Inmate assault; help for evacuees; BU Black Friday deal

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This article was published 23/11/2023 (1024 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Carry concealed weapon

A 33-year-old man was charged after allegedly possessing a hatchet early Wednesday morning.

Shortly after 4 a.m., police responded to a report of people inside a multi-unit home in the 100 block of Frederick Street, when it should have been empty.

Police found two people on the property — a 39-year-old man and a 33-year-old man. The 33-year-old was allegedly found with a hatchet, contrary to a court order to not possess any weapons. He was also on an order to not be in Brandon.

He was charged with failing to comply with a release order and carrying a concealed weapon.

Aggravated assault

Two inmates at Brandon Correctional Centre were arrested on Tuesday after allegedly assaulting another inmate earlier this month.

The assault took place on Nov. 10 and the victim required treatment in the hospital for several broken bones and head injuries.

Following an investigation into the assault, police arrested a 25-year-old man and a 27-year-old man, who both remain in custody at BCC. They are both facing charges of aggravated assault.

BU helps out evacuees

Brandon University has provided cash to five BU students who lost everything in Monday’s fire on 12th Street to help them continue their studies.

In a press release Wednesday afternoon, BU said that up to $700 was provided to five BU students who were living in the downtown building.

The students lost everything in the fire, and a GoFundMe campaign was started by one of the tenants, as the Sun previously reported. A 33-year-old man has been charged with arson for the blaze that completely destroyed the building, which was home to apartments and the offices of two businesses.

According to the press release, BU was immediately in contact with the students and has been working, along with Red Cross, to provide supports.

“We are so glad that every student is safe, and we can help in some small way by making sure they’re able to continue their education,” Katie Whelpton, dean of students, said in the release.

BU has provided the students with the cash to help purchase immediate necessities and has also made loaner laptops and replacement textbooks available. The university also offered room and board in its residence for affected students.

The university said that staff and faculty have helped students with winter clothing and provided gift cards.

The supports are only available because of the Student Emergency Fund, which relies on donations, the release says. Gifts to help replenish the fund can be made to the Brandon University Foundation, by mail, online (BrandonU.ca/Give), or by phone (204-727-7374).

BU offers Black Friday deal

Brandon University is jumping on the Black Friday bandwagon, offering to waive admission fees to Canadian students who apply tomorrow, during the one-day sale.

Black Friday shoppers, new students in this case, will save the $70 admission fee, which usually covers the cost of processing the application, if they apply between midnight and noon CST on Friday, Nov. 24. Leanne Barcellona, director of recruitment and retention at BU, said this will be the first time the university offers this promotion, and she is hoping that it will encourage more people to apply early.

“I think Black Friday has just become larger in Canada, and people are often looking for deals on Black Friday. We thought we’d try it and see if it’s something that is of interest to people this time of year,” Barcellona said.

Applying early has many benefits, Barcellona said, allowing students’ applications to be processed more quickly and giving applicants more opportunity and time to qualify for early scholarships.

“An early application is a great way for future BU students to take the first step towards their degree. With your application complete, you can start to make your plans for next year or stay focused worry-free on completing high school,” Barcellona said.

To recieve the Black Friday deal, students need only fill out their application and submit it online. The discount will be offered to all Canadian applicants automatically. If you encounter an issue, make sure your payment method is selected as Black Friday. Barcellona said students could even start filling out their applications now and be ready to submit on Friday. Application instructions are at BrandonU.ca/Apply-Now.

BU hosting sold-out business conference

Brandon University will host a conference called “Reimagined Entrepreneurship” on Friday. BU will host local business leaders, entrepreneurs and scholars to look at innovative solutions and celebrate the resilience of small and medium enterprises during the unprecedented challenges of recent years.

The sold-out conference aims in part to help address the global challenges faced by businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly in the aftermath of COVID restrictions and supply chain disruptions. According to the United Nation’s International Labor Organization, the pandemic led to a global decline in working hours, equivalent to approximately 225 million full-time jobs.

The event, which will keep a local focus, will kick off with a morning keynote speech from Ash Mohda, President and CEO of Mondetta Clothing Group. It will be followed by a lightning session of of local businesses, including Sid Stevenson of Section 6 Brewing Company, Bernie Whetter of The Green Spot, James Chambers of Chez Angela, Ashleigh Hamm of Create Marketing and Kim Vandaele of Century 21.

The day will also feature a panel discussion that brings together Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett, CPHR’s Jeff Gautier, Bryce Scott from Sunrise Credit Union, Patsy Hewitt from MNP, and Enver Naidoo from Westman Immigrant Services.

The conference will also feature several presentations from business scholars.

For a full schedule and more information about the conference, please visit https://www.brandonu.ca/business-administration/business-conference-2023/

»The Brandon Sun