Chantelle Parrott, Economic Development Officer, Minnedosa and Area CDC October 19 was a day of enthusiasm and excitement at the third annual ‘What’s the BIG Idea?’ where almost $10,000 in cash prizes was awarded to six innovative entrepreneurs from across the region. While the Minnedosa CDC and the Town of Neepawa returned as partners, the Town of Carberry was welcomed to host this year’s Dragon’s Den style entrepreneurship event at the Carberry Memorial Hall. The early part of the day offered opportunity for networking in a trade-show environment with a variety of business support agencies, followed by presentations on all things entrepreneurial. The afternoon’s pitch competition saw engaging and inspiring pitches from seven regional entrepreneurs, competing for cash prizes in 15 different categories. The BIG winner of the day was Neepawa’s Amy Spring, who collected four of the 15 available prizes and banking $2950 for her business ‘Fueled by Adventure’. Prizes included $2000 from NADCO, $500 from Neepawa Chamber of Commerce, $150 from Neepawa Lionelle’s, and a $300 prize for RBC’s ‘Best Pitch of the Day’. The business was born when Amy left teaching to explore the increasingly popular field of experiential tourism, and making authentic travel experiences accessible for adventure-seekers. The next BIG winner at the event was Carberry’s Emma Denton, pitching ‘Emma’s Custom Creations’. The humorous pitch for high quality, attractive custom bras was awarded $2750 in prizes including $1000 from Carberry business, MSPrebiotics, $1000 from the Town of Carberry, and a $750 prize from the RM of North-Cypress/Langford. The handmade samples were a testament to the flawless final product, while Emma’s pitch detailed the process of creation, from initial consult to final fitting, and left the ladies in the room dreaming up their own designs. Shay McLenehan of Minnedosa walked away with $1450 to launch his tech-startup, ‘Special FX Productions’. A graduate of the Interactive Media Arts program at Assiniboine Community College, Shay will specialize in high-quality video production, and social media management services for small to medium business. Shay walked away from the event with $1000 from the Minnedosa Area CDC, and another $450 for the coveted ‘Best Overall Idea’ award from Westoba Credit Union, Beautiful Plains Credit Union, and Minnedosa Credit Union. Other winners of the day include Brenda Dote of Neepawa who earned $1000 from the Town of Neepawa for her party decorating business, ‘Dream Parties’ who had a colourful, cheerful display on site. ‘Gunnysack Acres’, a spray-free CSA farm and vegetable market outside Minnedosa, pitched by Morghan Wark, grew by $750, earning $500 from the RM of Minto-Odanah and $250 from Prairie Oasis. Ryan Mackay, pitching ‘Transformative Electrolysis’ in Minnedosa was awarded $250 and a year’s membership from the Minnedosa Chamber of Commerce. The event would not have been complete without hearing from winners of past events, including a video from 2016 winner Kennedy Baker talking about her experience launching XK10 Designs, which secured a contract with the Winnipeg Jets selling custom shoes in the Jets Store, and earned her a trip to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly this April. A video on the partnership between Satori Counselling, a 2016 winner which opened inside Minnedosa’s Inspire Studio of Fine Art, a 2015 winner, was shown before 2015 winner Darryn Cameron of 4U Home Décor in Neepawa finished off the speaking portion of the day, and prizes were awarded. Entrepreneurs and a captive audience of other attendees enjoyed presentations and networking opportunities through the day from industry agencies and supporting business owners including Earl McLaren of MSPrebiotics, Entrepreneurship Manitoba, Manitoba Agriculture, and from generous event sponsors Futurpreneur, World Trade Centre Winnipeg, BDC, and Community Futures Westman. The 2017 event rewarded 6 new entrepreneurs, a record high for the number of new businesses supported, and the amount of prize money awarded, which came in at an impressive total of $9150. The 2015 and 2016 events each assisted four businesses to launch or expand, and averaged just under $7000 in awards. The annual event is receiving attention from across the province and into Saskatchewan, with interest in how communities can replicate the idea and stimulate their local economy by asking “What Is the BIG idea?”

Fans of the Winnipeg Jets will now have the opportunity to earn a little extra cash while the team is on the road. In support of the True North Youth Foundation, the NHL club announced today that fans in Manitoba will be able to purchase 50/50 tickets for all remaining away games this season. "The 50/50 program has become a staple in our home game atmosphere and now we can generate the same excitement for Winnipeg Jets away games while also supporting the work of the True North Youth Foundation," said Dwayne Green, the foundation's executive director. Fans can purchase tickets safely and securely online at www.tnyf.ca/fiftyfifty. Draws will open at noon (Central Time) on each game day away game and the draw will take place at 11:30 pm that evening. The winner will be notified the next business day. For more details please follow this link.

