Let's talk Toronto. It won't be much longer now, before Westjet starts flying directly from our airport, (YBR) to Toronto (YYZ).  I think that it's wise to book this route early, for two reasons. Firstly, with the vast number of connections to cities around the world that you can make from Toronto, I think our connector flight will be in high demand.  The second reason is to prove to Westjet that this is an in-demand flight. If the planes are full and people are using this service, then we might hold onto it past the trial period. If Toronto flights continue through this winter, there is an incredible number of hot destinations we can conveniently fly to.  Think about it, if you could fly from Brandon and be in Jamaica 7 hours later, wouldn't you do it? Yes, yes, I would. (Yes, now vacation packages almost anywhere are available from Brandon!) Just imagine NOT having to drive to Winnipeg in a blizzard and pay $100 to park at the Winnipeg airport. It would be a new found independence for Westman residents. So, act now and pave the way for winter freedom.  The first bargain I see, is a return fare, taxes included at $359. Leaving July 6th, returning July 12th. That's just YBR to YYZ. Big city bargain! I couldn't find a route schedule off Westjet.com but by my observations, your direct Brandon to Toronto flights just leave Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.  

The Brandon Sun, Westman Communications Group and the Brandon Chamber of Commerce invite you to attend the MLA Candidates’ Debate on the issues facing Brandon in the upcoming provincial election on Thurs April 14th. The debate will be broadcast live from the Keystone Centre Amphitheatre on WCG-TV and CKLQ Radio.  Kerry Auriat will serve as moderator. The panel will consist of:  Brandon Sun Chief Political Reporter Jillian Austin; CKLQ STAR FM News Director Clay Young; Brandon University Associate Professor - Department of Political Science, Dr. Kell Saunders; and a Brandon Chamber of Commerce representative. Brandon Sun Editor Matt Goerzen will co-ordinate questions from the audience. EVENT DETAILS: Name:             2016 MLA Candidate Debates Date:               Thursday, April 14, 2016  Time:               6:00 PM - 9:00 PM CDT                          6:00 pm Brandon West debate                          7:35 pm Brandon East debate Location:         Keystone Centre Amphitheatre, 1175 - 18th Street

Is there any doubt that Manitoba is a beautiful and friendly place to live?  We have beauty and tranquility right outside our doorstep: lush green rolling hills, big skies on long summer days, cozy communities full of friendly people, and gorgeous seasons rich with diverse colors and activities.  Even when the weather seems to be a bit confused (like it has been lately), we have much of interest to be thankful for! Then what could be more perfect than to view this diverse beauty through the eyes of real Manitobans - our friends and neighbors that live and work right here in rural Manitoba.  The Our Manitoba Photo Contest has provided a unique opportunity to do just that. This photo contest was created out of the true spirit of partnership.  Since its inception, Sunrise Credit Union, Keywest Photo image by design inc, and The Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba have come together to create a great experience for hobbyists and enthusiasts of photography.  Sunrise Credit Union facilitates an easy-to-use online submission for digital images, Keywest Photo image by design inc. produces archival canvas prints as prizes for top winners of the contest (14 in all), and a gala reception is held at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba where the winning canvas prints are proudly displayed for several weeks.  The top winners, which are chosen in a public vote, are also featured in a calendar for the following year. The first Our Manitoba Photo Contest was held in 2013, and since then over 900 photos have been submitted online with over 400 people attending the grand unveiling at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba.  This year, submissions for the contest will be accepted up until April 21st. It all begins with a photograph.  It could be of geese on a river, or a beautiful sunset at harvest, or children playing in the water in the spring, a field of fresh flowers, or a frost-covered tree in winter.  The smallest everyday occurrence, while seemingly ordinary, contains a moment of clarity and beauty.   As people, we all have the potential of being uniquely creative, of seeing and communicating our world in interesting and different ways.  And as residents of Manitoba, we have incredible subject matter that we can bring to life!   To take a glimpse into our Manitoba and see this year’s contest entries so far, visit the following link: http://www.sunrisecu.mb.ca/photo-contest-entry/ Do you have a beautiful image that personifies Manitoba?  Visit here to learn more and submit to the contest! http://www.sunrisecu.mb.ca/photo-contest/

