A common topic of conversation among residents of Brandon quite often is that there is really nothing cool, or unique, when your looking to furnish, accessorize, or decorate your home or business. Jenny and Patrick, from One and Only Design Studio, located at 130 – 10th Street have perhaps filled that void for the residents of Brandon and Western Manitoba. When you first walk into their studio for a minute you don’t feel like you are in Brandon, but rather a very cool and trendy shop in downtown Vancouver. As an added bonus when parading through the store admiring the merchandise you can purchase a coffee or a drink, from their in house coffee shop.     Jenny says their goal is to service and furnish hotels from all over Western Canada, as well local business’s. Brandon and Westman residents are more than welcome to come into the store to see their high quality selection of lighting, couches, chairs, artwork, and accessories. Jenny told BDNMB.CA that some of their hotel clients from Alberta and BC will fly to Brandon to see their inventory. Patrick said that they will often source their most of their inventory from top designers in China and then be able to sell basically direct to their customers. Of note, Jenny and Patrick, own and operate Barney’s on the Trans Canada. Thank you to Anita Haigh for the tip on this story.    

Brandon resident, Victor St Pierre-Laviolette, who now plays football for the Regina Thunder took home several awards at the Thunders' 2016 Teams Award Night. Victor was named the Outstanding Offensive Back, Outstanding Offensive Player, and the Jim Wong Memorial MVP Award winner. He had previously been named the leagues Outstanding Offensive Back as well as an all Canadian running back in the CJFL. In 9 games he averaged 113.3 yards per game, scored 8 touchdowns and averaged 8.5 yards per carry in leading the Thunder to a 5-4 record. His 1020 rushing yards was enough to lead the league. The 5'9”, 178 pound running back is a Crocus Plains graduate and got his start playing football with the Plainsmen. The Regina Thunder compete in the Prairie Football Conference, a 6-team league featuring teams from all three Prairie Provinces. The PFC is a member of the Canadian Junior Football League and participates in national championships with two other conferences, based out of Ontario and British Columbia.  

At BDNMB.CA we want to support and promote locally owned and operated businesses, as well as those offering unique and imaginative services. Josee Twerdoski feels she has tapped into a necessary service for those people who own pets. Josee’s Pet and House Sitting service is now available to Brandon residents. Josee offers various services from basic dog walking, to house sitting, to staying with your dogs or pets overnight. Some pets find it very stressful to go to kennels, and would rather stay in their homes where they feel safe and comfortable, and this is where Josee comes in. Also, if your pet requires medication Josee can handle that task for you while you are away. Her service allows you to go away with peace of mind knowing that your pets and your house are in good hands in your absence. Her prices are as follows: House Sitting – Pet Sitting for 24 hours - $75.00 Dog Walking - $25.00 For more information you can checkout her Facebook page.  

Here are 10 tips for capitalizing on Black Friday travel deals. 1) Dust off your credit card and be prepared to book. Deals are snapped up quickly. Wait a day or two and you'll miss out. 2) Know your travel dates and think into the future. Consider booking your Spring Break vacation now. 3) Take time to research. At the very minimum, read recent Trip Advisor reviews before committing your hard earned money. It's no bargain, if the hotel's a dump. 4) When booking hotel reservations, book through their official site. If your plans change, the chain will generally modify the reservation without hassle. 3rd party sites can be nothing but grief when trying to modify a bargain booking. 5) Don't be discouraged if you don't find a Black Friday deal you love. On-line travel deals continue on through Cyber Monday. 6) Follow your favourite brands on Twitter. Like Marriott Hotels? Holiday Inns? Then follow them and be among the first to know about their offers. 7) Read the fine print. Some hotel bargains require full pre-payment. 8) Look back at last year's offers. This will help you predict the deals and give you time to research in advance. For example, Hyatt Hotels offered 25% off bookings, up to a year in advance. 9) Book a repeat visit. Take the stress out of a picking a new destination on short notice, or gambling on a bargain. Instead choose a tried and true favourite. You already know you love it, so if you see a price you can live with, then it's an easy winner. 10. Find a hot deal, but you have to pass? Well, pass it on too! Share your finds with your friends. Maybe it's the right deal for someone else. You're always invited to stop by SheTalksTravel.com. The latest travel deals are posted there, including a bargain to Varadero, Cuba at just $655! (Hotel, flights, taxes and tropical drinks included.)

Device Doc, a new computer repair outlet has opened in Brandon, MB with the idea that everyone should have access to their own tech department 24/7, at an affordable price. They offer a variety of services including, but not limited to: the removal of viruses and other malicious content, help with setting up your email or updating your drivers/web browser, as well as performing basic computer upgrades to ensure your computer is running to maximum efficiency. Device Doc offers a one time service for cleaning, virus removal, and optimization for a $49.99 fee Their certified technicians can also assist your with your business needs as it relates to setting up a company web site, e-mail services or customer relationship programs. Whether you are on a Mac or a PC user, their highly trained support technicians can fix almost any computer related issue. For more information please visit their web site or their Facebook page. Device Doc is located at 305 Pacific Ave in Brandon, MB.