Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release On Wednesday, Brandon Police Service members executed a firearms search warrant in the 1400 block of 9th Street. Police attended the residence, located and arrested the male resident in front of the residence. Police located two females inside the residence and were placed under arrest. During the search two sawed off twelve gauge shotguns, ammunition and a sawed off .22 caliber rifle were located and seized from the residence. A 33yr old Brandon man was arrested and is in custody facing 16 weapon related charges including three counts of a prohibited firearm. The male will appear in Court on October 25th. Police learned, one of the two females, a 32yr old Brandon woman has an outstanding Warrant of Arrest for Theft Under, Fail to Attend Court x3, Fail to Attend Prints and Breach of Probation. The female was arrested and lodged at  BCC to appear in Court on October 25th. The second female was released without charge.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release On Tuesday evening at approximately 6:16pm, mall security in the 800 block of Rosser Avenue report having a male in custody. Police attended and learned a male had punched the security guard in the head after he was  asked to leave the mall. Police arrested and released a 32yr old Brandon man to appear in Court on December 20th.

OTTAWA, ON, October 24, 2018 – Rob Langston is a teacher on a mission. Whether he is training students how to use the latest cutting edge technologies to solve geography problems, facilitating geo-technology workshops for Manitoba teachers, providing advice on geographic texts, this Geography teacher at École secondaire Neelin High School in Brandon, Manitoba does all this and more simply to advance geographic literacy in Canada.   For his dynamic teaching approach, Rob Langston is being recognized with The Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s (RCGS) 2018 Geographic Literacy Award, which celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to geographic literacy in Canada. “Rob is energetic and creative and possesses a passion for geography that exceeds the job description of a typical geography teacher,” says Connie Wyatt Anderson, chair of Canadian Geographic Education and vice-president of the RCGS Board. “He goes above and beyond the prescribed curriculum and regularly engages his students in robust fieldwork, scientific studies and ever-changing geo-technologies; as well, he is the GIS go-to for Manitoba teachers.”   “It was an extremely proud moment to be nominated for and to win the Geographic Literacy Award,” says Langston. “With the multiple problems facing the Earth and society today being geographic in nature, it is essential that students are made aware of the importance of geography and that they leave school with the geographic knowledge and skills that will better prepare them for the future. It is an honor to be recognized for my efforts in supporting students and other educators in this area.”   Rob Langston often takes his students out of the classroom to give them a more practical and informed understanding of the complex issues facing our society. For example, Manitoba’s Grade 12 curriculum asks students to identify the major issues facing Indigenous groups in the world today. Working with Kevin Tacan, an Elder from the Sioux Valley Reserve, Neelin students and teachers traveled to Brandon’s former residential school and visited the local reserve to study the community’s culturally significant areas and features. Using GIS, students were able to analyze, organize, and present geographic data, as well as to create bilingual informational posters that have been well received wherever they are presented. Beyond mastering GIS technology, Langston’s students benefitted from gaining a better understanding of life on a reserve, the challenges associated with it, and likely a better appreciation for Indigenous People and their cultures.   Langston’s innovative teaching methods are scoring results. At the Skills Manitoba Competition, a provincial GIS Skills Competition, Neelin students have won 29/33 medals and all 11 gold medals since the GIS testing was added to the competition. “Rob has been an integral part of putting geospatial technology in the hands of students in Manitoba,” says Jean Tong, K-12 Manager at Esri Canada. “Through the many partnerships and projects he has developed, the students have a chance to become citizen scientists and make a difference.”   The Geographic Literacy Award is comprised of a medal and $2,500 prize, split evenly between the award winner and a donation in their name to support geographic education in Canada. Rob Langston will be donating $1,250 to Canadian Geographic Education. Langston will be presented his medal at a medal ceremony on November 1. The ceremony precedes the RCGS College of Fellows dinner taking place at the National Arts Centre.

During the noon hour on Wednesday, Brandon Fire and Emergency Services and Brandon Police Service were on scene of a single vehicle crash in the 1600 block of 6th St. It appeared as though a car left the roadway, drove through a ditch, struck a raised portion of a driveway, and came to rest on the other side of the driveway, visibly tearing up dirt and gravel on the driveway surface. Accel Towing & Transport was called to tow the vehicle from the ditch.  Photos by Liam Pattison Photography.

