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Festival kicks off with a Latin blast

Festival kicks off with a Latin blast

By Tessa Adamski 5 minute read Yesterday at 10:59 PM CST

Brandonites won’t need a passport to experience the traditional cuisine, performances and cultures of different countries represented at the Westman Multicultural Festival this week.

The 17th annual festival runs through Saturday and features 11 pavilions in various locations around Brandon.

An opening ceremony kicked off the festival at the WIS Multicultural Centre with entertainment from each pavilion, starting with a traditional dance from a group of Salvadorans.

“We’re doing a carnival song, which is very popular in our country, and it’s called the xuc,” said Jackie Muñoz, the secretary of the El Salvador pavilion. She said the song is performed on special occasions in her country.

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Man accused of assault, uttering threats denied bail

By Skye Anderson 5 minute read Preview

Man accused of assault, uttering threats denied bail

By Skye Anderson 5 minute read Yesterday at 11:01 PM CST

A man accused of threatening his grandmother and later threatening his partner’s daughter with a knife was denied bail on Thursday.

The 27-year-old accused made his unsuccessful bid for bail in Brandon provincial court. He is charged with two counts of uttering threats and single counts of assault with a weapon, assaulting a peace officer and resisting arrest.

A publication ban on any information that could identify the complainants prevents the Sun from naming the accused.

The Crown opposed the man’s release, citing concerns about the safety of the public and the complainants in the matter, while defence said the accused denied all allegations.

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Yesterday at 11:01 PM CST

The Brandon courthouse. (File)
The Brandon courthouse. (File)

City plunging ahead with 24-7 washroom

By Alex Lambert 4 minute read Preview

City plunging ahead with 24-7 washroom

By Alex Lambert 4 minute read Yesterday at 10:52 PM CST

The City of Brandon will build a new 24-7 public washroom downtown at the site of the Transit Information Centre.

The vandal-proof washroom is projected to cost $335,000, with the total cost of the project — including demolition and construction — pegged at $529,000.

Council voted in favour of the project at Saturday’s budget meeting after a lengthy discussion. The spending did not affect the city’s budget increase as it will be drawn from previously funded reserves.

“The organizations that sit on the Community Wellness Collaborative are unanimous that we need a 24-7 washroom four years ago,” Ward 2 Coun. Kris Desjarlais said at the meeting.

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Yesterday at 10:52 PM CST

Kris Desjarlais
Kris Desjarlais

NATO 5% pledge to add $63B to deficit by 2035, budget watchdog says

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

NATO 5% pledge to add $63B to deficit by 2035, budget watchdog says

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 1:34 PM CST

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney's plan to spend the equivalent of five per cent of GDP on defence by 2035 will push the federal budget deficit up by $63 billion in 2035, according to a new report from Parliament's budget watchdog.

A report by interim Parliamentary Budget Officer Jason Jacques estimates that gradually ramping up core defence spending to meet the new target will cost the country roughly an extra $33.5 billion a year.

NATO members committed to the steep new five per cent target last year in response to pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to hike military spending across the alliance.

Carney told NATO allies last June that Canada will increase its core defence spending by 3.5 per cent in the next decade. His government also has committed to defence-related spending worth 1.5 per cent of GDP — spending for things like building transport infrastructure and enhancing emergency preparedness measures.

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Updated: Yesterday at 1:34 PM CST

Interim Parliamentary Budget Officer Jason Jacques speaks with a senator as he waits to appear before the Senate Banking, Commerce and the Economy committee in Ottawa, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Interim Parliamentary Budget Officer Jason Jacques speaks with a senator as he waits to appear before the Senate Banking, Commerce and the Economy committee in Ottawa, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Computer science grad is BU’s first McCall MacBain finalist

By Alex Lambert 2 minute read Preview

Computer science grad is BU’s first McCall MacBain finalist

By Alex Lambert 2 minute read Yesterday at 10:56 PM CST

A recent Brandon University graduate is going to Montreal to interview as a national finalist for McGill University’s McCall MacBain Scholarships.

