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Dylan Druwe falls into the snow as she sleds at Rideau Park with family and friends on a crisp Monday afternoon. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
Dylan Druwe falls into the snow as she sleds at Rideau Park with family and friends on a crisp Monday afternoon. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

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Fire burns Full Tilt Towing shop

Abiola Odutola 2 minute read Preview

Fire burns Full Tilt Towing shop

Abiola Odutola 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:09 PM CST

A fire at Full Tilt Towing & Transport tore through the business's storage and equipment shop on 49th St. East early Saturday morning.

The fire “burned down” the building, but left no one injured, according to the company’s press release, which was issued on Saturday afternoon.

“Early this morning our storage and equipment shop caught fire and burned down,” the release stated. “Luckily, no personnel were injured, and all our staff is safe! The loss of the trucks can easily be overcome; however, we apologize in advance for any delay in services that may come from this as we rebuild.”

Full Tilt stated its office operations and general towing services will continue as normal. The company also expressed gratitude to first responders and members of the public who checked in following the fire, offering special thanks to Brandon Fire & Emergency Services for their quick response and efforts at the scene.

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:09 PM CST

A fire burns at a storage and equipment shop owned by Full Tilt Towing & Transport at 49th St. East on Saturday morning. No one was injured in the blaze. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
A fire burns at a storage and equipment shop owned by Full Tilt Towing & Transport at 49th St. East on Saturday morning. No one was injured in the blaze. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

Top news stories of 2025

By Connor McDowell, Local Journalism Initiative 105 minute read Preview

Top news stories of 2025

By Connor McDowell, Local Journalism Initiative 105 minute read Yesterday at 12:21 AM CST

Some of the biggest stories of the year in Brandon and Westman were rooted in citizen advocacy.

In Brandon, safe school advisory committees were set up in response to an incident that shocked and horrified the community. On June 10, a 15-year-old Black student was seriously injured in a sword attack at École secondaire Neelin High School that the city’s police chief called a “targeted act of hate” by a fellow student. Two more victims — who were chased by the assailant but not physically injured — were later confirmed, and the 16-year-old accused faces three counts of attempted murder.

June saw mounting pushback against a proposed RCUT intersection near Carberry — the site of a fatal crash in 2023 that killed 17 people. After sustained opposition, Premier Wab Kinew announced in July that the province was abandoning the controversial design. In November, Kinew took it a step further and announced an overpass at a cost of $100 million — about five times the cost of the RCUT.

In May, the community of Clear Lake was blindsided by Parks Canada’s ban on motorcraft for the season. Bitter feelings led to the formation of Fairness for Clear Lake, which filed a judicial review. Parks Canada eventually revealed that the ban was imposed after a legal threat — and a First Nation chief later claimed responsibility.

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Yesterday at 12:21 AM CST

École secondaire Grade 10 student Chinonso Onuke is held by close friend Leland Henderson and his twin brother Chiemeka in June during his first visit back to the school after he was seriously attacked at the school earlier that week. The school and community rallied around the Onuke family and Chinonso was able to visit with friends, fellow students and staff at the school on the last day of classes in June. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)
École secondaire Grade 10 student Chinonso Onuke is held by close friend Leland Henderson and his twin brother Chiemeka in June during his first visit back to the school after he was seriously attacked at the school earlier that week. The school and community rallied around the Onuke family and Chinonso was able to visit with friends, fellow students and staff at the school on the last day of classes in June. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)

Physicians sign on for 4 years

By Tessa Adamski 6 minute read Preview

Physicians sign on for 4 years

By Tessa Adamski 6 minute read Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

Seven internationally trained doctors have signed return-of-service agreements requiring them to work in six rural communities in southwestern Manitoba due to a shortage of family physicians.

The doctors will practise in Killarney, Minnedosa, Ste. Rose, Russell, Rossburn and Shoal Lake starting in the fall, said Tamara Kemp-Boulet, physician recruitment and retention co-ordinator for Prairie Mountain Health.

The agreement commits them to staying in the community for four years.

Husband and wife Shamsudeen and Olamide Usman are among those who were recruited by Prairie Mountain Health through the University of Manitoba Medical Licensure Program for International Medical Graduates.

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Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

Family physicians Shamsudeen and Olamide Usman toured the Tri-Lake Health Centre in Killarney with one of their three children, Heebatullah (middle). The couple begins practising family medicine at the hospital in August. (Supplied)
Family physicians Shamsudeen and Olamide Usman toured the Tri-Lake Health Centre in Killarney with one of their three children, Heebatullah (middle). The couple begins practising family medicine at the hospital in August. (Supplied)

Keystone drops prices on concession items

By Connor McDowell 2 minute read Preview

Keystone drops prices on concession items

By Connor McDowell 2 minute read Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

The Keystone Centre dropped prices on almost all food and beverage items on Thursday and introduced a “pre-game” price discount to make events more affordable.

The comprehensive price reduction will apply to concession items like meal combos, beverages and popcorn, the Keystone Centre said in a news release Friday.

The reduction was made in co-ordination with the exclusive in-house food and beverage provider Sodexo Live, Jared McKenzie, director of marketing and ticketing, said Friday.

“It’s something fans will notice when they go up to get items they are used to purchasing,” McKenzie said.

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Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

The Keystone Centre in Brandon as seen from above. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)
The Keystone Centre in Brandon as seen from above. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)

City eyes organic waste pilot project

By Alex Lambert 3 minute read Preview

City eyes organic waste pilot project

By Alex Lambert 3 minute read Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

The City of Brandon could extend its organic waste program to more residents this year — but with a difference.

