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

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon’s Legislative Services Department and Brandon’s Senior Election Official are encouraging all eligible residents to take the opportunity to cast their ballot on Wednesday, October 24th to elect City Councillor representatives in Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 and eight candidates (City-wide) to serve on the Brandon School Board of Trustees for the 2018-2022 term of office. The position of Mayor and Council member in Wards 7 and 10 have already been filled by acclamation. Voters are reminded that, in order to cast a ballot at any voting place, they must produce appropriate identification providing evidence of their identity and current address. Acceptable identification includes an official, government-issued document that contains the voter’s name, address and photograph; OR at least two documents that provide evidence satisfactory to the election official. Voting places will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 24th, with locations as follows:   WARD 1 - ASSINIBOINE Monterey Estates Recreation Hall, 40 Mockingbird Drive Sportsplex, Multi-Purpose Room, 30 Knowlton Drive   WARD 2 - ROSSER  North End Community Centre, north main level entrance, 1313 Stickney Avenue Park Community Centre, south entrance, 1428 Louise Avenue   WARD 3 - VICTORIA Riverheights School, 32 E.Fotheringham Drive First Baptist Church, 3881 Park Avenue   WARD 4 - UNIVERSITY McDiarmid Drive Alliance Church, 635 McDiarmid Drive Valleyview Community Centre, 77 Whillier Drive   WARD 5 - MEADOWS-WAVERLY  JR Reid School, 813 - 26th Street First Baptist Church, 3881 Park Avenue Richmond Park Church, 1525 - 26th Street WARD 6 - SOUTH CENTRE  Brandon School Division Office, 1031 - 6th Street Central Community Centre, 529 - 4th Street   WARD 7 - LINDEN LANES Linden Lanes School, 49 Silverbirch Drive Faith Fellowship Baptist Church, 4 Willowdale Crescent   WARD 8 - RICHMOND Richmond Park Church, 1525 - 26th Street Riverview Curling Club, 420 Maryland Avenue   WARD 9 - RIVERVIEW Riverview School, 1105 Louise Avenue East East End Community Centre, 405 Park Street   WARD 10 - GREEN ACRES  Green Acres School, 335 Queens Avenue East Trinity United Church, 1516 - 6th Street   **NEW** ALL WARD VOTING PLACES (available to all eligible voters in any ward)   THE DOME BUILDING, east side of Keystone Centre Grounds This voting location will be available to all eligible voters in any ward and will be equipped with the Audio Tactile Interface system for those voters that may require such.   BRANDON UNIVERSITY, 270-18th Street, Knowles Douglas Building Mingling Area (8:00am-4:00pm) This voting location is designated to serve the students from Brandon University who consider Brandon as their ordinary place of residence and who meet the eligibility requirements, as well as all eligible voters in any ward. Provisions for a special hospital moving station and a mobile station to serve the needs of eligible voters within Brandon's personal care homes and certain seniors’ residences have also been made. If you are an eligible Brandon voter, but did not receive an official City of Brandon Voter Information card in the mail containing the above pertinent information, or if you are not sure of the ward in which you live, full colour maps (PDF format) are available on the Brandon Votes website. More information about voting locations and voter eligibility can also be obtained from the Senior Election Official by calling 204-729-2236. At the close of polls on Wednesday, October 24th, live results will be posted online at the web address, results.brandonvotes.ca, as they are confirmed.

