All of Brandon’s recycling depots are permanently closing due to illegal dumping, contamination and maintenance issues. Starting October 15th, you’ll need to take excess recyclables to the Eastview Landfill – bins will be available outside the gate. The Keystone Centre recycling depot will close first on October 14th, followed by the depots at the Sportsplex and 34th and Victoria Avenue in November.
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At City Hall last night, Brandon councillors approved spending $120,000 to install four electric vehicle chargers at the A.R. McDiarmid Civic Complex. They’ll be used for the city’s light-duty inspection vehicles. The original cost of the project was $45,000, but the city decided on a higher power source for future expansion.
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A byelection to fill the vacant reeve position in the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis is set for December 3rd. Anyone interested in running must get nomination papers in by October 21st. The byelection was triggered when Sam Hofer resigned back in April.
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Former Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson has been fined $18,000 for violating the province’s conflict of interest law. MLA’s approved the penalty yesterday. The ethics commissioner ruled Stefanson tried to get a mining project approved after her Conservatives lost the 2023 election and before the NDP could be sworn in.
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An Ontario truck driver, accused of killing a mother and daughter in a crash near Altona, was granted bail in August after previously fleeing the country for months. Navjeet Singh was released with several conditions including reporting weekly by phone to the RCMP. The Crown had argued Singh’s release ‘would endanger public confidence in the justice system.
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“Freedom Convoy” leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were both sentenced to house arrest and curfews yesterday for their roles in a protest that blocked-up downtown Ottawa for several weeks. They were found guilty of mischief in April.
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Prairie Mountain Health region’s seasonal flu and COVID vaccine clinics will begin October 27th. The first ones will open in Swan River, Camperville, and Russell. Brandon’s clinic at the Shoppers Mall is to start-up on October 30th. The updated COVID-19 vaccine will provide broader protection against variants, and can be given at the same time as the flu vaccine.
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A grand opening celebration for the Peter Sawatzky Sculpture Park at Brandon Riverbank will be held this Thursday afternoon at 2:00. So far, 6 pieces by the internationally renowned sculptor from Glenboro have been
installed with another 10 planned. The Riverbank’s Dean Hammond says Sawatzky’s works will transform the site into one of the best outdoor public spaces in Canada.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney returns to Ottawa today without any agreement to remove U-S tariffs from Canadian goods. He met with president Donald Trump Tuesday for a second time in six months. Despite no tariff cuts, Canada’s Trade Minister says progress was made, and there’s now momentum to make deals.
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The union for striking Canada Post workers will meet today with the minister who oversees the Crown Corporation. The meeting with Joel Lightbound will focus on the changes he announced, including phasing out door-to-door delivery, that sparked a country-wide strike. The union wants Lightbound to rescind the changes.
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According to a new report, more than 80% of us plan to spend less overall this upcoming holiday season because of the increased cost-of-living. But there’s a bright spot – many of us want to ‘Buy Canadian’ and skip cross-border shopping. On average, Canadians expect to spend $1,675 this year, down 10% from last year.