If you happen to have been following the second-degree murder trial of Raymond Cormier, the man accused of killing 15-year-old Tina Fontaine, you’ll know that the trial came to an end yesterday afternoon. What you may not know is that local lawyer Andrew Synyshyn is co-counsel to Winnipeg lawyer Tony Kavanagh, a defence team that was brought together to the case through Legal Aid. The jury trial began on January 29 in Manitoba’s Court of Queen’s Bench and was expected to last for five weeks, but with defence closing arguments heard on Tuesday afternoon, the case wrapped up earlier than expected. Synyshyn graduated in 2010 from the University of Manitoba with a law degree. He’s been practicing for seven years (called to the bar in December 2011) and opened his own firm, AJS Law, just over one year ago in Brandon. “Our practice focuses on criminal defence and child protection law. One of the reasons why I started my own firm was to make sure that everyone who wanted or needed representation could get it,” said Synyshyn. This defence team has been working on the case for over a year and a half, but now it’s up to the 11-person jury to decide on whether Cormier is guilty or not. Synyshyn said that this is the highest profile case that he’s been involved with directly. When AJS Law opened in December 2016, the firm started with Synyshyn and office administrator Danielle Guenther. However, they’ve since grown; lawyers Melania Cannon and Jennifer Janssens, as well as legal assistant Kristen Thomas are now part of the team.

Twenty years ago, Brandon School Division launched a breakfast program in just three early years schools. Today, it has evolved into a breakfast and snack program that reaches into 18 Brandon and Shilo schools. Nutritious breakfast cereal, milk, juice, fruit and snacks are served to any student who wishes to attend, without cost or eligibility criteria. Program Co-ordinator, Angie Williamson says, "on average we serve 300 students a day." January saw a total was 5879 student meals served. The program is funded through a national program called Food For Thought and is similarly run in communities across Canada. It also receives funding from sponsorship and donations locally, including corporate sponsors like Maple Leaf Foods. Brandon's breakfast program is also getting a boost this week from the patrons of Prairie Firehouse. Prairie Firehouse (637 Princess Avenue, Brandon) is hosting a beer tasting event where each food course will be paired with a specially selected beer from Beaus All Natural Brewing. Tickets are $65 and must be purchased in advance of the event. The dinner takes place at 7pm on Thursday February 22nd. Call or stop by for more information. To learn more about this impactful breakfast and snack program in our schools, visit www.brandonsfoodforthought.com.

On Saturday morning, the resident of a home in the 200 block of 5th St reported a break in to his residence and theft of three bicycles.  The home had been damaged in a house fire earlier in the week and while the resident was away from the home, suspects broke in and stole a child’s Spiderman “chopper” style bicycle, a white BMX bicycle and a 21 speed yellow and black mountain bicycle.

The City of Brandon wishes to advise that Brandon City Hall (410-9th Street), the City of Brandon Civic Services Complex (900 Richmond Avenue East), and the A.R. McDiarmid Civic Complex (638 Princess Avenue), will all be closed on Monday, February 19th in observance of Remembrance Day, and will re-open for regular business hours on Tuesday, February 20th. As per its winter hours of operation, the Eastview Landfill is CLOSED on Sunday, February 18th, but open Monday, February 19th between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. The Eastview Landfill’s winter hours of operation can be found at http://www.brandon.ca/sanitation/landfill/landfill-overview. All Brandon Transit services will run on statutory holiday hours (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) on Monday, February 19th, while the Brandon Transit Info Centre will be closed that day. Brandon Transit routes can be found at http://www.brandontransit.ca/routes-schedules/regular-routes-schedules. Brandon’s Community Sportsplex will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, February 19th. A full facility schedule can be found at https://mycommunity.brandon.ca/Facility/GetSchedule. Seasonal hours of operation at Brandon’s public skating oval and the Power Smart Waterfall of Lights are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For any after-hours public works emergencies, call the City of Brandon Public Works After-Hours Line at 204-729-2285. Have a safe and enjoyable Louis Riel Day holiday!

Brandon Police Service Media Release A 46 year old woman from Brandon has been charged with assault after officers attended a disturbance at a residence in the 600 block of 11th St on Saturday evening.  When the officers arrived at the residence, the accused was observed on top of a man, repeatedly punching him in the head.  The 79 year old victim was treated at the scene for minor injures to his face and refused to provide further details of the altercation.  The woman was lodged at Brandon Correctional Center and will be released to appear in court in April.