Brandon Sun – Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada

A cattle breeder from Saskatchewan washes down a yearling cow on Thursday afternoon before a livestock show during the Manitoba Ag Ex event at Brandon’s Keystone Centre. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

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Westman municipal election results

6 minute read 12:05 AM CDT

The almost five dozen municipalities in western Manitoba have new councils following Wednesday’s election.

Alonsa: Terry Dayholos elected reeve; councillors Kerry Hopfner, Cameron Campbell, Travis Turko, Jonathan Clarke and Marcel Houle. The seat for Ward 4 is vacant.

Boissevain-Morton: Terry Lucier elected head of council; councillors Craig Barwick, Laurie Nestibo, Mike McCallum, Duane Latimer, Lonnie Graham and Rhonda Coupland.

Brenda-Waskada: Maurice Saltel acclaimed reeve; councillors Donna Stewart, Carson Spence, Bill Dickinson and Chad Vandaele.

Last call for spine-chilling visit to annual BBBS haunted house

Rylee Gerrard 2 minute read Preview

Last call for spine-chilling visit to annual BBBS haunted house

Rylee Gerrard 2 minute read 12:04 AM CDT

After three weeks of spooky scares and trembling terrors, volunteers from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Westman are gearing up for its last night of spine-chilling sights before Halloween.

For more than 20 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) have organized a haunted house. This year, the attraction is set up inside the Livingstone Outdoor greenhouse and has been open Wednesday through Saturday from 6 to 11 p.m.

Tonight is the last chance to try the thrilling experience, but if jump-scares that cause ear-splitting screams aren’t your cup of tea, the no-scare hour is from 6 to 7 p.m.

For BBBS, the annual event is the “flagship fundraiser” for the organization, said executive director Ashley Taron.

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12:04 AM CDT

Local

Man who pleaded guilty to assaulting girlfriend given 18 months’ probation

Tessa Adamski 2 minute read Preview

Man who pleaded guilty to assaulting girlfriend given 18 months’ probation

Tessa Adamski 2 minute read 12:03 AM CDT

A 31-year-old man received a suspended sentence of 18 months of probation for assaulting a domestic partner after a Manitoba judge said his actions were a “serious breach of trust.”

Chance Miller pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend around 6 p.m. on March 26 after the former couple got into an argument inside an apartment on 13th Street in Brandon.

“When a man hurts a woman that he’s in a relationship with, he’s not demonstrating that he’s strong or powerful,” provincial court Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta said on Thursday.

“He’s showing weakness and an inability to control himself. And so, I strongly suggest that you take a look at that issue and that you take advantage of the help that’s offered to you through probation.”

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12:03 AM CDT

Local

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

Gambling addiction drove series of thefts, court told

Tessa Adamski 4 minute read Preview

Gambling addiction drove series of thefts, court told

Tessa Adamski 4 minute read 12:02 AM CDT

A 51-year-old Brandon man was sentenced to more than five months of time served in custody for a string of crimes fuelled by his gambling addiction.

Aaron Symbalisty pleaded guilty in Brandon provincial court on Thursday to uttering threats, two counts of theft under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime and using a credit card knowing it was obtained by a commission of an offence.

He was ordered to pay restitution of $1,110 to three individuals he stole money from, including a car dealership employee.

“Everything came crashing down as a result of his gambling,” his defence lawyer, Andrew Synyshyn, said in court.

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12:02 AM CDT

Local

The Brandon Police Service crest. (File)

Assault; in-custody death

1 minute read Preview

Assault; in-custody death

1 minute read 12:01 AM CDT

TOWN CENTRE ASSAULT

A 58-year-old man is facing an assault charge after police say he admitted to punching another man at The Town Centre in Brandon.

Brandon Police Service cadets were patrolling the downtown area around 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday when they were informed a 25-year-old man had been punched in the head, police said in news release on Thursday.

Officers said the men were known to each other and that the younger man wished to press charges.

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12:01 AM CDT

Local

A woman walks past an election-day sign at the Brandon School Division office polling station on Sixth Street on Wednesday afternoon. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

Slow election results blamed on double-checking numbers

Alex Lambert 5 minute read Preview

Slow election results blamed on double-checking numbers

Alex Lambert 5 minute read Yesterday at 11:59 PM CDT

Results from Wednesday’s civic election in Brandon were released slowly due to staff double-checking voting machine totals, the city’s top election official said.

