Brandon Police Service Media Release As a result of Police investigation into the fires that were deliberately set on Saturday night, Police have arrested a 27-year-old man from Brandon. At approximately 9:45 p.m. on Saturday night, Police responded to a vehicle fire in the 800 Block of Pacific Avenue. Investigation determined that fabric was placed in the gas tank and lit on fire. Responding officers attended and extinguished the fire preventing the vehicle from becoming engulfed in flames. The vehicle did sustain minimal damage. A short time later, a second fire was discovered coming from within a downtown hotel in the 1000 Block of Pacific Avenue. Old mattresses and some garbage were found to be deliberately set on fire, which was extinguished by members of Brandon Fire and Emergency Services. The suspect has been arrested for Arson Disregard Human Life X 2, Arson Damage to Property X 4 and Wear Disguise with Intent. The man was lodged at the Correctional Center and is scheduled to appear in Court on Monday.

Manitoba Families has appointed six new members to the Vulnerable Persons’ Hearing Panel and increased the board size by two members. The purpose of the hearing panel is to provide the vulnerable persons’ commissioner with independent and objective recommendations regarding applications for substitute decision-makers.  The hearing panel has members located throughout Manitoba and is made up of relatives of vulnerable people, lawyers and community members. The new appointments are: Family member Heather Deneka (Beausejour), a resource teacher at École Beausejour Early Years School. Community members Cecile Berard (Grande Pointe), a former financial security advisor who co-founded Berard Financial Group; Norman Bruce (Swan River), who has worked as an upper-level administrator in various government positions across Manitoba and served on multiple boards; and Jeff Fawcett (Brandon), a local business owner and board member who has worked as a volunteer mediator in the community. Lawyers Sheree Walder (Winnipeg), a partner at Myers Weinberg LLP with expertise in Indigenous child welfare and family law; and Karla Dane (Brandon), a partner at Meighen Haddad who has served on several local boards in Westman. The vulnerable persons’ commissioner appoints these individuals to have legal authority and act for a vulnerable person unable to make certain decisions on their own in specific areas identified by the commissioner. The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act defines a vulnerable person as an adult living with a mental disability who is in need of assistance to meet his or her basic needs with regard to personal care or management of his or her property.

No one should be alone at Christmas, but feeding 2000 + people each Christmas with another 1500 home deliveries to those that can't make it in, takes time, people, food and money! Help support an amazing cause by donating whatever you can at www.gofundme.com/traditional-christmas-dinner, or by contacting them if you would like to donate food or volunteer your time. To see the different volunteer opportunities, please see the chart below. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Dec 21 (12pm) Turkey Prepping Dec 21 (8pm) Turkey Cooking Dec 22 (8am) Turkey Carving Dec 22 (1pm) Stuffing and Veggie cutting Dec 23 (8am) Turkey Carving Dec 23 (12pm) Potato peeling/mashing & wrapping presents Dec 24 (1pm) Stuffing – mixing and cooking Dec 25 (7am) Turkey Carving Dec 25 (7:30am) Kitchen help Dec 25 (8:30am) Preparing Take out meals Dec 25 (11:30am – 6pm) Serving tables  

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon and Brandon Transit wish to inform transit patrons and the public of forthcoming changes to the hours of operation on the recently-established transit Route #16. After a number of months monitoring and evaluating usage of the City of Brandon’s new transit route network – which originally came into effect in late July of 2017 – transit officials have determined a number of changes are necessary ensure the best use of Brandon Transit resources. As of Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018, Route 16 (South End Link) will switch to hourly service at the bottom of the hour, with hours of operation on Monday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. All service on this route will begin and end at the Richmond Avenue Terminal. However, to provide better access for transit patrons in the City’s south end to the main Downtown Terminal, a new route originating from the Richmond Avenue Terminal will be added into the route schedule. Beginning Tuesday, January 2nd, Route #19 (Name To Be Determined) will run on hourly service at the top of the hour, with hours of operation on Monday to Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. All service on this route will begin and end at the Richmond Avenue Terminal. Minor changes to Route #8 (Maryland West) and Route #23 (1st Street South), including the removal of a handful of stop locations along Princess Avenue, will also come into effect on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018 to better reflect ridership usage. Maps of all Brandon Transit routes and schedules, including the above modifications, can be found by visiting www.brandontransit.ca. Brandon Transit’s Google Trip planner site will be updated to prior to the changes coming into effect. Transit riders with questions about the changes can contact Brandon Transit via email at transit@brandon.ca, by phone at 204-729-2279 or via online form at http://brandontransit.ca/contact-info/contact-us-online.

Benjamin Graham will become the new president and chief executive officer of Manitoba Public Insurance effective Feb. 1, 2018, Premier Brian Pallister announced today. “Mr. Graham brings nearly 15 years of senior leadership to his new role as president and CEO of MPI, with particular expertise in risk management, energy, financial services and insurance companies internationally,” said Pallister. “I am pleased to welcome Mr. Graham to Manitoba, and am confident that his broad insurance-industry experience and risk-management focus will strengthen MPI’s mandate and its leadership team.” Graham will succeed current president and CEO Dan Guimond, who announced his retirement plans earlier this year.  The premier noted Graham’s appointment results from an exhaustive local, national and international search.  Originally from Australia, Graham’s most recent appointment was as the head of risk for QBE Insurance Asia Pacific, headquartered in Hong Kong. “Mr. Graham’s international experience will bring new perspectives to the organization and ensure the Crown corporation is delivering industry best-practice solutions within the public insurance context that we are so proud to offer to Manitobans,” said Crown Services Minister Cliff Cullen.  “I have no doubt the selection of Mr. Graham by the corporation’s board of directors will serve to strengthen and secure the long-term sustainability of the public insurance program in Manitoba.” Graham holds a master’s degree in risk management from Monash University in Australia and an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of New South Wales.  He also holds numerous professional affiliations including memberships in the Institutes of Risk Management in the Middle East and Australia. “The board of directors is very pleased to welcome Mr. Graham as the organization’s new president and CEO,” said Brent VanKoughnet, chair of the MPI board.  “We are confident that he can build on the successes and dedicated leadership of the corporation’s current president and CEO, Dan Guimond. “On behalf of the entire board of directors, I want to once again extend our gratitude to Mr. Guimond for his passion, expertise and extraordinary work ethic as a steward and a champion of Manitoba’s public insurance program over his distinguished 28-year career at MPI.”