The Manitoba government has announced the first dates for upcoming agricultural Crown land lease auctions, Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen said today. “The former Department of Agriculture conducted extensive consultations with stakeholders on the allocation of agricultural Crown lands,” said Pedersen.  “The auction system is a fair and transparent approach that will create opportunities for new or young farmers to have access to these public assets.” Upcoming agricultural Crown land lease auctions are being held on: •    Nov. 27 at the Brandon Manitoba Agriculture Office; •    Nov. 28 at the Minnedosa Ukrainian Hall; •    Nov. 29 at the Dauphin Provincial Building; •    Dec. 3 at the Swan River War Veterans Community Hall; •    Dec. 5 at the Ashern Manitoba Agriculture Office; and •    Dec. 6 at the Dugald Community Hall. In November 2018, the Manitoba government passed The Crown Lands Amendment Act (Improved Management of Community Pastures and Agricultural Crown Lands), which enabled amendments to the Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Regulation (Oct. 1, 2019).  One of the updates to the regulation included implementing a system of allocating agricultural Crown land leases by way of a public auction. The Agricultural Crown Lands Program supports the sustainable expansion of the livestock herd in Manitoba, contributes to ecological goods and services, and provides mitigation and adaptation to climate change.  These leases and permits are available to farmers and ranchers, to provide an additional land base on which to conduct agricultural activities. More information on the upcoming auctions, including start times, can be found at https://resd.ca/leases_and_permits/LPproperties.aspx or contact a local Manitoba Agriculture Agricultural Crown Land office.

Santa will be making his annual visit to the Wheat City during the Brandon Santa Parade which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 16th @ 6:00pm.  A variety of floats will be on-hand along the parade route which covers several blocks around Rosser and Princess Avenues.  All float entries will be considered for several different judging categories including Best Parade Theme,  Best Decorated Vehicle and People's Choice.  Some of last year's winners include Westman Dreams for Kids for Best Parade Theme and the RCA Museum/CFB Shilo for Best Decorated Vehicle. Parade spectators are encouraged to being a non perishable food item in support of Canada Post and their food drive.

The city of Brandon and its surrounding region have an even stronger voice in Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government following a refresh of the provincial cabinet. At a ceremony earlier today, Brandon West MLA Reg Helwer was sworn in as Minister of Central Services, a new portfolio that focuses on modernizing government services in Manitoba. Helwer will also serve as Minister responsible for the Civil Service Commission and joins Spruce Woods MLA Cliff Cullen, who remains as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, at the cabinet table. “I am honoured to join the provincial cabinet as Minister of Central Services,” said Helwer. “I look forward to delivering on our government’s commitment to responsible fiscal management so we can invest even more in the front-line services Manitobans depend on.” In addition to the cabinet appointments, Brandon East MLA Len Isleifson will serve as Legislative Assistant to the Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living. “This is a great privilege and I am eager to help carry on the important work our government has started,” said Isleifson. “As someone who worked for over 20 years in the Prairie Mountain Health Region, I know how much Manitobans value a quality health-care system and the importance of delivering better care, sooner.”

Maryland Park School Brandon's newest Kindergarten to Grade 8 School is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in September 2020. Please join us on for our first Parent/Guardian Information Session on Monday, November 4, 2019 at 6:30 pm to review the registration process, answer your questions, and seek parental/guardian involvement. Date: Monday, November 4, 2019 at 6:30 pm Location: Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School Cafeteria 1930 – 1st Street, Brandon. Please enter through the west doors near the student parking lot. In order to plan for the needs of our students currently residing in the Maryland Park School Catchment Area, Brandon School Division is undertaking a two-step process. Families in this new Catchment Area are being asked to complete an online survey [Link: http://bit.ly/2PcgW7O] to confirm the enrollment numbers at the four schools that will be impacted by the shifting of this student population and the needs of within the Maryland Park School community. A paper copy of the survey will be available with each registration package. The next step will be for parents/guardians to review and complete the registration packages that will be sent home within the first two weeks of November for our students currently in Kindergarten through Grade 7. New Kindergarten registration materials for September 2020 will be made available to families in January 2020. If you require any disability accommodations or an interpreter for this event, please email our office: info@bsd.ca. Should you have any questions prior to the event, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Around 8:00 on Tuesday night, fire and police responded to the 200 block of Queens Ave East for a house explosion. The house had significant damage to all four sides of the structure. The front walls of the house were almost completely blown off. Brandon Fire & Emergency Services Captain Don Matthews says, "At this point we know that it was a natural gas explosion, but all other variables are currently under investigation. Office of the Fire Commissioner is on scene with their Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) unit, helping with stabilizing the structure." There has been no official word on injuries, but a person was seen being loaded into an ambulance. Brandon Fire, Brandon Police and Manitoba OFC are investigating. Photos by Liam Pattison Photography.