This storm has affected travel in and around Westman by road and by air. Manitoba511.ca has a current list of highways closed in the area, including the Transcanada #1, east and west of Brandon, #10 both north and south. Effectively leaving the region at a temporary standstill. Westjet has cancelled the 6AM flight (WS3257) scheduled for Tuesday March 7th departure from the Brandon airport and will provide updates as to the status of the March 7th, 1:20pm flight (WS3243) which is still scheduled. Westjet and Brandon City officials, urge travelers to stay tuned to updates and NOT travel to the Brandon Airport at present, as it is closed. What can you do in the case of a cancelled or delayed flight? Use your technology and stay tuned to official websites for accurate information. Westjet.com has an advisory section and they will post notices which could potentially affect travel. In many cases, these notices will also effectively waive cancellation and change fees if you are confirmed passenger. So, to pursue changes, you call your booking agent. If you booked with Westjet directly, call them at 1-888-WESTJET (1-888-937-8538) to speak with an agent.  If you used a local travel agent, call them. If you used Expedia.ca, call them. It will be up to your sales provider to help you make changes. Cancellation and change fees can vary from $50 to $200, or a percentage of your fare paid, depending on the airline. It's good to know this ahead of time. (However, you could get lucky (like this present situation with Westjet) and have the airline waive fees due to highway and local closures.) Should you choose an alternate flight, which is at a higher price than you paid, you will be asked to pay the difference in fare. Before you pick up the phone to make any changes, you need 3 things: 1) Confirmation numbers, ticket numbers etc. 2) Know your options. (Is there a flight time later in the day, or next day, that still works for you?) What would your ideal solution be? Refund? Different flight? 3) Patience. Understand that weather is out of anyone's control, and repeating "but it's my son's birthday and I just HAVE to get there" over and over, is pointless and frustrating. Do your best to let the customer service agent use their expertise to guide you quickly and efficiently. The airline, hotel, and travel agent have no more control over the weather than you do. They are also under no obligation to refund your money (you are most likely to receive 'future travel credits' from your airline.) or offer you any compensation. The exception to the above is comprehensive travel insurance, that INCLUDES weather related incidents. Properly documented, you should be inline to receive money back rather than credits.    

The Brandon Police Service have now made public the results of a 2016 survey, seeking feedback from the residents of Brandon, regarding their perceptions of crime and the services provided by the police service. In total 518 residents elected to respond to the survey titled “the Community Engagement Survey”. Twenty-one questions were asked in total. When asked how safe people feel for either themselves or family in Brandon, over 75% of those who responded said they felt safe, or very safe. Based on feedback, many people felt downtown to be the most unsafe area of the city. Reasons provided included gang activity, poor lighting at night, and being approached by intoxicated persons and panhandlers.   (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});   The survey also highlighted how about 40% of those surveyed feel less safety for their property than they did five years ago. According to the report “property safety was a concern in all areas of the city.” A vast majority (93%) reported being satisfied/very satisfied with the Brandon Police Service overall. As a result of the survey the “results have highlighted a need for BPS to continue its efforts to promote safety in the downtown area in partnership with other City of Brandon departments. People have also asked for the BPS expand on their crime prevention efforts and to find a way to make this information to the public. The entire survey can be found here.

Three people were arrested, and detained, overnight following an incident in Brandon on Saturday evening. Police say that a traffic stop was underway, in the 600 block of 34th Street, when a 29-year old passenger decided to vacate the vehicle and start a confrontation with a member of the Brandon Police service. Assistance was requested. A 29-year-old male passenger, and a 28-year-old female passenger, engaged themselves in the confrontation as other Police Members arrived. All three were intoxicated at the time of their arrests, and open liquor was discovered in the vehicle. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});  

