Society for Manitobans with Disabilities has changed its name to Manitoba Possible.The new name has been chosen to better reflect the organization’s mandate in relation to the evolving needs and aspirations of the Manitobans they serve. “This change comes at a time when we are advancing our service offerings and expanding our provincial reach. We believe that an inclusive and accessible society is possible, and we strive to achieve this by working collaboratively, embracing diversity and innovating at every level”, says Dana Erickson, Chief Executive Officer. “Our new name -Manitoba Possible -captures the values that have underpinned 70 years of leadership and support our organization has provided,for and with, Manitobans with disabilities. It also serves to renew our commitment to working together with all of our stakeholders,to eliminate barriers to full and equal participation for everyone in our society.” says Erickson. “We have a lot of possibilities in Manitoba -we just need to reach out and grab hold of them.” says Peter Zacharias, President, Board of Directors. “We’ve made a lot of strides over the years, but there are still many areas that have been left behind. Manitoba Possible believes that there is a valued place for everyone. We know that the SMD name has itself been a barrier for those who don’t identify as persons with disabilities.Our new name better reflects the aspirations of those we serve, which in turn fuels our purpose.” Manitoba Possible was originally founded in 1950 as the Society for Crippled Children. Today, the Manitoba Possible family includes a head office and two locations in Winnipeg, as well as six regional offices throughout Manitoba. We provide a diverse spectrum of programs and services emphasizing choice and self-determination for thousands of children, youth and adults with disabilities and in the Deaf community throughout the province. Our programming is supported by the Province of Manitoba, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, United Way Winnipeg, Government of Canada, and our generous donors and sponsors. (Manitoba Possible Media Release)

Brandon, MB. – Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) students from Crocus Plains High School, Elton Collegiate and Vincent Massey High School will be distributing grants totaling $10,000 to 20 local charities on Giving Tuesday May 5 th , 2020. The YIP grant presentation evening was to take place on Tuesday May 5th, hosted by the Elton Collegiate YIP students. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 situation, BACF had to cancel this year’s granting evening. All grant recipients will receive their grant money via mail. The YIP program is a BACF program designed to introduce motivated youth to philanthropy and local community development. This program gives the students a hands-on experience working as a team and with local charitable organizations to help our communities thrive. Each September, schools form their YIP committees. Each committee receives grant monies from BACF and the United Way of Brandon & District, to grant to charities in our community. The students research charities that meet the BACF granting criteria and learn more about what those charities do by visiting them and interviewing people who work there. “The students really get a sense of what non-profit organization are about and how important these grants can be to their programs,” states Laura Kempthorne, Executive Director of BACF “These students are incredible. They take their role of decision making very seriously, making sure their grant will make animpact for the organization they choose. I hope their experience with the YIP program inspires them throughout their lives.” Over the past 16 years, YIP students have awarded $157,000.00 in grants to numerous organizationsthroughout Brandon and the Westman area. For a listing of 2020 YIP grant recipients visit www.bacf.ca. (submitted)

On Sunday, a 36-year-old male driver, from Calgary, was arrested and taken into custody following a traffic stop by officers with the Manitoba RCMP Roving Traffic unit that uncovered 350 cases of illegal tobacco, containing 3,500,000 cigarettes. Police say the vehicle was traveling westbound on Highway 1, approximately two kilometres east of Brandon at the time. “We believe that this is one of the largest seizures of illegal tobacco from a traffic stop in Canada,” said Staff Sergeant Kyle McFadyen of the Manitoba RCMP’s Traffic Services. “It really speaks to the importance of the Manitoba RCMP’s Roving Traffic Unit. This unit is comprised of officers with specialized training who work to identify potential criminals travelling on our roadways. The officers do this work as they conduct Highway Traffic Act enforcement” from today's Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Manitoba's Facebook statement. If convicted, the driver could face a mandatory triple tax penalty of over $3,000,000.00 under the Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act. According to police, the investigation continues.

Brandon Riverbank Inc. is pleased to announce that construction of the new Westman Dreams For Kids Accessible Playground has begun as of today. The new playground, which includes equipment designed for kids with mobility issues and autism, will be built near the current playground on Riverbank grounds. Construction is expected to take two weeks (depending on weather). Meanwhile, the East Wetland Restoration Project is also set to begin soon. Flood waters in the past have damaged the wetland and the restoration project will provide a much-needed facelift to the area. (submitted)