Brandon Sun – Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada

The Green Spot grower and sales associate Alanna Peterson cleans up a load of poinsettias from British Columbia that arrived in Brandon on Friday morning. She says that more shipments of these holiday flowers will be arriving in the coming weeks before Christmas. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

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‘He had just had enough of waiting’: Man, 72, dies after leaving Brandon ER

Rylee Gerrard 5 minute read Preview

‘He had just had enough of waiting’: Man, 72, dies after leaving Brandon ER

Rylee Gerrard 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:00 PM EST

SIOUX VALLEY DAKOTA NATION — The daughters of an Indigenous man who died hours after leaving the Brandon ER without being seen by a physician are seeking answers after they allege their dad was left in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank and never checked on.

Nicole Antoine, 35, and Caitlin Elk, 34, are pleading for accountability for their father’s death.

“We feel like his condition wasn’t taken serious and … we feel like he’s been neglected,” Antoine said.

Francis Elk, 72, was admitted to the emergency department at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on July 9 after a five-hour-long dialysis treatment at the hospital.

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:00 PM EST

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Dauphin GM accused of exploiting foreign workers

Tessa Adamski 3 minute read Preview

Dauphin GM accused of exploiting foreign workers

Tessa Adamski 3 minute read Yesterday at 11:10 PM EST

The general manager of a Dauphin-area business is facing charges related to a 13-month-long RCMP investigation into human trafficking involving illegal labour practices.

Mounties received multiple tips that a 48-year-old employer from Dauphin was exploiting staff for financial benefit and started investigating the claims on Oct. 16, 2025, RCMP said in a news release on Friday.

RCMP interviewed many individuals over several months and determined the suspect had demanded payment from three temporary foreign workers in exchange for employment at his business, an RCMP spokesperson said in an email.

The suspect insisted the payments ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 be made in cash and instructed the victims to conceal or misrepresent the payments, including when they spoke with immigration officials, RCMP said.

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Yesterday at 11:10 PM EST

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Wab Kinew scrums at the Manitoba NDP convention at the RBC Convention Centre on Friday. (Mikaela MacKenzie/Winnipeg Free Press)

Kinew hints at early election at NDP convention

Carol Sanders 4 minute read Preview

Kinew hints at early election at NDP convention

Carol Sanders 4 minute read Updated: 11:31 AM EST

WINNIPEG — New Democrats from across Manitoba are gathering in Winnipeg to debate policy resolutions and get ready for a provincial election that must happen by Oct. 5 — but could come much sooner.

The party has $3.5 million to spend on the campaign and plans to expand its majority in the legislature, Premier Wab Kinew told reporters Friday.

“We’ve got enough candidates to grow our majority to represent you right across this great province,” the NDP leader said ahead of delivering a report to the 400 registered delegates at the RBC Convention Centre.

The NDP has 34 of the 57 seats in the legislature. The Progressive Conservatives have 19, mostly in rural Manitoba outside of vote-rich Winnipeg.

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Updated: 11:31 AM EST

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Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, seen here speaking with journalists during a First Nations and First Ministers’ meeting in Ottawa on Oct. 26, said the PUB rejected Hydro’s methodology of calculating both the peak winter demand and also some of the economics and the impact on rate pressure going forward. (The Canadian Press files)

Hydro plan for Brandon could be cut to one-third, premier says

Carol Sanders 4 minute read Preview

Hydro plan for Brandon could be cut to one-third, premier says

Carol Sanders 4 minute read Yesterday at 11:09 PM EST

WINNIPEG — Premier Wab Kinew says a Public Utilities Board report shows the province needs to build just one combustion power turbine, not three that Manitoba Hydro has recommended.

“This is good news, because this PUB report is saying that now the facility in Brandon should cost more like $1 billion instead of the previous estimates,” Kinew told reporters Friday ahead of the report’s release expected in the coming days.

Hydro’s proposed $3-billion gas-turbine project in Brandon to generate more power by installing three natural gas-powered turbines was reviewed by the province’s rate-setting watchdog.

“They don’t think Hydro needs to build three turbines. In fact, what the PUB is now recommending to us is they’re saying we only need to build one turbine,” the premier said.

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Yesterday at 11:09 PM EST

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The front doors of the Brandon courthouse on 11th Street. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

Knife threat in Princess Park, other offences net jail term

Tessa Adamski 4 minute read Preview

Knife threat in Princess Park, other offences net jail term

Tessa Adamski 4 minute read Yesterday at 11:08 PM EST

A 33-year-old man from Birdtail Sioux First Nation was sentenced to more than 11 months in jail for multiple offences, including an incident where he threatened a man with a pocketknife in downtown Brandon.

Nicholas Benn pleaded guilty in Brandon’s provincial court on Thursday to assault with a weapon, resisting arrest and breaching three court orders over the summer.

In the first incident on June 5, police were called about a man who had flashed a folding knife “in a threatening way” toward another individual at Princess Park, Crown attorney Easton Lacey said.