Aimée Schmidt graduated from BU last year with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and is applying to master’s programs in the same field at McGill.

She was one of more than 700 Canadians to apply for the scholarship and is among 53 Canadian finalists to go to Montreal for interviews, with accommodations and travel costs paid for. There are also 38 finalists from other countries.

Schmidt is BU’s first finalist for the scholarship, the university said.

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Yesterday at 10:56 PM CST

Aimée Schmidt
Aimée Schmidt

Surge in new home building anticipates DCC hikes

By Connor McDowell/Local Journalism Initiative 4 minute read Preview

Surge in new home building anticipates DCC hikes

By Connor McDowell/Local Journalism Initiative 4 minute read Yesterday at 10:55 PM CST

Brandon is seeing a surge in residential construction as builders enter the final stretch before development cost charges are expected to rise significantly.

The City of Brandon issued permits for 75 per cent more dwelling units last year compared to the year before, city reports show.

Ryan Nickel, acting general manager of development services, and three development professionals told the Sun on Thursday that there is a connection between this surge and upcoming DCC increases.

“I do think it makes sense that … when fees go up, we do see a little bit of a rush to get permits to pay lower fees or take advantage of former rules,” Nickel said.

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Yesterday at 10:55 PM CST

A construction worker at the Apollo Heights Phase 2 construction site calls over to another crew member while working at the top of one of the structures on site on a sunny and warm Thursday afternoon. The site, owned by Keller Developments, is part of a $47-million project that will add 165 rental units to Brandon’s housing stock. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
A construction worker at the Apollo Heights Phase 2 construction site calls over to another crew member while working at the top of one of the structures on site on a sunny and warm Thursday afternoon. The site, owned by Keller Developments, is part of a $47-million project that will add 165 rental units to Brandon’s housing stock. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

At Olympics, anti-doping watchdog WADA rejects audit demand and calls on US to pay its overdue fees

Ken Maguire, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

At Olympics, anti-doping watchdog WADA rejects audit demand and calls on US to pay its overdue fees

Ken Maguire, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 12:26 PM CST

MILAN (AP) — The World Anti-Doping Agency called on the United States to pay its overdue membership fees Thursday and rejected Washington's bipartisan demand to submit to an independent audit.

The U.S. has long sought more transparency from WADA, which has been criticized for its handling of politically sensitive doping cases. A government funding bill signed into law this week restricts payment of the $3.7 million in dues until there's an independent audit.

WADA President Witold Banka, speaking at a news conference at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, named a list of audits that his watchdog organization is already subject to and said that's good enough.

“I don’t know any other international organization with such strong auditing mechanisms, so I think there are no obstacles for our friends from U.S. to fulfill their duties and pay the contributions,” he said.

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Updated: Yesterday at 12:26 PM CST

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president Witold Banka. (Courtesy wada-ama.org)
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president Witold Banka. (Courtesy wada-ama.org)

MP Johns endorses McPherson, calls her a ‘strong’ choice for NDP leader

David Baxter, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

MP Johns endorses McPherson, calls her a ‘strong’ choice for NDP leader

David Baxter, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:53 AM CST

OTTAWA - B.C. NDP MP Gord Johns endorsed his caucus colleague Heather McPherson for the NDP leadership on Thursday.

Johns told The Canadian Press he's backing the Alberta MP because he sees McPherson as someone who can grow the party, noting she won her Edmonton riding for a third term.

He said McPherson's ability to connect with voters and her broad knowledge of issues can help the NDP get back to recognized party status in the House of Commons.

"There's only seven NDP MPs that made it through in the last election. This wasn't a small feat. This was a challenge for all seven of us... We've proven that we can win in the most difficult circumstances and Heather's proven that," Johns said.

