The Brandon Chamber of Commerce hosted a pivotal State of the City address by Mayor Jeff Fawcett today, where the City’s vision for a sustainable future was articulated with vigor and optimism. As Brandon celebrates its 142nd anniversary this year, the commitment to continue the legacy of our forebears by investing in the City’s future was reaffirmed.   Addressing Infrastructure Challenges with Innovative Solutions  The City’s leadership acknowledged the challenges faced by residents due to potholes and the deteriorating condition of 26th Street. In response, immediate action was taken this spring to improve road conditions. The reconstruction of 26th Street is not seen as a mere repair project, but as an opportunity to enhance the City’s services. Public engagement sessions have been instrumental in shaping solutions that cater to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.  Balancing Fiscal Responsibilities with Community Services  The address also touched upon the sensitive issue of increased property tax rates. The City’s leadership expressed understanding of the community’s concerns and emphasized the importance of these taxes in funding essential services and infrastructure. The introduction of a four-year budget serves as a strategic planning tool and a means to foster collaboration with provincial and federal governments.  Investing in Water Security and Infrastructure  The City of Brandon has a long-standing history of providing safe and clean water since 1893. With the city’s growth, the Water Treatment Facility has undergone several expansions to meet increasing demands. At present, the Water Treatment Facility Upgrade Project is in progress. The first phase was operational in the fall of 2022, and the next phase will be tendered later this year, aiming to complete this expansion by 2029. These upgrades would not have been possible without funding partners including the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund as well as the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.  In addition, the recent investment of nearly $43 million from the Canada Infrastructure Bank is set to bring significant savings and developments, including the Water Treatment Facility Upgrade and Expansion Project and the Southwest Brandon Wastewater Servicing Project. This investment will also support the creation of up to 2,300 new housing units.  Brandon Transit: Connecting Our Community  Brandon Transit has achieved a remarkable milestone in 2023, surpassing 1 million rides and approaching pre-pandemic ridership levels. These numbers are not mere statistics; they represent the heartbeat of our community. Our buses are more than vehicles; they are vital links that connect neighborhoods, workplaces, and hearts. In support of public transportation, the Brandon City Council has expedited the acquisition of a new bus earlier than expected. This addition, along with four other buses slated for purchase this year, underscores our commitment to efficient transit routes. Furthermore, the arrival of new Brandon Access Transit buses will replace older models, ensuring safe and accessible transportation for all.  Parks and Recreation: Enhancing Quality of Life  Our Parks and Recreation department continues to be a beacon of community well-being. We have expanded our programming and events, offering over 60 diverse programs. From green spaces to recreational facilities, we remain dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for every resident. Our parks are not just places for leisure; they are spaces where memories are made, friendships are forged, and health is nurtured.   Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex: A Hub of Activity  The Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex, situated at the intersection of First Street and Veterans Way, promises to be a vibrant hub for sports enthusiasts. Among its features are a FIFA-standard soccer field, additional soccer fields, a cricket pitch, a welcoming clubhouse, and kilometers of pathways. As stewards of property tax funds, we are committed to delivering high-quality events and programs. We also explore innovative funding sources, including the sale of naming rights. Our successful partnerships to date with Maple Leaf Foods, Heritage Co-op, Assiniboine Community College, and McCain Foods exemplify our collaborative spirit.  Strengthening Emergency Services and Community Engagement  Last year, we secured additional funding from Manitoba Shared Health for a third primary ambulance and fifteen primary care paramedics. These resources bolster the services provided by Brandon Fire & Emergency Services and the Brandon Police Service Detention Unit. Our Brandon Community Cadets, launched in July 2023, have become an invaluable asset. Their dedication has garnered praise from various sectors, including our police force, downtown businesses, and residents who consider downtown Brandon their home or refuge.  The Bright Future Ahead  As we look to the future, envision a city where knowledge, skills, and personal growth are accessible to all. Our taxes, when invested wisely, pave roads, fund infrastructure, and support economic development.   Assiniboine Community College and Brandon University stand as pillars of knowledge, shaping not only young minds, but also our collective prosperity. ACC’s Prairie Innovation Centre and BU’s upgrades to the Brodie Science Building and medical campus exemplify our commitment to progress.   Mayor Fawcett closed his 2024 State of the City speech by encouraging us to embrace sustainability and collaboration. “Our aging infrastructure demands attention, and we can no longer turn a blind eye. As Adam Grant wisely said, “It’s more important to be good ancestors than dutiful descendants.” Let us focus on making our children proud by improving conditions for their future. Together, we will build a Brandon that stands strong for generations to come.” 

