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The Pentagon is viewed from the window of an airplane Aug. 27, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Pentagon gave Canada classified paper detailing defence priorities

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:29 AM CDT

WASHINGTON - A high-ranking U.S. defence official says the Pentagon gave Ottawa a classified paper laying out priorities for a collective North American defence pact with Canada, but that Ottawa did not deliver a "credible" response.

That lack of response is just one of several irritants the senior Pentagon official said is creating a rift in North American defence co-operation. Canada's delayed decision around the procurement of F-35 fighter jets was also cited as a source of frustration.

The official from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration briefed a small group of mostly Canadian journalists this week on background in order to speak more candidly about Canada-U.S. relations.

The official said Ottawa's response to the classified paper was that Canada would try to align with the U.S. position on defence, but Trump administration officials are looking for a more substantial plan.

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The words 'FEED ME' are seen painted in red on the National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa on Monday, June 9, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Stand-alone offence will help investigate, prosecute hate crimes, experts say

Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press 7 minute read Preview

Stand-alone offence will help investigate, prosecute hate crimes, experts say

Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press 7 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:29 AM CDT

OTTAWA - A provision in the federal government’s proposed hate crime bill to create a stand-alone hate crime offence will make it easier to investigate and prosecute those crimes, some experts say.

"The entire system, the way it's running right now, has weaknesses that cause the prosecution of hate crimes to be minimal," said Stephen Camp, who spent decades as a police officer and now works for the Organization for the Prevention of Violence.

Currently, the Criminal Code has hate propaganda provisions around advocating genocide, public incitement and wilful promotion of hatred, and wilful promotion of antisemitism. It also recognizes as an offence mischief that is motivated by bias, prejudice or hate.

But other hate crimes, such as those involving homicide or assault, don’t have specific offences in the Criminal Code. Instead, hate is identified as an aggravating factor at sentencing.

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Updated: Yesterday at 9:29 AM CDT

Local

Coal mine explosion in China kills 90 people, state media say

The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:29 AM CDT

BEIJING (AP) — A gas explosion at a coal mine in China’s northern Shanxi province killed at least 90 people, state media said on Saturday, in the country’s deadliest mining accident in recent years.

The official Xinhua News Agency said the accident at Changzhi city’s Liushenyu coal mine happened on Friday evening. Around 247 workers were on duty at the time.

Nine miners were still unaccounted for as of Saturday afternoon, Xinhua said, and more than 120 people were hospitalized.

The cause of the explosion was under investigation, Xinhua reported, and rescue work is pressing on with hundreds of rescuers and medical personnel sent to the site. Among the injured, many were hurt by toxic gas, according to state media CCTV.

Local

Taking child into custody ‘last resort,’ police say in wake of complaints

By Skye Anderson 4 minute read Preview

Taking child into custody ‘last resort,’ police say in wake of complaints

By Skye Anderson 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:42 AM CDT

In the wake of criticism by parents of an 11-year-old boy of his treatment by officers responding to a school incident, Brandon police said Friday that taking a child into custody is a “last resort.”

“That decision is made only when it is necessary to prevent harm to the child or to others,” Insp. Dana McCallum with the Brandon Police Service (BPS) said in an emailed statement to the Sun.

On Tuesday, BPS officers responded to Earl Oxford School after receiving reports of a student who was “screaming and striking” walls, BPS said in a news release the following day.

Police said the student punched the principal in the face multiple times and caused “significant” damage inside the school.

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Updated: Yesterday at 9:42 AM CDT

Local

Cheer board treasurer Bob Walberg said his organization was originally told to keep $150,000 but decided to disburse a third of that amount to other recipients. (Alex Lambert/The Brandon Sun files)

Cheer board disburses $400K to charities, food banks

By Alex Lambert 2 minute read Preview

Cheer board disburses $400K to charities, food banks

By Alex Lambert 2 minute read Yesterday at 12:28 AM CDT

The Brandon-Westman Christmas Cheer Registry has disbursed $400,000 to 45 different Westman charities and food banks.

The registry received $500,000 from the provincial government earlier this month because of the sale of U.S. liquor last year. It kept $100,000 for its own programs.

Seven Brandon-based charities will receive a combined $275,000, with Samaritan House Ministries receiving the most at $100,000, followed by the Brandon Friendship Centre at $50,000.

Westman & Area Traditional Christmas Dinner, Salvation Army Brandon, Seniors for Seniors, Brandon Food Rescue and Brandon’s Food for Thought will each receive $25,000.

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Yesterday at 12:28 AM CDT

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Cody and Kendra Minary, co-owners of the Minary Homestyle Bakery, are seen in their shop in Souris on Wednesday. The siblings have taken over the bakery with their brother, Adam, following the sudden and unexpected death of their parents, Cindy and Darwyn, this spring. (Connor McDowell/The Brandon Sun)

Minary siblings reopen family bakery in Souris

By Abiola Odutola 4 minute read Preview

Minary siblings reopen family bakery in Souris

By Abiola Odutola 4 minute read Yesterday at 12:26 AM CDT

The Minary Homestyle Bakery in Souris has reopened following the recent deaths of Cindy and Darwyn Minary.

