As their name suggests, Tremendous Dynamite are powerful 4 piece musical unit producing sounds that are perfect for blasting from your stereo! Their second release aptly titled “Invitation” happens to be the first full length CD featuring the new line up of the band which includes: Nick Piche (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Mike Posthumus (Lead Guitar & Bkgd Vocals), Kevin Blair (Bass & Backing Vocals) and Paul Roozendaal (Drums). The 11 track disc begins with the title track that packs a powerful 1 – 2 punch combination of raging rock that resembles Radiohead meets the Chilli Peppers. Piche’s vocal phrasing is reminiscent of earlier Bowie on this track that sets a perfect pace for this album packed with guitar heavy tracks.  The tight and powerful interaction of the band is obvious on every track of “Invitation” as drummer extraordinaire Paul Rosenthal and Bassist Kevin Blair add the perfect ingredients to enhance TD’s powerful delivery if not push it right over the top. These two veterans of the Westman music scene provide a solid platform for Posthumus and Piche to consistently let powerful riffs fly from. Indeed this commanding and cohesive group have composed a disc packed full of potent beats and riffs! Turn your stereo up to 10 and have a listen to the riff and roll arrangement of Over the Edge (track 2) for an exceptional example of this. However it’s not all serious business on Invitation as the guys prove how playful yet punchy they can be on the Danko Jones like “Basement Ghost Blues” perfectly placed in the track 3 position of the album. The crunching guitars and bouncy beat combine to create a persistently pulverizing effect that drives home the angst within every word Piche spews during the chorus demanding that he indeed has a mean case of “THE BASEMENT GHOST BLUES”!! This particular selection provides the perfect soundtrack for a killer mosh pit scene! For me it’s one of the many highlights on the album which there are many. There are enough memorable musical moments on “Invitation” that propel the listening experience. The twin guitar interplay is outstanding on several tracks including the outro sections of Drinks are Cheap and Watching The Paint Dry (Tracks 4 & 5). The comical “Style is Everything” (Track 6) displays Piche’s skillful blend of spoken work and singing style that adds the perfect flair for this track. Could it perhaps be aimed at an unsuspecting member of the peanut gallery? Desert Walk (Track 7) is reminiscent of Rage Against the Machine meets Rush with its crushing combination of a plodding section that contains a wall of raunchy riffs and fantastic drum fills that transitions seamlessly into a galloping progressive section. Your Madness (Track 8) the darkest and perhaps heaviest track on the album showcases Piche’s penchant for a spoken word singing style that really paints the gloomy picture this track portrays, the vocal delivery suggest a Grohlesque sneer that helps drive the point home. This selection also displays the band’s ability to effectively punctuate a composition in every section. Get a load of how they set up the guitar solo section. It produces an ass kicking jolt that any hard rock fan would appreciate. Leaves and Whisper (Tracks 9 & 10) are two more prime examples of the guitar heavy riff rockers this band is aptly capable of. Something Red (Track 11) is a perfect way to end this musical journey. It ideally encompasses the efforts which came from the countless hours this band invested during recording sessions in Garageland Studios located in Brandon’s west end. What starts off as a moody mid tempo acoustic track laced with tasty bass and guitar arpeggios, leads into a pleasing chord change complete with a straight ahead riff. The aforementioned change up provides the perfect foundation for the coda of this composition that comes complete with smoldering guitar work and flourish of drum fills overlapped with the vocal refrain of “it’s all the same”! Interestingly enough this is actually the most dissimilar track on the disc but turns out to be the perfect way to wrap things up and it may have you singing along before the final fade out…    Not only does Tremendous Dynamite deliver in the studio, they are also a blast to see live! Your next opportunity to check out their intense riff rock blast to your senses is April 15th & 16th at the 40. They’ll be ripping it up on stage during the official CD release bash for “Invitation”. The evening kicks off with an instrumental set by Brandon’s newest power trio “The Daughters of Creation” lead by guitarist extraordinaire Matt Cory and you are invited to join in on what should prove to be an outstanding live music experience. Invitation track listing: Invitation Over the edge Basement ghost blues Drinks are cheap Watching the paint dry Style is everything Desert walk Your madness Leaves Whisper Something Red

