The Brandon School Division is in the process of developing their Budget for the 2018-2019 school year. The Public Consultation will be held on: Thursday, February 15, 2018 in the Green Acres School Gymnasium, located at 335 Queens Avenue East, Brandon. Please use the gymnasium entrance located near the West Parking Lot. The meeting will commence at 7:00 pm with a 2018-2019 Preliminary Budget Overview followed by a “Town Hall” question and answer session, allowing individuals to provide input regarding the Division’s 2018-2019 Budget. This meeting will also be streamed live on the internet at www.bsd.ca. You will be able to participate by sending questions via email: info@bsd.ca. The Board of Trustees would also like to invite you to attend the Regular Board Meeting on Monday, February 26, 2018 at 7:00 pm to hear public presentations regarding the proposed 2018-2019 Budget. If you would like to make a presentation to the Board of Trustees, please call 204-729-3114 to register, prior to February 20, 2018. Please take note of the important dates below: DEVELOPING OUR BUDGET FOR THE 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR   Public Budget Consultation Forum Budget Deliberations Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 7:00 pm Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at 10:00 am Green Acres School, Gymnasium BSD Administration Office, Board Room 335 Queens Avenue East, Brandon 1031 – 6th Street, Brandon Regular Board Meeting – Public Presentations Regular Board Meeting – Final Budget Approval Re. Proposed Budget Monday, March 12, 2018 at 7:00 pm Monday, February 26, 2018 at 7:00 pm BSD Administration Office, Board Room BSD Administration Office, Board Room 1031 – 6th Street, Brandon  

Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba (CFS Western) is excited to announce a two-year pilot project partnership with the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada and RBC that will give 100 vulnerable youth in Westman extra support in accessing the workforce. Called Youth Works, the project will help youth in and from care, aged 16 to 29, with employability supports such as skills training, career mentorships, and job placements. The program is supported by RBC Future Launch in partnership with the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada. The official launch of the program took place Tuesday, January 30, at CFS Western’s Elspeth Reid Family Resource Centre. About 50 people attended including CFS staff and youth in and from care; Glenn Crook, RBC Vice President, Commercial Financial Services; other RBC staff; Peggy Hornell, Chief Operating Officer, The Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada; and Tristan Norton, CFS Western’s Youth Care Employment Specialist. “For youth moving into adulthood and out of care, gaining employment is often a significant challenge,” said Dave McGregor, Chief Executive Officer of CFS Western. “Living apart from their family, dealing with needs and vulnerabilities that contributed to their coming into care, and experiencing a lack of support to access opportunities that most kids take for granted, are just a few of the extra barriers these young adults face. “The Youth Works program will help mitigate some of these added obstacles.” James Lavallée, RBC Olympian and Canoe/Kayak athlete, had planned to attend the launch but, due to a highway closure, was unable to make it at the last minute. He made himself available via speakerphone though and told the youth about his struggles growing up with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and ADHD. “I felt angry, lost, and like I had no direction,” said Lavallée. “School was frustrating so I turned to sports to distract me, and I still struggled – a lot - at every one I tried. “Finally I figured out that the one thing that made me feel good was being outside. “So I found kayaking, and from my first time out on the water, I felt different…and free. “It changed my life forever, gave me an outlet for my frustration and anger, and taught me skills that I could apply to everything I do.” Lavallée also told the youth that he opened himself up to the support of others who helped him set and pursue his life goals. “Though we often think – and believe – it, we never truly walk alone. “Welcome others into your circle, gain support and strength from them, and take it one step at time. “There will always be bends and bumps along the way, but take pride in how you navigate them. “For me, they helped make me who I am today.” Tristan Norton, CFS Western’s Youth Care Employment Specialist, told the audience that a goal of the Youth Works program is to help youth in and from care reach their full potential by giving them the tools they need to succeed in the workplace. “Not only just to find jobs,” said Norton. “But to keep them and become great role models in their workplaces which will help them unlock their full potential in all that they do.” The Youth Works program is also operating in three other sites across Canada – Fredericton, Richmond, and Toronto. Each of the fours site have received funding to help 100 vulnerable youth in their area. Peggy Hornell, Chief Operating Officer at The Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, said that while each site and province has their own unique character, across the country youth in and from care face multiple barriers as they move out of care and into independence. “Helping young people in and from the child welfare system find stability in their lives is an important priority for us at the Foundation. “This program will help build brighter futures for these kids by giving them the supports they need to launch successful careers.” On average each year, about 2,300 youth as young as age 16 move out of Canada’s child welfare system and are no longer eligible for the kind of supports they received in care. They often lack a family home or family support while they look for a job, help with groceries and necessities, or someone to help them prepare for a job interview. Without the basic supports to help them become self-sufficient, these young adults may face a future of poverty, homelessness, and hopelessness. “Our goal is to ensure these youth are more confident, better prepared and equipped for the future of work,” said Glenn Crook, RBC Vice President, Commercial Financial Services. “Youth Works provides a unique opportunity for us to support some of the most vulnerable youth in Westman, and we thank our partners for their work in making a measurable difference in the lives of youth transitioning from care.” The Westman Youth Works program began in September 2017. To date, about 25 youth are participating. Youth can access the program on their own, or get referral through a child welfare agency or high school as well as many other community organizations. For more information, please call Tristan Norton at 204-573-3252 or toll free 1-800-483-8980 or email youthemployment@cfswestern.mb.ca.

