Letters to the Editor – Brandon Sun

Several Brandon Police Service vehicles sit parked at École secondaire Neelin High School after a violent attack at the school in June. James Chambers, who is opposed to putting metal detectors in local schools, writes that the devices “do not nurture a student’s ability to cope with challenges, build healthy relationships or resolve conflict peacefully. They send the opposite message: that schools are inherently unsafe, that weapons are an everyday threat and that we should expect fear as part of the learning environment.” (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)

Letter to the editor — Reactionary solutions won’t boost school safety

4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

We do not need metal detectors in our schools.

This idea suggested by Brandon School Division trustee candidate Henry Sieklicki may give the illusion of safety, but in practice it is costly security theatre that fails to address the real issues facing students and families. The initial capital costs of purchasing detector lanes, along with the required electrical and communication infrastructure, alarms and staffing, would already run north of $1 million.

Our kids deserve more than checkpoints. They deserve care, respect, and opportunity to be part of community.

Even if detectors were placed only at single entrances and operated during morning arrivals, the ongoing cost would be estimated at $6,000 to $8,000 per day to have the staffing required to render the detectors effective. That’s something that could climb to more than $2 million every year, and well over $10 million across the next five years, for what experts would call sub-standard screening. And what for? That is the kind of system that could be bypassed if someone with ill intent just waited until 10 a.m., when security staff have left.

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Tory track record wasn’t so great

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Tory track record wasn’t so great

2 minute read Monday, Oct. 6, 2025

Regarding “Tories rip NDP over lack of surgeon at BRHC …”

A temporary lack of a surgeon and the PCs freak out. Let’s look back, shall we?

The PC track record is abysmal. It doesn’t matter what your “party loyalty” is, Conservatives have decimated not only our health-care and educational systems under Gary Filmon, but since then it got worse under Brian Pallister and yet our area (Turtle Mountain) continues to vote Conservative.

It begs the question … why? Time to do some self-reflection, don’t you think? Forget about wanting to be “right” and deny the facts. The proof demonstrates otherwise.

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Monday, Oct. 6, 2025

Lack of surgeon put lives at risk

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Lack of surgeon put lives at risk

2 minute read Monday, Oct. 6, 2025

Regarding the 24-hour lapse in surgical availability at Brandon Regional Health Centre last Thursday, the minister of health gave an irrelevant response about overall surgery numbers being up. The statement fails to acknowledge that this incident could have endangered lives.

This is like a transportation minister saying that everything is fine after a bridge collapses because pothole repairs are up.

I once had four fractures to an ankle and foot. There was no orthopedic surgeon available here in the entire Province of Medical Vacuumland, so I had to be driven to Yorkton, Sask., after two days in a temporary cast.

Years later, an acquaintance of mine was told by a Calgary ER doctor that he and his wife were fortunate to be on vacation, as her stroke was not survivable in Manitoba.

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Monday, Oct. 6, 2025

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara took time to answer some questions posed by the Neelin Journalism Team on the current state of health care in Manitoba. (Mikaela MacKenzie/Winnipeg Free Press files)

Byelections are an opportunity

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Byelections are an opportunity

2 minute read Monday, Oct. 6, 2025

The first month of the school year is now behind us, having flown by in the all-too-familiar blink of an eye. Students and staff in our province’s public schools along with families and communities who revolve around those schools are starting to get into welcome routines.

In five communities in Manitoba, there is an added twinge of anticipation that comes with the start of a new school year. For Brandon, Louis Riel and Pembina Trails school divisions, there are crucial trustee byelections scheduled for later this month; each promising to be an important electoral race offering plenty of choice for the local constituency.

In Prairie Spirit and Mountain View school divisions, nominations are still being collected and considered, and we anticipate strong slates in those communities as well.

As a Manitoba trustee myself, I have a clear bias about the excitement that comes with a school board byelection. But as a parent and a Canadian who has the state of our world weighing on my mind these days, I am encouraged and bolstered by the capacity and promise of our public education system and the incredible youth who are at its core.

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Monday, Oct. 6, 2025

The Brandon School Division is just one of the jurisdictions in the province holding school board byelections this fall. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun files)

Kirk’s views antithetical to many Canadians’ core values

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Kirk’s views antithetical to many Canadians’ core values

4 minute read Friday, Sep. 26, 2025

While it is normally considered impolite to speak ill of the dead, the Sun report on last Friday’s Charlie Kirk vigil provides an exception. (“Vigil for Charlie Kirk draws about 250,” The Brandon Sun, Sept. 20).

