On April 11th Skills Canada Manitoba held the Secondary and Post-Secondary level 2024 Provincial Skills Manitoba Competition in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Skills Canada Manitoba shines brightest during its Skills Competition. In this event, students engage in purposeful challenges that assess the skills essential for trades and technology careers. The underlying philosophy of the competition is threefold: recognize student excellence, actively engage industry in evaluating student performance, and ensure training programs align with employers’ requirements. Vincent Massey entered two teams into the Video Production category. The first team was Carter Dupuis, grade 11, and Isabelle Snow, grade 12. The second team was Leo Liu, grade 12, and Kevin Lee, grade 11. They travelled with their Media teacher Mr. Craig Ratz to Winnipeg for the competition. Carter Dupuis and Isabelle Snow ended up winning gold in the category! Carter explained “We had a great system of one of us editing while the other went out to film. After seeing how well the other groups projects turned out we were doubtful that we’d win, but in the end the judges chose our video to send to Nationals! It was a great experience regardless of a win or not, that said, we are really looking forward to competing in May.” Isabelle shared in Carter’s excitement from the day “The day went great, I had a lot of fun exploring the world of trades as well as getting to learn more about media arts. We may have had doubts about winning after seeing all the other awesome videos, but we were more than excited when we got the news! I was really excited to share the news with my friends and family when we got home and am even more excited for this amazing opportunity.” They were given a 5-hour time limit and used all but 2 minutes of their time to create the winning video. Although they couldn’t attend the award ceremony due to their travel time back to Brandon, they still celebrated their win on the car ride back! Over 475 high school, post-secondary and apprentice students compete in 42 skilled trades and technology contests in six industry sectors. Winners of the provincial competition may form Team Manitoba and compete against their peers at the Skills Canada National Competition in Quebec in May. Watch their winning video on the VMTV page @vmtv4314 on YouTube.

Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre is issuing a flood warning for the Assiniboine River between Shellmouth Dam and Brandon as a recent fast snowmelt is resulting in high flows in rivers and tributaries. A flood warning has been issued for these areas as the rising water levels could impact low-lying areas. The Assiniboine River is expected to be within the banks in the third week of April. The Hydrologic Forecast Centre also advises that outflow from the Shellmouth Dam will increase to 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) from the current 1,000 cfs to accommodate a high flow coming from Saskatchewan. The current inflow into the lake is 6,355 cfs. The Hydrologic Forecast Centre is also monitoring a precipitation system that is forecast to bring up to 40 millimetres (mm) of precipitation (rain/snow mix) into most parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the United States portions of the Red River basin and tributaries sometime in the middle of next week. The precipitation system is not expected to bring a significant impact to most parts of southern and central Manitoba as flows and levels have already peaked in most rivers and streams. Updated flows and level forecasts and basin condition assessments will be provided once the exact location, amount and timing of the precipitation system is known. The gates at the Portage Diversion are closed today after a brief operation to regulate ice-impacted water levels on the lower Assiniboine River downstream of Portage la Prairie. As the melt continues and precipitation is expected in the coming week, river flows and levels are expected to fluctuate in the coming days. The ice on Manitoba’s lakes, rivers and creeks is weak. Ice conditions can change rapidly without warning and Manitobans are reminded to stay off the ice and take caution around water systems. The Manitoba Emergency Management Organization (EMO) continues to work with all local authorities and emergency management partners to provide guidance and support in response to spring flooding. Additionally, Manitoba EMO continues to work with Indigenous Services Canada and Municipal and Northern Relations to support First Nation and Northern Affairs communities flood response. Updated forecast information is available at www.manitoba.ca/floodinfo/.

On April 13, 2024, at 12:20 am, police received a report of a male smashing vehicle windows in the 500 block of 12th Street.  The male was tracked to a business in the 700 block of 10th Street where he had caused damage and had assaulted an employee by throwing a beverage/container at him.  The 19 year old male was arrested and lodged at the Brandon Police Service where he appeared before a Justice regarding the matter.

The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in locating this person who is: “WANTED BY POLICE”: William HEAMAN FOR Theft Under $5000. On March 30th, 2024, William HEAMAN and an unknown male entered a business located in the 900 block of 18th Street North. The unknown male purchased a television then leaves the business and gives the receipt to HEAMAN. HEAMAN then proceeds into the business and takes the identical television. HEAMAN shows the receipt to an employ and walks out without paying. HEAMAN’s whereabouts are unknown at this time, please contact Brandon crime stoppers with any information. ***************** On April 9, 2024, 3 suspects were captured on surveillance in the 900 block of Dennis Street. One of the suspects climbs onto a parked vehicle and proceeds to jump on the windshield and hood causing damage. ***************** If you have any information as to the whereabouts of this person or anyone else “Wanted by Police” 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.

On April 10th at 09:30 am Police arrested a 13-year-old male for assault causing bodily harm. On April 4th, a 13-year-old female reported she was assaulted by a male she goes to school with. The victim had facial injuries that required stitches. The accused will appear in court on June 25th, 2024.