City administration has presented a plan for a pilot project that would make it possible for people living in multi-unit homes and apartments to use a new version of the service. Currently, only single-family homes and smaller multi-unit buildings have green-bin pickup.

“For those multi-family units that want to compost — they can’t, because they don’t have an option readily available,” Lindsay Hargreaves, the city’s environmental initiatives co-ordinator, told council at its Dec. 15 meeting.

The proposed pilot program would run over the course of 12 weeks for 120 homes that would have to obtain electric food recyclers from the city.

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Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

Brandon City Hall on Ninth Street in Brandon. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)
Brandon City Hall on Ninth Street in Brandon. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)

Carney will meet with Ukraine’s allies in Paris as ceasefire talks intensify

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Carney will meet with Ukraine’s allies in Paris as ceasefire talks intensify

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to France next week to meet with Ukraine's allies as talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Russia's war intensify.

The Prime Minister's Office said Friday that Carney will be in Paris on Monday and Tuesday to meet with the "coalition of the willing" in an effort to push forward a ceasefire agreement.

In a media statement, Carney said his focus remains on fortifying Ukraine and deterring future Russian aggression as Ukraine seeks security guarantees from the United States and other nations.

Carney's office said Canada is working with coalition allies to boost Ukraine's defence capabilities and support the nation's long-term recovery, and seeks the return of Ukrainian children "unlawfully deported" during the war with Russia.

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Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hold a press conference in Halifax, N.S. on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Riley Smith
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hold a press conference in Halifax, N.S. on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Riley Smith

Swiss investigators believe sparkling candles atop wine bottles ignited fatal bar fire

John Leicester, Jamey Keaten And Stefanie Dazio, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Swiss investigators believe sparkling candles atop wine bottles ignited fatal bar fire

John Leicester, Jamey Keaten And Stefanie Dazio, The Associated Press 6 minute read Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) — Investigators said Friday that they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited a fatal fire at a Swiss ski resort when they came too close to the ceiling of a bar crowded with New Year's Eve revelers.

Authorities planned to look into whether sound-dampening material on the ceiling conformed with regulations and whether the candles, which give off a stream of upward-shooting sparks, were permitted for use in the bar.

Forty people were killed and another 119 injured in the blaze early Thursday as it ripped through the busy Le Constellation bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana, authorities said. It was one of the deadliest tragedies in Switzerland’s history.

Officials said they would also look at other safety measures on the premises, including fire extinguishers and escape routes. The attorney general for the Valais region warned of possible prosecutions if any criminal liability is found.

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Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

People lay flowers and light candles for the victims of the fire at the "Le Constellation" bar and lounge during New Year's celebration, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP)
People lay flowers and light candles for the victims of the fire at the

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Heavy fog from Sask. could creep into Westman

By Alex Lambert 2 minute read Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

Westman could be clouded in heavy fog in the coming days, which could impact vision and make roads treacherous, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is warning.

Southern Saskatchewan was covered in fog on Thursday and some of it “may creep into southwestern Manitoba,” ECCC meteorologist Dave Carlsen said. He said the fog in Saskatchewan created “very low” visibility.

“It’s the kind of fog that you’d want to be slowing down for, or — if at all possible — postponing your travel so that you don’t have to drive in it at all,” Carlsen said Thursday.

If people see fog, or frosting on trees, that’s a sign of slippery roads, he said.

Many mark the new year with ‘exhilarating’ polar dip in icy water

Lyndsay Armstrong, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Many mark the new year with ‘exhilarating’ polar dip in icy water

Lyndsay Armstrong, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

HALIFAX - Hundreds across Canada marked the start of the new year by gleefully plunging into frigid lake and ocean water, some for their first time.

Alejandra Lopez, who's visiting Nova Scotia from Mexico, said she likes to do cold dips in a tub with ice water back home, but she'd never done a polar plunge.

"One of my resolutions was to do something different every month, and I started on the very first day (of 2026)," said Lopez, who took her outdoor polar dip in Dartmouth's frozen Lake Banook alongside hundreds of other people Thursday.

She said the dip was a lot of fun and made for a great way to start the new year. As she entered the water, though, she said her "legs started burning." She stayed calm and managed to stay in the water.

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Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

Pardeep Singh Nagra, right, runs into the frigid water as he takes part in a New Year's Day polar bear dip at Sunnyside beach in Toronto, on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan
Pardeep Singh Nagra, right, runs into the frigid water as he takes part in a New Year's Day polar bear dip at Sunnyside beach in Toronto, on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan

Downed power line in northern Manitoba repaired, electricity being restored

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Downed power line in northern Manitoba repaired, electricity being restored

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

CROSS LAKE - Manitoba Hydro said Thursday it is restoring power for residents of a northern First Nation after a downed power line forced them out.

Completion of challenging repairs came a day after the chief of Pimicikamak Cree Nation urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to send in the military to deal with the crisis caused by the outage.

The community has been without power since late Sunday when a line crossing the Nelson River snapped.

Manitoba Hydro said in a statement it would gradually restore power to customers in stages Thursday to avoid overloading the system and potentially damaging equipment.

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Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias gets a selfie with Mark Carney at a federal election campaign rally in Winnipeg, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias gets a selfie with Mark Carney at a federal election campaign rally in Winnipeg, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

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