Motor vehicle collision with a pedestrian 8:19AM, police and fire responded to a report of a vehicle/pedestrian accident in the parking lot of 510 First Street. Witnesses stated that a truck was reversing into a parking stall and struck a pedestrian walking to a business. The man became trapped under the vehicle and BFES required the “jaws of life” to free him. Ambulance transported a 67 y/o man to the hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries. The hospital admitted him for observation. Members of Brandon Police Traffic Services continue to investigate. Theft Under $5000 Police investigated two unrelated thefts from local businesses. The first occurred May 1st, security downtown reported a cellular phone stolen, the incident was captured on video.  The suspect returned on May 2nd and security contacted police. Members located and arrested a 50 y/o man in connection to this crime. Police later released him from custody with a court date and conditions not to return. The second theft occurred at a business on Victoria Avenue. Staff advised police that on five separate occasions, a man left the store and only paid for some of his merchandise. Police identified a 65 y/o Brandon man through video and his vehicle license plate. He was located and charged with five counts of theft under $5000.00. Police released him from custody with a court date.

Len Isleifson, a seasoned public servant and security expert, has officially announced his candidacy for Mayor of Brandon in the 2026 municipal election. With over 40 years of experience in public service, leadership, and community engagement, Isleifson brings a proven track record of dedication and results to his campaign. Currently serving as the Security Manager at Assiniboine College, Isleifson has been instrumental in advancing public safety and emergency preparedness. His previous role as Regional Manager of Security Services with Prairie Mountain Health highlighted his strength in crisis management, physical security, and strategic planning. Isleifson’s commitment to public service is deeply rooted in his time as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Brandon East, a position he held for over seven years. During his tenure, he was appointed Special Envoy for Military Affairs, served on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and was appointed as the Deputy Chair - Committee of the Whole House, contributing significantly to provincial governance and policy development. His leadership journey began at the municipal level as a City Councillor for Brandon, where he also served as Deputy Mayor and Vice Chair of the Brandon Police Board. Isleifson’s community involvement includes key roles with the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium and the Assiniboine Hills Conservation District, reflecting his enduring commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Brandon. “I am excited to announce my candidacy for Mayor of Brandon,” said Isleifson. “With my extensive experience in security, public administration, and community leadership, I am confident in my ability to lead our city toward a brighter, more prosperous future. I look forward to engaging with residents, listening to their concerns, and working together to build a stronger, more inclusive community.” sleifson’s campaign will focus on three key pillars: enhancing public safety, promoting sustainable economic growth, and improving access to community services. He is committed to transparency, accountability, and collaboration with all stakeholders.

The Manitoba government has partnered with front-line health-care staff to form a Lower Wait Time and System Improvement Team and develop a strategy to reduce blockages in the health-care system and reduce patient wait times in the emergency room, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today. “The emergency department is the front door to our health-care system and its ability to function efficiently for patients is influenced by the decisions made in departments across the system – from acute care, to medicine wards, to community care,” said Asagwara. “The Lower Wait Time and System Improvement Team brings experts from across the system to work together to identify bed blocks, implement change and smooth out processes so patients can get in to see a doctor, get treatment and get home faster. We’re going to move forward hand in hand with the front-line workers who deliver care.” The Lower Wait Time and System Improvement Team is led by Dr. Paul Ratana, provincial specialty lead of emergency medicine at Health Sciences Centre (HSC) Winnipeg, and Dr. Kendiss Olafson, internal medicine and critical care at HSC Winnipeg, with physicians, nurses and allied health professionals with specialties in emergency medicine, internal medicine, neurology, family medicine, anesthesiology and more. The team is supported by experienced process engineers who specialize in streamlining systems to improve services. “No one understands the delays in patient care better than those on the front lines of health care,” said Olafson. “They face the daily frustration of a system that is often slow, fragmented and siloed. Our goal is to address some of the most challenging and discouraging aspects of care delivery –supporting the quality of front-line work without adding to workloads.” The Manitoba government has released a Lower Wait Time Strategy, developed by the team, to improve timely patient access to high-quality emergency health care across the province. The strategy outlines how to increase or add services that affect the timeliness of care at three main points of a patient’s experience – triage and admission if necessary, inpatient care and access to outpatient treatment to be able to return home safely. Strategic initiatives include increasing the number of endoscopy procedures, including over the weekend, exploring models to shorten the wait time between triage and initial physician assessments, and expanding the community intravenous program to allow more patients to recover at home. To read the Lower Wait Time Strategy, visit https://manitoba.ca/asset_library/en/lowerwait/lower-wait-times-strategy.pdf.