Senior election official Heather Ewasiuk said the relatively slow poll results — the last of which came in at 11:24 p.m. — are a learning experience for organizers.

She also highlighted the increase in turnout compared to four years ago — about 27.65 per cent, up from 17.9 per cent in 2022.

“We had the results, of course, obviously shortly after eight o’clock,” Ewasiuk said Thursday.

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Yesterday at 11:59 PM CDT

Local

Dr. Brady Anderson’s last day will be Nov. 13. (CancerCare Manitoba)

Westman to lose sole medical oncologist

Rylee Gerrard 4 minute read Preview

Westman to lose sole medical oncologist

Rylee Gerrard 4 minute read Yesterday at 11:59 PM CDT

Western Manitoba is losing its only medical oncologist in two weeks, leaving just 22 in the province — who all work in Winnipeg.

Brandon West MLA Wayne Balcaen raised the issue during question period in the provincial legislature on Thursday, saying the departure of Dr. Brady Anderson will be a “major loss” for the Westman region.

Anderson is the only practising oncologist outside of Winnipeg. After four years working out of the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre in Brandon, Anderson’s last day will be Nov. 13.

“He literally sees hundreds of patients within the Westman area, and now those individuals will have to travel to Winnipeg to get that personal service,” Balcaen said in an interview Thursday, calling Anderson’s impending departure “catastrophic.”

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Yesterday at 11:59 PM CDT

Local

Outgoing Ward 1 councillor Heather Karrouze said she “loved the work and the many lovely people I have met along the way” during her term on council. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)

Karrouze congratulates Ward 1 winner

Alex Lambert 3 minute read Preview

Karrouze congratulates Ward 1 winner

Alex Lambert 3 minute read Yesterday at 11:58 PM CDT

The only incumbent Brandon city councillor who lost in Wednesday’s election said she had the “tremendous honour and privilege” to serve over the last four years.

Heather Karrouze represented Ward 1 for one term before being ousted by political newcomer Ron Shaluk in a close race.

Shaluk received 688 votes — 51.9 per cent — compared to Karrouze’s 639.

“I have loved the work and the many lovely people I have met along the way during the last four years,” Karrouze said in a text message.

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Yesterday at 11:58 PM CDT

Business

The Canadian Coast Guard's medium icebreaker Henry Larsen sails through Allen Bay during Operation Nanook near Resolute, Nunavut, Aug. 25, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Security strategy focuses on safeguarding economy to fend off ‘acute global threats’

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Security strategy focuses on safeguarding economy to fend off ‘acute global threats’

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:50 PM CDT

OTTAWA - The Liberal government's new national security strategy stresses the need to better manage shocks to Canada's economy while fostering growth and innovation to make the country more resilient.

The long-awaited strategy, made public Thursday, flags the dangers of traditional threats — such as espionage and foreign interference — along with challenges emerging from great power rivalries, authoritarian aggression, the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and the perils of climate change and pandemics.

The strategy says Canada can achieve greater strategic independence through a secure and growing economy, a disciplined foreign policy, a stronger and more agile military and better intelligence efforts.

"These will allow us to withstand shocks, adapt to the unexpected, make our own choices and thrive in the decades ahead," the document says.

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Updated: Yesterday at 3:50 PM CDT

Local

Prime Minister Mark Carney embraces European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Carney, von der Leyen both want Canada as ‘associate member’ of the European Union

David Baxter and Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Carney, von der Leyen both want Canada as ‘associate member’ of the European Union

David Baxter and Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:28 PM CDT

MONTREAL - Prime Minister Mark Carney now says Canada is working to become an "associate member" of the European Union, after largely avoiding that term.

"We're here because we share a common mission. We're in the process of forging a new alliance for the future, with Canada as an associate member," Carney said Thursday.

The prime minister on Thursday welcomed senior officials from Brussels to the two-day Canada-EU Summit in Montreal to negotiate a new partnership — though critics say the outcomes have been unclear.

"We can work on everything from AI and climate, to energy and security, you just name it," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

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Updated: Yesterday at 4:28 PM CDT