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The Brandon courthouse. (File)

Woman accused in mailbox thefts denied bail

By Skye Anderson 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:45 PM CDT

A judge denied bail for a Boissevain woman allegedly involved in a spree of mailbox thefts on the grounds that releasing her could taint the public’s confidence in the justice system.

“This was an extensive spree … of theft and fraud spanning across a wide swath of Manitoba,” Brandon provincial court Judge Patrick Sullivan said Friday.

The crimes “impacted multiple communities and likely dozens of victims — if not more,” he said.

Jennifer MacDonald, 41, is one of two people facing 41 charges related to the string of mailbox thefts last winter. They include breaking and entering, theft from mail over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, fraud over $5,000 and theft of a credit card.

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Oct. 12, 12 AM: 16°c Cloudy with wind Oct. 12, 6 AM: 12°c Windy

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‘Turn off the news’ and be grateful

By Michele McDougall 5 minute read Preview

‘Turn off the news’ and be grateful

By Michele McDougall 5 minute read Yesterday at 10:30 PM CDT

There is always something to be thankful for, says the minister of Brandon’s Trinity United Church.

While the congregation’s spiritual leader, Rev. Doug Neufeld, was polishing his Sunday sermon ahead of Thanksgiving Day, he said people should spend time reflecting on what they have, not what they want.

“As challenging as times are on the planet right now, with the various politics and so many people living with food insecurity, I think as Canadians, we really are in the land of plenty,” Neufeld said.

“And maybe we have so much to be thankful for that we take it for granted.”

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Yesterday at 10:30 PM CDT

Barb and Owen Steele (left) from Wasaga Beach, Ont., stop for a break at the Riverbank Discovery Centre with longtime friends Mark Francis of Brandon and Shane Gabor of Stonewall after a morning of duck hunting with Rip the dog. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Barb and Owen Steele (left) from Wasaga Beach, Ont., stop for a break at the Riverbank Discovery Centre with longtime friends Mark Francis of Brandon and Shane Gabor of Stonewall after a morning of duck hunting with Rip the dog. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

What’s open in Brandon on Thanksgiving Day

3 minute read Preview

What’s open in Brandon on Thanksgiving Day

3 minute read Yesterday at 11:04 PM CDT

Below is a rundown of the hours of operation for some businesses and services in Brandon on Thanksgiving Day.

The list is far from complete. If you want your service or business to be included in The Brandon Sun’s next holiday hours listing, email your hours of operation a few days in advance to reporter Abiola Odutola at aodutola@brandonsun.com, with “Holiday Hours” in the subject line.

The Brandon Sun will not publish its regular Monday e-edition on Oct. 13 and will resume publication of the print edition on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

CITY OF BRANDON

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Yesterday at 11:04 PM CDT

Brandon City Hall on Ninth Street. City hall is one of the services and businesses that will be closed for Thanksgiving Day. (File)
Brandon City Hall on Ninth Street. City hall is one of the services and businesses that will be closed for Thanksgiving Day. (File)

Acres for Hamiota harvests $45K in soybeans

By Connor McDowell, Local Journalism Initiative 3 minute read Preview

Acres for Hamiota harvests $45K in soybeans

By Connor McDowell, Local Journalism Initiative 3 minute read Updated: 1:22 PM CDT

HAMIOTA — A community group harvested roughly $45,000 worth of soybeans on Friday to raise funds for future community improvement projects in Hamiota.

The non-profit group Acres for Hamiota harvested 120 acres of soybeans this year. The revenue will go toward future grants in Hamiota, though no projects have been chosen yet.

In the past, the charity funds have been used to install heaters at the community ice rink, maintain a concrete floor in the community hall and buy a defibrillator for the local gym, president Mark Knight said.

“When you have a good, strong volunteer community like we do, it makes it really easy to do something like this,” Knight said. “”The success of this is solely based on the community.”