Brandon’s city council, led by Mayor Rick Chrest, has again cleaned up a mess left by its predecessors by voting almost unanimously to tear down the outdated and downright dangerous Eighth Street Bridge. It wasn’t an easy decision. But council made the correct move at its regular April 4 meeting. As I wrote in my April 3 column, given the costs involved to repair or replace the largely neighbourhood bridge for vehicular traffic, the only prudent decision was to tear the 82-year-old structure down. I think my views on onside with the vast majority of Brandon taxpayers. To recap, Patrick Pulak, the city’s director of engineering services and water resources, stated in his report to council since the bridge was been closed last July there haven’t been any traffic problems. States Pulak: “By all appearances, the citizens have adjusted accordingly with little or no impact to traffic in the area, and service is certainly within acceptable levels.” I’ve included a table of the options council had to choose from. To replace the bridge with a new one for vehicles would place an onerous burden on the city’s finances and would result in some pretty serious tax increases for everyone — including those living in the North End which the bridge serviced. It would also require expropriation and demolition of several homes and businesses on both sides of the CP Rail yards (which is five tracks wide at that site). Doing some temporary repairs would be throwing good money after bad. That would be the type of decision made by previous administrations. The bridge will come down. Then the city’s administration is to engage CP Rail, the Province of Manitoba, and the Government of Canada as potential funding partners to explore options for an active transportation/pedestrian connection in the vicinity of Eighth Street to serve as a continued north-south corridor for the City of Brandon. Now that’s going to be something that taxpayers should press council on during next year’s budget debate, as there are currently no funds for that project. And it has to be built sooner than later both to serve the folks of the North End (also called The Flats) and to to serve as a key link in the city’s north/south active transportation corridor. Not to mention, that it really is just a matter of time before a trespasser making a short-cut over what will be fenced-off CP Rail tracks will be injured or killed. I was at the council meeting, where there were maybe 25 concerned people in the gallery who wanted a stay of execution for the overpass. Former Rosser Ward city councillor Corey Roberts had previously presented council with a 2,300-signature petition calling for a new vehicular bridge. Hmm. And of the couple of dozen people who showed up for what was billed as a “rally,” only one took the opportunity during Community Question Period to speak in favour of repairing or replacing the bridge. I’ve included a photo of many of the bridge proponents, taken just after the 9-1 vote to demolish the bridge was made. Once the Daly Overpass on 18th Street is rebuilt into a four-lane bridge, access into the North End will be even easier than it is now. It has been reported that the two-year Daly project will begin  after the current replacement of the First Street Bridge is complete. Pulak told council “it would be overkill to have a third bridge between First and 18th streets.” By the way, who or what will the new First Street bridges be named after? I recall few people knew the 18th Street railway bridge was actually named the Daly Overpass until I assigned a reporter to look into it years ago when I was at the Brandon Sun. Then signs were posted, post haste. But I digress. I think it would be also be overkill if I wrote any more about the  issue. But I was struck by the passionate and sincere comments made by many councillors before the vote. Coun. Kris Desjarlais (Rosser) served his constituents well by arguing for remediation of the current bridge at least until the Daly Overpass is rebuilt. Then re-examine the issue at that time. He was the only dissenting vote. Said Desjarlais: “This has been far and away I think the most challenging decision we’ve had to make as city council. I think the city and residents need to know how much time and effort went into this. It has not been a willy-nilly decision. I’m worried and I think it could be a mistake not to rehabilitate that bridge for vehicular traffic for the next three to five years for vehicles not knowing what type of congestion could have on 18th Street during the time it’s getting rebuilt. I think we’re rolling the dice. I think this council could end up regretting this decision in a big way. Coun. Jeff Fawcett (Assiniboine): “The deterioration of that bridge is ramping up so fast, even with rehabilitation, it might not make it through. We’ve had so many discussions on it and so much information … I hope the public and those who are here understand it’s been diligently looked at. I do think we want to make sure that neighbourhood feels as included as we believe they are in the city.” Coun. Jeff Harwood (University): “I know the residents of Brandon are not going to want to shoulder $35 million for (a new) bridge. We’re going to take flak for this, but this is why we’re sitting here. There are times where we have to make a difficult decision.” Coun. Lonnie Patterson (South Centre): “About the rehab option …  I don’t buy for a second that a rehabilitation will only cost $1.3 million. Moving forward with an active transportation way is fine for the future of the city.” Coun. Shawn Berry (Linden Lanes): “This is not an easy decision for any of us. We’ve asked 100 questions and received 100 answers. I just don’t have a good feeling in my gut on what this bridge would cost is we tried to rehabilitate it. This bridge debate has gone on for long enough.” Coun. Barry Cullen (Victoria): “I know that Councillor Desjarlais has been put in a terrible position, being that this is in his ward. And I do feel for the people who went across that bridge, I was one of them for 25 years twice a day.” Coun. Jan Chaboyer (Green Acres): “I think (now) we will be even more aware of what’s happening to the people of the North End and we are going to enhance your neighbourhood even more. We are going to ensure when we make this new … corridor that we will do so with enhancements that are acceptable to the people over there.” Mayor Chrest: “In the year and a half that I have been mayor, I know there has not been another file or another issue that has occupied more of my time. Frankly, trying to find a magic bullet on this issue … there is no easy answer. Bricks and mortar is one thing, but it really comes down to people, and I think this council has all demonstrated (the impact of this decision on) … the people of the North End. But we also have to be mindful of the people of the entire city and their ability to shoulder financial expenses.”

17 WING WINNIPEG, Man – 435 Transport and Rescue (T&R) Squadron will conduct night exercises in the vicinity of the Shilo Range between April 11 and 14 from 8:00 p.m. to one o’clock in the morning. (The Shilo Range is located Southeast of Canadian Forces Base Shilo and west of Highway 238.) The training exercise is part of 435 Squadron’s ongoing training for search and rescue (SAR) crews. The exercise will involve the dropping illumination flares as well as smoke markers for the purpose of targets on the ground or in the water. These illumination flares aid the crews in searching at nighttime and identifying places where they can safely drop lifesaving equipment or deploy search and rescue technicians (SAR Techs) to help persons in need. Residents and visitors to the area can also expect to hear the sound of the Hercules flying overhead as well as the “popping” of the flares when they are ignited. Search and rescue is a 24 hour-a-day, seven day-a-week responsibility for 435 Squadron. One aircraft is permanently assigned to SAR stand-by duty and is equipped to aid people, aircraft or vessels in distress. When they are not called upon to help in cases of an aeronautical emergency, search and rescue crews train regularly to maintain the skills necessary to conduct search and rescue missions throughout Canada. 435 Squadron, operating out of 17 Wing Winnipeg, Man., and 424 (T&R) Squadron, operating out of 8 Wing Trenton, Ont., provide primary SAR response for the Trenton Search and Rescue Region, the largest in Canada, which extends from Quebec City to the British Columbia/Alberta border, and from the Canada/United States border to the North Pole. Associated Links http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/17-wing/index.page http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/17-wing/435-squadron.page http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/aircraft-current/cc-130.page http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/search-rescue.page  If anyone should find a spent flare or other ordinance, please contact local police services immediately. Do not approach or attempt to remove these objects yourself.