🚨 Brandon Police Suspend Crime Stoppers Relationship After Data Breach
The fallout continues from a massive Crime Stoppers cyber breach affecting more than 1.5 million tips submitted across Canada over the past 25 years.
Brandon Police have suspended their relationship with the organization while the scope of the incident is reviewed. Police Chief Tyler Bates says it’s not yet known whether any local information was compromised.
Residents are being encouraged to use traditional reporting channels to share crime information with police until further notice.
🗳️ Brandon Voters Head to the Polls Wednesday
Brandon residents will vote Wednesday to elect a mayor, city councillors and school trustees.
Two candidates are running for mayor, while dozens more are seeking council and school board positions. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. across the city.
Polling location information is available on our website.
✅ Six Westman Municipalities Elect Councils by Acclamation
Residents in six Westman municipalities won’t be casting ballots this fall after all available positions were filled before nominations closed.
Cornwallis, Prairie View, Grassland, Cartwright-Roblin, Argyle and Dauphin have all elected their councils by acclamation. Complete results are available on our website.
🚸 School Safety Patrol Program Celebrates 90 Years
Thousands of Manitoba students are being recognized as CAA Manitoba marks the 90th anniversary of its School Safety Patrol program.
What began at a single school in 1936 has grown into a province-wide initiative involving roughly 8,000 student patrollers helping classmates safely cross streets each day.
🏫 Student Vote Program Engages Young Manitobans
More than 15,000 Manitoba students are taking part in CIVIX’s Student Vote program ahead of municipal election day.
The initiative includes 243 schools across 69 municipalities, including 10 schools in Brandon, giving students a chance to experience the voting process and learn about civic engagement.
🕐 Daylight Saving Time Debate Continues
Manitoba’s proposed move to permanent Daylight Saving Time could make timekeeping across Canada more complicated.
A new graphic circulating online shows provinces potentially spread across six different times on November 1, highlighting the challenges of differing approaches to seasonal clock changes.
⚠️ Manitoba Highway Fatalities Remain on the Rise
Manitoba’s troubling increase in traffic deaths continued over the weekend after a 19-year-old Dominion City man was killed in a collision with a semi-truck near St. Pierre-Jolys.
RCMP report 48 traffic fatalities by the end of July, 23 per cent higher than the same point last year and 34 per cent above the five-year average.
⚖️ MAID Reforms Expected from Ottawa
Major changes to Canada’s medical assistance in dying legislation are expected to be announced today.
The federal government is expected to maintain the ban on MAID for people whose sole medical condition is mental illness, while allowing certain advance requests from Canadians diagnosed with incurable illnesses under strict safeguards.
🇨🇦🇺🇸 Canada-U.S. Trade Talks Show Signs of Progress
There may be light at the end of the tunnel in the Canada-U.S. trade dispute as both countries continue negotiations following months of tariff tensions.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says any progress reflects Washington moving closer to Canada’s position, while Ottawa continues to hold firm on its key negotiating priorities.
💧 Brandon Utility Surplus Bolsters Future Infrastructure Plans
A cleaner water supply translated into savings for Brandon’s utility system last year.
Mayor Jeff Fawcett says reduced chemical use helped generate a $2.1-million surplus for the city’s water and wastewater utility. The surplus has now been placed into reserve to help fund future infrastructure upgrades and maintenance projects.
🏊 Provincial Funding Sought for New Outdoor Pool
A proposed new outdoor pool in Brandon has moved a step closer to reality.
The city is seeking provincial funding to cover half of the estimated $6.5-million construction cost. Mayor Jeff Fawcett says the application is now before the province and he’s optimistic about the project’s chances.
The pool would likely be built on the Keystone Centre grounds.
🤝 Ottawa and First Nations Discuss Future Beyond the Indian Act
Prime Minister Mark Carney says the federal government will begin working with First Nations leaders on a path beyond the Indian Act.
Speaking alongside Indigenous leaders in Ottawa, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said Canada needs a renewed relationship with First Nations that better reflects their place in modern Canadian society.