[London, ON]— GoodLife Fitness will open a 26,000 sq. ft. Club in Brandon, Manitoba located in Shoppers Mall on 18th Street in early in 2017. The co-ed facility will be GoodLife’s first location in Brandon and the 8th club in Manitoba. “We are so excited to be joining the community of Brandon, Manitoba,” says David ’Patch’ Patchell- Evans, Founder and CEO of GoodLife Fitness. “Brandon is a growing city that has a passion for physical activity. We are looking forward to helping residents achieve their health and fitness goals and live their version of ‘the GoodLife"’. “Shoppers Mall welcomes GoodLife Fitness to our centre,” said General Manager, Kim James. “The co-ed Club will offer the community a modern, first class facility with amenities that support an active lifestyle. It will provide our customers with an enhanced one-stop location for retail and services." GoodLife Fitness features caring and experienced fitness professionals including: educated and certified personal trainers, MYBootcamp coaches and passionate and certified group fitness instructors. GoodLife also features the world’s leading group fitness classes like Les Mills and Jillian Michaels BODYSHRED'", group cycling, and virtual fitness classes. GoodLife also gives members access to industry-leading strength training and cardio equipment and more. Amenities for the Club are currently being finalized. Residents are encouraged to keep an eye on www.eoodlifefitness.com/upcoming-locacions  for the latest updates about this location. GoodLife is expected to employ approximately 40 employees from the community for this location. Anyone interested in working in a fun, no-judgment atmosphere at GoodLife Fitness are encouraged to go to iobs.eoodlifefitness.com and apply for a position to join the GoodLife Fitness team. About GoodLife Fitness Proudly Canadian since 1979, GoodLife Fitness is the largest fitness company in Canada and the fourth largest in the world. With over 365 clubs from coast-to-coast, including 70 Energie Cardio and EconoFitness Clubs in Quebec, approximately 14,400 employees and more than 1.25 million Members, GoodLife is helping to transform the health and wellness of one in 34 Canadians every day. www.eoodlifefitness.com  

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/

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

If Comic Con is on your bucket list, but you're not quite ready to tackle THE Comic Con in San Diego, what about giving Palm Springs a try?  For the first time, a version of the famed convention will take place in Palm Springs California this year.   The inaugural event is being held at the end of summer, August 26th through 28th, 2016 and will feature comic book icon Stan Lee.  To travel to Palm Springs, in the winter, it is very convenient to fly out of Brandon (YBR) however, in the summer the flight will connect and delay you overnight in Calgary. Therefore, I'd recommend using an alternate airport, like Winnipeg (YWG) or even Minot (MOT) or Devil's Lake (DVL).  A good price for a Palm Springs flight is $400 or less (Canadian Funds)  The current best price I see, is $361 (US Funds) with United Airlines and out of Minot. It also happens to be the quickest flight at just over 5 hours, with a connection in Denver.  There are no direct flights to Palm Springs (PSP) this time of year.  The host hotel, is the Renaissance. It's just a couple miles from the airport, thought you could say that about anywhere. Palm Springs, is a very compact city, small and well laid out, like Brandon. If you can navigate Brandon, you will do fine to rent a car and drive in Palm Springs.  The Renaissance is a Marriott Hotel. If it's full, or you are looking for a fun, designer boutique hotel in the area, you may wish to try the Triada, or the Riviera. During my last visit to Palm Springs, we stayed at the Riviera and loved their pool area, the rhinestone billiards table and the white grand piano in the lounge.  The Best Western (as shown in the Expedia example) is also very near to the convention and priced well.  As a 5 night package, with flights, hotel and tax it currently shows through Expedia  for under $1000 Canadian per person, of two people sharing a room.