According to the report, Kirk was celebrated by the vigil emcee as “a thinker, a diplomat, an advocate, a builder, but most of all, a believer … in an almighty, loving God …,” and as someone who had the “courage to do the right thing.”

In fact, as even the most casual inspection of his public statements reveals, Kirk was a hate-mongering white supremacist, a demagogue who made a small fortune (roughly US$13 million) peddling outrageous pronouncements that pandered to the fears, frustrations and prejudices of his audience of disaffected youth.

Among other things, Kirk argued that: African-Americans were “better off” in 1940 than they are now; the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed segregation and discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex and national origin in the U.S., was a “huge mistake”; affirmative action programs have facilitated the “stealing” of white people’s spots by “unqualified” minorities, particularly minority women; Martin Luther King was an “awful person”; and George Floyd was a “scumbag” whose murder by police did not merit the attention it received.

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Friday, Sep. 26, 2025

Charlie Kirk speaks during a town hall meeting in Oconomowoc, Wis., in March 2025. Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday during an appearance on a university campus in Utah. (The Associated Press files)

Letter — Some reflections on Dirk’s very-well-lived life

4 minute read Friday, Sep. 19, 2025

When an American beer company with a faux Mexican brand made “the most interesting man in the world” their spokesperson several years back, I laughed with derision.

Clearly, they had not met Dirk Aberson.

His death brings me great sadness — similar sadness I felt when we lost our dear friend and former colleague Diane Nelson in 2022. It also comes on the heels of the death of another colleague last year, sportswriter and troubadour Ted Wyman.

Like Diane and Teddy, Dirk got the most out of life.

Letter to the editor — Non-concurrence by council sought for proposed cell tower

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Letter to the editor — Non-concurrence by council sought for proposed cell tower

4 minute read Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025

Non-concurrence. A word most of us are not familiar with, but one that has become critical in determining whether a telecommunications (cell) tower is installed in our southwest Brandon neighbourhood. Shared Tower Inc., a company that builds cell towers and then leases out the space on the tower, has applied to locate a 35-metre tower at 1009 34th St., adjacent to Elviss Crescent. This site is in a residential area with 31 homes within a radius of 100 metres, and many residents have small children. According to Shared Tower, this tower will house multiple carriers. Once built, this tower can be increased in height by 25 per cent to 43.7 metres without public consultation. No information has been provided as to the number of antennas, receivers and transmitters and other equipment that might be added.

A vote of non-concurrence (non-agreement) by city council would mean the cell tower application would be turned down. We are told that cell tower approval is under federal jurisdiction being Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED). However, when a member of Parliament asked for clarification, he received a written response from ISED clarifying the local government’s responsibilities. Local authorities are empowered and required to take into account both the land use and the public’s concerns to arrive at their decision. Further, ISED notes “If the Land Use Authority indicates to the proponent that it concurs with the proposal … the tower site is approved. This means the council’s vote for non-concurrence is critical to stopping this tower from being built.

Council can, and should, say “no.” Other Canadian municipalities have voted non-concurrence based on public opposition, a cell tower being unsightly and diminishing enjoyment of property, an unsuitable location and health concerns.

Our community is overwhelmingly opposed to this proposed cell tower. The images provided by Shared Tower are blurry and shown from distances of 150 and 220 metres. What about the view from the home that is 20 metres away? There are 31 homes within 100 metres that will have their views affected by this eyesore. The tower is also not compatible with the natural beauty of the walking path many residents enjoy with their children and pets.

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Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025

Chris Bird stands on Christie Bay, where he was door knocking at homes in July to collect signatures on a petition opposing a proposed cell tower in the area. (Connor McDowell/The Brandon Sun files)

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Look beyond headlines before casting vote

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Look beyond headlines before casting vote

3 minute read Monday, Aug. 25, 2025

Editor’s Note:

During an election or byelection period, The Brandon Sun only publishes letters from candidates or the parties that they represent if they are taking issue with something that has been reported by this newspaper regarding their election campaign.

— Matt Goerzen, managing editor

As your Manitoba Liberal candidate in Spruce Woods, I want to speak directly to you, the people whose voices truly matter in this byelection.

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Monday, Aug. 25, 2025

Manitoba Liberal candidate Stephen Reid speaks about his education background while answering a question from panellists at last week's debate in Sprucewoods. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun files)

MP on board with HMCS Brandon effort

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MP on board with HMCS Brandon effort

2 minute read Friday, Aug. 15, 2025

I want to thank Deveryn Ross and George Haggerty, Lieutenant CD (Retired), for their columns regarding the HMCS Brandon.