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon and Brandon Transit wish to draw the public’s attention to forthcoming changes being made to Brandon Transit’s Sunday/statutory holiday hours of operation, effective March 30th, 2018. As per a decision of Brandon City Council during its 2018 budget deliberations, as of Friday, March 30th, 2018, Brandon Transit’s Sunday hours of service will run on a 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (hourly) schedule. In addition, Brandon Transit services will be available on a 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (hourly) schedule on the following statutory holidays ONLY during the 2018 calendar year: Louis Riel Day Easter Monday Victoria Day Terry Fox Day Remembrance Day Thanksgiving Day Boxing Day The above changes mean that buses will NOT run on Good Friday (March 30th) or on Easter Sunday (April 1st) this year, but WILL operate on a 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (hourly) schedule on Easter Monday (April 2nd). Other statutory holidays on which Brandon Transit service will NO LONGER be available include Canada Day, Labour Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. All management and staff of Brandon Transit sincerely appreciate the patience and understanding of all transit users during this period of transition. Through the 2018 calendar year, the City of Brandon and Brandon Transit will ensure that public notification of scheduled bus service is available well in advance of each statutory holiday to minimize confusion. For more information on Brandon Transit regular routes and hours of operation, visit www.brandontransit.ca or call directly at 204-729-2279.

Manitoba’s 2018 budget will be presented on Monday, March 12 when the provincial legislature has resumed sitting, Finance Minister Cameron Friesen announced today. “Two years ago, we committed to Manitobans to fix the finances, repair the services and rebuild our economy,” said Friesen.  “We are facing these challenges, keeping our promises and getting results.” Friesen noted the province continues to make important progress on expenditure management.  The second quarter report for the 2017-18 fiscal year cited Manitoba’s forecast summary deficit at $827 million, an improvement of $13 million from the projected $840 million deficit in Budget 2017. “I look forward to updating Manitobans on the tremendous progress we have made and the next steps we will take to make Manitoba the most improved province in Canada,” said Friesen.  “It’s our priority to keep more money in the pockets of Manitobans and build a brighter future for all of us.”

Brandon, MB – An inventory of developable industrial and commercial properties in Brandon is now available online at www.economicdevelopmentbrandon.com, a move that is anticipated will better position Brandon “on the radar” of potential  investors and developers worldwide. A key action under the “Organizing for Competitiveness” pillar within Brandon’s Prosperity by Design Economic Growth Strategy, the online inventory was developed by Economic Development Brandon, which worked with the City of Brandon’s Development Services Division, area realtors, and landowners themselves to gather and compile the information. Properties now listed within the inventory on Economic Development Brandon’s website range from large greenfield parcels in Brandon’s East Industrial Development Zone, to mid-sized vacant infill properties, to smaller, developed sites in the City’s historic downtown. The site features two separate categories of developable land in Brandon: commercial and industrial. Each land category allows for the review of available opportunities in map format to show development opportunities in proximity to others, or via a searchable table to allow the user to narrow the options based on desired site attributes. Each property listing also includes a profile in PDF format, containing relevant information such as parcel size, property taxes, and land assessment. Mapping layers that show a property’s associated utility sizes and locations will be added in the near future. City of Brandon Director of Economic Development Sandy Trudel says their main goal in developing the inventory was to simplify the process of connecting development opportunities with those looking to invest and or develop, whether it be for growth of existing businesses or the attraction of new industries. “Among the sites listed within the inventory are those that otherwise wouldn’t have an online presence, and we know that many site selectors do much of their searching online prior to reaching out to potential markets,” says Trudel. “The inventory will help ensure Brandon is ‘in the game’ at the outset of such a search, and make it as easy as possible for interested parties looking to invest to find what they need.” Trudel notes that the online inventory builds on the extensive internal property listing already maintained by Economic Development Brandon, which allows them to respond to investment opportunities in a timely fashion. “Our online inventory will truly be a living list, with development opportunities added and removed in real time,” adds Trudel. “Economic Development Brandon will continue to facilitate the connection between investors and property owners, with property negotiations occurring directly between the buyer and seller.”