The City of Brandon’s Streets & Roads Section wishes to advise the public that, due to additional accumulations of snowfall experienced this week, the threshold has been met to begin a City-wide residential snow-plowing program on Thursday, February 7th. Crews will spend the remainder of today (Wednesday, February 6th) completing Priority Route plowing and once complete, will move into Residential Zones “D” and “G” in order to best coordinate with the City of Brandon’s established sanitation collection schedule. This move into residential areas is anticipated to occur overnight tonight/into tomorrow morning. Snow-plowing operations will continue on a 24-hours basis until all municipal streets are cleared. The City of Brandon’s online snow map will be updated later this week to show progress made in residential zones and the subsequent order of scheduled plowing for the remaining residential zones. An important reminder that the City of Brandon DOES NOT sign most residential areas before equipment moves in to clean them, so residents can greatly assist plowing efforts by watching for updates posted online at snowmap.brandon.ca and making every attempt to move their vehicle off the street while plows or loaders are working in their neighbourhood. The only exception to this noted procedure are in areas of the City’s core that are prone to parking congestion, which are signed with “No Parking” signs in advance of plowing. In these areas, vehicles remaining in the “No Parking” zones could be subject to a ticket or a tow. Once all the above-noted snow plowing activities have been completed, Streets and Roads crews will turn their attention next week to hauling away large piles of snow from boulevards and medians to improve sight lines. As always, the City of Brandon thanks the public for its patience as crews continue plowing efforts and reminds all motorists to stay well back of all plows, loaders or any other heavy machinery out on City streets while they are conducting snow plowing and removal operations.

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon and Brandon Transit wish to draw the public’s attention to the forthcoming removal of Brandon Transit Route 16 (South End Link) and Route 19 (Mall-Downtown Link) from the City’s overall transit network, effective March 4th, 2019. As per a decision of Brandon City Council during its annual budget deliberation last month, removal of the two underperforming routes was agreed upon as a means of finding savings within Brandon Transit’s operating budget. As such, the two routes mentioned above will cease to operate as of Monday, March 4th, with Brandon Transit customers affected by the changes to be accommodated by the City of Brandon’s existing TransCab service at no additional fare cost for the rider. TransCab is a supplementary service offered by Brandon Transit to specific areas of the City where Transit service is warranted, but traditional bus service is no longer available. Through the service, transit riders place an advance call to Brandon Transit dispatch staff for service by dialing 204-729-2241 and are then either picked up by a contracted cab company or by a Brandon Transit employee and transported to one of eight authorized TransCab pick-up/drop-off bus stops to allow them access a regular Brandon Transit bus route. Transit riders who are travelling to or from the following locations are eligible to use the TransCab Service: Braecrest Drive (between 18th Street and Knowlton Drive);  The entire stretch of McDonald Avenue;  Portola Drive (between 9th Street and 1st Street); 13th Street (between Richmond Avenue & Queens Avenue); Willowdale Crescent (between 26th Street and 34th Street) A full explanation of how TransCab service works can be found on the Brandon Transit website here. Brandon Transit asks for the public’s patience and understanding as this transition of service is made. Anyone with questions about the upcoming removal of Routes 16 & 19 or how to access TransCab service may contact Brandon Transit by calling 204-729-2300 or through the Brandon Transit website.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release On Tuesday afternoon at approximately 2:30pm, a 911 call was received about a fire in the 300 block of Louise Avenue. Smoke and flames were coming out of the side of the house. Police were on the scene and made attempts to ensure the occupants were out safe. Police observed and approached a male who was staring at the fire, during their conversation, the male said he lived in the main floor suite which was on fire. The male admitted to starting the fire. Police arrested a 34yr old Brandon man for Arson. The male was lodged at BCC to appear in Court on February 06th. Still under investigation.

Shortly after 2:30 on Tuesday afternoon, Brandon Fire and Emergency Services and Brandon Police Service responded to the corner of 4th Street and Louise Ave in Brandon for a structure fire. Upon arrival, smoke and flames were showing throughout the entire three-story residence. Firefighter/paramedics went to work and put multiple hose-lines in action, while simultaneously securing a water supply from a fire hydrant. A ladder truck was used to apply large amounts of water onto the fire from it's aerial ladder. As of 6:30 Tuesday night, fire crews were still on scene battling the blaze, and will likely be on scene throughout the night. No word on if any injuries occurred.  Photos by: Liam Pattison Photography.

Canada’s Premiere Classic Rock Festival is headed back to Minnedosa in 2019 for three days of outstanding classic rock under the summer sun.   Collective Soul, 54-40, Tom Cochrane, Platinum Blonde and the Sam Roberts Band will all take to the main stage at the 16th annual festival. Saturday night's headliner Collective Soul is an American based rock band who rose to international fame in 1993 with their song “Shine.”  Some of their other notable singles include “The World I Know,” “Precious Declaration,” “December,” and “Where the River Flows.” The rest of the festival lineup includes: April Wine, Sass Jordan, Lee Aaron, Harlequin, Streeetheart and the Battle of the Bands winner.  Tickets go on sale February 8 at 10:00am! Rockin' the Fields of Minnedosa 2019 takes place August 2-4.  With hot showers, vendors, ice, camping, water and septic service, garbage and recycling pick up, onsite security and first aid there are many ways to keep yourself comfortable.   Additional festival information is available at rockinthefields.ca or at 1-888- 330-8333.