I, too, believe the retirement of HMCS Brandon presents us with an extraordinary opportunity. This ship has proudly carried our city’s name across Canada’s oceans. Bringing her home would not only honour the service of Canadian sailors but also serve as a living tribute to Brandon’s connection to our country’s naval history. Imagine generations of students, families and visitors being able to walk its decks right here in our community.

As the member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris, I want the public to know that I fully support this vision — and I have taken steps to help make it a reality. I have already contacted the minister of national defence to express our community’s interest in preserving HMCS Brandon and to explore what it would take to secure the vessel for display in our city. This is just the first step, but I believe it’s worth pursuing with determination.

Yes, the logistics will be challenging. But as Deveryn Ross rightly points out, projects of vision always start with a leap of imagination — and the courage to ask, “Why not?” We owe it to ourselves, and to the history this ship represents, to find out if we can bring HMCS Brandon home where it belongs.

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Friday, Aug. 15, 2025

HMCS Brandon is seen on the Straits of Georgia on Canada’s West Coast during a training exercise with a search-and-rescue helicopter. (The Brandon Sun files)

Support for plan to bring ship here

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Support for plan to bring ship here

2 minute read Monday, Aug. 11, 2025

I applaud Deveryn Ross for having the foresight about the future of the HMCS Brandon. I know the task of bringing the city’s namesake naval ship HMCS Brandon to Brandon as a tourist attraction seems a monumental task. I believe it can be done and trucked or railed into our city.

The weight can be reduced by removing the engines and all other unnecessary items.

The ship is made in three parts and welded together. It can be reversed by cutting it apart into the three pieces. When it arrives here at its new permanent site, it can be welded together. As I said, this would be a great tourist attraction and a point of interest for the citizens of Brandon.

I think that the city administration should jump on this by contacting the Department of National Defence to secure the ownership of the ship.

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Monday, Aug. 11, 2025

George Haggerty with Brandon Salutes and Brandon City Councillor and acting Mayor Jason Splett raise the Royal Canadian Navy ensign at city hall last year in honour of the city's namesake ship HMCS Brandon's 25 years of service. Haggerty is speaking out in support of Sun columnist Deveryn Ross' idea to bring the HMCS Brandon to the Wheat City. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)

Nation-building efforts are there

2 minute read Monday, Aug. 11, 2025

Bob Zimmer of the Winnipeg Sun just wrote: “Nothing has happened. No projects have been announced. No regulatory obstacles have been removed. No ‘nation-building’ list has been made public.”

Shall we take a look?

First, there’s the liquified natural gas (LNG) shipment to Korea.

There’s the passage of the new One Canadian Economy Act. The purpose of this act is to promote free trade and labour mobility by removing federal barriers to the interprovincial movement of goods and provision of services and to the movement of labour within Canada while continuing to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians, their social and economic well-being.

Extend turning lane before it’s too late

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Extend turning lane before it’s too late

2 minute read Monday, Jul. 28, 2025

This past weekend, the Waywayseecappo Gas Bar Rodeo was held on Waywayseecappo property off of Highway 10 south of the Brandon Municipal Airport.

They also hosted a Western Canadian Classic Car Show on Saturday.

The traffic count was exceptionally high over the weekend and I personally witnessed the need for a turning and passing lane.

Brandon Municipal Airport has a turning lane and does not have the traffic that the Waywayseecappo Gas Bar has. Not even close.

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Monday, Jul. 28, 2025

A vehicle travelling north on Highway 10 passes the Waywayseecappo Gas Bar on Monday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Letter to the editor — Spruce Woods deserves representation

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Letter to the editor — Spruce Woods deserves representation

2 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 23, 2025

I am writing to express deep concern over Premier Wab Kinew’s continued delay in calling a byelection for the constituency of Spruce Woods. The seat has been vacant since March, leaving thousands of Manitobans without representation for months. This is unacceptable in any healthy democracy.

As the MLA for Brandon West, I can say with certainty that the delay in calling a byelection has left constituents in Spruce Woods without proper representation and they are feeling the consequences. My office has received and forwarded numerous requests from constituents in Spruce Woods seeking help and direction because they had nowhere else to turn. Their voices are real, and they deserve to be heard.

One Spruce Woods resident recently wrote to the premier, voicing the frustration many feel. They were troubled by Mr. Kinew’s remark that opposition members merely “chirp from the sidelines,” and disheartened by his suggestion that he didn’t want “free rides” in the upcoming byelection. Comments like these not only dismiss the role of elected officials — they diminish the democratic process itself. Every MLA, regardless of party, deserves respect. Democracy is not about dismissing views — it’s about representing people.