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Updated: 1:22 PM CDT

Combines hit the field south of Hamiota on Friday to begin harvesting 120 acres of soybean. The crop will be sold as a fundraiser for community improvement projects. (Photos by Connor McDowell/The Brandon Sun)
Combines hit the field south of Hamiota on Friday to begin harvesting 120 acres of soybean. The crop will be sold as a fundraiser for community improvement projects. (Photos by Connor McDowell/The Brandon Sun)

Former Liberal cabinet minister says young people are hesitant to enter politics

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Former Liberal cabinet minister says young people are hesitant to enter politics

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 10:03 AM CDT

OTTAWA - Sergio Marchi says when he asks students in his university course on politics how many of them are interested in a career in public life, he's surprised if two or three of them raise a hand.

Marchi, who served as minister for international trade from 1997 to 1999 and later as ambassador to the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, told The Canadian Press he fears that more and more young people are giving politics a pass.

"You can't have the current young generation be exempted from public life," he said.

"Nothing wrong with old white men, but we can't have our politicians be just white old men. We need the energy and the idealism of the youngsters."

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Updated: 10:03 AM CDT

Sergio Marchi speaks in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 17, 1999. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tom Hanson)
Sergio Marchi speaks in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 17, 1999. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tom Hanson)

Theatre history show goes outdoors

By Abiola Odutola 2 minute read Preview

Theatre history show goes outdoors

By Abiola Odutola 2 minute read Yesterday at 10:46 PM CDT

Brandon University’s introduction to theatre class livened up the Clark Hall courtyard Friday morning with an outdoor production titled “A Fool’s Guide to World Theatre History.”

The performance featured hand-painted puppets, music and a dramaturgical exhibition that celebrated theatre traditions from around the world.

It was the culminating project for students new to the university and to the world of theatre, class instructor Alyson Doyle told the Sun shortly after the event.

Doyle said she wanted the performance to be both educational and engaging, while allowing students to express themselves through collaborative creativity.

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Yesterday at 10:46 PM CDT

Brandon University students perform “A Fool’s Guide to World Theatre History” in the Clark Hall courtyard on Friday morning. (Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
Brandon University students perform “A Fool’s Guide to World Theatre History” in the Clark Hall courtyard on Friday morning. (Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)

Survey seeks feedback to guide future use of national park

1 minute read Preview

Survey seeks feedback to guide future use of national park

1 minute read Yesterday at 10:49 PM CDT

Parks Canada is asking for feedback on the future of Riding Mountain National Park.

People’s vision for Clear Lake and Wasagaming, visitor experience and how Parks Canada can improve its communication with residents are all questions in an online survey posted by the national park on its Facebook page.

The management plan is to set a “strategic decision for the next 10 years” and guide park operations, decision making and year-to-year planning, Parks Canada’s website says.

Management plans “are required by legislation, shaped through public consultation, approved by the minister responsible for Parks Canada, and tabled in Parliament,” the site says.

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Yesterday at 10:49 PM CDT

An aerial view of the Boreal Trail in Riding Mountain National Park. Parks Canada has launched an online survey to gather public input as it develops a management plan. (Submitted)
An aerial view of the Boreal Trail in Riding Mountain National Park. (Submitted)

Waddell announces candidacy for Cornwallis reeve

By Alex Lambert 3 minute read Preview

Waddell announces candidacy for Cornwallis reeve

By Alex Lambert 3 minute read Yesterday at 10:33 PM CDT

Helping to stabilize the municipality is the main goal for Mike Waddell in his bid to become the next reeve of Cornwallis.

Waddell announced his candidacy Thursday afternoon. The rural municipality is set to have a byelection for its vacant reeve position on Dec. 3.

“I really want to help be a catalyst to continue the improvements and stability that have happened. I’m a big believer in that open and consistent communication,” Waddell, 55, said Friday.

A car salesman and owner of the coffee-shop newsletter News In A Minute, Waddell served as a Ward 1 councillor between 2014 and 2018.

