Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon’s Community Development section is pleased to offer another year of FREE Youth Activity Centre (YAC) programming aimed at providing fun, creative and safe opportunities for youth to enjoy their summer months. All centres provide a variety of fun, free activities with a focus on sports, arts and crafts, dances, BBQ days, theme days, pool days, ‘Kids in the Kitchen’ programming and snacks. This year, programming will be offered from Tuesday, July 3rd through Thursday, August 30th, Mondays to Fridays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at three different locations: YAC Junior *replaces the former YAC South and YAC North* (Valleyview Community Centre, 77 Whillier Drive) – Ages 7-9 years, NO EXCEPTIONS YAC East (East End Community Centre, 405 Park Street) – Ages 9-15 years YAC West (West End Community Centre, 247-23rd Street) – Ages 9-15 years For the health and safety of all involved with the program, youth who do not fall into the above appropriate age categories will not be allowed to participate. An early registration night for all YAC program locations will be held on Thursday, June 21st from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the YAC East location at the East End Community Centre. Hot dogs, chips and drinks can all be purchased for $1 each to help raise funds for this year’s YAC program. More information about the City of Brandon Youth Activity Centre (YAC) Program, including downloadable registration forms, can be found by visiting www.brandonyouth.ca/yac, by emailing communityservices@brandon.ca, by calling the City of Brandon Community Services section at 204-729-2257, or by liking “YAC Brandon” on Facebook!

BRANDON, Man. (June 14, 2018)— Today, more than 1,300 students will graduate from Assiniboine Community College, putting the college’s total increase of graduates at more than 50 per cent since 2013. The college saw an eight per cent increase in the number of grads over this past year alone at the annual Brandon ceremony.   “With graduate numbers continuing to grow every year, we are well on the way to doubling the number of graduates by 2025,” said Assiniboine president Mark Frison. “Assiniboine is playing a vital role in providing the skilled workforce we need to develop our economy in a sustainable way.” Doubling the number of graduates was set as a strategic goal by the college’s board in 2013, when the total number of annual graduates was 954. This year, that number is an expected 1,440 – an increase of nearly 51 per cent. In addition to today’s graduation, which is the largest annual ceremony, the college hosted its Parkland campus graduation last week with more than 100 graduating. The Adult Collegiate graduation is scheduled for next week with a further 27 expected graduates. “This day is a rite of passage for every student involved and their families. For the past one or two years, these students have had the opportunity to ‘learn by doing.’ Now, they will join the workforce and apply what they’ve learned to solve real-life problems,” said Frison. Kristynn Moore and Courtney Matienzo are co-presenting the valedictory speech. They are both graduating from Business Administration. Moore said Assiniboine Community College “is like one big family. The teachers actually care about you and your success. As a single mom, I loved being able to ask my teachers for extra advice and always got valuable feedback.” Matienzo said her key message is inclusivity. “We want our fellow-graduates and the community to understand that Assiniboine Community College is a school where everyone is welcome. No matter what age you are, or what program you’re in, everyone is included.” Each year, the Province of Manitoba awards two graduating students with Lieutenant-Governor’s Silver Medals. These graduates have excelled academically, displayed strength of character and contributed to the college and community in a meaningful way. This year’s medal recipients are Business Administration graduate Mila Milošević and Land & Water Management graduate Kiera Senkbeil. The college is presenting Ron Helwer with an honorary diploma in Agribusiness at the graduation ceremony. Mr. Helwer is the president of Shur-Gro Farm Services, Munro Farm Supplies and South East Seeds. A previous media release about Mr. Helwer is available on the college website. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. today at the Keystone Centre in Brandon.

Brandon, MB – Brandon Transit wishes to advise customers that changes to two of its routes- Routes 16 (South End Link) and Route 19 (Mall-Downtown Link) - will be implemented next month as officials continue to monitor the efficiency of the overall transit route network first implemented last summer. As of Monday, July 2nd, Route 16 (South End Link) will provide hourly service at the bottom of the hour, while Route 19 (Mall-Downtown Link) will offer hourly service at the top of the hour, both originating from the transit stop location at the Shoppers Mall Sobeys. There will be no change in terms of the hours of service offered by these two routes, but there are a number of stop location changes coming into effect. A map of both amended routes can be found here. Brandon Transit officials would also like to take this opportunity to remind riders that, as per a recent change in service delivery, regular transit routes WILL NOT operate on Sunday, July 1st (Canada Day Statutory Holiday). Transit service will be available regular hours of operation (6 a.m. to midnight) on Monday, July 2nd, however the Transit Information Centre on Rosser Avenue will be closed. All management and staff of Brandon Transit sincerely appreciate the patience and understanding of all transit users during this period of transition. For more information on Brandon Transit regular routes and hours of operation, visit www.brandontransit.ca  or call directly at 204-729-2279.

Brandon Police Service Media Release At approximately 11:47 a.m., Police attempted to stop a vehicle that had been travelling the wrong way down a one way street however the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle continued east bound down Lorne Avenue striking a wooden guardrail in the 500 block of Lorne Avenue. The suspect then fled on foot but was apprehended by an off duty Brandon Police Service member who happened to be in the area. A 28-year-old Brandon man was arrested for Flight from Police, Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Drive while Disqualified and had 2 Warrants for his arrest for numerous Breaches of Court Orders and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime. He was lodged at the Brandon Correctional Centre to appear in Court today

Assiniboine Community College and Cape Breton University’s (CBU) Shannon School of Business are partnering to offer a Master in Business Administration (MBA) program in Community Economic Development starting January 2019 in Brandon, Man. Assiniboine Community College and Cape Breton University’s (CBU) Shannon School of Business are partnering to offer a Master in Business Administration (MBA) program in Community Economic Development starting January 2019 in Brandon, Man. “We’re excited to be partnering with CBU as we move forward with a new level of business programming here at Assiniboine,” said Bobbie Robertson, Dean, School of Business at Assiniboine. “This program offers Manitobans an incredible option for flexible, relevant postgraduate education close to where they live and work.” CBU’s MBA in Community Economic Development blends curriculum found in traditional MBA programs with an emphasis on economic development, leadership, change management, and governance. “This is a unique MBA offering across Canada,” said George Karaphillis, Dean, Shannon School of Business at CBU. “We have a strong track record of delivering this program across the country and we’re excited to present a compelling, valuable option for those in Manitoba exploring MBA programs.” CBU currently offers its MBA program in six cities across Canada in addition to its campus in Sydney, N.S. This includes Kingston, Toronto, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton and Whitehorse. Students can complete the program part-time within two-and-a-half years through a combination of self-study and face-to-face weekend classes at Assiniboine. “Not only will this new program benefit the education community, it will also enhance our local and surrounding business region,” said Tami-Rae Rourke, 2017-18 president of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. “Graduates will apply the education and confidence to assist or create businesses in our community, as well as organically contributing to the local economy.” Rourke, herself having acquired an MBA, said it allowed her to “not only confirm what my current abilities were, but allowed me to expand, learn, and create a confidence that has benefited me personally, financially and career-wise tenfold.” A free upcoming information session will be held at 5:15 p.m. on Wed., June 20 at the college’s Victoria Avenue East campus in the lecture theatre. Those interested in receiving more details about the MBA offering at Assiniboine can visit assiniboine.net/mba.