Looking Back — April 8, 2024

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/04/2024 (894 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SIXTY YEARS AGO

The record-smashing 57th edition of the Manitoba Winter Fair closed its doors last night, but not before 30,940 people elbowed their way in during the six days of the show. The figure eclipsed the previous high set a year ago, by 6,541.

Canadian author Pierre Berton is to be the guest speaker at a special dinner in Brandon during the royal visit of Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon, Mayor Bill Wilton said.

FIFTY YEARS AGO

The “big” jumping horse event of the week, the Rothman’s Grand Prix of Brandon, was won by a Calgary-owned horse, Wet Paint, after an exciting jumpoff with John Simpson’s Commander Jack.

Fatale, a purebred Chianina bull owned by the Government of Canada, was the star of the barns during the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. As gentle as he is big — 2,800 pounds and about six feet tall at the shoulder — the bull encouraged petting by anyone who passed his stall.

FORTY YEARS AGO

Western Manitoba’s budding Einsteins will turn Brandon University’s gymnasium into a giant laboratory today as more than 500 students from 49 schools participate in the 16th annual Science Fair.

The go-ahead has been given for the launch by fall of Canadian sports and rock video pay TV channels and for cable companies to offer at the same time up to five more similar U.S. services from a list of 17.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

Green space supporters in Valleyview lost in their second time at bat opposing a housing development in the west end. The Brandon and Area Planning Board voted 7-2 last night to allow a residential subdivision on the former Sacred Heart school property.

Kurt Cobain, the troubled lead singer of the pioneering grunge rock band Nirvana, was found shot to death today in his apartment in an apparent suicide. He was 27 years old.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

The Brandon Regional Health Authority is winning national kudos again for its efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For the second time in three years, the Brandon RHA has won a national leadership award from the Climate Change Voluntary Challenge and Registry Inc. (VCR Inc.). The Brandon RHA received the award at the seventh annual Leadership Awards ceremony in Ottawa. The Brandon RHA was one of 133 Canadian health service providers competing in their category.

Staff at the Brandon Regional Health Centre are hoping it will be a seamless transition as they prepare to move the emergency room to its temporary home in the new clinical services wing. Emergency services will start moving to its new home Tuesday and be ready for business the following day, said Seema Roberts, program manager for critical care.

TEN YEARS AGO

Brandon’s historic downtown fire hall will be transformed into a mixed-use commercial and residential space. City council has accepted Samson Engineering Inc.’s proposal to redevelop the vacant fire hall at 637 Princess Ave.

The Brandon Wheat Kings will try to draw on their track record at home to get back into their Western Hockey League playoff series with the Edmonton Oil Kings. After losing the first two games of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal in Edmonton, being shut out both times, the Wheat Kings host Game 3 tonight and Game 4 on Wednesday at Westman Place.