Story Submitted $20,450 in cash prizes was awarded to ten inspiring entrepreneurs from across Westman at the fourth annual ‘What’s the BIG Idea?’ event last Thursday in Minnedosa. The economic development offices in Minnedosa and Neepawa returned as partners to plan and host the event held in Minnedosa on October 18. The full day entrepreneurship event offers a packed agenda with guest speakers, networking, an entrepreneur trade-show, and the main event- the Dragon’s Den style pitch competition, where ten entrepreneurs from Minnedosa, Neepawa, and Gladstone competed for cash and prizes in 15 different categories. The BIG winner of the day was Minnedosa’s Mlee Kingdon for her business Theradream Therapeutics; Mlee was awarded four of the 15 available awards totaling $1800 in cash prizes from Minnedosa Area CDC ($1000), RM of Minto Odanah ($500), RBC for the Best Pitch of the Day ($300) and an industrial lot from the Town of Minnedosa valued at $10,000. Located on Main Street in Minnedosa, Theradream Therapeutics manufactures and sells, mostly online, weighted therapy blankets to aid with sleep disorders, anxiety, and other ailments. Elika Canete represented Smile Pinoy Foods, a partnership within Gladstone’s Filipino community which manufactures a variety of traditional Filipino foods, including spring rolls and Filipino hot dogs in a Gladstone-based facility and markets them to Manitoba’s growing Filipino community. Smile Pinoy Foods walked away with $1500 in prizes including a $1000 Marketing Package donated by Neepawa Banner & Press, Promo Time, and Provost Signs, and $500 for Best Overall Idea from Minnedosa Credit Union and Beautiful Plains Credit Union. Neepawa’s Cherish Creations took home $1150 from NADCO ($1000) and Neepawa Lionelles ($150). Pitched by Eriza Pepino and modeled by Cherish, the business pitched a handmade costume and formalwear rental company. A second prize of $1000 from NADCO was awarded to Diana Cao of 2D Creations, a party decorating company, while two $500 prizes from the Town of Neepawa were awarded to Dragonfly Drone Photography, a high-tech aerial photography business pitched by Jamie Maddever, and Olga Boyko for made-to-measure bespoke custom clothing. Magen Swift pitched Boho Soul Wellness, a business producing fermented and natural foods and was awarded $1000 from the Town of Minnedosa. Also promoting the wellness theme was Minnedosa’s Chelsea Henry, pitching Zenry Yoga, mobile yoga to serve Westman communities, and was awarded $1000 from Prairie Oasis. A $500 award from Neepawa Chamber of Commerce went to Two Barns Antiques, owned by Lynne and Dennis Ranger who are looking to get back into the antiques market, while $500 from Minnedosa Chamber of Commerce went to Jeff Kitching of Lakeside Millwork for a woodworking shop offering custom furniture, handmade guitars, instructional classes, and open shop time. Both awards also come with a one-year membership to the local chamber of commerce. The event would not have been complete without a series of speakers to set the tone for the day. Real Westman’s Michelle Budiwski gave an honest and straightforward talk about pivoting your business, being adaptable, failure, and success. Big Idea winners in 2015 and 2016, Marlies Soltys and Kim Burgess partnered together and used the book ‘What Do You Do With An Idea?” to tell the story about how Minnedosa’s Inspire Studio of Fine Art, and Satori Counselling have leveraged community and a common theme to grow as two distinct businesses, and also start a third business, Valley Paradise Retreats, together. Lunch keynote was Farmery Brewery, owners and brothers Chris and Lawrence told the Farmery story and brought some of their newest brews to wash down lunch. The day was catered by Minnedosa’s newest hot-spot, Farmhouse 50, and owner Meaghan Cann spoke in the afternoon about finding worklife balance and the commitment, challenges, and benefits of being a full-time business owner. A video from 2017 BIG Idea winner Amy Spring talked about Fueled by Adventures first year in business in Neepawa. The event was sponsored by the Minnedosa Area CDC, Town of Neepawa Economic Development, and World Trade Centre Winnipeg. Judges from Community Futures Westman, RBC, and the Aurora Project ensure a fair and unbiased pitch competition. All awards are generously donated by groups and organizations which believe in the value of small businesses and supporting community economic development. What’s the BIG Idea was nominated as Economic Development Project of the Year in 2017 by the Economic Developers Association of Manitoba. Since the inaugural event in 2015, almost $45,000 has been awarded to support the launch and expansion of over 25 Westman businesses, in Minnedosa, Neepawa, Rapid City, Carberry, Eden, and Gladstone. Local Main Streets are populating with businesses who have pitched their BIG Ideas over the years, and the products are being brought to market locally, provincially, and nationally. The annual event is receiving attention across the country with other communities stimulating their own local economies by asking: What Is the BIG idea?? If you have questions about What’s the BIG Idea? or starting a business, please contact the Economic Development Officers in Minnedosa, Chantelle Parrott at 204-867-3885 edo@minnedosa.com or Neepawa, Marilyn Crewe at 204-476-7600 edo@wcgwave.ca