Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, RBC and Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba to provide local employment training program for former youth in care Vulnerable youth in Western Manitoba, as young as 16, will now have a lifechanging opportunity to learn essential skills and access resources necessary to enter the workforce through Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada’s Youth Works Program. The program is supported by RBC Future Launch, a 10-year, $500 million commitment to help Canadian youth prepare for the jobs of tomorrow. Offered to young people in Western Manitoba through Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba, the program will provide youth in and from permanent care with relevant skills training, internships, job placements and career mentorship support. The goal of the program is to help young people from care make the successful transition from receiving an education to obtaining sustainable employment. A key component of RBC’s $1 million donation is the hiring of trauma-informed employment counselors to assist in making this happen in four regions across Canada. “Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba is pleased to be selected as one of the four sites from across Canada to be involved in this pertinent initiative assisting youth in and from care with their employment and support needs," says Dave McGregor, CEO, Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba. "We know that after high school, as young people transition into adulthood, it can be a very challenging period and even more so for youth from care who do not always have natural supports. This program will be vital in helping to fill that need." Each year approximately 2,300 youth, as young as 16, age out of Canada’s child welfare system, and are no longer eligible for the type of support they have been receiving while in care. As they enter adulthood, they lack many things their peers take for granted such as a family home to return to while they look for a job, help with groceries and bills when times are tough, or someone to help them prepare for a job interview. Without the necessary supports to become self-sufficient, youth in Western Manitoba face a multitude of barriers when transitioning from care and can often face a future of poverty and homelessness. “Youth transitioning out of care face so many obstacles. When they exit the child welfare system, they are on their own. They have no family to lean on or a support system to help them navigate the challenges they face as independent adults. Many couch surf or access shelters and food banks to help them get by,” says Valerie McMurtry, President and CEO, Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada. “That’s why providing employability supports, such as skills training, career mentorship and job placements is so critical to ensuring that youth from care can achieve their own vision of success and avoid poverty.” Through Youth Works supported by RBC Future Launch - in partnership with Children's Aid Foundation of Canada, young people will be able to access: a trauma-informed employment counsellor, sensitive to their needs, who can help them assess their strengths, develop employability skills, and navigate their transition into the job market internship, job placement opportunities and mentorship from an employment counselor employment training to help youth fill the gaps in their skill set so that they can move to the next step in their employment plan. “Our goal is to ensure Canadian youth are more confident, better prepared and equipped for the future of work,” says Glenn Crook, Vice President, Commercial Financial Services, RBC. “This program provides a unique opportunity for RBC to support some of the most vulnerable youth in Western Manitoba, and we thank our partners for their work to make a measurable difference in the lives of youth transitioning from care."

The Manitoba government will be modernizing the regulations for manufactured homes and recreational vehicles (RVs), Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen, minister responsible for the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC), announced today. “The manufactured homes and RV industries have changed significantly over the past 40 years, and it is time for us to adapt as well,” said Pedersen.  “We heard this loud and clear in our public consultations.  By updating outdated permit and inspection requirements we are making progress in reducing the administrative burden on individuals and businesses.” Manufactured homes and RVs are both currently regulated under The Buildings and Mobile Homes Act.  Changes affecting manufactured homes will include updating the definitions and referenced standards under The Building and Mobile Homes Act, and removing the permit and inspection requirements for the sale of used ‘mobile homes’. “The Canadian Home Builders’ Association and its Modular Construction Council are pleased that the Manitoba government is updating the act and related regulations to recognize that manufactured homes should be treated no differently than site-constructed homes and other factory-constructed homes,” said Adaire Chown, special advisor, codes and standards, Canadian Home Builders Association.  “We look forward to seeing the changes and advising our members.” “These reforms will create a level playing field between mobile home owners and other home owners who do not require provincial inspections prior to the sale of their home,” said Pedersen. Recreational vehicles will be administered under a new separate regulation within the proposed technical safety act.  Changes will include recognizing modern definitions and standards for RVs as well as removing the requirement for a dealer to get a permit and have a used RV inspected by a provincial regulator before it can be sold.  RVs include camping trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, motor homes, slide-in campers, travel trailers and park model homes. The minister noted these changes are part of an ongoing initiative to reduce red tape across government and will take effect in the spring of 2018.