Establish a Committee of Council to report to Mayor and Council on the Addiction problem in Brandon. Use this committee to lobby the provincial government for more tools and services to address the problem in our community.  Rationale: We have a Poverty Committee at City Hall consisting of three councillors and three community members at-large. An Addiction Committee would allow for the coordination of opportunities and identify resources that may help curb the crisis in Brandon. The committee would also be a united voice to lobby the Provincial Government for the needs of our community.   Partner with Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College to launch a HomeStay program in the City of Brandon.  Rationale: Students attending BU and ACC require adequate living accommodations, and matching students (particularly International students) with families in the community with extra space could be a win-win situation. The host families and tenants (students) are vetted by a third-party, with payment of rent also coordinated by the third party. Students are held to the same standard they would be if they were living in residence as far as behaviour and responsibilities. Host families could have an extra source of income, which might be appealing to those in a fixed income.   Promote and encourage alternative public transportation opportunities, including CarShare, RideShare and RideMatching programs.  Rationale: We need to look for creative and innovative ideas to help those without their own modes of transportation the opportunity to move about our city without putting more taxpayer money into the Brandon Transit system. RideSharing and//or RideMatching could be initiated by third-parties for people who work at the same business or attend school at the same institution.   Increase by-law enforcement accountability, and streamline for the process for residents to report issues and see results.  Rationale: Residents are frustrated with the lack of response(real or perceived) from by-law enforcement officers on minor nuisances in their neighbourhoods. They especially point out that ‘nothing if ever done.’ By establishing a ‘tracking system’ for complaints, we’d allow more transparency into what is done with these complaints, even if it is the fact they aren’t breaking the nuisance by-law.   Explore the City of Brandon’s current economical development strategy when it comes to attracting new business and industry, including any possible incentive packages.  Rationale: It’s been nearly 20 years since Maple Leaf set up shop in Brandon, the last major industry and/or business to do so. If there something more we could be doing to attract major business or industry to our city? Could we establish an incentive package matrix based on a number of factors, including job creation, economic impact and location? Is our ED department adequately staffed?  Would should also remember how job creation would impact other issues, including poverty.   Encourage a city-wide audit to determine the City of Brandon’s staffing levels and priorities moving forward.  Rationale: Does the City of Brandon have too much staff? Not enough staff? Too much staff in one department and not enough in others? I don’t have answers to those questions, but I’d like to find out. Ultimately, I’m curious to find out if we have enough ‘boots on the ground’ to deal with the day-to-day maintenance in the City of Brandon, or if we have too many salaries tied up in mid-management.   Create more recreational and/or greenspace opportunities for the citizens of Brandon.  Rationale: The City of Brandon has lagged behind even small communities in Western Manitoba when it comes to creating recreational options for our residents (e.g. WaterParks in Souris & Wawanesa). We need to provide more greenspace and recreational options for our residents, especially for our young families.   ·Replace the South End Community Centre, which has been closed for several months, and explore creating a recreational hub on the site.  Rationale: Community Centres play an important role in providing people with the opportunity to work and organize together for the benefit of their local communities, including adult education, social and cultural activities. The reservor at the site could make it difficult to build a full recreation hub, but we should try to maximize the greenspace in the area. And, hey, could we establish the recreation hub at the ‘almost done’ pool located at the Keystone Centre.   Map out a long-term plan for upgrades to street infrastructure in the South Centre Ward, including replacement the current gravel shoulders with pavement, curbs, and sidewalks.  Rationale: Not a short-term project, but over the next (10-15?) years, we need to stay paving the gravel shoulders in the Ward and establishing curbs on, at the very least, some of the main streets. This plan should be funded under the streets budget.    Keep our children safe by ensuring school zone speed limits and adequate crosswalk signage exists on all four sides of our schools.  Rationale: We need to expand our school zone speed limit (30 km/h) to include all four sides of the school (e.g. There is no reduction in speed on the south side of Betty Gibson school, between 11th and 12th Street on College Avenue). We should also look at providing better signage (including lights, if financially viable) for busy crosswalks.   Explore establishing a ‘pet protection’ by-law to provide protection for pets against cruelty, abuse and neglect. Part of the by-law would include penalties for leaving pets out in harsh winter or summer conditions.  Rationale: The province’s Animal Care Act needs to be applied to the City of Brandon, to ensure pets aren’t being mistreated by their owners. If a separate by-law needs to be enacted, we should do so. We should also expand by-law enforcement’s responsibilities to not only include Animal Control but Animal Care as well.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release On Sunday morning at approximately 11:45am, BPS members conducted a vehicle stop by the intersection of the TransCanada Highway and 18th Street North. The driver disclosed he had a suspended driver’s license and was arrested. In the back of the half ton truck were numerous sealed boxes. The boxes were full of cigarettes that were not marked for Tax purposes. There 22 boxes totaling 220,000 cigarettes. A 47yr old Calgary, Ab man was arrested for transporting illegal tobacco, tobacco not marked for Tax purposes and suspended driving. He was lodged at BCC to appear in Court on October 22nd. The truck and cigarettes were seized.

Late Sunday night, Brandon Firefighter/Paramedics responded to the grain elevator in Justice, MB for a possible fire. Upon arrival, it was determined that the grain elevator had been demolished, and was set on fire as part of a controlled burn. There was no emergency. After establishing that there was no risk to any nearby structures or people, fire crews cleared without incident. Justice is approximately 30km north-east of Brandon.  Photos by Liam Pattison Photography.