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Updated: Yesterday at 9:53 AM CST

MP for Courtenay-Alberni Gord Johns rises in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
MP for Courtenay-Alberni Gord Johns rises in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

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Manitoba has most measles cases in Canada

By Chris Kitching 5 minute read Preview

Manitoba has most measles cases in Canada

By Chris Kitching 5 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026

WINNIPEG — Manitoba has the country’s highest number of reported measles infections in 2026 — a year after the province’s outbreak began — while a surge brings stronger messaging from the government.

Dr. Davinder Singh, who is Manitoba’s public health lead on measles, said the province is seeing its highest monthly totals since May.

“Unfortunately, we’re seeing an increase in the number of detected or reported cases. We also know the number of cases that are diagnosed are only a relatively small fraction of the true number of cases out in the community,” he said Wednesday.

“We can estimate that there may be about 10 times as many infections as we have that get reported to us or that get detected.”

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Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026

Manitoba is “upgrading” its messaging to strongly encourage parents of infants between six and 12 months to get an early measles vaccine dose. (The Canadian Press files)
Manitoba is “upgrading” its messaging to strongly encourage parents of infants between six and 12 months to get an early measles vaccine dose. (The Canadian Press files)

Hydro, Manitoba Housing HQ to hire safety officers

By Nicole Buffie 2 minute read Preview

Hydro, Manitoba Housing HQ to hire safety officers

By Nicole Buffie 2 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026

WINNIPEG — Manitoba Hydro plans to deploy institutional safety officers at its downtown headquarters, which was the site of a recent knife attack that prompted an ongoing lockdown of the building.

The provincial government updated regulations on Jan. 14 to allow institutional safety officers to be stationed at Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba Housing & Renewal Corp. — both of which have offices downtown. The government didn’t publicly announce the change. Previously, safety officers were permitted to patrol hospitals and post-secondary institutions.

Safety officers, who are equipped with pepper gel and handcuffs, are specially trained and licensed security staff who have the legal authority to restrain, detain and make an arrest. Most security guards are contract workers who don’t have the ability to restrain or detain suspects. Instead, they rely on police officers. Safety officers can detain a suspect until backup arrives.

Hydro spokesperson Peter Chura said the Crown corporation will initially hire three security staffers with the specialized training at its 360 Portage Ave. location next week while it works with Manitoba Justice to develop a more thorough safety officer program.

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Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026

Manitoba Hydro Place was closed to the public after an employee was assaulted by a man with a knife inside the building, Friday. The Crown corporation plans to deploy institutional safety officers at its downtown headquarters. (Mikaela MacKenzie/Winnipeg Free Press)
Manitoba Hydro Place was closed to the public after an employee was assaulted by a man with a knife inside the building, Friday. The Crown corporation plans to deploy institutional safety officers at its downtown headquarters. (Mikaela MacKenzie/Winnipeg Free Press)

Seniors get out to play during annual games

By Tessa Adamski 4 minute read Preview

Seniors get out to play during annual games

By Tessa Adamski 4 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026

Seniors at a retirement facility in Brandon are participating in a variety of games this week as part of a nationwide event promoting physical activity and social connection.

Norma Lowe, 91, was one of the first people in line to play cornhole on Wednesday afternoon at Victoria Landing Retirement Residence. In the morning, she played ladder ball, although she didn’t do as well as she would have liked, she said.

“I have a national gold medal from last year, but I haven’t lived up to that this year — but anyway, so be it,” Lowe said.

“I am enjoying seeing other people win medals. I mean, I’ve got a whole bunch of them at home.”

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Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026

About 20 people at Victoria Landing Retirement Residence played cornhole on Wednesday afternoon as part of a week-long nationwide event promoting physical activity. (Tessa Adamski/The Brandon Sun)
About 20 people at Victoria Landing Retirement Residence played cornhole on Wednesday afternoon as part of a week-long nationwide event promoting physical activity. (Tessa Adamski/The Brandon Sun)

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