Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon and the Brandon Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee, along with their many event sponsors, invite all members of the public to attend the 17th annual Doors Open Brandon weekend July 20th to 22nd for a unique chance to travel back in time and immerse themselves in the community’s architectural, cultural and nature-based beginnings. This year’s Doors Open Brandon weekend event offers a mix of FREE self-guided and guided walking heritage tours, featuring a total of 18 heritage properties, five local museums, two City of Brandon civic buildings and the Brandon's Indigenous Peoples Site at the A.R McDiarmid Civic Complex. Returning for another year is local historian David McConkey’s popular walking tour, this time offering a guided journey through the Brandon Municipal Cemetery, which, in the final year of the First World War centenary, will seek to remember those caught in the conflict. Coming on board this year to offer a new guided walking tour is naturalist David Barnes, who will take participants on a nature history walk through the Assiniboine Food Forest Inc., a natural area in Brandon’s east end which includes a pond/wetland and spring-fed creek, an ancient oak wooded area, AFFI's community orchard, a prairie wildflower garden, and a working sugar bush. A full list of Doors Open Brandon tour locations and participant details can be found on the Heritage Brandon website at http://www.heritagebrandon.ca/doors-open. Self-guided tours can be taken at participating locations from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on both days, while participants of the civic building tours and the above mentioned pair of guided walking tours will want to take note of listed tour times and attendance requirements. “As always, our Doors Open Brandon event aims to offers something for everyone, ranging from a ‘go-at-your-own-pace’ list of historical properties to visit, to a more structured schedule of programmed tours,” notes City of Brandon Heritage Marketing Coordinator Shelby Nohr. “We invite all members of the public to take the opportunity offered to discover these buildings and historical sites, which are just as vibrant and valued today as they were when they first came into being.” Nohr adds that interested history buffs will not want to miss the Doors Open Brandon kick-off event, which is set to take place on Friday, July 20th beginning at 6 p.m. at the A.R. McDiarmid Civic Complex, located at 638 Princess Avenue. “In addition to a double documentary screening by local archivist and documentary producer Tom Mitchell, we are pleased to be hosting the premiere of Brandon musician Brent White’s original song, ‘Snow Train 1916’, which he was inspired to write after attending a previous Doors Open Brandon event. This will be a ‘don’t-miss’ evening, so we hope everyone will help us kick things off on Friday and then take in all that the Doors Open Brandon weekend has to offer,” concludes Nohr. Complete Doors Open Brandon information is now available on the Heritage Brandon website, though individuals may also pick up a complimentary paper passport booklet at Brandon City Hall (410-9th Street), the Riverbank Discovery Centre (545 Conservation Drive), or at Heritage Co-op (1035 Richmond Avenue). Meanwhile, individuals interested in learning more about 2018’s Open Garden Tours – which have been scheduled for their own weekend this year on July 14th & 15th - may contact the City of Brandon’s Community Development Section by calling 204-729-2257 or by emailing k.macdonald@brandon.ca.

Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living has issued a heat advisory for the province of Manitoba. Environment and Climate Change Canada is forecasting high temperatures and humidity in Manitoba over the next several days, particularly in southern and central Manitoba.  Heat warnings have been issued for southern Manitoba, as well as the communities of The Pas, Wanless and Westray and the Clearwater Lake Provincial Park.  Heat may expand into other areas of Manitoba tomorrow, with humidex values expected to exceed 40 Cin some areas of the province. Manitobans are reminded to take precautions to prevent heat-related illness. Everyone is at risk for the effects of heat.  However, during a period of prolonged heat, older adults, people with chronic illness and people living alone have a particularly high risk for heat illness, especially if they are living in an urban area or do not have air conditioning.  Others at greater health risks to heat include infants and young children and people who work or exercise in the heat. Take care of yourself and others.  Regularly check on neighbours, friends and older family members, especially those who are ill or living alone, to make sure they are cool and drinking water. Visiting is best because it is easier to identify signs of heat illness that could be missed over the phone. Never leave people or pets alone in a parked vehicle or direct sunlight. If a person has many of the following symptoms, their body may be overheating and at risk of heat illness or heat stroke: headache; red, hot and dry skin; dizziness; confusion; nausea; rapid weak pulse; and a complete or partial loss of consciousness. The longer a person’s body temperature is above 40 C (105 F), the greater the likelihood of permanent effects or death. If these symptoms occur, immediately move to a cool place and drink water. Emergency medical care may be needed depending on the severity of symptoms.  If someone has a high body temperature, is unconscious or is confused, call for help.  While waiting, cool the person right away by moving them to a cool place, applying cold water to large areas of the skin or clothing and fanning the person as much as possible. Heat illnesses are preventable.  The health effects of heat can be reduced by: drinking plenty of liquids, especially water, before feeling thirsty; wearing loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing and a wide-brimmed hat; planning outdoor activities during cooler times of the day; limiting alcohol consumption; avoiding sun exposure and considering cancelling or rescheduling outdoor activities; going to a cool place such as a mall, community centre, public library or place of worship; taking a cool shower or bath; and blocking sun out by closing awnings, curtains or blinds during the day. Regularly updated weather forecasts are available from Environment and Climate Change Canada at: http://weatheroffice.gc.ca/canada_e.html. For more information on heat and health, call Health Links-Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or 1‑888‑315‑9257 (toll-free).  Or, visit: Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Livingwww.manitoba.ca/health/publichealth/environmentalhealth/heat.html; Health Canadawww.healthycanadians.gc.ca/healthy-living-vie-saine/environment-environnement/sun-soleil/heat-extreme-chaleur-eng.php; or www.safemanitoba.com for workplace concerns.

Late Thursday afternoon, a two vehicle collision occurred at the intersection of 9th St and Lorne Ave which sent a vehicle careening into the side of a building. A small car and an SUV collided, sending the SUV into the side of the Brandon Friendship Centre on the south-east corner of 9th and Lorne. Two people were transported to hospital.   Photos by Liam Pattison Photography.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release Brandon Police responded to a dispute between neighbours in the 800 Block of 7th street that escalated to the point that a female suspect damaged the patio furniture belonging to her neighbour. As a result a 44-year-old women from Brandon was arrested for Mischief to Property Under $5000, lodged at the Correctional Centre to be released when sober to appear in Court in August.

Gusting winds throughout Wednesday caused a tree to topple over onto power lines in the back lane of the 2500 block of Richmond Ave. BFES, BPS and Manitoba Hydro were called to the area around 2:45 Wednesday afternoon for reports of a tree on fire hanging on live wires. When crews arrived they found a tree resting on live power lines, with more live power lines on the ground posing a danger. The fire burnt part of the tree but did not threaten anything else. Emergency crews cordoned off the area for the safety of the public and waited for Manitoba Hydro to attend. Nobody was injured.  Photos by Liam Pattison Photography.