Brandon Sun – Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada

A waning moon dots the ‘I’ of a hydro pole in downtown Brandon early Thursday morning. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

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Westman chosen for carbon-capture plant

By Alex Lambert 3 minute read Preview

Westman chosen for carbon-capture plant

By Alex Lambert 3 minute read Yesterday at 10:16 PM CDT

A Montreal-based carbon-capture company is set to build one of the largest facilities in the world in western Manitoba at a cost of about $200 million.

No site has been selected for the future 100-employee Deep Sky facility, but the Rural Municipality of Pipestone and the Municipality of Two Borders are “promising” locations, a company spokesperson told the Sun.

Jason Vanderheyden, Deep Sky’s vice-president of government relations and public affairs, described the area as “very lucky” when it comes to building a carbon-capture station.

“You guys have a lot of renewable energy, which is amazing, and then secondly is you guys have the geology and not every province in Canada has deep, saline aquifers,” said Vanderheyden.

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Yesterday at 10:16 PM CDT

A rendering of the Deep Sky carbon-capture facility announced for southwestern Manitoba. (Supplied)

Deep Sky announces plans to build carbon removal facility in Manitoba

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Deep Sky announces plans to build carbon removal facility in Manitoba

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:51 PM CDT

WINNIPEG - Carbon capture startup Deep Sky said Thursday that it plans to build a commercial carbon removal facility in southwestern Manitoba.

The Montreal-based company says final site selection is expected this fall with construction of the facility to begin next year.

The first phase of the project, representing at least a $200 million investment, could remove 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide directly from the air per year, it said.

At full scale, the plan is for a facility with annual removal capacity of 500,000 tonnes.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:51 PM CDT

Woman sentenced for using car, knife as weapons

By Skye Anderson 4 minute read Preview

Woman sentenced for using car, knife as weapons

By Skye Anderson 4 minute read Yesterday at 10:03 PM CDT

A woman charged with assaulting another woman with a car and a knife was sentenced to more than two years behind bars in Brandon provincial court on Thursday.

“(The) incident is disturbing from many aspects,” Judge John Combs said. “It includes driving a vehicle in a manner that is appropriately described as very dangerous and disturbing, and using that vehicle as a weapon and attempting to obviously cause serious harm, or worse.”

Margaret McKay, 25, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a weapon, one count each of dangerous driving and impaired driving, and three counts of breaching court orders. She also pleaded guilty Thursday to contempt of court for not showing up to testify as a witness in a trial.

Crown attorney Rich Lonstrup outlined the facts behind the charges.

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Yesterday at 10:03 PM CDT

The Brandon courthouse on 11th Street. (File)

Pair face 41 charges in mail thefts

2 minute read Preview

Pair face 41 charges in mail thefts

2 minute read Yesterday at 10:02 PM CDT

Spruce Plains RCMP arrested a Brandon man and a Boissevain woman after an investigation triggered by numerous reports of thefts from Canada Post mailboxes in rural communities across Westman.

The RCMP received the reports from late November 2024 into the early months of 2025, RCMP said in a press release on Thursday.

The reports came from the communities of Neepawa, Arden, Minnedosa, Kelwood, MacGregor, Carberry, Rapid City, Glenella, Erickson, Onanole, Sandy Lake and Rivers.

Spruce Plains RCMP conducted an “extensive investigation,” including examining mailbox sites, conducting interviews and executing search warrants in order to secure the evidence needed to prosecute, the release said.

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Yesterday at 10:02 PM CDT

K9 teams get a real-world workout

By Connor McDowell Local Journalism Initiative 4 minute read Preview

K9 teams get a real-world workout

By Connor McDowell Local Journalism Initiative 4 minute read Yesterday at 10:15 PM CDT

A disaster training site in Brandon was used to certify search-and-rescue dogs from across Western Canada on Thursday.

The practical training site for Manitoba Emergency Services College hosted teams from Calgary and Vancouver, along with some officers from Brandon Police Service.

The site at the Brandon Municipal Airport saw K9 handlers testing obedience, locating human victims in a rubble pile and rappelling down the side of a building.

Bob Sandher, a Vancouver police officer and team lead for the K9 urban search and rescue in Vancouver, said the visit to Brandon mimicked a real-world scenario compared to training at home.