Eastman remains the No. 1 region for vehicle-deer collisions, according to Manitoba Public Insurance. Eastman ─ which includes the communities of Steinbach, Lac du Bonnet, Anola, Birds Hill Park area and Falcon Lake ─ experienced more than 1,600 collisions yearly, based on statistics collected from 2012 to 2016. Of note, the city of Winnipeg dropped one level to No. 5 on the list of top vehicle-deer collision regions in the province, which is released annually by Manitoba’s public auto insurer. “By releasing this data annually, our intention is to raise motorists’ awareness about the potential dangers of vehicle-wildlife collisions, particularly during the fall season when deer are most active along roadways,” said Ward Keith, vice-president, Business Development & Communications and CAO, Manitoba Public Insurance. In addition to raising awareness of high-collision hotspots by publishing its annual listing, Manitoba Public Insurance works in partnership with the province and city of Winnipeg to place high visibility message signs at strategic locations in Winnipeg and surrounding communities identified as key wildlife-vehicle collisions hotspots. In rural Manitoba, signs will be placed next month near Bird’s Hill, Riding Mountain National Park and Carman, warning drivers of the potential danger of collision with wildlife and encouraging safe speeds, particularly between dusk and dawn. A total of eight locations on the outskirts of Winnipeg have been identified, in addition to six hotspot locations within Winnipeg. On average, about 350 people are injured in wildlife-related collisions yearly. Over the last 10 years, seven people in Manitoba have been killed in crashes caused by an animal on a road. Overall, Manitobans are involved in about 11,000 vehicle-wildlife collisions yearly according to Manitoba Public Insurance data. The province’s Top 5 vehicle-deer collision regions are: 1) Eastman Region - 1,630 yearly collisions 2) Westman - 1,455 yearly collisions 3) Interlake - 1,115 yearly collisions 4) Pembina Valley - 630 yearly collisions 5) City of Winnipeg - 625 yearly collisions Tips to help keep you safe: Slow down when you see wildlife crossing signs and drive with extreme caution scanning the road ahead as well as shoulders and ditches. Animals are normally more active at dawn, dusk and at night. Be especially alert where brush and tall grass grow near the road. Watch for the reflection of headlights in the eyes of a deer, or a dark silhouette. Do not swerve if an animal does cross in front of your vehicle ─ brake firmly to reduce the impact between an animal and your vehicle.

In Manitoba there are many individuals with disabilities who are successfully working in local businesses, earning minimum wage or higher with benefits. These employees are utilizing their unique skills and abilities to become contributing members of society while obtaining increased incomes, financial assets and economic wealth. To celebrate October’s Disability Employment Awareness Month, we have invited our local Brandon MLA’s, as well as the MLA from Riding Mountain to tour and meet an employee (who happens to have a disability) at two local businesses.  The tours will be taking place on Friday October 27, 2017.  Rotary Villas Assisted Living will welcome Len Isliefson (Brandon East) and Greg Nesibitt (Riding Mountain) at noon.  Reg Helwer (Brandon West) will be joining Telus in the Brandon Shoppers Mall at 2 p.m. The local MLAs will be observing the work of the employees to see first‐hand the power of community‐integrated employment for people with disabilities. “Take Your MLA to Work Day” provides a powerful opportunity to showcase the skills and talents of Manitobans with disabilities in the workplace. The itinerary will be as follows: ‐ MLA will be provided a 30‐45 minute tour of their workplace highlighting where the employee works and the tasks they do, ‐ MLA will be introduced to the employee’s co‐workers and employer, if possible, and ‐ We will hear about this employment success story from both the employer and employee perspective. As part of Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM), the Manitoba Supported Employment Network (MSEN) is championing the Take Your MLA to Work Day Campaign. This campaign is intended to raise awareness about the benefits of hiring Manitobans with disabilities by showing that integrated, community based employment and careers should be the expected and preferred outcomes of publicly funded services for those with disabilities. By highlighting these success stories, we hope to encourage more inclusive hiring practices, celebrate inclusive employers doing such, and highlight the contributions of Manitobans with disabilities to the workforce.

Manitoba Infrastructure reminds motorists that snow-clearing equipment will be on highways if and when adverse weather conditions develop. With a special weather statement having been issued for areas of the province, drivers are reminded all maintenance equipment uses flashing blue warning lights and motorists should stay well back of the equipment.  Slow down when passing approaching snowplows and do not attempt to pass a plow in operation from behind. Whether on a highway or in a community, the posted speed limit is intended for ideal road and weather conditions.  In bad weather or on slippery highways, motorists are requested to slow down and drive according to the conditions. For the most recent information on road conditions or highway safety, visit www.manitoba511.ca, call 511 or follow the Twitter account for road closures at www.twitter.com/MBGovRoads.  A Manitoba 511 app is now available for download from the Manitoba Residents Portal at http://residents.gov.mb.ca/apps/511.html.