Brandon & Area Sound Off

05/13/2026

Blackbird Housing Inc, based in Manitoba, recently bought the McKenzie Seeds property from Brandon Fresh Farm for $3.25 million dollars.

They plan to create a senior housing development with 130 residential suites, medical and wellness-related commercial spaces and amenities such as a 10,000-square-foot rooftop deck and health-monitoring sensors capable of detecting falls and monitoring heart rates.

The $20 million project is funded through Blackbird Housing's partnerships.

Construction is to start this year but there is no estimate for when the project will be completed.

(Photo from Manitoba Historical Society courtesy of George Penner).

05/13/2026

docBraces in Brandon has suddenly shut their doors with no notice to patients or employees. Most people learned the news in a social media post.

Mint Orthodontics has taken over the business. No answer has been received if patients who purchased life time warranty on products through docBraces will still be honoured.

All docBraces staff have apparently lost their jobs.

05/11/2026

Kyle Mitchell Robinson, 35, was acquitted of s exual assault because the judge claimed there was reasonable doubt about his guilt.

Judge Zinchuk believed the accused because he said he had a girlfriend at the time and the woman agreed to go to the house where the alleged s exual assault happened.

After the alleged s exual assault, the victim went to the police to make a report the next day. The Crown showed texts that the accused sent the victim a few days after the alleged assault where he apologized "for being a wiener” and asked how the victim was.

He asked if she called the police on him which she replied she did because she said stop and no multiple times. He told her she better call off the police report against him.

In court, he admitted to kissing the victim and performing o ral s*x very briefly on her "in the heat of the moment" but claimed he wasn't attracted to the victim and was not aroused during their s*xual interaction.

The judge said she believed the text messages helped the accused case over the victim's and that it corroborated his testimony. The Crown described Robinson’s testimony as self serving.

05/09/2026

There was 148 volunteers that participated in Brandon's annual Spring Downtown Community Cleanup Day which removed 2,447 pounds of garbage from the area.

Last year, there was 130 volunteers who helped to clean up 2,161 pounds of garbage.

Take pride in your neighborhood! Grab a garbage bag and talk a walk to do some spring cleaning where you live.

05/09/2026

The Dauphin and District Snowmobile Club was the target of vandals recently. Their warm-up shelter in Winnipegosis was vandalized and several trail signs were wrecked.

The shelter door was kicked open, the door frame smashed, indoor signs and the wood pile was burned, melted candle wax was spread around, and empty beer cans were scattered.

The club promotes safe snowmobiling and all to join. The club is run by volunteers who spend countless hours grooming trails, putting up signage, maintaining warm-up shelters, gathering wood supplies, hosting monthly meetings throughout the season, as well as fundraising, volunteering and sponsoring community events.

RCMP are investigating and any information can be reported to them at 204-656-7003.

05/08/2026

The Province of Manitoba is launching the "MB Ready" app to encourage Manitobans to take steps to ensure they are ready in the event of an emergency.

They say planning ahead makes a real difference during emergencies, and the goal of the app is to keep Manitobans informed with clear, accessible and up-to-date information.

In Manitoba, the EMO (Emergency Management Organization) plays a central role in disaster preparedness by supporting communities, coordinating emergency response efforts and promoting public awareness of emergency risks.

MB Ready provides real-time, location‑based notifications for emergencies and incidents such as severe weather, wildfires, floods, road closures and power outages. Users can set alerts for specific addresses or geographic areas, allowing them to stay informed about conditions that may affect their home, workplace or other important locations.

MB Ready includes guidance on building emergency kits, creating household emergency plans, understanding local risks and accessing safety information during emergencies.

To access MB Ready, download the app or visit https://manitoba-emo.github.io/mbready-appredirect/.

05/08/2026

The Province of Manitoba has declared a Public Health Emergency to combat the spread of HIV.

New cases of HIV in Manitoba have been steadily increasing, to a high of 328 in 2025 from 90 new cases in 2019.

Manitoba continues to experience some of the highest HIV rates in Canada. In 2024, Manitoba reported 19.5 cases per 100,000 people, over three-and-a-half times the national rate of 5.5 per 100,000 people.

Rates are highest in the Prairie Mountain Health and Northern Health regions, but the largest number of cases are diagnosed in the Winnipeg region. Indigenous peoples continue to be disproportionately impacted. People living in rural and remote areas may face additional challenges in accessing care.

