Winnipeg, Manitoba – Today the corporation previously referred to as 10552763 Canada Corporation, a partnership of Avana Canada Inc. of Ontario, Fisher River Cree Nation of Manitoba, Chippewas of the Thames of Ontario, of MediPharm Labs Inc. of Ontario, and retailer Native Roots Dispensary announced its name as “Garden Variety,” along with plans to open four stores in Manitoba. One of four organizations awarded licenses to operate retail cannabis stores in the province, the corporation has remained quiet until now about activities and development efforts while conducting intensive research and market analysis before selecting its name, design and retail strategy. “We took time to learn what Canadians and especially Manitobans were looking for in a retail cannabis experience and developed the Garden Variety with the specific aim of aligning with those needs,” said Ryan Brown, CEO of Garden Variety and Native Roots. “We know from our operational experiences with Native Roots over the past nine years in the US that we must start by asking the right questions of our customers rather than assume we know what they want. Garden Variety is the result of that investigation, and its concepts and design are inviting, comfortable and anything but ordinary.”   As the only current Canadian company with existing expertise in operating adult-use retail cannabis dispensaries, Garden Variety has developed strategic plans for store development in four locations including two in Winnipeg, one in Brandon and one in Thompson. The Manitoba Growth, Enterprise & Trade (GET) authority has reviewed the proposed locations and found them permissible.   Plans include build-out and design elements to ensure a welcoming, relaxed environment for customers seeking a variety of shopping experiences as well as an online purchase and home delivery process. “A great deal of thought and research was done prior to the development of the plans,” said Zubin Jasavala, President and CEO, Avana Canada Inc. “Garden Variety will be comfortable for our customers, break down barriers that might intimidate people from exploration and bring a bit of everyday magic to the experience of shopping for cannabis.” Fisher River Cree Nation Chief, David Crate remarked, “Each of the Garden Variety partners brings something special to the table, which makes the company stronger as a whole. We are excited to bring both our perspectives as Manitobans and as an Indigenous nation to this partnership.” Garden Variety will open two Winnipeg stores within the year, launching Brandon and Thompson locations in 2019. Capitalizing on the successful Native Roots experience in Colorado, Garden Variety is taking a conservative approach, building a strong operational foundation with a focus on Manitoba locations. The privately funded corporation, has invested resources in advance strategic development to avoid common mistakes with lessons already learned in Colorado, and get things right from the start. “We are thrilled to be part of such a talented and experienced team, building a world-class organization from the beginning,” said Pat McCutcheon, President and CEO, MediPharm Labs Inc. Mike Deleary, Executive Administrator for the Chippewas on the Thames Nation, agreed adding, “We see this as the beginning of a long-lasting relationship that will bring valuable resources to our Nation as we look ahead to the future.”

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release At approximately 7:24 p.m., Police received a call from a witness after a vehicle was seen swerving all over the road, almost hitting some kids in the process. The suspect driver was then seen exiting the vehicle with a beer in his hand. Police attended to the area, located and arrested the male for impaired driving. He was transported to Police Station where the two breath samples he provided exceeded the legal limit. The 42-year-old Brandon man was charged with Impaired Driving and Drive Over 80 mg%. He was lodged at the Correctional Centre to be released later with a scheduled Court date in September

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At approximately 630 p.m. Monday evening Brandon Police arrested 2 males as result of a stabbing that took place on July 22nd. Just after 1 p.m. on Sunday July 22nd, Police responded to a residence in the Zero Hundred Block of 14th Street North after receiving a 911 call of a stabbing at this location. A 25-year-old male from the Sioux Valley First Nation Reserve in Manitoba was transported to the Brandon Regional Health Centre with a stab wound to the chest. The investigation revealed that the male suspects attended the residence to confront the victim and during the argument he was stabbed in the chest with a knife. A 28-year-old from Brandon has subsequently been charged with Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possess Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose and Two counts of Utter Threats. The second male, a 24-year-old also from Brandon, has been charged with Aggravated Assault. Both have been lodged at the Brandon Correctional Centre and will appear in Court today. The male victim remains in hospital.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release Just after midnight, Tuesday morning, Police were called to the Brandon Regional Health Centre as staff in the Emergency Department were dealing with an intoxicated and belligerent male. When Police arrived the male suspect was being held by security and had a spit hood on due to his actions. When BPS members took custody of the male he proceeded to become combative and head-butted an officer. The 20-year-old male from Brandon remained non-compliant with Brandon Correctional Staff as well. Once sober he will be released to appear in Court in October.

At around 8:25 on Monday night, Brandon Fire and Emergency Services responded to a car on fire just west of Brandon on Highway 1A. The car was located less than a mile west of Brandon on Highway 1A between Mulligan's Driving Range and Riverheights Terrace. The vehicle's engine compartment was fully involved with flames upon arrival, and smoke could be seen from at least 26th St and Victoria Ave. Firefighter/paramedics positioned their vehicles to block the highway while they battled the flames on the side of the road. After the majority of the fire was extinguished, foam was used to suffocate any remaining fire or heat. At least one small explosion was witnessed, possibly coming from one of the vehicle's tires. Nobody was injured in the fire.  Photos: Liam Pattison Photography.