BRANDON, MB – October 10, 2019 – the City of Brandon has proclaimed October 20th to 26th as “Toastmasters Week” in Brandon. This is all in support of District 64 Toastmasters’ “Toastmasters Week” to be celebrated throughout their jurisdiction from October 20 to October 26. During this week Toastmaster Clubs will be hosting open houses, themed meetings, guest nights, and anniversary celebrations, to be capped off with a gathering of representative members at a Toastmasters Leadership Institute to be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This is the District’s 60th year of service to nearly 100 clubs throughout Manitoba. Last week the Government of Manitoba, Ministry of Education and Training, declared October 20 to 26th as “Toastmasters Week in Manitoba.” Events, news and proclamations are being promoted at this website: https://www.toastmastersweek.com/ Brandon is home to 5 Toastmasters Clubs. Of particular interest this year the SKY-HY Club of Brandon is celebrating 60 years having been among some of the earliest clubs to form in the 1950s. Summit Toastmasters meets Thursdays at 7 am at the Rotary Villas at Crocus Gardens Private Dining Room. SKY-HY Club meets Tuesdays at 6:30 pm at the University of Brandon Clark Hall Room 104 20/20 Club meets Tuesdays at 4:30 pm at Rotary Villas Unit A. Core Communicators meets every second week (the 2nd and 4th Thursday) every month at 12 noon at Studio 78 29 10th street. BLT meets Thursdays at 12 noon at the A.R.McDiarmid Building - Kavanagh Room District 64 Toastmasters – manages the 101 clubs with a total of 1,400 members of Manitoba, North Western Ontario and North Western Minnesota and this year is celebrating 60 years of service. Their mission is to build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence. Toastmasters International - is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization's membership exceeds 357,000 in more than 16,600 clubs in 143 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators and leaders. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter. (submitted)

Shortly before noon on Thursday, fire and police responded to the intersection of 4th St and Brandon Ave for a two-vehicle crash. The vehicles involved were a taxi minivan, and a 4 door sedan. Significant damage to the front-passenger side of the taxi was visible, as well as the front portion of the sedan. Firefighter/paramedics used sand to help soak up fluids that were leaking from the sedan. The crash caused the taxi to veer off the road, and up onto a curb. Accel Towing & Transport arrived to clean up the wrecked vehicles. Photos by Liam Pattison Photography.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On October 9, 2019, at 11:55 pm, police attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle that was observed traveling westbound on Victoria Ave in the eastbound travel lane, near the 1800 block of Victoria Ave. The operator would not stop, and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle left the city during the pursuit, but eventually drove back into city limits. During the pursuit, officers observed the vehicle traveling in a dangerous manner by not only using the wrong travel lane, but also by speeding, and at one point driving the vehicle over a curb which appeared to deflate the driver’s side tires. The driver eventually stopped the vehicle in the 600 block of McDiarmid Cres., and fled on foot. The BPS Dog Unit pursued him through yards, until the suspect climbed up onto the roof of a residence on Almond Cres. The suspect jumped from the roof and was then arrested at approximately 12:45 am. He suffered injuries from the jump, for which he was treated at BRHC and released. The 22-year-old male was lodged at Brandon Correctional Centre and will appear in court today on charges of Dangerous Driving, Flight from Police. He was also the subject of a Parole Revocation Warrant. A female passenger was also taken into custody and released without charges.

It is a bingo players dream tonight at the Southwest Region Métis Federation on 6th street. One lucky person will win approximately $15,000 tax free tonight as part of their Chase the Ace contest. The Ace is Spades is the final card remaining and one person out of the 250 that will be allowed into the building will have their chance at this prize. Leah LaPlante, Vice President of the Southwest Region Métis Federation, said history will he made tonight as someone is guaranteed to take the prize home. In April of last year, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19 in The Pas last had a prize pot over $1 million dollars but this will be the largest prize to date for the Southwest Region Métis Federation. The previous largest prize was just over $10,000. People started to line up today at 6:30 am according to Métis Federation staff and without a doubt they will be sold out tonight. The prize will be drawn at bingo intermission. Thanks to Mike Wasilka for the tip with this story.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On September 24, 2019, police received a report of an incident, which occurred near the 100 block of 26th street n. at approximately 7:30 pm. A family was playing with their dog, when they were approached by a male suspect who was not known to them. The male threatened them while pointing a can of bear mace at them. He then proceeded to kick their dog. They were able to capture the incident on video. The suspect was located and arrested on October 7, 2019 after 2:00 pm. The 21-year-old male will appear in court on December 2, 2019 on charges of Assault with a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon Dangerous, Possess Prohibited Weapon, and Cruelty to Animals. The suspect’s intoxication level at the time of the incident is believed to have played a factor in his actions.