On April 16th at 3:11 pm police were conducting a walkthrough of a business in the 100 block of 5th street. A male was noted to have a crack pipe on his person. A 24-year-old male was arrested, and a further search located 3 ounces of cocaine, a digital scale, and $250 cash. He was arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine. He was held for court on April 17th, 2024.

On April 15th at 4:10 pm an employee from a pizza delivery company called to report when he attended a residence in Brandon that he had been assaulted. The driver reported a child had answered the door and had too much money to pay for the pizza. When the driver told him he did not have enough change a male then came from inside the residence and began yelling at him, pushing him, and spat in his face. The driver returned to his car with the pizza and the male then came out to his car without a shirt or shoes on and opened the car door and grabbed the pizza and grabbed the debit machine. A 36-year-old male was arrested for assault and theft, and he also had two outstanding warrants for assault and failing to attend court. He was held for court on April 16th, 2024.

Following the huge success of the 2023 Canadian tour, Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic is returning to Canada this year for another massive national tour from April to June, playing to 40 shows across the country. Including Brandon - Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium, May 19th. The highly acclaimed Australian stage production, which has captivated audiences worldwide for 14 years, is introducing fresh costumes and unveiling previously unheard Queen tracks for its latest tour. This exciting development promises to delight devoted fans, offering them the opportunity to revisit beloved songs and cherished moments from past tours, while also presenting rare tracks reimagined with meticulous attention and performed live onstage.   Renowned classically trained artist Dominic Warren will once again embody the iconic role of Freddie Mercury, showcasing his exceptional talents by singing and performing live on stage with both piano and guitar. Warren’s remarkable ability to channel Mercury’s unparalleled talent has earned him widespread admiration. “It’s one thing to create these musical masterpieces, but a whole other thing to then be able to go and perform them in the unique, spectacular way that he did. He is a very hard artist to replicate but it’s an honour to try!” says Warren.   Once again, the show guarantees the ultimate rock concert experience, featuring audio, lighting and spectacular special effects! Tickets for all performances are now on sale, but with seats selling rapidly, it is advisable to act swiftly to secure your spot. Tickets for the show are on sale now. Visit queenitsakindamagic.com or ticketing agents below for tickets and more information.   Day Date Time Location Venue Tickets From Thu 18 Apr 8pm Chatham, ON Capitol Theatre Venue website or box office Fri 19 Apr 8pm London, ON Music Hall Ticketmaster.ca Sun 21 Apr 8pm Hamilton, ON FirstOntario Concert Hall Venue website or box office Thu 25 Apr 8pm Windsor, ON Chrysler Theatre, St Clair College Venue website or box office Sat 27 Apr 7pm Cornwall, ON Aultsville Theatre Venue website or box office Mon Tue 29 30 Apr 8pm Caraquet, NB Centre Culturel de Caraquet Venue website or box office Thu 2 May 7.30pm Glace Bay, NS Savoy Theatre Venue website or box office Fri 3 May 8pm Saint John, NS Imperial Theatre Venue website or box office Sat 4 May 7.30pm Prince Edward Island, PEI Harbourfront Theatre Venue website or box office Sun 5 May 7pm Fredericton, NB The Playhouse Venue website or box office Mon 6 May 8pm Moncton, NB Capitol Theatre Venue website or box office Tue 7 May 8pm Edmunston, NB Grey Rock Casino Venue website or box office Wed 8 May 8pm Montreal, QC L’Olympia Ticketmaster.ca Thu 9 May 8pm Ottawa, ON Shenkman Arts Centre Venue website or box office Fri 10 May 7.30pm Kingston, ON Kingston Grand Venue website or box office Sat 11 May 7.30pm Pickering, ON