Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon’s Streets & Roads Section would like to remind the motoring public that they play an important role in helping crews stay on top of patching potholes popping up on City roadways during the spring freeze-thaw cycle. Presently, one Streets and Roads crew is focusing on patching early-season potholes with a temporary winter asphalt and tar mixture, with additional staff to be added to the City’s “pothole patrol” in the coming weeks. Motorists are urged to drive with care and caution around crews as they conduct this work on City streets through the season. Once more consistently warm temperatures arrive, crews can begin using the City’s in-house asphalt reclaimer and asphalt pre-mix heater to patch potholes more permanently with hot mix. Later in the spring, the Public Works Department will be able to secure a commercial supply of hot mix asphalt. Motorists are encouraged to help crews out where possible and report problem potholes by calling the City of Brandon’s 24-hour Pothole Hotline at 204-729-2200. While the phone line is monitored for issues to be addressed, calls are not returned. Residents can also alert Street & Roads staff to problem potholes by submitting an online report on the City’s website by following this link: http://www.brandon.ca/report-an-issue. The City of Brandon reminds its residents that a number of roads within City limits, including Victoria Avenue, Richmond Avenue, First Street, and 18th Street (including the bridges), are under the jurisdiction of the Province of Manitoba and, therefore, do not fall within the City of Brandon’s pothole patching program. Residents wishing to report a pothole or unsafe driving condition on a Provincial roadway can call 1-866-MANITOBA (1-866-626-4862). Residents should also note that the City of Brandon’s pothole patching program does not apply to the aprons (sloped approaches) leading into private driveways, nor does it apply to the accesses/approaches or parking lots of private businesses. Finally, the City of Brandon cautions all motorists that you should never swerve to avoid a pothole in your path! Drivers are advised to reduce their speed when approaching a pothole, but don’t brake when driving over the pothole as this can cause more damage. More pothole navigation pointers can be found by visiting the Manitoba Public Insurance website’s pothole page here: http://www.mpi.mb.ca/en/Rd-Safety/Tips/60-Sec-Driver/Pages/Potholes.aspx.

As part of the Manitoba government’s commitment to public safety, mandatory entry-level training for commercial truck drivers will be implemented Sept. 1, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced today.  Requirements will include 121.5 hours of training, which is consistent with other provinces including Alberta and Saskatchewan. “Our government is focused on public safety on our roads and highways in this province, and mandatory training for new truck drivers will make Manitoba safer,” Schuler said.  “Commercial truck drivers play an important role in moving our economy forward, and we are focused on ensuring they have the necessary skills and qualifications to do their job in a way that ensures everyone is safe on the road.” In addition, there will be a one-year deferral of new training requirements for the agriculture sector to allow for additional consultations with the industry, in order to determine an appropriate phase-in strategy that mitigates impacts on the start of the 2019 farming season. Currently, a person can obtain a Class 1 truck driving license by successfully completing a knowledge-based written test and a practical road test.  There is no mandatory training required prior to testing taking place. Earlier this year, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) began work on an implementation plan, focused on addressing all policy and operational requirements including addressing licensing policy issues and Class 1 driver testing considerations.  MPI will continue to work on this plan and more details will be announced in the coming weeks. “With these new requirements coming into effect, we are working with Manitoba Public Insurance to ensure that Class 1 testing is implemented in a timely manner and that disruptions are managed for the industry,” Crown Services Minister Colleen Mayer said.  “MPI is an important partner in ensuring public safety on Manitoba’s roads and highways.” Manitoba Infrastructure, Manitoba Public Insurance, and Manitoba Education and Training consulted with over 100 stakeholders including industry associations, agricultural sector agencies, Indigenous organizations, established sector councils, educational providers, municipal stakeholders and small-scale commercial carriers.

Brandon & Area Suicide Prevention Implementation Network (SPIN) is excited to bring Dr. Nicholas Carleton, Professor of Clinical Psychology, from University of Regina to Brandon for our annual conference on May 1, 2019 at the Clarion Hotel & Suites.  The focus of this year’s conference is Public Safety Personnel: Best Practices Regarding Trauma and PTSD.  Dr. Carleton is also the Scientific Director for the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment.  This conference will bring together First Responders or Public Safety Personnel such as police, fire, EMS, military, correctional officers, 911 and crisis line operators, STARS, disaster relief, search and rescue, emergency departments child welfare, critical incident responders and clinicians who support those in the field.  The objectives of the conference are to highlight unique challenges and opportunities faced by public safety personnel; provide contemporary research on the prevalence of mental disorders, suicide, and chronic pain across public safety personnel groups; understand recent research results regarding public safety personnel health; and become familiar with the pending research needs and projects focused on supporting improvements for public safety personnel health. Registration information can be found on www.spinbrandon.ca.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release As a result of a police investigation, a 20-year-old Brandon male was identified from video surveillance footage breaking in to multiple storage lockers in the west end of Brandon and stealing a large number of items including tires, bicycles and other household items.  The male was arrested and released to appear in court in May.  None of the stolen items have been recovered.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release As part of the ongoing police investigation, another search warrant was executed in the RM of Oakland resulting in the recovery of 11 firearms, ammunition and a stolen motorcycle.  The previously charged 31-year-old Brandon male was charged with further offences related to the unauthorized possession of firearms and possession property obtained by crime.  He remains in custody and will appear in court in the morning.