Brandon Police Service Media Release ASSAULT WITH A WEAPON – BREAK, ENTER & THEFT At 2:27 PM, Police received a call reporting a disturbance in the 2600 Block of Willowdale Crescent. Investigation revealed that two females involved in a domestic relationship became involved in an argument over a cell phone. The argument escalated to a point where the accused began assaulting the victim by punching her in the face several times. The accused then grabbed a knife and attempted to slash the victim with it however, the victim was able to knock the knife away. The accused then threw a mirror at the victim. The victim received bruising and swelling to her face and head because of the assault. The accused was located a short time later and was arrested for Assault with a weapon, Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and Assault. The accused is also bound by a Recognizance with conditions to not communicate with the victim and to not possess weapons. A 20-year-old female from Brandon was lodged at the Brandon Correctional Center to appear in Court on Wednesday. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); WARRANT REQUEST – ASSAULT CAUSE BODILY HARM At 8:50 PM, Police were called to a business in the 1200 Block of Princess Avenue for a female who walked into the business covered in blood. Officers attended and spoke to the female victim who indicated that she had broken up with her boyfriend two days prior. Since that time, he has been sending her threatening messages. The victim went outside of her residence and was confronted by her ex-boyfriend. The suspect engaged in an argument with the victim and then grabbed the victim and dragged her into the alley. The suspect then assaulted the victim by throwing her to the ground and kicked her several times in the head and face. The suspect then sprayed the victim with bear spray and continued to make threats that the next time it will be worse. The victim was able to get herself free and make her way to the business, the suspect fled the area. The victim was transported to the hospital where she received treatment for cuts, swelling and bruising. Police have not been able to locate the suspect and a Warrant is being requested for the 27-year-old Brandon male for Assault Causing Bodily Harm, Assault with a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for a dangerous purpose and Threatening to Cause Death or Injury. POSSESSION FOT THE PURPOSE OF TRAFFICKING COCAINE & MARIHUANA At 2:58 PM on Tuesday, officers conducted a vehicle stop in the 300 Block of 27th Street with a vehicle having inactive license plates. A 33-year-old male was the driver and a 30-year-old male was a passenger in the vehicle. Both males are from Brandon. Officers detected an odor of marihuana emanating from the vehicle and both males were arrested. A search of the passenger recovered one ounce of cocaine and over $500 cash. A search of the vehicle recovered approximately two pounds of marihuana. The street value of the combined drugs is $8000. The male passenger was arrested for Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine, Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Marihuana and Possession of Proceeds of Crime. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for Possession for Trafficking Marihuana. The passenger of the vehicle was lodged at the Brandon Correctional Center to appear in Court on Wednesday. The driver of the vehicle was released to attend Court in May.

Royal Manitoba Winter Fair Media Release February 27, 2017 BRANDON, MB – The 110th Royal Manitoba Winter Fair is coming up March 27 – April 1 and the Provincial Exhibition has joined forces with Assiniboine Community College and the Brandon Chamber of Commerce to spread Winter Fair Fever to the business community! “Winter Fair Fever is all about encouraging the business community to show their support for Brandon’s biggest indoor Ag exhibition.” said Ron Kristjansson, General Manager at the Provincial Ex. “The fair brings a lot of people to our city and we all benefit from those visitors, why not show them how proud we are to host this event.” Businesses are encouraged to dress up their locations by displaying fair posters and using Winter Fair banner wrap, provided by the Provincial Ex to decorate. “The best part is seeing how much fun goes into the decorating. “said Karen Burton, Marketing Coordinator at the Provincial Ex.”It’s a great way to get your employees together and do something fun with some competition added in. We’ve had a few local businesses contacting us early this year wanting to get involved so we can’t wait to see what they have planned.” (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});   “We’re excited to be supporting Winter Fair Fever again this year as momentum builds in the community leading up to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair,” said Danielle Adriaansen, Assiniboine’s Director of Public Affairs. “The winning prize of tickets to our Harvest on the Hill event is a great fit because it also celebrates agriculture, with some of the foods being grown right on campus.” The grand prize includes eight tickets to ACC's 2017 "Harvest on the Hill" and a 2017 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair VIP Experience for four including transportation, dinner reception and VIP seating for the evening show jumping. All entries will be entered to win a swag bag from Assiniboine Community College. To enter, post your photos to social media, tag the Provincial Ex and use #RMWF. Deadline to register for the Winter Fair Fever Contest is March 24. Contest details on their website: ROYALMANITOBAWINTERFAIR.COM