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Yesterday at 10:33 PM CDT

Mike Waddell (Submitted)
Mike Waddell (Submitted)

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MP warns senators against further Indian Act changes without House of Commons input

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

MP warns senators against further Indian Act changes without House of Commons input

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 10:06 AM CDT

OTTAWA - A Liberal MP is warning senators on a committee studying proposed changes to the Indian Act that they might do more harm than good if they pursue changes to the law that were never endorsed by members of Parliament.

The committee is studying legislation that would eliminate some gender inequities in the Indian Act, allowing some 6,000 people to become eligible for First Nations status.

Witnesses testifying before the Senate committee on Oct. 1, including Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, said while the legislation is a good first step, sex-based discrimination is still baked into the Indian Act. They want senators to make even more people eligible for status.

Liberal MP Jaime Battiste, a member of the House of Commons committee on Indigenous issues, told The Canadian Press that's a noble goal but the Senate isn't the place to introduce sweeping changes to the law beyond those in the proposed legislation.

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Updated: 10:06 AM CDT

MP for Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish Jaime Battiste speaks with the media in Rome on Saturday, May 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
MP for Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish Jaime Battiste speaks with the media in Rome on Saturday, May 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Surprise September job gains dampen odds for Bank of Canada rate cut

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Surprise September job gains dampen odds for Bank of Canada rate cut

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:40 PM CDT

OTTAWA - The Canadian labour market showed an unexpected hiring surge in September, but economists are mixed on whether the strength is enough to deter the Bank of Canada from cutting its policy rate again later this month.

Statistics Canada said the unemployment rate held steady at 7.1 per cent in September as the economy added some 60,000 jobs in the month.

That topped economists' expectations for a gain of 5,000 jobs in September and marks a rebound from losses of more than 100,000 positions over the previous two months.

StatCan said the gains were concentrated in full-time work with 106,000 positions added in September, more than offsetting a drop in part-time work.

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Updated: Yesterday at 3:40 PM CDT

Statistics Canada building and signs are pictured in Ottawa on July 3, 2019. Statistics Canada is expected to provide its latest snapshot of the job market this morning when it releases its labour force survey for the month of September. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Statistics Canada building and signs are pictured in Ottawa on July 3, 2019. Statistics Canada is expected to provide its latest snapshot of the job market this morning when it releases its labour force survey for the month of September. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Thousands of Palestinians return to what’s left of their homes as Gaza ceasefire takes effect

Abdel Kareem Hana, Wafaa Shurafa And Melanie Lidman, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

Thousands of Palestinians return to what’s left of their homes as Gaza ceasefire takes effect

Abdel Kareem Hana, Wafaa Shurafa And Melanie Lidman, The Associated Press 7 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:40 PM CDT

WADI GAZA, Gaza Strip (AP) — Tens of thousands of Palestinians headed back to the heavily destroyed northern Gaza Strip on Friday as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire came into effect in a deal that raised hopes for ending the Israel-Hamas war. All the remaining hostages were set to be released within days.

Questions remain over who will govern Gaza as Israeli troops gradually pull back and whether Hamas will disarm, as called for in U.S. President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who unilaterally ended a ceasefire in March, hinted that Israel might renew its offensive if Hamas does not give up its weapons.

The latest truce nevertheless marks a key step toward ending a ruinous two-year war that was triggered by Hamas' 2023 attack on Israel. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced around 90% of the Gaza population of some 2 million, often multiple times. Many of them will find fields of rubble where their homes once stood.

The military confirmed the start of the ceasefire Friday, and the remaining 48 hostages, around 20 of them believed to be alive, are to be released by Monday. Palestinians said heavy shelling in parts of Gaza earlier on Friday had mostly stopped after the military's announcement.

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Updated: Yesterday at 8:40 PM CDT

Covered in prayer shawls, men dance and hold the four items used as a symbol on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, at a plaza known as hostages square following the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause the fighting in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Covered in prayer shawls, men dance and hold the four items used as a symbol on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, at a plaza known as hostages square following the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause the fighting in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

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