The City of Brandon is pleased to announce that a tender will be issued later this spring for the reconstruction of 26th St. between Park Ave. and Victoria Ave. This vital infrastructure project aims to address the severely deteriorated road surface. The reconstruction project will include: Replacement of underground utilities Reconstruction of the entire street including the curbs and gutters Reconstruction of sidewalks Enhancement of the pedestrian crossing at J.R. Reid School Replacement of traffic signals at 26th St. & Park Ave. Modifications to intersections at Balsam Cres. & 26th St. and McTavish Ave. & 26th St. “The reconstruction of 26th Street is an essential infrastructure project that will enhance the roadway and improve overall safety in the area,” said City Manager Dave Wardrop. “We are making sure this project gets underway this year and will meet the needs of our residents.” During the reconstruction, traffic may be redirected to adjacent streets.  Any road closures will be posted and listed on roadclosures.brandon.ca. The City will continue to share key updates on this project once construction is set to commence.

The City of Brandon is thrilled to announce a series of exciting updates at Brandon’s Community Sportsplex, aimed at enhancing the facility's offerings and improving the overall experience for visitors. The Sportsplex has long been a cornerstone of recreational activities in Brandon, offering a wide range of sports and recreation programs for residents of all ages. Over the past decade commitments to the longevity of the facility have included a major pool renovation, track resurfacing, and roof replacement.  Current projects include a new ice plant and associated arena upgrades to ensure the indoor ice arena is available to the community for years to come. As part of this initiative, the City is now accepting bid applications for sponsorship and naming rights, providing a unique opportunity for businesses and organizations to become a prominent part of Brandon's community. The City strives to provide quality events, programs, facilities, and services to its residents while being mindful of how its main revenue source, property tax dollars, are utilized. The sale of naming rights provides the City with alternate funding sources to benefit the quality of life for the residents of Brandon and the surrounding area. Sponsorship is an excellent way to partner with the City of Brandon and promote your business or organization. For more information on this sponsorship opportunity, please visit purchasing.brandon.ca. Key Updates at Brandon’s Community Sportsplex: The Sportsplex Ice Arena will be back this fall! Construction for the new ice plant and associated upgrades was awarded in September 2024. Since then, contractors have been hard at work removing old equipment, installing new supporting infrastructure, and completing functional and aesthetic upgrades. The new ammonia ice plant will be housed outside of the main building, ensuring a safer experience for the public and our staff. Construction is anticipated to be completed in this fall, and we look forward to inviting the public back into the refreshed arena. Arena booking requests for fall 2025 / winter 2026 were recently sent out. If you did not receive one and wish to request ice time, please contact sportsplex@brandon.ca. In Other News…the Pool Operating System Has Received an Upgrade! The pool operating system has also received an upgrade, which will improve safety in our facility. The pool disinfectant system has historically utilized chlorine gas, which will be replaced with a calcium hypochlorite system.  This system is a safer and more stable option for ensuring the safety of swimmers.  The installation was completed on Apr. 23, 2025. The Sportsplex Canteen is Being Revived! The City has released an RFP for management services of the Sportsplex Canteen, as well as an RFP for renovations of the existing canteen space. We look forward to having the opportunity to provide hot food service to our patrons and the community at large.  For more information on the canteen management services opportunity, please visit purchasing.brandon.ca. Have you seen the Spring 2025 Program Guide? With a wide variety of programs for all ages and interests, there is something for everyone. Browse the guide online or drop by the Sportsplex (30 Knowlton Dr.) to pick up a physical copy. For all programming with the City of Brandon Parks & Recreation Services, please visit brandon.ca/recreation-programs.