More than 3,000 family members, fire fighters and friends from across the United States and Canada gathered September 17 under sunny skies in Colorado Springs to honor 86 fire fighters whose names were added to the Wall of Honor at the 19th annual IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial observance.  Two Brandon Firefighter/ Parmedics were recognized among the 86 including Mel McEachen and Norman Roziere. Below are a few pictures and some links for details on the memorial. http://www.iaff.org/hs/ffm/05index.aspx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzzd60KK7GI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh_7Bcm90Zc

Please note that tonight will be the first night of some new policies regarding entry/exit/re-entry to Westman Communications Group Place for major events, starting with tonight’s Brandon Wheat Kings Home Opener.  East and West Outside Arena Doors will NOT be in use. The North West Doors to the Stairs linking to the Main Concourse will be OPEN for Public use. For elevator access please use the Canad entrance. South Outside Arena Doors will be available for ENTRY ONLY.  Main entry points will be the East and West INTERNAL doors off the Main Concourse. These will also need to be used for any exit/re-entry throughout the game.  These new policies begin tonight and will be in effect for all remaining home Wheat King games, concerts, Circus, and major events, in Westman Place moving forward. There will be signage throughout the facility indicating restrictions and access points.    

Source: MGEU News Manitoba took a significant — and dangerous — step in privatizing the public home care program yesterday. The provincial government and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority unveiled the names of the two Ontario-based corporations (We Care and ParaMed) that will be given contracts to deliver home care services to patients transitioning out of hospital — similar to the service that was already offered within the public home care program until the government ceased the $1.7 million in funding required to run it this past spring. The Province will spend significantly more – $15.7 million – on the two private, three-year contracts. MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky says that Manitobans must see this for what it is: another ploy to privatize a strong public service and fill the pockets of for-profit providers. “Manitoba already has a comprehensive, universal public home care program that is among the best in Canada. We should be building on that system, not auctioning it off in pieces. Manitobans need to know just how serious this announcement is. It’s privatization, plain and simple.” Brenda Hasiuk – whose father receives home care – joined Gawronsky at an MGEU press conference on September 20. She cautioned the government against adding more for-profit services, which haven’t improved care in other provinces. “After my dad’s accident, I talked to friends in other provinces that had a hodge-podge of public and private home care options and they said there was no way my dad would be receiving the same quality or breadth of care. Not even if he was paying. In other provinces, we simply couldn’t have expected that an actual coordinated system of services would automatically be there for us,” said Hasiuk. “I’m here today to tell you that for us, who are living it, putting a private band-aid on our public system and seeing how it sticks like they have in other provinces? It doesn’t just seem misguided. It’s downright scary.” Gawronsky said that the Pallister government needs to look back at Manitoba’s failed attempts to privatize home care two decades ago and learn from those mistakes, not repeat them. “It’s twenty years later but it looks like they’re following the same privatization playbook. In fact, We Care was one of the companies involved in the Filmon government’s failed privatization scheme of the 90s and they’re part of today’s announcement,” said Gawronsky. “Manitobans were against private home care in the 90s and they still oppose it today,” she added in reference to a related Probe Research survey. The survey showed that 73 percent of Manitobans want the current not-for-profit home care program to continue delivering the service.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Manitoba On July 19, 2017 at approximately 10:00 am, this suspect stole A LOT of cigarettes from a gas station in Virden. Virden RCMP are trying to identify this Caucasian male with a moustache, 5'7"- 5'8" tall and was wearing a white T-shirt with a blue coloured jacket, Khaki shorts, black shoes and a Toronto Blue Jays baseball ball cap. If you recognize him or have information about this theft, please contact Virden RCMP at 204-748-2046.

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon’s efforts to promote mental health and wellness in the workplace and in the community at-large have been recognized with a 2017 Award of Excellence from the Brandon and Area Suicide Prevention Implementation Network (SPIN). City representatives were presented with the award at SPIN’S annual World Suicide Prevention Day event, held earlier this month in Brandon. In presenting the award, SPIN applauded the City of Brandon’s efforts in building a healthier, resilient community via the various staff training, workplace wellness initiatives, and youth community programming it offers. In recent years, the City of Brandon established a Corporate Wellness committee, which has, among other initiatives, offered staff training on topics such as Mental Health First Aid and managing customer conflict. The organization also provides numerous specific training opportunities to its First Responders to better equip them for the traumatic events and complex situations they encounter. “In any given year, one in five Canadians experiences a mental health problem or illness and that is why the City of Brandon undertakes a number of initiatives with all staff to promote good mental health, along with suicide prevention and intervention,” explained City of Brandon Occupational Safety and Health Coordinator Greg Brown. “The skills learned through these initiatives creates healthier employees, families, and community.” Brown added that since research shows that 70% of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence, the City of Brandon Youth Centre has worked with local agencies to provide programming on the topics of good mental health and suicide prevention. “The City of Brandon’s organizational vision is one of Serving and Building Community through the core values of Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, and Excellence. We’re proud to reflect these values in our mental health and wellness programming and we are humbled that the Brandon and Area Suicide Prevention Implementation Network has recognized our collective efforts,” concluded Brown.