BRANDON, MB: Westman Communications Group is proud to announce it is one of the winners in the ‘Best story: making your community stronger’ category for Tuned-in Canada: The CCSA Awards, a project sponsored by the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA). Tuned-in Canada: the CCSA awards is a nation-wide, annual competition that highlights the great work performed by CCSA members - independent, local providers of internet, television and telephone services across Canada. After receiving a competitive field of nominations in March, submissions were sent to a judging panel for evaluation. The judges ranked the nominations using specific criteria and provided each nomination a final mark out of 100. From there, the shortlist was determined. Then, it was placed in the hands of Canadians to determine the winners by electronic and paper voting. “Westman thanks everyone who voted and for their support of our efforts to raise funds for deserving local charitable organizations,” said Courtney Baxter, Manager of Marketing at Westman Communications Group.  “This success is an example of what we are able to achieve when our communities work together to support local initiatives.” “We are so pleased to see Westman Communications Group being recognized and supported by the communities they serve,” said Jay Thomson, CEO of the CCSA. “This year was the fifth year of our contest, and to celebrate we introduced new categories and worked directly with members to help them share their stories.  It’s a pleasure to see such wonderful examples of our members working to connect Canadians in their home communities.” As a winner, Westman will receive $1,000 to donate to a local charity of its choice, which they have identified will be the Brandon Humane Society and YWCA Brandon. Winners will also be celebrated at ‘Connect 2018’,  CCSA’s annual conference being held this September in St. Andrew’s by the Sea, New Brunswick.

Brandon, MB – Work continues by the City of Brandon’s Emergency Response Team and the various agencies and organizations involved in the response to structure fires in downtown Brandon that destroyed three commercial buildings and left a multi-floor residential complex heavily damaged this past Victoria Day long weekend. Brandon Fire and Emergency Services personnel remain on scene at fire locations along Pacific Avenue (Christie’s Office Plus and the strip mall housing Collyer’s Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club/Kazic Kontracting) today, monitoring the occasional hotspot and dousing with water where needed. Pacific Avenue between 5th Street and 7th Street in the immediate vicinity of the above locations remains barricaded to traffic, and the City of Brandon asks all members of the public to avoid Pacific Avenue until crews have completely left the area. For the public’s safety, fencing has been erected around Massey Manor, with further inspections still needed to determine occupant re-entry. It is anticipated that once fire crews have cleared the Christie’s Office Plus and strip mall locations, fencing will go up to secure that area along Pacific Avenue, in addition to that of the impacted Knights Inn Cold Beer Store and vacant nightclub at the corner of 5th Street and Rosser Avenue. Multiple agencies are currently working to inspect the fire scenes and to determine the cause of the fires. Brandon Fire & Emergency Services would like to reiterate that its response to a vehicle fire in the area of 10th Street and Pacific Avenue on Sunday afternoon while fighting the downtown structure fires was unrelated and is believed to have been caused by mechanical issues. Brandon Fire & Emergency Services can confirm that a fire reignited within the impacted vehicle as it sat in a towing company compound in the City’s East End later that evening, which was attended to by Brandon Fire & Emergency Services members and extinguished. No fatalities or injuries have been reported relating to these fires or the response to these fires. The City of Brandon continues to manage the hotel accommodation and meals this week for approximately 150 individuals displaced by the fire. Discussions between the City of Brandon, the Province of Manitoba, and the agencies involved in the management of Massey Manor’s suites are continuing this week to determine long-term accommodations plans and the funding for such. The City of Brandon would again like to take this opportunity to thank all of the organizations and community members that assisted with the various aspects of the evacuation response to date.

Brandon Police Service Media Release At approximately 6:50 p.m., Police received a report that a male was attempting to steal a locked bicycle in the laneway of the 1400 Block Pacific Avenue. Officers attended and located the man in possession of the bicycle as well as a set of bolt cutters and a large knife. The intoxicated 35-year-old man from Brandon was arrested for Theft Under $5000, Possession of Break-in Instruments and Carry a Concealed Weapon. He was lodged at the Brandon Correctional Center and will be released when sober with a Court date in July.

Brandon Police Service Media Release At approximately 11:40 p.m. on Monday night, Police responded to two-vehicle accident at the intersection of 18th Street and Princess Avenue. A male driver from one of the vehicles fled the scene on foot but was apprehended a short distance away and displayed signs of impairment. The male was transported to the Police Service and provided breath samples that exceeded the legal limit. The investigation revealed that the suspect was driving a Chevrolet pickup truck southbound on 18th Street and did not stop at a red light. The second vehicle involved was a Chevrolet Equinox and was travelling west on Princess Avenue through a green light when struck on the driver’s side by the suspect vehicle. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage however there were no injuries reported. The 23-year-old male suspect from Brandon was arrested for Impaired Driving and Drive Over 80 mg%. He was lodged at the Brandon Correctional Center and will be released when sober on a Promise to Appear in Court later this month.

One of Noel Harding's worst nightmares happened.  Noel was about 2000 miles from home, preparing for the largest fight of his professional boxing career, when he learned that the weekend's devastating fires had all but wiped out his Brandon Boxing Club.   He was in Guadalajara, Mexico about to enter the ring when he got the news.  Noel has put his heart and soul into running the business for the last 17 years. “The promoter gave me the option not to fight but I came all that way I had to fight...this was the biggest fight of my life” Noel told bdnmb.ca. The Brandon Boxing Cub was one several local businesses effected by the fires on Saturday and Sunday.   “ I plan to rebuild and make it even better” said Harding. Local food truck (Smoked & Sauced Mobile BBQ) operator Jayson McCallum will be hosting a fundraising event on June 23rd in which 100 % of the proceeds will go towards the rebuild of the Brandon Boxing Club. https://www.facebook.com/events/185472402278861??ti=ia Plus, a GOFUNDME page has been created as well to get the Brandon Boxing Club back on it's feet. https://www.gofundme.com/rebuild-the-bbc