Students living in residence at BU can finally cut the cord. New investments in campus-wide WiFi mean that Brandon University’s three student residences will now have wireless internet access at no extra cost. “This is a huge upgrade for our residents, who were previously limited to ethernet cable connections,” said Jackie Nichol, BU’s Ancillary Services Manager. “Students will no longer have to purchase their own routers and struggle with functionality. Now there will be faster service with far fewer technical difficulties — and it’s all included in their existing fees.” The new WiFi will permit students unfiltered access to online entertainment services like Netflix, as well as more convenient access to their online coursework through Moodle plus of course traditional email, web browsing, and social media. “Convenience is one of the biggest benefits of living in residence, and this just adds another layer to that,” Nichol said. “While it may seem like no big deal to plug in a computer, WiFi makes everything easier when you’re on a laptop, tablet or phone. It’s one less thing for students to worry about so they can focus on their studies.” Among other residence renovations being completed this year is the replacement of a plumbing stack in McMaster Hall which allows for 20 newly renovated single rooms in the all-gender residence. Those are expected to be ready by mid-September. In the men’s residence, the Darrach Hall games room has a fun and fresh new look with bold colours, a new air hockey table, a refinished slate pool table and some pods that can be used for study and/or gaming. “Common spaces are so important, and we really love how this one has turned out,” Nichol said, adding that the study room in McMaster Hall is also seeing some changes with new paint and modern furniture. “The five lobby spaces in McMaster Hall will also be popular spots to hang out this year,” she said, “with the addition of 50-inch smart TVs and some fresh lighting.” Currently, the BU residences are anticipating about 300 students in residence this fall and have capacity for about 75 more applications. “These upgrades will really improve residence life for our students. Updating our common spaces and upgrading our WiFi makes BU Residence feel more like their home away from home,” said Derek Booth, the Acting Residence Manager at BU. “When students feel homesick, or when students feel the pressure of balancing work, school, and finances, having a space to relax and enjoy the company of their peers is fundamental to the residence life experience. Living in a warm and welcoming environment encourages communication and fosters connections between students, which is essential when we want to build a residence community.” “Residence is a great way to experience university life, with tons of social options, academic support and the convenience of knowing that things like laundry and meals are just down the hall,” added Nichol. “We are all thankful for the hard work of our Ancillary Services team as well as the Physical Plant and IT staff who are making sure that this coming year in BU residence will be the best yet!” (source: Brandon University News)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release Just before midnight last night, police attended a group home in the city of Brandon in response to a complaint that a youth in care had assaulted an on duty staff member. The female youth was upset with that staff member and punched the staff member in the face. No medical treatment was required for the staff member. Police arrested the youth for assault and removed her from the residence. She was lodged at BCC and will be remanded today on a charge of assault.

Source:Brandon Police Service Media Release A 62 year old Brandon man has been charged with Possession of Child Pornography following an investigation by Major Crimes Section. Brandon Police received notification from the National Child Exploitation Coordination Center that an internet user in Brandon was in possession of child exploitation material. A search warrant was executed at the home of the user on August 14th and more material was located on a computer. The suspect was arrested on Friday and released on an Undertaking to abide by conditions with a court date in October.

The festival had only been open a few hours by the time bdnmb.ca got there and the line-ups were already starting to grow. The 3rd annual Ribest was alive with hungry patrons looking to chow down on some ribs, brisket, and chicken from three award winning and professional circuit BBQ experts. Billy's BBQ is a new ribber to Brandon this year. They are based out of Midland, Michigan. There will be music throughout the event, a beer garden, and activities for children (Saturday & Sunday only). Admission is free and there is plenty of parking. Hours are from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm Friday and Saturday, and 11:00 am to 7:00 pm on the Sunday. The Facebook event page can be found here.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At approximately 11:45 am, police stopped a 2016 white Volkswagen Jetta in the 1600 block of Rosser Ave. The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Winnipeg. There were four occupants in the vehicle at the time of its recovery. Each of them was arrested for Possess Property Obtained by Crime, and they will appear in court on October 10, 2019. They include the 25-year-old male driver, a 19-year-old female passenger, a 22-year-old female passenger, and a 27-year-old female passenger.