Friday afternoon, CFB Shilo Fire Department responded to a property in Douglas, Manitoba for a propane gas leak. Fumes were identified and smelt in the area, prompting the closure of the Highway 340 through a portion of Douglas. RCMP officers were on scene to assist in the closure of the highway, and to maintain a safe perimeter around the gas leak. At least one person was assessed for possible exposure to the gas. Fire crews remained on scene throughout the afternoon.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release On January 24th, 2019, at approximately 8:50 am, police conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of 9th Street. A 39 year old man from rural Brandon who initially provided officers with a false name was eventually identified and found to have an arrest warrant for Break and Enter as well as a number of breaches of his Recognizance. The male was also on a Court Ordered condition not to communicate with a certain female who as it turned out was also an occupant in the same car. The man was lodged at BCC for Brandon Court on January 25th, 2019.

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon is welcoming community feedback on proposed changes to its Downtown Secondary Plan aimed at encouraging downtown development and continued vibrancy. The plan for downtown development, originally adopted by Brandon City Council in 2012, identifies the vision by which the City’s downtown might “flourish and grow into a vibrant and dynamic place, the preferred destination in the region, by offering a wide range of unique and diverse experiences and stimulating economic opportunities.” An update of the Plan was initiated in the spring of 2018 to ensure that the collective vision of the community can be achieved through tangible action items within the plan. City of Brandon administration have spent several months since then engaging with vested stakeholders such as the Brandon Downtown Development Corporation and downtown businesses and residents, as well as the community at-large, to explore new ideas and opportunities to achieve the downtown vision. Among the updated plan’s proposed changes are: A renewed focus on urban design to create a destination pedestrian environment; Greater focus on increasing the  number of market residential units downtown; More flexibility of first floor commercial/office uses in the central business area; Maintenance and promotion of commercial growth along key commercial corridors (e.g. Rosser and Princess Avenues), as well a renewed focus on revitalizing Pacific Avenue as a “destination street”. A community discussion on the renewed plan is scheduled for Thursday, February 7th, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Brandon Design Studio space within the Cultural Resource Centre at the A.R. McDiarmid Civic Complex (638 Princess Avenue, East Doors). Refreshments will be provided. Those with accessibility accommodation requests are asked to confirm their attendance by Thursday, January 31st by emailing b.patten@brandon.ca or phoning 204-729-2214. “The community has been very engaged in the downtown plan update process,” notes City of Brandon Chief Planner Ryan Nickel. “Receiving input and ‘buy-in’ from the community on changes to the plan is critical so all groups can move forward united to implement the vision.  We encourage all residents and downtown boosters to join us for our interactive discussion on the updated plan and how we can all work together to achieve the downtown vision.” A draft version of the proposed plan update can be viewed on the City of Brandon website here: http://www.brandon.ca/what-is-happening-in-your-neighbourhood/active-projects/1341-hubsecondaryplan.

Provincial funding for public elementary and secondary education will increase by $6.6 million for the 2019-20 school year to a total in excess of $1.329 billion, Education and Training Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced today. “This is the highest level of funding in Manitoba history that shows our commitment to Manitoba students despite our current economic realities,” said Goertzen.  “Since 2016, our government has increased funding to school divisions by more than $26 million.” School funding in Manitoba is calculated using the Funding of Schools Program formula, which guarantees divisions receive at least 98 per cent of the previous year’s total.  Funding increases or decreases are based on several factors that include a change in enrolment numbers, capital costs, equalization payments and the phase-out of the Tax Incentive Grant. School divisions receive funding from the province as well as through locally collected school board property taxes.  The province is once again directing divisions to cap increases to their local education property tax at two per cent for the 2019-20 school year and will ask divisions to continue to reduce administrative costs. “We appreciate school divisions’ efforts to help control costs and create efficiency in the public education system,” said Goertzen.  “As divisions create their budgets for the year ahead, we hope they make decisions that consider both students’ needs and the impact on taxpayers.” The minister noted the mandate under The Public Services Sustainability Act (Bill 28) will help relieve financial pressure on school divisions and control salary costs, which represent about 80 per cent of education expenses. Yesterday, Goertzen announced a Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education, which will guide a comprehensive independent review of Manitoba’s education system and include public consultation in the months ahead.  The minister expects the commission to submit a report with key findings and recommendations by February 2020.

Brandon, MB – City of Brandon senior management and all staff are recognizing the 36-year career of Brandon Fire & Emergency Services Chief Brent Dane today, following Dane’s announcement of his upcoming retirement from the City of Brandon Corporation, effective February 1st, 2019. Dane began his career with the City of Brandon as a probationary firefighter in 1983 and spent 18 years moving up the supervisory ranks of the department before becoming Deputy Fire Chief in 2001 and, later, the municipality’s 10th Fire Chief in 2005. Over the course of his career, Dane has seen many changes to Brandon Fire & Emergency Services (BFES) operations, noting that when he started, all that was required of staff was Basic First Aid skills and a Class Four Drivers Licence. Now, Dane says, BFES members are skilled paramedics who are able to administer pre-hospital patient care, often performing skills on emergency scenes that used to be strictly performed in an emergency room setting. “As a dual fire/EMS service since 1917, I firmly believe that Brandon’s Fire & Emergency Services Department stands up to any other across Canada and, for me, being a firefighter in Brandon has been just the best job in the world,” says Dane. “Every day is something different, every day is an adrenaline rush, and every day, people thank us for our service. I am also very fortunate to have spent my entire professional career in my home community of Brandon and am extremely proud to be retiring as a City of Brandon employee.” Dane point to his role as the project manager of the construction of the current No.1 Fire Hall on 19th Street North - which continues to win architectural awards for its innovative design and functional aesthetics - as a leadership highlight during his role as Chief. He also heralds his work, and that of all municipal employees during Brandon’s historic flood responses in 2011 and 2014, as hallmarks of service to community. Thanks to a rigorous succession management plan well-established within Brandon Fire & Emergency Services, the City of Brandon is pleased to also announce the appointment of 34-year BFES veteran and current Deputy Fire Chief Scott McDonald into the role of Fire Chief, effective immediately following Dane’s departure. McDonald began his career with the department as a probationary firefighter in 1985 and was promoted into various supervisory roles (operations and staff management) in both fire suppression and emergency medical services before stepping into his current role of Deputy Chief in 2014. “I am honoured to be taking on the role of Brandon Fire Chief from my colleague, Brent, and am confident that my many years of service within BFES will serve me well as I begin the next chapter in my career,” notes McDonald.  “The department has such a strong staff and I’ve been fortunate to have so many opportunities for development, and I am very much looking forward to this next opportunity I’ve been given.” McDonald says one of his first priorities will be overseeing the process of backfilling his Deputy Chief position and getting his management team into place. He also points to the anticipated changes in BFES’s roles and responsibilities within the provincial EMS landscape as a challenge on the horizon, with an overarching priority of ensuring Brandon’s fire/EMS service remains sustainable. On behalf of the entire City of Brandon Corporation, City Manager/CAO Rod Sage would like to take the opportunity today to wish retiring Chief Dane all the best in his retirement and to provide encouragement for incoming Chief McDonald in his leadership of Brandon Fire & Emergency Services’ 72 staff members. “I’ve enjoyed working with Brent over the years, not just in my current role, but through my entire career with the City of Brandon and I wish him nothing but the best in his retirement years,” says Sage. ”Equally, I look forward to working with Scott, as I believe his leadership skills and abilities are well-aligned with my vision for not only Brandon Fire & Emergency Services, but also for the Corporation’s wider vision of serving and building community.”