Thousands of allied health-care workers in Manitoba could be on strike by the end of the week. The union says members have been without a contract for 11 months, adding that employees are dealing with increased workloads and decreased staff. A strike would disrupt a wide-range of services including surgeries, lab and diagnostic tests, radiation treatments at CancerCare, home care and other services.
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The Manitoba government brought back provincial exams in 2024 and results show Grade 12 students have slipped in advanced math. There was a steep drop in precalculus marks, which has some university professors concerned. They say we need engineers, and people in tech, A-I and data science; jobs that require calculus.
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The blue light emergency phones, installed on the Brandon University campus in 2008, have been decommissioned. BU says the phones are technologically outdated and there’s no record they were ever used. Future alternatives could include emergency call apps – but in the meantime, students are encouraged to use the SafeWalk program which provides security escorts.
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The Manitoba Metis Federation has inked a royalty agreement with a potash corporation. The Potash and Agri Development Corporation of Manitoba also has profit-sharing arrangements with several Indigenous groups in Westman including Waywayseecappo First Nation. PADCOM’s mine is located roughly 15 kilometres west of Russell.
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Brandon health and wellness store ‘Two Farm Kids’ on 34th Street has been rebranded as ‘New Market Natural Foods and Kitchen’. The owners of A&L Cycle, who purchased the business a year ago, say the store will continue providing natural foods, supplements, and vitamins – and they’ve expanded their selection of kitchenware.
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A Brandon company has won a prestigious industry award. Shanks Driving Range & Grill has been named ‘Rookie of the Year’ at the Toptracer Tracy Awards – a Canadian first. The awards, handed out annually in Florida, celebrate excellence in various categories within the golf entertainment industry. Shanks is now reportedly looking into expanding to add a minigolf course or batting cages.
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Brandon’s Polar Plunge returned over the weekend and participants raised almost $19,000 for Special Olympics Manitoba. 39 ‘plungers’ took part in the event supported by the Brandon Police Service. Money raised will help local athletes travel to the Special Olympics Manitoba Provincial Summer Games in Winnipeg this June.
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Canada is bracing to see whether U-S President Donald Trump follows through on his threats of economy-wide tariffs – or whether there will be another last-minute pause. The levies are to go into effect tomorrow, and if they do, Ottawa has promised retaliatory tariffs.
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Google Maps has started removing the ‘state’ label from Canadian provincial parks and government buildings. The move comes after Canadians started complaining – especially after Donald Trump mused about turning
the country into the 51st state. Google says the terms ‘state park’ and ‘provincial park’ have been used interchangeably for years in their backend system.