The victim told police the stranger demanded he “get the f— out of here” before pulling out the weapon, “which caused the complainant to be scared for his safety,” she said.

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Yesterday at 11:08 PM EST

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People wait in line to rebook cancelled flights at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sandra Ezekwesili

‘It’s crazy’: Travellers, airlines report busy day at airports after U.S. flight stop

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

‘It’s crazy’: Travellers, airlines report busy day at airports after U.S. flight stop

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 5:11 PM EST

TORONTO - Dale Flood had booked what he called a once-in-a-lifetime 50th birthday trip with his family to New York City to watch his beloved Buffalo Bills play on Sunday.

After a four-hour freeze on U.S. air traffic resulted in his Saturday morning flight being cancelled, the Vancouver man jumped into action, hoping to salvage the trip for himself, his wife and his 11-year-old son.

But after staying up until 4 a.m. trying to get his family on any flight that could get them to New York on time, he had to concede defeat. Instead, his family will fly on Sunday, landing too late for the much-anticipated NFL game.

“It’s sad,” Flood said in a phone interview. “It’s hard to watch an 11-year-old cry. It's hard to go through all of October and November really looking forward to this, to that time in New York.”

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Updated: 5:11 PM EST

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Avi Lewis, left, who was proclaimed as the new leader of the NDP, celebrates with Manitoba premier Wab Kinew at the party convention in Winnipeg Sunday, March 29, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Manitoba NDP gathers at annual convention as it prepares for 2027 election

Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Manitoba NDP gathers at annual convention as it prepares for 2027 election

Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: 11:29 AM EST

WINNIPEG - Manitoba NDP members are meeting in Winnipeg this weekend at the party's annual convention as it prepares for next year's general election.

Federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis is set to speak this morning, and Premier Wab Kinew scheduled to give a speech at a gala fundraiser in the evening.

Kinew said Friday that his party has $3.5 million in campaign funding and is well positioned well for the upcoming vote.

He said the party has enough candidates on its slate to expand its majority.

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Updated: 11:29 AM EST

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Sioux Valley gas station adopts Gen7 brand

Abiola Odutola 3 minute read Preview

Sioux Valley gas station adopts Gen7 brand

Abiola Odutola 3 minute read Yesterday at 11:10 PM EST

Sioux Valley Dakota Nation is investing more than $2 million in transforming its former Petro-Canada gas station into a Gen7-branded destination.

The rebranding is expected to expand services with the addition of a gaming centre and Chester’s Chicken franchise.

The transition of Dakota Valley Gas Mart to the Gen7 brand is part of Sioux Valley’s broader economic development strategy, which aims to strengthen existing businesses, attract more customers and generate long-term revenue, Chief Jennifer Bone said.

“The gaming centre and chicken franchise are expected to open in January 2027,” she told the Sun Thursday afternoon. “The nation is also reviewing staffing, security and customer service at the gas station while working to improve its overall business performance.”

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Yesterday at 11:10 PM EST

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Team Manitoba skip Mike McEwen pauses for a moment during the eighth draw against the Newfoundland and Labrador squad at the Brier in Brandon on March 5, 2019. (The Canadian Press files)

Lost Brier bid won’t deter future efforts: officials

Alex Lambert 5 minute read Preview

Lost Brier bid won’t deter future efforts: officials

Alex Lambert 5 minute read Yesterday at 11:07 PM EST

Brandon will continue to bid on major curling events despite not being awarded the 2028 Brier, local officials say.

On Monday, Curling Canada announced that Red Deer, Alta., will host the country’s top men’s curling championship from Feb. 25 to March 5, 2028. Brandon announced in July it had bid on the national tournament.

“While we are certainly disappointed (to) not have been selected as the host city in this cycle, we knew going into the process that this is one of Curling Canada’s premier, highly sought-after championships with strong bids also being submitted from other cities,” Brandon First executive director Jennifer Watson said in an email Thursday.

Watson said Brandon will be “actively bidding on future events,” and that Brandon First, which promotes the city as an event host, is proud of the “comprehensive proposal” the bidding team made.

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Yesterday at 11:07 PM EST

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Ballot recount confirmed for Yellowhead election on Dec. 3

Connor McDowellLocal Journalism Initiative 2 minute read Yesterday at 11:06 PM EST

A ballot recount will take place to clarify results of the municipal election in Yellowhead Municipality, where 13 spoiled ballots hold the potential to unseat the mayor.

Staff at the Brandon Courthouse confirmed on Friday that a recount for the election is scheduled to take place at the courthouse on Dec. 3.

The recount will review whether any of the spoiled ballots will be included in the count, and whether the original tally was correct to award 376 votes to incumbent Merv Starzyk, 375 votes to Jim Garlick and 157 votes to Chantelle Shwaluk for the mayoral race, Garlick told the Sun on Friday.

A judge will determine whether any of the 13 spoiled ballots are valid and will also oversee the results after the original senior election official recounts the ballots, he said.