Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Manitoba Treherne RCMP respond to several break and enters during early morning hours. On Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at approximately 2:45 am, Treherne RCMP officers were alerted to an alarm at a service station in St. Claude. Officers arrived and discovered the front door smashed and the cash register stolen. Officers received another alarm 45 minutes later at a convenience store in Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes. Upon arrival, they found that the store had been broken into. Security cameras installed in the store captured two suspects smashing the front window and entering the store. The suspects are then seen exiting the store with cigarettes and getting into a white pickup truck believed stolen from the Mariapolis area. One suspect is described as being in his early 20’s with medium build, short hair with sideburns, wearing dark coloured clothing, a camouflaged baseball cap, and white runners. The second suspect is also described as having a medium build, dark coloured clothing and white runners. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Treherne RCMP at 204-723-2024 or call Manitoba Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com or text “TIPMAN” plus your message to CRIMES (274637). The investigation is continuing.

Royal Canadian Police In Manitoba On April 9, 2017, Brandon RCMP received a report that a 16-year-old female was seen by her guardian getting into an unknown vehicle on Highway 250. Authorities have been able to communicate with Kaitlyn Emily Parker, but the RCMP is concerned for Kaitlyn’s safety and need to confirm her well-being in person. At this time, Kaitlyn is avoiding police. Kaitlyn is described as Caucasian, 5’1” tall, 101 pounds with brown eyes and long hair that is dark on top, switches to blonde at her ears and then back to dark. She was last seen wearing a black hoody with black leggings, and black and white Jordan runners. Anyone with information is asked to contact Brandon RCMP at 204-726-7522 or call Manitoba Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, submit a secure tip online or text “TIPMAN” plus your message to CRIMES (274637).   Photos: Royal Canadian Police In Manitoba

A 30-year old female has been arrested on multiple charges including Drive while Disqualified and Drive without Drivers Liability Insurance under Highway Traffic Act following a bizarre incident in Brandon recently. Police say that on March 30th a female responded to an advertisement about a vehicle for sale, indicated she had a drivers license, and took the vehicle for a test drive. She later contacted the owner saying she would take the vehicle but never returned. The vehicle was recovered a day later, unattended, in the 400 block of Louise Avenue. The suspect was located where it was determined that the female had a disqualified drivers license. Brandon Police Service Media Release  

It is sometimes easy to forget the problems that others may be facing, unless it’s right out in front of you.  In the past couple of days, if you’ve driven down one of the city’s main streets, you might have noticed people’s belongings situated in the middle of a clump of trees on the North Hill - certainly a reminder of the challenges that people in our community face with being homeless.  Samaritan House Executive Director, Thea Dennis said that since the Warm & Safe Shelter closed at the end of March, some of their clients that would have used the shelter during the winter months are now in a transient situation.  “We do our best and we have good support in the city of Brandon, but the funding is still tight and we can only provide shelter during the cold weather months,” said Dennis.  While areas in the city, such as Dinsdale Park and Queen Elizabeth Park are under water, Dennis said that the transients are moving north to places where it’s safe and dry.  “We try to reach out to as many people as possible, but some just don’t realize they can come here to find out about different programs that are available in the city that can help them to get out of the elements and find a permanent place to live,” said Dennis.  The Samaritan House had 114 clients use the shelter this past year and the majority received housing by the end of March.  According to the Point-in-Time Homelessness Count in Brandon conducted last year on April 13, 146 people were identified as being homeless in Brandon, with 38 per cent under the age of 30.

While the full moon of April, which rose last night, is known as the Pink Moon it isn’t actually pink. Before the use of calendars, Indigenous people named the moon each month based on activities of the season. This month’s full moon became known as the Pink Moon because of wild ground phlox, one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring.  While there wasn’t a pink hue in the skies last night, today is a different story. Schools and workplaces will be glowing with various shades of pink as today is the Canadian Red Cross Pink Day. The Red Cross works with students and educators throughout Manitoba in the prevention of violence, abuse and bullying. Community groups, workplaces and parents are encouraged to celebrate Pink Day. While preventing bullying is one of the main objectives, today is also meant to promote kindness and respect. Anti-bullying events are held on an annual basis during the second week in April across the country. The initiative began in 2007. #everydayispinkday #herosassemble