🏞️ 4–5 thousand residents may receive evacuation notices today
About 4,000 to 5,000 Brandon residents could receive evacuation notices as officials wait for the Assiniboine River to peak on Monday. Mayor Jeff Fawcett says this includes residents living north of the river and along Rosser Avenue.
Fawcett is urging residents to pack an emergency bag with I.D., medications, clothing, essentials, and to make plans for pets. The city notes that while river levels resemble past events, every flood behaves differently, and response measures are being adapted to meet the unique challenges of this event.
🚧 Road and flood‑protection updates
1st Street is reduced to one lane in each direction from Kirkcaldy to the south side of the bridge. The multi‑use path is closed. Flood‑protection work continues at Canada Packers Sports Field and Wheat City Golf Course, with Tiger Dam deployment underway near Kasiurak Bay.
🚨 Highway closures and flood impacts across Westman
Highway 21 is closed at Sioux Valley as floodwater overtops the road. Crews continue sandbagging, with more closures possible. On Provincial Road 259 near Virden, water was up to the shoulder at 8 a.m., but the road remained open.
🌊 Minnedosa says Little Saskatchewan River has peaked
Minnedosa Mayor Ken Cameron says the worst is over for the Little Saskatchewan River, which flows into the Assiniboine north of Brandon.
💧 Virden continues proactive work to protect raw‑water system
Virden is taking proactive steps to reduce risk to its raw‑water system as overland flooding affects the Assiniboine Valley. Mayor Tina Williams says water quality is checked regularly through the province’s public health department, and there is no threat to the community or treated water.
🏛️ More than 50 Manitoba municipalities under emergency declarations
Over 50 municipalities have declared local states of emergency due to flooding and storms. Brandon and Dauphin are among the 45 local authorities affected. Pine Creek First Nation and Sioux Valley Dakota Nation are among six First Nations under emergency declarations. Roblin still has about 70 road closures and has ordered nearly $700,000 worth of culvert pipes.
🏥 Prairie Mountain Health evacuates 54 patients from Dauphin hospital
Prairie Mountain Health evacuated 54 patients, including an infant, from Dauphin Regional Health Centre due to flooding. Patients were relocated to Brandon and other regional hospitals within 24 hours. Dauphin’s ER remains closed, but Ste. Rose and Grandview emergency departments are open.
🚓 Dauphin launches downtown safety patrol pilot
Dauphin has launched a six‑month downtown safety patrol pilot with Classify Security Group to support RCMP and emergency services. Businesses and volunteers say more visibility is needed, though some argue the jobs should have gone to local residents.
🌡️ Heat wave expected to build through the weekend
Environment Canada says temperatures will rise to heat‑wave levels starting Friday, with highs in the 30s and humidex values in the 40s. A special weather statement is in effect, with heat warnings likely.
👮 Hit‑and‑run leads to arrest for violence and weapons possession
Brandon police say a hit‑and‑run on 18th Street led to an arrest for intimate partner violence and weapons possession. The suspect allegedly assaulted his girlfriend and fled. He was arrested the next day after driving erratically on McTavish Avenue.
🩺 Manitoba nurse fined and suspended
A Manitoba nurse has been fined $8,000 and suspended for two weeks after working in Brandon’s ICU without proper training and misrepresenting her credentials. Regulators say she endangered patients, including failing to start a blood transfusion.
🏟️ Keystone Centre explores major green‑space redesign
The Keystone Centre is exploring a long‑term redesign of its grounds, including an outdoor rink, improved camping, new trails, and more use of the southeast outdoor stage. Early cost estimates are around $30 million, with development possibly starting next spring.
🔥 Wildfire update: Lynn Lake remains Manitoba’s only active blaze
Manitoba currently has one active wildfire, located near Lynn Lake. Nationally, Canada has recorded 3,100 fires so far this season — slightly above last year but with far less area burned. Federal officials will provide an update later today.