The risk factors for acquiring HIV in Manitoba are different from national trends. More than 50% of cases are female, compared to a Canadian average of 32%.

There was one perinatal case in 2024 and one in 2025, where infants have been born with an HIV infection. Prior to 2024, the last case of perinatal transmission was in 2021. Most newly diagnosed females are under 40 years old, which increases the risk of more perinatal cases.

In Manitoba, HIV is most commonly spread through injection drug use and unprotected heteros*xual s*x and is associated with the convergence of homelessness, mental health concerns, substance use and socio-economic inequality. HIV stigma and misinformation create additional barriers to seeking care and support. Substance use comes with the additional risk of serious and tragic health impacts such as overdoses and can create further barriers to seeking care.

HIV spreads through activities like unprotected s*x or sharing needles. It is not spread through coughing or sneezing, by touching someone with HIV or from contact with surfaces like toilet seats, countertops and sinks.

HIV attacks specific cells in the immune system that make it weaker and harder for the body to fight off infections. Though there is no cure for HIV, there is very effective treatment that, if taken regularly, can make the virus virtually undetectable on tests and unable to be spread through s*xual contact. Most people who get treatment early and take medications for HIV can live long and healthy lives.

People at high risk of acquiring HIV have access to free pre-exposure prophylaxis, which is medication that can be very effective in preventing infection.

For more information about HIV, visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/diseases/hiv.html.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the immune system. When the body can no longer fight the infection, it becomes a disease known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Around 25% of people with HIV infection are unaware of their condition, and continue to spread the infection without...

05/07/2026

A 49 year old woman was arrested for allegedly harassing her former partner from August 2025 to May 2026. She was also in breach of her peace bond by being in contact with her former partner.

She was charged with breaching her peace bond and two counts of criminal harassment.

BPS also issued the woman a cease-and-desist letter to stop contacting police for non-emergencies because they say she frequently and routinely ties up police resources with non-urgent issues.

05/06/2026

A 27-year-old man pled guilty to two counts each of assault, assault with a weapon, counselling the commission of an offence and administering a noxious substance after abusing his partner's children over several months in a southwest Manitoba First Nation community.

He was sentenced to 340 days in jail and one year of supervised probation.

Starting in March 2024, the man abused his girlfriend's children (3, 9, 11 and 12) over the span of a year.

Some of the incidents include hitting the 11-year-old in the head with a metal object and putting the child in a chokehold, pushing a screwdriver into the 3-year-old's arm after they didn’t stop crying when he told them to and kicking the 9-year-old.

On various occasions, the offender gave the children cannabis and alcohol and would force the 11-year-old and 12-year-old to physically fight each other for his entertainment.

The offender had the equivalent of 257 days of time in custody to his credit and only has 83 days left to serve.

05/05/2026

Jayson McDougall, 48, was wanted by RCMP for multiple theft-related charges. He was found in one of two hidden rooms in a Dauphin home.

McDougall was charged with resisting arrest and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose in addition to his previous charges.

When RCMP went to the residence, a different man said he was home alone. When officers searched the room, they found a hidden room behind a false wall with various weapons inside the room and a trap door that led to a second hidden room.

The suspect was inside the second hidden room and eventually surrendered. McDougall was remanded into custody.

The other person, a 35-year-old man, was arrested and faces a charge of obstructing police. He was released from custody on a promise to appear in court.

Jayson McDougall has previously been involved with multiple break and enters and possessing more than $25,000 worth of stolen property (including a Harley Davidson motorcycle, fi****ms, ammo, cash, and coins). His record includes charges for making counterfeit money, trafficking fi****ms, possession of weapons obtained by crime, and possession of property obtained by crime.

05/01/2026

FlixBus is expanding its operations to include transport services to Brandon, Winnipeg, Swift Current and Moose Jaw in May 2026.

Brandon will be serviced through a Regina-Brandon-Winnipeg line. The Brandon stop will be at 1059 Middleton Ave. The first available trips from Brandon are scheduled as of May 8, 2026.

Buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi and power outlets at every seat. There is access to a bathroom. Seats have the ability to recline and are described as having lots of leg room.

The cost of a ticket from Brandon to Winnipeg is $25.98. The cost of a ticket from Brandon to Regina is $53.98.