On April 9th at approximately 8:21 p.m., police were dispatched to a business located in the 900 block of Rosser Avenue to assist with the removal of a male who was found sleeping on a hallway stairwell and refused to leave the premises. Upon attendance, officers identified the individual and it was disclosed that the 33-year-old male had previously stolen a key to a suite from a separate business in the 000 block of 10th Street on March 30th, 2026. The male was subsequently arrested for Theft Under $5,000 and transported to BPS detention cells. He will be released once sober on an Undertaking, with a scheduled court date of June 4th, 2026.

Brandon homeowners can apply for the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit (HATC) to receive a rebate of up to $1,600 on their school tax portion of their 2026 property tax bill. The Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit is available to properties that: Are the homeowner’s principal residence Are classified as single‑family residential dwellings Homeowners who are already enrolled do not need to reapply. Enrollment can be confirmed by checking your 2025 property tax bill. The April 15 deadline applies only to new or updated registrations. Eligible homeowners can apply or update their information by: Applying in person at City Hall (410 – 9th St.), or Completing the online Account Change Form at: onlineservices.brandon.ca/updateinfo.aspx Homeowners who do not receive the credit as an advance on their property tax bill may still be eligible to claim it when filing their personal income tax return. More information about the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit is available through the Province of Manitoba or by contacting Manitoba Government Inquiry at 1‑866‑626‑4862.

 At its regular meeting on Tue, Apr. 7, Brandon City Council discussed a  variety of topics. Key highlights are summarized below. View the full agenda at  https://www.brandon.ca/media/pjybk3es/agenda-april-7-2026.pdf.  2026 Salamander Festival  City Council received a presentation from Jennifer Watson, Chair of the Salamander  Summer Music Festival Planning Committee, and approved designating the 4th Annual  Salamander Summer Music Festival (July 17-19, 2026) as a community event.  Downtown Washroom Update  Council received an update on the plan to implement 24/7 downtown washroom access in  2026, using the Princess Park washrooms as a short-term solution. Funding of up to  $74,100 was approved to support additional operating costs.  Housing Accelerator Funding  Council authorized the allocation of remaining Housing Accelerator Fund payments  toward affordable housing initiatives and downtown market housing, in accordance with  the approved action plan.  2026 Citizen Appointments to Planning Commission   Council appointed Garnet Boyd and Kevin Teneycke to the Planning Commission for three year terms ending Mar. 31, 2029.  2026 Financial Plan  Council adopted the 2026 Financial Plan, including operating and capital estimates, and  incorporated it into the 2026 Tax Levy By-Law. Council also adopted the 2025 Financial  Information Return (unaudited). Public Hearings:  Council held two public hearings:  City of Brandon 2026 Financial Plan  Use of Specific Purpose Reserves  By-Laws  Council gave first reading to By-law No. 7449, the 2026 Tax Levy By-Law. • Council gave first reading to By-law No. 7453, amending a rezoning by-law for  property located at 639 Van Horne Avenue.  Council gave first reading to By-law No. 7451, to close and convey a portion of lane  south of Princess Avenue East.  The next regular City Council meeting will be held on Mon, Apr. 20, 2026, at 7 p.m.  View all Council Agendas and Minutes on brandon.ca/city-hall/agendas-and-minutes. Watch all City Council Meetings on youtube.com/@CityofBrandonMB/streams.

For the 2026 season, Parks Canada will allow the return of motorized watercraft on Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park under a mandatory tagging program, along with additional management measures. These measures will include an expanded no-wake zone to help protect shorelines, two weekly non-motorized days, and designated dawn and dusk “quiet” periods for non-motorized use only. Complete program details are currently being finalized and will be shared with visitors and stakeholders before the operating season in May. Parks Canada also intends to introduce a launch fee structure to support the implementation of lake management activities in the future. A proposed fee structure to recover costs associated with lake management will be developed for public consultation during the 2026 summer season, for potential implementation in 2027. The decision to allow motorized watercraft and to implement additional management measures follows several months of public engagement, consultation with Indigenous partners, ongoing environmental monitoring, and a comprehensive third party literature review. The aquatic invasive species (AIS) program continues to require all watercraft, fishing equipment, wetsuits, and inflatables to be inspected by Parks Canada Staff and to comply with Clean, Drain, Dry protocol. Motorized watercraft must be secured to their trailers with a Parks Canada-installed tag when not on Clear Lake. Users of non-motorized watercraft, including kayaks and canoes, must choose either an annual permit to launch only on Clear Lake or an annual permit to launch only on outlying waterbodies in Riding Mountain National Park, such as Lake Audy, Moon Lake and Lake Katherine. Collaborations with other levels of government, Indigenous partners, and non government organizations on aquatic invasive species management will also continue. Accompanying this decision, Parks Canada will also accelerate the advancement of a joint stewardship or management agreement for Clear Lake with Chief Blackbird and Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation (KOFN), a commitment that further formalizes and deepens this shared stewardship. Parks Canada will also support KOFN’s continued participation in a robust monitoring program for Clear Lake to support ecological integrity. Parks Canada is committed to protecting the ecological and cultural health of Clear Lake. The updated watercraft management approach supports the long-term protection of all waterbodies in Riding Mountain National Park, while allowing visitors to resume motorized boating activities. Parks Canada remains dedicated to providing visitors and community members with high-quality, meaningful experiences and supporting the continued vitality of tourism in communities around Riding Mountain National Park. For more information visit Managing watercraft and preventing aquatic invasive species

On April 7th at 1:25 p.m. police responded to a report of a disturbance in the 800 block of Rosser Avenue. A 41-year-old male was arrested at the scene for assaulting two security officers. He faces two counts of Assault. He was later released via Undertaking with a future court date of June 4th, 2026. A 19-year-old female that security was attempting to detain during the original incident was located and arrested at approximately 4:00 p.m. in the same area. She faces one count of Assault. She was later released via Undertaking with a future court date of June 4th, 2026.