Brandon’s labour market was the focus of the keynote speech at Thursday’s Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Brandon’s University’s Cora Dupuis said the city experiencing ‘out-migration’. She said Brandon saw a 5% drop in population between 2016 and 2021, and recent changes to federal policies on immigration could deter existing and potential residents from staying in the city. Dupuis encouraged businesses to prioritize retention strategies, and young professionals should think about the city’s lower cost of living.
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The annual ‘Coldest Night of the Year’ walk takes place Saturday in Brandon to benefit Samaritan House Ministries. The organization says every month they get about 110 new individuals or families coming to access the food bank, and as of last November, had 32-hundred registered households. Samaritan house also operates a 41 bed shelter.
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The number one reason for a hospital stay in Manitoba last year was giving birth. The Canadian Institute for Health Information says there were almost 14,967 births in the province in 2023-24 – but that’s the lowest rate in 15 years. Coming in second was osteoarthritis of the knee, followed by pneumonia.
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A 37-year-old Brandon man, who allegedly terrorized a woman with a lit blowtorch at a home on Braecrest Drive, was arrested and charged this week. Police say the 28-year-old victim was assaulted throughout the day and was treated in hospital for injuries.
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Neepawa RCMP arrested four members of Sandy Bay First Nation last week after getting reports of suspicious activity just west of Glenella. A stolen snowmobile, an ATV and a firearm were seized. The men, aged 18 to 38, face numerous charges.
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The federal government is providing $10 million for a program that offers Manitoba youth a centralized hub to access mental health services. ‘Huddle’, which is also supported by the United Way and the province, operates six centres for people aged 12 to 29 in Brandon, Selkirk and Winnipeg.
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Brandon’s ‘Alternative Group’ picked up two wins at the 2025 Manitoba Nursery Landscape Association Awards. They won a landscape design award for their work on a local property, and the Garden Centre Award of Excellence for a third straight time.
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The federal government has kept a promise to Donald Trump and has designated seven criminal organizations as terrorists. This includes cartels and street gangs involved in trafficking fentanyl. Historically, Canada has used
the designation for organizations like ISIS, al-Qaeda – or neo-Nazi groups – and not for crime rings.
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Experts say if we get slapped with tariffs by the U-S, Canada has a strong case to challenge them under the existing free trade agreement. The question is whether the U-S would respect any decisions – there’s really no-one
else to appeal to if they don’t. America’s past performance on sticking to trade decisions has been mixed.
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As the start of U-S tariffs against Canadian exports draws nearer – a new poll has found 70% of Canadians are in favour of dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs against American products. U-S president Donald Trump’s 25% levy on all Canadian steel and aluminum imports is to begin on March 12th. Another plan to hit Canada and Mexico with across-the-board duties was paused earlier this month.
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You’re urged to check your essential oil bottles as ‘NOW Eucalyptus Globulus Oil’ has been recalled across the country. It’s missing safety warnings that could lead to serious health risks – including, in extreme cases, death. Health Canada says inhaling even small amounts can lead to severe respiratory complications.
