Looking Back — April 8, 2023

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/04/2023 (1251 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SIXTY YEARS AGO

Records fell with a smash at the Winter Fair when 42 Aberdeen Angus bulls sold for the never before reached average price of $753.45 each.

Canadians vote today in a federal election billed by political leaders as one of the most crucial voting tests in the nation’s history. A record turnout is expected.

Manitoba became the first province to complete its share of a national program to establish campgrounds and picnic sites along the Trans-Canada Highway.

FIFTY YEARS AGO

It was standing room only again at the Manitoba Winter Fair last night. Crowds so far have topped 33,000 in five days.

Canadian members of the International Commission of Control and Supervision (ICCS) may withdraw from team sites in Viet-Cong-controlled territory as the result of the death of a Canadian observer when a helicopter was shot down yesterday.

FORTY YEARS AGO

Brandon’s new Centennial Library Arts Centre is to receive a $194,000 boost from the federal government today.

Two astronauts are primed and eager to take a dual space walk today into Challenger’s open cargo bay — the first Americans in almost a decade to challenge the boundless, hostile arena outside their spaceship.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

The Brandon University’s board of governors has approved three dean appointments. Darcy Bower is the new dean of student services; Robert Florida is dean of arts and Roger Smith is dean of science.

A rally, organized by the Brandon Labour Council to protest the Progressive Conservatives’ budget announced yesterday, was held at the steps of the Provincial Building and attracted about 80 people.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

The trial of two suspects charged in the shooting death of Mountie Dennis Strongquill will go ahead as planned in Brandon, Court of Queen’s Bench, Justice John Menzies has ruled. Lawyers for Robert Sand argued the trial — scheduled to go before a jury April 21 — should be moved out of the city, preferably to Winnipeg. Lawyer Greg Brodsky cited media coverage in his motion to move the trial. Justice Menzies dismissed the motion, saying Sand and co-accused Laurie Bell could have a fair trial in Brandon.

City officials are confident they will find new users for the current police and fire department buildings when the two forces move into an integrated public safety building. Mayor Dave Burgess says there has been ongoing discussion over the past few months about what to do with the current buildings when they come available. The city’s police and fire departments are working on a move to the corner of First Street and Rosser Avenue, while the emergency response centre and community program portions of the police and fire services would move into the former RCMP building on Victoria Avenue.

TEN YEARS AGO

Around $2.4 million has been spent so far on an oil spill in the RM of Pipestone, and it will take more than six months for the land to return to normal, according to Tundra Oil and Gas Partnership. According to Tundra president and CEO Dan MacLean, costs will continue to rise, but didn’t give an estimated final price tag of the spill, which saw around 100,000 litres of oil seep into land the size of two football fields just south of Highway 255 near the Saskatchewan border.

A 14-year-old raising money in honour of community fixture Elizabeth Grant — a.k.a. “Mama G” — blew past his initial goal of $2,000, raising $3,809.50 in just four weeks. Michael Wenham is taking pledges ahead of shaving his head on April 19 for the well-known choral director, who has been battling mantle cell lymphoma since January.