We’ve seen a lot of snow in Brandon in the past two weeks, 30-cm in total, but according to Environment Canada that’s typical. The city usually gets around 29 cm in December. Looking ahead to next week, the weather office predicts we’ll have temperatures three times warmer than normal – including on Christmas Day.
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The new $8.9-million detention centre at Brandon Police headquarters was unveiled on Thursday. The facility features 18 new larger holding cells with doorways that allow guards to safely provide food or blankets to arrestees. In the new year, it’s expected paramedics will also be available on site.
Image – City of Brandon
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Manitoba’s auditor general is calling for better cybersecurity at Shared Health and better financial reporting from the provincial government. Tyson Shtykalo says the health authority is not doing enough testing and training to head-off data breaches, and the province needs more personnel to do a better job of preparing financial statements.
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Manitoba is reporting its first bird flu case this year. It was detected at a commercial poultry operation in the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie on November 26th. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency there’s no evidence eating cooked chicken or eggs can transmit the virus to humans.
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Manitoba Hydro is resuming normal billing procedures following the end of the Canada Post strike. The text messages and automated bill reminder calls to customers who receive paper bills, will stop. Hydro also says some customers will not get a December bill in the mail, and they’ll continue to waive late payment charges until mail service returns to normal.
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Despite all the grumbling from store owners getting the GST holiday set-up – it appears retailers and restaurant owners are seeing a boost in sales. The Retail Council of Canada says customers have shifted their buying patterns – and they predict Boxing Day will see a boost in shopping.
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Matthew Tannas, from Hamiota, won $40-million on the Lotto Max last month. Tannas, a firefighter-paramedic who responded to the Carberry crash last year, bought the ticket while working as a big game guide in Alberta.
He plans to help his parents retire – and support his kids through university.
