Shortly after 3:55 this afternoon, BFES and BPS attended the intersection of 16th St and Van Horne Ave for a two-vehicle collision. It appears as though a silver southbound car was struck by a red westbound car in the intersection. Airbags deployed in both vehicles and sand was deployed due to a large amount of fluid on the road from the collision. Nobody was injured in the the collision and both vehicles were towed by Accel Towing.  Photos by Liam Pattison Photography.

BRANDON—Premier Brian Pallister unveiled more details about the new kindergarten to Grade 8 school in southeast Brandon at a visit to the new school site today at Maryland Avenue and Ninth Street. “We have known for years that Brandon needs a new school to accommodate the tremendous growth that has happened here over the past 20 years,” said Pallister.  “Our goal since day one has been to catch up with the need for new schools and deliver quality new learning environments for students and educators at the best possible price.” The new 65,660-sq.-ft. English school will be constructed for 450 students with ability to expand to a capacity of 675 students, and will include: a child-care centre for 20 infants and 54 preschool children; 40 nursery school spaces; 14 regular classrooms and kindergarten rooms, and dedicated art, band and science rooms; a science, technology, electronics and math (STEM) lab; life-skills and resource teaching and guidance suites, and an English as an additional language room; library and gymnasium; a home-economics lab; and an industrial arts (manufacturing / construction) shop. The new school is currently being designed and a tender for construction will be issued in November, the premier said.  Construction is expected to be completed for the beginning of the school year in September 2020, he added. “The board of trustees is delighted that the province made the decision to invest in a new school in Brandon, and we are so pleased that the planning process is moving forward quickly,” said Dr. Linda Ross, board chair, Brandon School Division.  “I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Brandon’s MLAs Reg Helwer and Len Isleifson, as well as those of city council, and the Brandon community at large in advocating for this much needed new educational facility.  Pressures on capacity in K–8 schools across Brandon will be alleviated, and students living in this area of Brandon South will have the community school they deserve.  This is an occasion worth celebrating!” In 2017, the province announced plans to build six new schools: English kindergarten to Grade 8 in southeast Brandon (Brandon School Division); Dual-track kindergarten to Grade 5 in Precinct ‘E’ (Seven Oaks School Division); Dual-track kindergarten to Grade 8 in Waterford Green (Winnipeg School Division); English grades 9 to 12 in Waverley West (Pembina Trails School Division); English grades 9 to 12 in Niverville (Hanover School Division); and English kindergarten to Grade 8 in Winkler (Garden Valley School Division). In the 2018-19 budget, the province was able to identify at least $18 million in savings that would enable the construction of an additional school, a kindergarten to Grade 8 English school in Waverley West (Pembina Trails School Division). “We’re pleased to move forward with this historic investment, which will support a stronger education system here in Brandon for years to come,” said Education and Training Minister Ian Wishart.  “The additional school in Waverley West is a direct result of our commitment to shop smarter on behalf of Manitoba taxpayers.” The minister confirmed the province is proceeding with construction of these seven new schools, which will create capacity for 4,425 students and 540 child-care spaces.  Earlier this month, the province initiated the design phase for the Brandon, Seven Oaks and Winnipeg school division projects when it selected prime consultants through a competitive process.  The two new schools in Pembina Trails (Waverley West) will proceed to design early in 2019.

Brandon Police Service Media Release In March of 2018, Police entered into an investigation after receiving information that a man repeatedly sexually assaulted his step grandson when the boy was between the ages of three and five years old.  Further investigation revealed that the suspect also sexually assaulted his step daughter, the mother to the step grandson. The alleged offences on the step grandson occured  between 2011 and 2014 and the alleged offences on the step daughter occured between 1994 and 2007. The 61-year-old Brandon man was arrested on Wednesday afternoon for Sexual Assault, Sexual Interference, Sexual Exploitation and Invitation to Sexual Touching. The man was released from Police custody and is scheduled to appear in Court in June.

ACC Release Former NHL hockey player Sheldon Kennedy is being presented with the second annual Courage Award by Assiniboine Community College. “Since I came forward in 1996, my mission was simply to help others and make the future a safer place for our kids,” said Kennedy. “To receive awards for this work is such an amazing honour and I am so grateful to receive the 2018 Assiniboine Courage Award. It is especially meaningful having this happen in my own backyard!” The Courage Award was established by Assiniboine in 2017 to commend and honour people who demonstrate courage in all its forms in their business, community, professional or personal life. “We are honoured to have Sheldon Kennedy accept this award for the courage he demonstrated by coming forward about the sexual abuse he endured for years and for his continued advocacy work to prevent and treat child abuse across North America,” said Assiniboine president Mark Frison. Born in Brandon in 1969 and raised in Elkhorn, Kennedy found hockey a natural outlet for his youthful energy. “We only had 150 people who lived in our town, so we’d go play hockey. It was a way of life,” Kennedy recalls in Swift Current, the 2016 documentary about his life. But the opportunity to play Major Junior hockey as a teenager turned sour when Kennedy was sexually abused by his coach, Graham James. He kept the secret locked inside for many years, fearing reprisals if he said anything. Kennedy is now the Lead Director at the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre, the first of its kind in Canada, offering full services for victims of child abuse. He is also the Co-Founder of Respect Group, which provides education online to help prevent abuse, bullying and harassment. During his professional hockey career, Kennedy was signed by four different National Hockey League teams and their American Hockey League affiliates, including the Winnipeg Jets and the Manitoba Moose. Kennedy’s life has been the subject of a 1999 TV movie, The Sheldon Kennedy Story, his 2006 book, Why I Didn’t Say Anything and Swift Current. When Kennedy went public in 1996, his story inspired others to come forward, including NHL star Theo Fleury, who had been abused by the same coach. James was charged, convicted and sentenced to jail time in two separate trials, one for Kennedy and another player and the second one for Fleury and another player. Kennedy will receive the award at a dinner in his honour on Thursday, Oct. 25 at the Victoria Inn and Convention Centre. Tickets are available on the college website at assiniboine.net/courage. The dinner will be co-chaired by Sheila North Wilson, Grand Chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and Don Penny, founding partner and past chairman of MNP LLP (formerly Meyers Norris Penny), recipient of Assiniboine’s first Courage Award in 2017.  

Brandon Police Service Media Release On March 22nd 2018, Police entered into an investigation after receiving a report from a male that a female friend took his credit card on March 20th and fraudulently purchased $230 worth of merchandise. The suspect returned the credit card with some receipts to the victim on March 21st. Police obtained surveillance video from a business in the 1000 Block of Victoria Avenue confirming that the suspect used the credit card. On Monday afternoon, Police arrested the 23-year-old female suspect from Brandon for Fraudulent Use of Credit Card. She was released and is scheduled to appear in Court in June.