Brandon, MB – The tree canopy at a popular community greenspace in Brandon has been strengthened today thanks to a community tree-planting event made possible with funding from the CN EcoConnexions - From the Ground Up program. The City of Brandon recently received a grant of $14,200 through the CN EcoConnexions - From the Ground Up program, which works to provide funding for the greening of municipal and First Nations properties across Canada, especially in communities along its rail lines. This year, more than 140 applications were received through the program from Canadian communities of all types and sizes, and Brandon was one of 27 successful recipients. The City of Brandon has matched the funding it received to purchase a total of 98 trees and 31 shrubs of varying species to augment the greenspace at Kin Park, located at the corner of First Street and Aberdeen Avenue. A community tree-planting event held today at Kin Park recognized all those involved in making the project possible. In celebrating the initiative, Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest noted that park patrons of all ages will benefit from the ecological and social aspects that the new trees will provide. “The wide variety of tree species the community has joined us in planting today will work to create bio-diversity in the area, where our past practice has perhaps been more of a monoculture approach. This is particularly important as we work to improve the health of our urban forest, which has been vulnerable to weather events and invasive species in recent years,” said Mayor Chrest. “I congratulate all those involved in securing this valuable addition to our tree canopy in Kin Park, and I know that the trees planted today will be enjoyed by the community for decades to come.”   “CN remains committed to making a positive impact on the communities along our network, and are proud to be part of a program that helps to make these communities better places to live, work and play,” noted Sean Finn, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer for CN. “We’re not only helping beautify these communities, we’re positively contributing to a sustainable future one community at a time, as planting trees improves air quality and offsets carbon emissions.” "Tree Canada is thrilled to be working with CN to enhance the tree canopies of so many deserving communities across Canada," added Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada. "These trees we plant and nurture are a living legacy that will enrich our country, our communities and our homes for decades to come. These communities greened through CN EcoConnexions will be a lasting testament to CN’s exemplary environmental leadership.” Today’s community event also included a morning of educational presentations to junior high and high school students from the Brandon School Division on the importance of urban forestry. More information about the City of Brandon’s urban forestry program can be found at www.brandonenvironment.com. About CN CN is a true backbone of the economy whose team of more than 25,000 railroaders transports more than C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network of approximately 20,000 route-miles spanning Canada and mid-America. CN – Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries – serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information about CN, visit the company’s website at t www.cn.ca. About Tree Canada Tree Canada is a non-profit charity dedicated to improving the lives of Canadians by planting and nurturing trees. Since 1992, we’ve planted more than 80 million trees, greened more than 600 schoolyards, helped restore places hit by natural disasters and brought together urban forestry experts greening cities all across Canada. Get involved or learn more about us at www.treecanada.ca.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release The Brandon Police Service is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing person. Destinee Jones, 18 years of age, has been missing since September 11th, 2018. Destinee was last seen wearing black pants with a white stripe down the side, a black shirt and black high top runners. Destinee is described as aboriginal, 105 lbs (47 kilos), 5’4 ft with brown hair dyed red and cut in a mohawk style, slim build and medium complexion. Destinee Jones whereabouts is unknown and may have been traveling to Reston and possibly driving in a grey Buick 4 door car. No plate #. A photo of Destinee from August, 2018 is included with this release. We are asking that anyone with information about Destinee Jones’ current whereabouts is asked to call the Brandon Police Service at 204-729-2345

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release The Brandon Police Service is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing youth. Echo Tacan, 17 years of age. Echo has been missing since July 27th, 2018. She was last seen wearing grey sweatpants and a pink zip-up hoodie. She is described as Aboriginal, 5’6” (167 cm), 185 lbs (84 kg), medium build, fair complexion, brown hair, and brown eyes. Echo’s current whereabouts are unknown and it is possible that she may also be in the province of Saskatchewan. A photo of Echo from July, 2018 is included with this release. We are asking that anyone with information about Echo Tacan’s current whereabouts is asked to call the Brandon Police Service at 204-729-2345.

Shortly after 5pm Thursday evening, Brandon Fire and Emergency Services and Brandon Police Service responded to the intersection of 4th St and College Ave for a two-vehicle collision involving a small car and a pickup truck. It appeared as though one vehicle struck a telephone pole, and/or it's guy-wire, prompting the response from Manitoba Hydro. Firefighter/paramedics used extrication tools to remove an occupant from the small car. The occupant who was extricated was transported to hospital.   Photos by: Liam Pattison Photography.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release An ongoing Police investigation from September 11th, Brandon Police Service had received a file from Toronto Police in relation to a fraud. On June 19th 2018, the victim contacted Toronto Police to report that her email had been hacked. The suspect posed as the victim, who is the Chair of a pension company, emailed the secretary of the company requesting to pay a vendor $2500. The secretary thought the request was legitimate as it came from the victim’s email and e-transferred the money. The e-transfer was traced to the suspect’s bank account by the Police. On Wednesday September 19th, Police located, arrested and released a 52yr old Brandon woman to appear in Court on November15th.