Finally, as the government announces funding in Westman, we must remember that this is taxpayer money — much of it coming from the hardworking people of this region. These funds are not gifts; they are a return of what Westman residents have already contributed. They deserve transparency, respect, and a say in how their money is spent.

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Wednesday, Jul. 23, 2025

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew laughs while sparring with a reporter over the vacant Spruce Woods riding seat during a recent press conference.

LETTER: North Cypress-Langford council opposed to R-CUT

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LETTER: North Cypress-Langford council opposed to R-CUT

5 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 24, 2025

Re: R-CUT Intersection at Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 5

The Council of the Municipality of North Cypress-Langford would like to express its strong opposition to the proposed Restricted Crossing U-Turn (R-CUT) design at the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 5. This concern is not isolated to council alone — a very high percentage of our residents also oppose the R-CUT design for a number of valid and serious reasons.

Farming realitiesOur municipality is home to large-scale agricultural operations, which result in significantly higher volumes of oversized farm equipment and transport trucks than in urban areas. The majority of traffic at the Trans-Canada and Highway 5 intersection flows north and south, not east and west.

Time is money in farming, and even a small delay has a big impact. While the Manitoba Infrastructure (MIT) traffic model suggests a net-zero time loss, these are theoretical results that do not reflect real-world seasonal pressures like seeding and harvest.

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Tuesday, Jun. 24, 2025

Residents of Carberry and area, including farms and nearby communities, take part in a rally on a service road just south of the Trans-Canada Highway at the Highway 5 intersection near Carberry last month to voice their opposition to the province’s proposed Restricted Crossing U-Turn (R-CUT) modification for the intersection. The Council of the Municipality of North Cypress-Langford is also strongly opposed to an R-CUT intersection at the site of the 2023 crash that killed 17 seniors. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)

SROs foster safer, stronger schools

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SROs foster safer, stronger schools

5 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 18, 2025

In recent years, debates over school safety have intensified, especially in the wake of tragic incidents and concerns over the well-being of students. It appears the recent incident at École secondaire Neelin High School has once again raised opinions that question the effectiveness of a School Resource Officer (SRO) program.

The Brandon School Division has long benefited from the SRO program, and prior to that the Adopt a Cop Program. Far from being a symbol of over-policing, SROs play a vital role in making schools safer, building community trust and shaping positive relationships between youth and law enforcement. Officers often provide a supportive role, working with staff and parents in dealing with situations involving students, in an attempt to achieve the best possible outcome before serious problems arise.

First and foremost, the presence of SROs significantly enhances school safety. Their very nearly immediate availability on campus means that in times of crisis — whether it’s a medical emergency, a potential threat or a criminal incident — response times are drastically reduced. This rapid intervention capability can prevent escalation and potentially save lives. When seconds matter, having a trained officer already in the building or very nearby is not just a convenience; it’s a necessity.

But the benefits of SROs extend well beyond emergency response. These officers also serve as mentors and educators, helping students understand the law, resolve conflicts peacefully and make responsible decisions. By engaging with students in a non-enforcement capacity, SROs help break down barriers between youth and police officers — barriers that, if left unaddressed, can grow into mistrust and fear in adulthood. Opinions such as the one printed the The Brandon Sun on Tuesday (Letter: “SROs won’t make our schools safer”) appear to focus on input from the noisy negative. I do not believe it reflects the opinions of the vast majority of Brandonites.

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Wednesday, Jun. 18, 2025

Several Brandon Police Service vehicles sit parked outside École Secondaire Neelin High School on June 10. Brandon Police Service members responded to a serious incident at the school after a student was seriously injured with a weapon. The school was placed in lockdown and students were released to the custody of parents, relatives and guardians.
(Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)

Neelin students were well prepared for what happened

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Neelin students were well prepared for what happened

3 minute read Saturday, Jun. 14, 2025

Thank you for your editorial on the Neelin stabbing.

I have two children currently at Neelin, and next year it will be three. When I told my children’s grandparents about what happened on Tuesday, one of the first things one of them asked was: “When are they putting in metal detectors?”

I told him I hope never.

Fortunately, my kids didn’t witness Tuesday’s terrifying minutes, but one was initially within earshot. A staff member told her to run, to hide and take shelter in a nearby classroom, so she did. Every time I hear her recount the story to curious friends and family, I am overwhelmed by how well prepared they were.

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Saturday, Jun. 14, 2025

October 13, 2025

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