"As a result of the Manitoba weather and road closures that prevented the Huron Carole cast and crew from arriving this past Tuesday, it has become a win-win for Westman!! Tom Jackson has offered to fly back from Calgary, at the conclusion of the tour, to perform for us here, in Brandon, on December 20th. This generosity means that the show will be a different one, but certainly a wonderful one! Our local artists are all still on board to delight us for the first half of the show. Then, we have Tom, all to ourselves, for a full, one man, up close and personal concert. Rather like having Tom Jackson singing to you in your living room!! This will be Tom Jackson as we have not had an opportunity to see him for many years! Please hang on to your tickets. If you don't have your tickets yet, please call the WMCA Box Office at 204-728-9510 or visit www.WMCA.ca. Brandon, let's get out and show our appreciation for this Officer of the Order of Canada and recipient of the Governor General's award for lifetime artistic achievement!"

Press Release YWCA Brandon Keeping Spirits Bright Fundraiser and Awareness Campaign for the 2016 Holiday Season Brandon, Canada – December 1st 2016 – The YWCA Brandon announces their Keeping Spirits Bright Campaign for the holiday season. Please help us spread the word about “Keeping Spirits Bright” this holiday season. Each year the YWCA Brandon Westman Women’s Shelter provides support and shelter to an average of 500 women and children who are fleeing family or domestic violence situations. When violence happens victims and their children will leave, often with no time to pack a bag or gather personal possessions. Help us to bring a little joy and cheer to families during this holiday season and light up our Tree of Safety – because we provide a safe place for women and children! As of the end of November the YWCA Westman Women’s Shelter provided over 4,000 nights to women, men and children who were victims of domestic violence. Our goal is to raise $5,250, this represents $10 for every woman and child who spent a night in our shelter in the past year. With each donation, our tree in the front yard at YWCA Meredith Place at 148- 11th Street, will light up a little more, with purple lights – purple lights for domestic violence. Donate through our webpage- ywcabrandon.com. or ywcabrandon on facebook or by mail at 148-11th Street, Brandon, Mb R7A 4J4, to support our  Keeping Spirits Bright Campaign during this holiday season. For more information please Contact BJ Kirouac & Lorna French Fund Development & Marketing Officers YWCA Brandon 204-571-3680 Email: ywca2@wcgwave.ca

You’ve probably got at least one cause you’re passionate about. And, your hard work and success have placed you and your family in a position to give back to your community. To make sure your donation makes the biggest impact possible, you need a plan. Step 1 – decide what matters most With so many ways to make a difference, deciding which charities to support can be overwhelming. When you’re choosing where to direct your money, consider: Do your core values align with a specific cause or organization? Are you or someone you care about personally affected by an issue? Is there a cause you think needs more attention? Are there organizations you already support that you’d like to do more for? How does the charity distribute their funds? Luckily, there are a lot of independent sites, including Charity Intelligence Canada, that offer comprehensive ratings based on transparency, need and operating efficiency. Step 2 – direct your donation dollars Once you find a cause you’re passionate about, decide how you want to make your mark. Will all your donation dollars go to one organization or to several? Will it be a one-time gift or ongoing? Is this a personal project or will your family and friends join the cause? Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Want to inspire innovation? Create your own charity, grant or scholarship fund. Or maybe there’s an organization you could partner with to match your gift. The sky’s the limit when it comes to your charitable legacy. Step 3 – build a team to help you realize your dream Seek the advice of professionals who can help you make the most of your gift. A financial security advisor can help you: Align your philanthropic plans with the core values and issues that matter most to you and your family Identify a plan to involve your family – today and tomorrow Take advantage of tax efficiencies and benefits Your team might also include: Lawyers Accountants Philanthropy consultants Ready, set, give! Contact me today to see how you can maximize your gift today to help create a better tomorrow.

According to their web site The Little Mermaid, The Musical is set to make a stop in Brandon for a performance on Wednesday July the 12th. The show, geared towards children aged 1-10, lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and “features many songs as well as numerous decor and costume changes in order to keep young and old surprised and amazed all the way through the show”. More than 10 magical characters are featured throughout the performance including The Little Mermaid, Prince Frederick, Bernard, and Captain Rolf. All performers will be available at the end of the show for a meet and greet with the children. The show is produced by Tohu-Bohu, out of Montreal. Advance tickets, with a special pre-sale offer, are available on their web site. Show time is scheduled for 7:00 pm inside the Keystone Centre Amphitheater.

Every little bit counts. It really does! And in this case, two dollar donations, pre-made hampers, community and corporate generosity added up to just under $27,000 for Samaritan House. Safeway and Sobeys stores in Brandon held a Thanksgiving and Christmas campaign this fall, where customers and staff were asked to donate ($2 or more) as they purchased their groceries. People were also able to contribute by purchasing pre-made hampers at the Safeway location. The funds were then matched by Sobeys Corporate for a grand total of $26,979. A cheque presentation was held today. Gregory Gingras, Sobeys West franchisee was delighted to be able to offer Samaritan House the much needed funds at this time of year. "It gives them the purchasing power they need at the time when they need it most." He notes "it's our (Safeway/Sobeys) mission to help Canadians eat better, feel better, do better and so our work with Brandon's Samaritan House is so very important to us. And in turn, the work of Samaritan House is far reaching and serves to keep this money in our local community and make it stronger."