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Yesterday at 10:15 PM CDT

Brandon Police Service Const. Justin Artibise holds his K9 partner Blink, an eight-year-old Belgian Malinois, as they rappel down the Manitoba Emergency Services College training structure at the Brandon Municipal Airport on Thursday morning. Artibise is one of two Manitobans taking part in K9 urban search-and-rescue training this week, together with other K9 teams from Alberta and British Columbia. (Photos by Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

Family waits 4 months to have power restored

By Alex Lambert 5 minute read Preview

Family waits 4 months to have power restored

By Alex Lambert 5 minute read Yesterday at 9:59 PM CDT

A mother and son say they are happy to have the power restored at their southwest Brandon home after being without it for more than four months.

But advocates say the province needs to speed up inspections for modular homes to prevent similar delays.

Sharon Pompana, 75, and her 43-year-old son, Brad Nielsen, had been in and out of hotel rooms since an electrical panel fire at their modular home on June 2. They stayed at their home without power for much of that time, relying on takeout and sandwiches as they didn’t have a working fridge.

“It’s starting to get cold at night, and I’m worrying — winter’s going to be coming,” Nielsen said in an interview before an official with the province told them their power was going to be restored. “I’m starting to worry about what if the pipes start freezing and things like that, we’re going to have to get another hotel again.”

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Yesterday at 9:59 PM CDT

Brad Nielsen and Sharon Pompana stand outside their home in Brandon that had been without power for more than four months. (The Brandon Sun)

Assault with weapon; sexual assault; girlfriend punched

2 minute read Preview

Assault with weapon; sexual assault; girlfriend punched

2 minute read Yesterday at 10:12 PM CDT

WOMAN HIT WITH BICYCLE SEAT POST

A Brandon man who allegedly assaulted his mother with a metal bicycle pole was arrested on Wednesday.

Brandon Police Service went to the 2200 block of Rosser Avenue shortly after 10 a.m. for a reported assault on a 50-year-old woman.

An ambulance transported the woman to Brandon Regional Health Centre.

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Yesterday at 10:12 PM CDT

The Brandon Police Service station at 10th Street and Victoria Avenue. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)

Applications open for green business award

2 minute read Yesterday at 10:01 PM CDT

Applications are now open for the 2025 Brandon Green Business Award.

The annual award, presented by the City of Brandon and the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, honours a local business that excels in sustainability, water conservation or waste reduction through its own efforts. Businesses of all sizes within the city can apply.

Applications are due by Oct. 30 and should describe initiatives a business has taken that go beyond its day-to-day operations and aren’t mandated by governments or regulatory bodies.

Examples of green initiatives include becoming a fair-trade workplace or retailer, switching to energy-efficient bulbs or appliances where applicable, finding creative ways to reuse and recycle goods or materials, and encouraging a green commuting strategy, the city said in a press release.

Striking Alberta teachers, province to resume bargaining talks Tuesday

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Striking Alberta teachers, province to resume bargaining talks Tuesday

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:20 PM CDT

EDMONTON - The union representing 51,000 striking Alberta teachers is set to resume negotiations with the provincial government's bargaining team after the long weekend.

The meeting would be the first since the provincewide strike began Monday, and the Alberta Teachers' Association said it was spurred by the success of recent side talks.

Union spokesperson Heather Grant said in an email that further formal discussions could take place if the meeting set for Tuesday is successful.

Finance Minister Nate Horner's office confirmed the provincial bargaining committee received a draft proposal from the teacher's union Thursday, which his office said was "complex."

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:20 PM CDT

Teachers and supporters take part in a rally on World Teachers' Day in Edmonton, on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Kinew under fire for comments on the justice system

By Steve Lambert 3 minute read Preview

Kinew under fire for comments on the justice system

By Steve Lambert 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:31 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has come under fire a second time over comments related to the justice system.

Two groups — the Manitoba Bar Association and the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association of Manitoba — said Kinew’s recent remarks about bail undermine public confidence in the administration of justice and run counter to the principle of an independent judiciary.

“It is concerning when politicians offer commentary on cases before the courts that have not yet been adjudicated,” bar association president Stacey Soldier said in a news release Wednesday.

“Furthermore, it could ultimately affect the fairness of a trial, which doesn’t just affect an accused person; it also affects victims and loved ones.”

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Updated: Yesterday at 9:31 AM CDT