Pickering Casino Ticketmaster.ca Tue 14 May 8pm Kitchener, ON Centre in the Square Venue website or box office Wed 15 May 8pm Brantford, ON Sanderson Centre Venue website or box office Thu 16 May 8pm North Bay, ON Capitol Centre Venue website or box office Sat 18 May 7pm Winnipeg, MB Club Regent Casino Venue website or box office Sun 19 May 7pm Brandon, MB Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium Venue website or box office Thu 23 May 8pm Regina, SK Casino Regina Mytickets.casinoregina.com Fri 24 May 8pm Saskatoon, SK TCU Place Venue website or box office Sat 25 May 8pm Lethbridge, AB Yates Theatre Enmaxcentre.ca Sun 26 May 7pm Fort McMurray, AB Keyano Theatre & Arts Centre Venue website or box office Tue 28 May 8pm Lloydminster, AB Vic Juba Theatre Venue website or box office Sun 2 Jun 8pm Calgary, AB Grey Eagle Event Centre Ticketmaster.ca Mon 3 Jun 7.30pm Grand Prairie, AB The Bowes at Bonnetts Energy Centre Venue website or box office Tue 4 Jun 8pm Edmonton, AB Winspear Centre Venue website or box office Wed 5 Jun 8pm Medicine Hat, AB The Esplanade Buy.tixx.ca Fri 7 Jun 8pm Cranbrook, BC Key City Theatre Venue website or box office Sun 9 Jun 7pm Nelson, BC Capitol Theatre Venue website or box office Mon 10 Jun 8pm Vernon, BC Vernon District Performing Arts Centre Ticketseller.ca Wed 12 Jun 8pm Chilliwack, BC Cultural Centre, HUB International Theatre Venue website or box office Thu 13 Jun 7.30pm Coquitlam, BC Hard Rock Casino Vancouver Ticketmaster.ca Fri 14 Jun 7pm Victoria, BC Royal Theatre Venue website or box office Sat 15 Jun 7.30pm Richmond, BC River Rock Casino Resort Ticketmaster.ca Sun 16 Jun 7pm Nanaimo, BC Port Theatre Venue website or box office

On April 11th Skills Canada Manitoba held the Secondary and Post-Secondary level 2024 Provincial Skills Manitoba Competition in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Skills Canada Manitoba shines brightest during its Skills Competition. In this event, students engage in purposeful challenges that assess the skills essential for trades and technology careers. The underlying philosophy of the competition is threefold: recognize student excellence, actively engage industry in evaluating student performance, and ensure training programs align with employers’ requirements. Vincent Massey entered two teams into the Video Production category. The first team was Carter Dupuis, grade 11, and Isabelle Snow, grade 12. The second team was Leo Liu, grade 12, and Kevin Lee, grade 11. They travelled with their Media teacher Mr. Craig Ratz to Winnipeg for the competition. Carter Dupuis and Isabelle Snow ended up winning gold in the category! Carter explained “We had a great system of one of us editing while the other went out to film. After seeing how well the other groups projects turned out we were doubtful that we’d win, but in the end the judges chose our video to send to Nationals! It was a great experience regardless of a win or not, that said, we are really looking forward to competing in May.” Isabelle shared in Carter’s excitement from the day “The day went great, I had a lot of fun exploring the world of trades as well as getting to learn more about media arts. We may have had doubts about winning after seeing all the other awesome videos, but we were more than excited when we got the news! I was really excited to share the news with my friends and family when we got home and am even more excited for this amazing opportunity.” They were given a 5-hour time limit and used all but 2 minutes of their time to create the winning video. Although they couldn’t attend the award ceremony due to their travel time back to Brandon, they still celebrated their win on the car ride back! Over 475 high school, post-secondary and apprentice students compete in 42 skilled trades and technology contests in six industry sectors. Winners of the provincial competition may form Team Manitoba and compete against their peers at the Skills Canada National Competition in Quebec in May. Watch their winning video on the VMTV page @vmtv4314 on YouTube.