Brandon Police Service Media Release At approximately 10:15 a.m., a resident from Cornwallis Crescent reported that a male just attempted to Break into the residence. The caller reported that the suspect was on the deck at the back of the house and tried to break open the door. The homeowner scared the suspect away but he shot a BB gun at a window as he ran off. Police responded to the area and another resident on Cornwallis Crescent advised that a male suspect just broke into their residence and was in possession of a Black Hand Gun. The homeowner attempted to restrain the suspect but he pulled out the gun, pointed it at the homeowner and again fled.  Officers located the suspect hiding in a yard of another residence nearby. A 19-year-old man from Brandon was taken into custody without further incident. He was arrested for Break and Enter, Attempt Break and Enter, Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose and Assault with a Weapon. The suspect was lodged at the Brandon Correctional Center and is scheduled to appear in Court on Monday. Police recovered the black BB gun used by the suspect during these crimes. There are no reported physical injuries to the victims, suspect or Officers during this incident.

Brandon, MB – Following two days of vigorous discussion and debate, Brandon City Council has approved the final municipal budget of its mandate. This year’s $83.2 million dollar operating budget is representative of a municipal tax increase of 0.42%, which means the typical residential property used in the City’s standard calculations (40 years old, 1,200 square feet, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, and assessed at approximately $254,500) will see an increase in municipal taxes of $8 over 2017 levels. In speaking to the approved budget, Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest referenced it as the best overall result for Brandon’s ratepayers at the cost of a very modest municipal tax increase. “I am extremely pleased with this budget, not only for the end result -  which shook out at approximately one-third the rate of inflation - but for the way that everyone worked on the budget and the respectful, collegial way that they dealt with each other during the process,” Chrest said. “That’s kind of a hallmark of this Council and I am extremely proud of them.” Several dozen additions and deletions to the budget were brought forward by councillors and debated in detail throughout the process, with some of the more significant changes approved being: An additional $500,000 in capital funding for the Keystone Centre, to be funded through the Accommodation Tax Reserve; An additional $200,000 in funding for this year’s road paving and milling program; $30,000 in new funding for a “Downtown Ambassador” pilot program, $10,000 in new funding to enhance downtown heritage lighting, and $50,000 in additional funding to support the efforts of the Brandon Downtown Development Corporation; $25,000 in grant funding to assist Brandon Riverbank Inc. in pursing installation of an electric car charging station at the Riverbank Discovery Centre, along with $20,000 in additional funding for the City of Brandon’s Environmental Initiatives Program; An additional $100,000 in funding to assist in addressing building deficiencies at Brandon’s community centres; Additional grant funding support for the Brandon General Museum & Archives Inc., the Westman Multicultural Festival, Simplot Millennium Park, and the Brandon Bear Clan; An additional $100,000 in reserve funding allocation for a future soccer facility; A slight reduction of Sunday transit service hours of operation, along with tighter parameters placed on which statutory holidays will include the provision of transit service; Removal of funding earmarked for participation in the National Communities in Bloom Evaluation (Judged) Program; Reduction of funding to the Summer Lights Music Program (summer concert series and one-day festival); A reduction in the snow clearing and removal budget to reflect the season’s minimal snowfall. “The overall funding level approved still allows for growth and allows administration to achieve some of the goals that Council had set for us in its Strategic Plan, all while looking for innovative, new opportunities,” concluded Brandon City Manager/CAO Rod Sage. “With this budget, Council pushed us to adapt and look for efficiencies to ensure we can provide quality service to the community while being respectful and financially prudent.” The Council-approved budget will now proceed to public hearing stage, a date for which will be determined in the spring.

Brandon Police Service Media Release Impaired Driver Arrested Overnight Just prior to 3:00 AM a 55-year old male was stopped in the 1200 Block of 13th Street by police.  He displayed the usual signs of intoxication and provided samples of his breath of more than two (2) times the legal limit.  He will appear in court on January 22 to be charged with impaired driving. Brandon Man Arrested for Assault A 31-year old man was arrested for domestic assault after he allegedly struck his partner.  The female victim did not require any medical attention.  The man will appear in court on February 15th to be charged with domestic assault.