Brandon city council meets tonight. On the agenda, the Keystone Centre will ask for a funding increase to cover the rising costs of utilities and insurance. The centre lost over $547,000 this year – and projects an operating loss next year of almost $617,000. Also tonight – a review and update of the city’s strategic plan.
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Brandon police reported last week they’ve seized close to 108 kilos of methamphetamine so far this year -and have seen a jump in calls for service. New chief Tyler Bates told the police board the two stats ‘illustrate the substance abuse crisis in the city’. As for tackling retail crime, Bates they’ve submitted a proposal and are awaiting approval.
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Local Ag company, Redfern Farm Services, which won a competition to create a charitable project, is putting the $10,000 prize towards mental health counselling. They’ve partnered with the Westman Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention Association. With waits to see mental health professionals stretching up to 6 months, Redfern says there’s a need for a service to fill the gap.
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For the first time in 20 years, the government is increasing funding to the Manitoba Arts Council. It’s getting an additional $1 million that’ll be allocated to organizations and individuals across the province. Groups that’ll benefit in Brandon include the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, the Brandon Chamber Players and the Brandon Community Orchestra.
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Murray Sinclair, who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on residential schools, died this morning at the age of 73. Sinclair, from Peguis First Nation, was the first Indigenous judge in Manitoba and the second in Canada. He was also a senator from 2016 to 2021.
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Today will see a final push from the U-S presidential candidates ahead of tomorrow’s election. Kamala Harris will spend all day in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, and Donald Trump plans four rallies in three states. About 77 million Americans have already voted early.
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A Windsor, Ontario teen’s social media post showing off a distinctive local pizza topping has gone viral. A photo of the pizza, topped with Windsor-style shredded pepperoni, has hit well over 12-million views. Of course reactions to the topping run from ‘like it’ and ‘don’t like it’ to ‘it should be the norm everywhere.’
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and ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ enjoyed another weekend at the top of the box office making another $26-million dollars. In second was ‘The Wild Robot’ followed by ‘Smile 2’. Rounding out the Top 5 were the papal thriller ‘Conclave’, and Tom Hank’s latest film – ‘Here’.