Three of the couple’s children — Kendra, Cody and Adam Minary — officially reopened the business on May 14.

“It’s just in our blood … what we are meant to do,” Kendra told the Sun.

Kendra said the children all grew up in the bakery, from their early years visiting Darwyn under three previous owners to working for their parents after they purchased the business in 2006.

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Yesterday at 12:26 AM CDT

Local

Vincent Massey High School graduate Mitana Taylor is congratulated by dignitaries during the Our Journey celebration at the Keystone Centre’s Manitoba Room on Friday. (Photos by Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

‘Our Journey’ celebrates Indigenous grads

By Connor McDowell, Local Journalism Initiative 3 minute read Preview

‘Our Journey’ celebrates Indigenous grads

By Connor McDowell, Local Journalism Initiative 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 12:30 AM CDT

A specialist for Indigenous education says role models are key to the Our Journey celebration that brought 200 graduates to the Keystone Centre in Brandon on Friday.

It is vital for the younger students to see their older peers achieving success at different levels of education, Brandon School Division Indigenous education learning specialist Raven Willoughby told the Sun on Friday.

Willoughby said the sixth annual Our Journey event, bringing together graduates from various schools, fills a gap for Indigenous students.

“For so many years, we’ve had misrepresentation or underrepresentation of Indigenous people in education systems and higher education systems,” she said. “This day is a great way for our younger generation to see their older generation having success at different levels of education.

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Updated: Yesterday at 12:30 AM CDT

Local

CFB Shilo will be the primary operation centre of 26 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) weapons, a six-barrelled rocket launcher mounted on an army truck. (The Associated Press files)

Rocket systems coming to CFB Shilo

By Connor McDowell, Local Journalism Initiative 3 minute read Preview

Rocket systems coming to CFB Shilo

By Connor McDowell, Local Journalism Initiative 3 minute read Yesterday at 12:21 AM CDT

The Canadian Armed Forces has chosen CFB Shilo to operate newly procured rocket technology, the Department of National Defence told the Sun on Friday.

The military base east of Brandon will be the primary operation centre of 26 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) weapons, a six-barrelled rocket launcher mounted on an army truck, Andrée-Anne Poulin, media relations for the DND, said in an email.

The rockets will be “leveraged” by CFB Shilo’s existing 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery to start, but will “establish the foundation for the eventual formation of a new unit, the 9th Rocket Regiment, RCA,” Poulin said.

The systems, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, are expected to be delivered in 2029 along with related technology.

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Yesterday at 12:21 AM CDT

Local

Carberry woman accused of racking up almost $6,800 on stolen credit card

1 minute read Preview

Carberry woman accused of racking up almost $6,800 on stolen credit card

1 minute read Yesterday at 12:20 AM CDT

A Carberry woman was charged with 18 counts of theft under $5,000 after Mounties received a report of a stolen credit card.

On April 27, a 62-year-old woman reported that her credit card had been stolen and was last used at a Brandon business. She also said the suspect had taken personal cheques from her and tried to use them, RCMP said in a news release on Friday.

Mounties said by the time the woman had realized her card was missing, it had racked up almost $6,800 in charges.

Officers identified a suspect and arrested her at her residence on May 15.

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Yesterday at 12:20 AM CDT

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Cociane; assault; pedestrian hospitalized

3 minute read Preview

Cociane; assault; pedestrian hospitalized

3 minute read Yesterday at 12:15 AM CDT

COCAINE SEIZURE

Brandon police arrested a man and seized an estimated $170,000 worth of cocaine on Tuesday.

In April, members of the Brandon Police Service’s Organized Crime Section began an investigation into Joseph Melvin Hildebrand, 41, who police believed was trafficking cocaine in Brandon and surrounding communities, BPS said in a news release on Friday.

Police arrested the man during a traffic stop on Tuesday and seized his cellphone and more than $700 in cash, BPS said.

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Yesterday at 12:15 AM CDT

Local

PrairieCon president James Hood says the annual event focuses on face-to-face gaming experiences rather than computer or video games, creating a social atmosphere centred around community and connection. (Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)

PrairieCon returns with ‘festival of gaming’

By Abiola Odutola 3 minute read Preview

PrairieCon returns with ‘festival of gaming’

By Abiola Odutola 3 minute read Yesterday at 12:11 AM CDT

PrairieCon is hosting its annual offering of tabletop games and role-playing adventures in the Brandon Curling Club at the Keystone Centre this weekend.

The volunteer-run gaming festival, which began Friday and continues through Sunday, features dozens of tables where attendees can sit down with friends, family and fellow gamers to enjoy a wide variety of tabletop experiences.

PrairieCon president James Hood said organizers hope the convention will draw more than 400 gaming enthusiasts from across Manitoba and beyond, including registered participants and additional visitors stopping by to explore the event.

“We call it a festival of gaming,” he told the Sun. “Anybody who’s interested in playing tabletop games — board games, role-playing games, card games and party games — can come down and enjoy the experience.”

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Yesterday at 12:11 AM CDT