Friday, March 29, 2019 Brandon, MB – It’s day five of the 2019 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair and organizers expect another fun filled day with more happy fairgoers. “The entertainment and competitions have been exceptional all week long and we are really looking forward to the last couple of days,” said Ron Kristjansson, general manager, The Klondike Showmanship Cattle Show will take place on the TD AG Action stage for most of the day followed by live action exhibits and the BMO MB Farm Family honoree, Southern Manitoba Potato Company of Gnadenthal area sharing their farm story at 5:15 PM. The RBC Challenge will open the evening show with $18,000 up for grabs along with the Tim Horton’s Costume Class and Six Horse Championship Classic A. Canadian Hackney Society inductee and longtime RMWF Hackney exhibitors, Gilbert Farms will be recognized in the main arena, more information available on our website. At the same time as the main arena evening show, the RMWF Steer sale will be taking place in the Royal Farm Yard with an added element that will help children and adolescents survive their very rare cancers thanks to the generous donation and organizing of Cattle Show Chair, Dallas Johnston. Partnering with CancerCare MB, Dallas’s family will be auctioning off a steer that will benefit the Terry Fox (PROFYLE) PRecision Oncology For Young people initiative. Phone bids will also be accepted during the sale; call 204-724-5367or 204-841-3880. Show results available on the RMWF Website Saturday, March 30 is the last day of the fair. The Royal Farmyard and lower level Tradeshow are open 10 AM - 7 PM. The final show jumping event of the week, the RMWF Grand Prix offers $25,000 in prize money and the coveted KT McPherson Award will be given out to the top horse/rider combo for the week. Free gate admission after 8 PM with plenty of fun to be had before the faFair open until 2 AM. Taggle Box will play the Barn Bar, show starting at 9 PM. Follow the Provincial Exhibition on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for instant updates and visit the website at www.royalmanitobawinterfair.com #RMWF Source: Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Release

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon and management and staff at Brandon’s Community Sportsplex wish to notify customers and the general public that as of Friday, April 26th, 2019, the City of Brandon will no longer provide food concession services at the Sportsplex. After many attempts in the past several years to provide food choices in a financially sustainable manner, it has been decided it is time to move to a different food service model. Beginning on Wednesday, May 1st, 2019, customers who require light food alternatives can purchase beverages and snacks from the facility’s expanded vending machine options. The City of Brandon appreciates the public’s support of past concession services provided at the facility and asks for continued support from patrons as it works through this transition of service. User groups with questions about group or event food options at the Sportsplex are encouraged to email Sportsplex Facility Manager Jeff Elliott at j.elliott@brandon.ca. More information about the programming at Brandon’s Community Sportsplex can be found via Brandon’s online recreation portal, https://mycommunity.brandon.ca/.

Manitoba’s minimum wage will increase by 30 cents on Oct. 1, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen announced today. “We are providing predictable and sustainable increases to Manitoba’s minimum wage, which achieves the right balance benefitting both employees and employers,” said Pedersen.  “Based on Manitoba’s Consumer Price Index for 2018, the minimum wage increase will help our economy continue to attract new investment and participation in the workforce.” Pedersen noted the increase of 30 cents per hour will raise the current minimum wage to $11.65 from $11.35 and ensure that Manitoba remains competitive with other provinces.  This adjustment is based on Manitoba’s 2018 inflation rate of 2.5 per cent and rounding up to the nearest five cents. Information on the minimum wage and other employment standards is available at www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On March 27th, 2019 at 1:38 pm police responded to a complaint of a stolen vehicle parked in the Corral Centre area. Upon arrival on scene two woman were observed entering the vehicle and attempting to drive away. Both woman, a 32 year old from Brandon and a 26 year old from Carberry were arrested without incident. Both women were released on a PTA to appear in Brandon Court on May 23rd, 2019.

The Brandon University Board of Governors has established an advisory group that will help it consider three detailed proposals for a possible BU development in downtown Brandon. After receiving a pre-development report on the 70,000 square foot parcel last year, the Board of Governors began exploring options with private developers, and invited submissions this winter. Three proposals have now been received. Proposals have been received from Sneath Group, from VBJ Developments, and from Wheat City Revitalization Partners. Due to a conflict of interest with his employer, BU Board of Governors member Derrick Stewart has taken an indefinite leave of absence from his position as Board Chair. In the meantime, Board Vice Chair Shawn Chambers will assume the duties of chair, including the role of chair of the Downtown Development Advisory Group (DDAG). The DDAG, which includes other members of the BU Board of Governors as well as community members, will fully consider all three proposals. The DDAG is currently being oriented to the process and is expected to make a recommendation to the Board in the coming months.