On February 4, 2017 Cam Toews, and his Centruy 21 team, held the 7th Annual Easter Seals Bonspiel at Riverview Curling Club raising $14,500 in the process. This year 32 teams once again hit the ice in support of the event. Cam says “It is really fun to see how enthused people are to sign up, making organizing it a lot easier.” Although he takes the lead in putting on the event, Cam is quick to point out how he receives support both his co-workers and the local corporate community. “Michael Barrett has been here all along crunching numbers and keeping track the finances, as well as helping with the set up and running the day of. His wife Sonya, has from day one, been the person setting up the prize table. I freaked out the first time I looked at it, thank goodness she was there to do it! Brenda, Kayla, and Lynn at the office are very key in getting things ready ahead of time. A lot of our co-workers at the office have worked shifts behind the bar and selling the raffle and drink tickets.” For the 4th year in a row, Joe Beeverz donated the whole meal, while DJ Russ Danielson provided the nightly entertainment. RBC Mortgage, WestJet,  Meighen Haddad, Centum Mortgage, Fowler Hyundai, Glen Lea Golf Course, Wheat City Electric, Forman Honda/Mazda, Ashley Homestore, Sobey's Brandon South, and Brad Nesbitt and Marty Minshull of Investors Group were among this years tournament sponsors.    

Really not sure how to do this story because I have known Tatjana, and Nadja Chiaramonte, for two decades. So this is the rough version. Tatjana, 41, was diagnosed with COPD 12 years ago. Having COPD makes the basic day to day life tasks like walking, and breathing, difficult for those who have it. Eighteen months ago she got a call that new lungs were available in Edmonton, so two hours later she was flown to Edmonton for the successful operation. Following the operation everything appeared to get back on the right track, Tat was getting back to her normal life and starting to feel great. However, recently her body rejected the lungs and now she only has a few months to live. Another transplant is not an option. Her twin sister Nadja is single with two children, with basically no family, so they have arranged a GOFUNDME page to help with the costs of a proper funeral. Please click on her page: https://www.gofundme.com/sy5cu6-help-me-say-goodbye Overview of COPD https://www.lung.ca/copd     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

 February 7, 2017 (Brandon, Manitoba): In the face of critical financial challenges, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brandon is reaching out to corporate and government partners as well as local residents for financial support to ensure that essential mentoring supports remain in Brandon, Manitoba and area. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brandon has been a part of the Brandon, Manitoba community since 1972, providing many mentoring programs to children and youth for the past 45 years. When the organization opened there was a definite need for mentors to help children in their community. Today, that need is even greater with many more children and youth in need of a mentor. Unfortunately, revenue has not kept up with program costs, and the demand for services has far exceeded the finances available to provide them. The only nationwide fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters is Bowl for Kid’s Sake, which used to raise $35,000 - $40,000 each spring. Last year only $7,000 was raised as fewer and fewer businesses and community groups have entered teams. “As a result of significant decreases in fundraising revenue, staffing was cut last year and certain programs that do not have designated sponsorship have not been running at all,” said Carla Davidson, Executive Director. “Today we turn to the community for support so that all young people in Brandon and surrounding areas can reach their full potential with the support of a mentor.” Over 125 children and youth (ages 6 – 18) are part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brandon programs. In addition, 400 – 500 children are reached with gifts from the Big Brothers Big Sisters Christmas Tree at the Shoppers’ Mall and the Toyota Full of Toys. The agency has also had 13 youth receive $36,000 scholarships through the CIBC Youthvision Scholarship program and the agency selects the children that will attend Tim Horton’s Camps from Brandon and Virden. The agency continues to graciously accept donations and support from public and private sector partners as well as individuals throughout the region. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brandon also serves the communities of Forrest, Rivers, Neepawa, Minnedosa, CFB Shilo, Douglas, Alexander, Wawanesa and Carberry with requests regularly from other communities to offer services. ABOUT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF BRANDON: For more information, please contact: NAME Carla Davidson TITLE Executive Director  EMAIL carla.davidson@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca PHONE 204-727-1787

With files from City of Brandon Public Notice. The City of Brandon released a statement today that Scott Hildebrand, Brandon City Manager, tendered his notice of resignation effective the end of March of 2017.  Scott has served in his role of City Manager since June of 2011. “The last six years has been an amazing experience for me - from a business perspective, but more so from a people perspective,” Hildebrand said. “The City of Brandon staff are one of the most committed, dedicated, and customer service-focused groups I have ever worked with. Our team truly understands the meaning of our vision statement, ‘Serving and Building Community’, and deserves the respect of this community.” His employment end date is March 28th and he is going to return to the public sector, in British Columbia,  to pursue a career.  Mayor, Rick Crest, and the City of Brandon’s Personnel Committee will first appoint an acting City Manager before the search begins for an official replacement.

Source:  Royal Canadian Mounted Police Media Briefing On February 6, 2017, at approximately 8:15 am, Souris RCMP received a report of a two-vehicle collision on Highway 2, about four and a half kilometres east of Souris in the RM of Glenwood, Manitoba. A westbound car attempted to pass a semi-trailer by pulling into the eastbound lane. The car collided head-on with an eastbound pickup truck. The driver and lone occupant of the car, a 20-year-old male from Treherne, was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was wearing a seatbelt. The driver and lone occupant of the pickup truck, a 57-year-old male from Souris, was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt. Visibility was poor at the time of the collision. It is undetermined at this time whether alcohol was a factor. A RCMP Forensic Collision Reconstructionist is assisting with the ongoing investigation.