The first heat wave of the year set some new records across the province. Melita, Emerson, Steinbach, and Portage la Prairie all saw record highs on Sunday, and Winnipeg broke a hot weather record on Monday with 33.8-degrees. It’s also very dry; Manitoba has only received a third of the precipitation it normally gets at this time of year.
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Manitoba Public Insurance is expanding a high school driver education program because of increased demand. It’ll offer a condensed form of its Driver Z course…two weeks of virtual classes followed by three weeks of in-car lessons. The course, for 15-and-a-half year-olds and older, will be offered in Brandon in July and August. Registrations begin May 28th.
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For the 4th consecutive month, the number of Canadians travelling to the United States was down in April. There were 1.2-million trips – 35% lower than the same month in 2024. Canadians have been cancelling trips to the States amid anger over tariffs and threats of annexation by President Donald Trump.
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The 31st McHappy Day in Westman raised $48,000 last week. Proceeds go to support Ronald McDonald House Charities – and Westman Dreams for Kids.
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Brandon’s Valleyview Community Centre is reportedly getting back all the money stolen by its former treasurer. The Brandon Sun says 31-year-old Chereese Martin will repay over $48,000 she siphoned from the centre over 22 months beginning in 2022. Martin pleaded guilty to the theft, and will be sentenced on Thursday.
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A 42-year-old man from Wheatland near Rivers face charges after RCMP recovered more than $45,000 in stolen property last week. Items include a trailer reported stolen from Steinbach, and John Deere farm equipment.
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The City of Brandon has introduced a program to help save low and medium income households some money on their water bills. It’s offering a $350 subsidy to replace their toilets with a low-flow option. Application forms
are available on the city’s website.
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Brandon resident, Glen Kruck, is one of 12 Manitobans receiving the Order of Manitoba. Kruck was instrumental in developing Brandon’s first homeless shelters. Others being invested into the Order include Emmy award winner Rebecca Gibson – and researcher Gordon Geisbrecht, ‘Professor Popsicle’, known for his work into hypothermia and drowning prevention. The ceremony will be held July 17th at the Legislature.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to name his new cabinet this morning, and it’s expected to be a slimmed-down front bench signalling a more businesses-minded approach to government. The new team will include up to 30 ministers and up to 10 “secretaries of state” – with about half of those new faces.
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The recent federal election turned into a race between the Liberals and Conservatives which left the other parties in the dust – and a new poll suggests most Canadians do not want the country ending up with a two-party system. 21% said Canada would be better off with two-parties, while 49% said it would not be good. People in Ontario and Alberta are most open to the two-party idea.
