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.

Assault On April 29th at 8:03PM a report of an Assault between two parents came in to BPS. BPS Members attended the residence on Durum Drive. A 51-year-old male was charged with Assault and released via Undertaking. A court date of July 27th, 2025 has been set. Theft Under On April 30th at 8:09PM staff from a business in the 900 block of Victoria Avenue reported a female had just stolen approximately $100 in cosmetics and left. She was identified by video surveillance and apprehended soon after at her residence in the 500 block of 11th Street. She was arrested, printed and released on an Undertaking. A court date of July 7th, 2025 has been set.

Mischief Under $5000/ Resist Arrest / Assault Police Officer On April 27th at 11:07PM Police were called to a residence in the 100 block of 13th Street. The male was bound by a No Contact Order for a female at that residence. The male threw a rock through a window and tried to run away. A short foot chase ensued, and he was taken into custody. While being taken into custody he kicked an officer in the groin. The male was held in detention cells and will attend court in the morning on April 28th, 2025. Assault / Assault by Choking / Assault with a Weapon On April 28th at 2:08AM Police were called to Brandon Hospital as an ER nurse had been assaulted. Security had detained the suspect. BPS Members attended and learned that a 26-year-old male was hanging around the ER when he approached a nurse, spit in her face then grabbed her around the neck in a choke hold and tried to stab her with a needle/syringe. She managed to get away without injury. Police arrested the male, and he was taken into custody. He was held in BPS detention cells and will attend court in the morning on April 28th, 2025. Arrest Warrant On April 27th at 2:54PM a traffic stop was conducted in the 200 block of 23rd Street. A 31-year-old female with Warrants for her arrest was a passenger in the vehicle. She was arrested on her unendorsed Manitoba First Nations Police warrant (Flight from Police, Failure to Comply Undertaking, Failure to Attend Court). She was held in detention cells and will attend court in the morning on April 28th, 2025. Breach of the Peace On April 27th at 10:04PM an employee from a business in the 400 block of 12th Street reports a drunk female causing issues. Police attended and arrested an intoxicated 18-year-old female. She was held in detention cells and will be released in the morning once sober.