Brandon Sun – Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada

MMF makes $2M offer on downtown properties

By Abiola Odutola 6 minute read Updated: 9:44 AM CDT

The Manitoba Métis Federation is set to expand its presence in Brandon, with plans for affordable housing for Métis seniors and families, potential child-care facilities and additional office space.

President David Chartrand said the federation has made a $2-million offer on two properties owned by Assiniboine Credit Union at 220 10th St. and 1020 Princess Ave.

“The design is somewhat off from what we would need, but our team has been working at it and looking at it,” Chartrand said.

The proposed acquisition would help the federation establish a stronger presence in the city, although the offers have not yet been finalized.

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‘Heartbreaking’: Wainwright mourns after military training accident claims lives

The Canadian Press, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

‘Heartbreaking’: Wainwright mourns after military training accident claims lives

The Canadian Press, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 4:43 PM CDT

WAINWRIGHT - Residents of the town of Wainwright are grieving after a deadly fire swept up by fierce winds overtook soldiers on a training exercise at the local military base on Saturday, killing four and wounding dozens.

Sharon Pashko, 79, was among those who came out to the local cenotaph on Monday to share her sorrow and offer words of support.

"It's heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the families. There's no words," she said.

Pashko said she grew up in the military town and her uncle served at its commanding officer.

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Updated: 4:43 PM CDT

Lifestyles

Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a statement on Parliament Hill following a deadly fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, in Ottawa on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle

Carney says Canada in mourning following military base deaths in Alberta

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Carney says Canada in mourning following military base deaths in Alberta

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 8:45 AM CDT

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a statement in Ottawa on Sunday about a deadly, fast-moving fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta. The fire on Saturday killed four service members and wounded dozens more.

Here is the text of Carney's remarks:

Yesterday afternoon, a violent, fast-moving fire swept through the Canadian Armed Forces Base in Wainwright, Alta.

What followed was one of the worst tragedies for the Forces on Canadian soil in peacetime.

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Updated: 8:45 AM CDT

Local

Paramedics load an injured person into an ambulance at the Wainwright Health Centre as injured military members are treated after a fire at CFB Wainwright, outside of Wainwright, Alta., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Ulan

Officials say catastrophic base fire was known ahead of time, allowed to burn

Jack Farrell and Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Officials say catastrophic base fire was known ahead of time, allowed to burn

Jack Farrell and Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 8:47 AM CDT

Canada's military says a grass fire that killed four soldiers and sent scores more to hospital with bad burns was known well beforehand but not considered a threat.

Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland, commander of 1st Canadian Division, says the grass fire was a kilometre away and considered sufficiently under control that training exercises were allowed to continue Saturday afternoon at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in central Alberta.

However, he said conditions — including a violent, sudden windstorm — sent those flames racing over the Prairie landscape at lightning speed, landing right on top of the soldiers.

"This was a very uncommon occurrence," Rutland told a news conference Sunday.

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Updated: 8:47 AM CDT

Local

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith listens in Fort McMurray on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Greg Halinda

Albertans head to polls in historic referendum on whether they want to stay in Canada

Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Albertans head to polls in historic referendum on whether they want to stay in Canada

Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 3:49 PM CDT

EDMONTON - The polls are open as Albertans mark their ballots in a historic vote on whether they want to stay in Canada.

In Calgary, voters were bustling in and out of Grace Presbyterian Church on Monday morning with their yellow "I voted" stickers before rushing off to work.

Scott Hill, donning a baseball cap with a red maple leaf, said he's respectful of everyone's opinion, but to him, the referendum is "surreal" and his vote was to stay.

"People are angry, I can see that. But we're Canadian, we need to stand together," he said, noting his grandfather fought in the Second World War.

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Updated: 3:49 PM CDT

Business

A person pumps fuel in Toronto after gasoline prices rose overnight on Wednesday, September 12, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michelle Siu

Inflation data shows high energy prices still contained, for now: economists

Brett Bundale, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Inflation data shows high energy prices still contained, for now: economists

Brett Bundale, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 11:12 AM CDT

OTTAWA - Canada's annual inflation rate rose to 3.1 per cent in September as war in the Middle East continued to drive up gasoline prices, but economists say easing core inflation suggests higher energy costs have yet to spread widely throughout the economy.

Statistics Canada said Monday the acceleration in headline inflation was led by a 27.8 per cent spike in gasoline prices last month compared with a year earlier, despite the switch to the less expensive winter gas blend.

Excluding gasoline, however, consumer prices increased 2.2 per cent year-over-year in September after a 2.4 per cent rise in August.

BMO chief economist Douglas Porter said while soaring gasoline prices are pushing inflation above the Bank of Canada's target, underlying price pressures remain relatively contained.

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Updated: 11:12 AM CDT

Local

École New Era School music teacher Wing Chow holds her 2026 Teacher of Distinction plaque shortly after the Royal Conservatory of Music Teacher of Distinction Award ceremony at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on Sunday afternoon. (Supplied)

New Era music teacher wins national award

By Abiola Odutola 3 minute read Preview

New Era music teacher wins national award

By Abiola Odutola 3 minute read Yesterday at 11:19 PM CDT

A music teacher at École New Era School has been recognized for her leadership in music education and commitment to helping children develop a lasting love of music.

Wing Chow, who teaches kindergarten to Grade 4 students, received the Royal Conservatory of Music Teacher of Distinction Award for Manitoba during the organization’s Celebrations of Excellence ceremony at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on Sunday afternoon.

The award recognizes active Royal Conservatory of Music teachers across Canada and the United States who demonstrate exceptional creativity, leadership, innovation and student mentorship.

“It’s a recognition for all my years of hard work, and also an encouragement for what I still hope to do,” Chow, who has 25 years of music teaching experience, told the Sun on Sunday.

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Yesterday at 11:19 PM CDT

Local

Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard announced Saturday that the province is providing $300,750 in total through its From the Ground Up-Safe Healthy Communities for All program to support projects in Binscarth, Elkhorn, Miniota and Birtle. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun files)

Manitoba invests more than $300k in Westman arts

By Abiola Odutola 2 minute read Preview

Manitoba invests more than $300k in Westman arts

By Abiola Odutola 2 minute read Yesterday at 11:17 PM CDT

Five Westman communities and organizations will share more than $300,000 in provincial funding for arts and recreation infrastructure upgrades.

The Manitoba government announced Saturday it is providing a combined $300,750 through its From the Ground Up-Safe Healthy Communities for All program to support projects in Binscarth, Elkhorn, Miniota and Birtle.

The investments will help communities maintain spaces where residents can gather, participate in recreation and celebrate local culture, Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard said in a press release issued by the government on Saturday.

“Strong communities need places where people can come together, stay active, celebrate local culture and build connections,” Simard said in the release.

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Yesterday at 11:17 PM CDT

Local

Former Brandon Mental Health Centre (BMHC) tour leader Laura Crookshanks leads participants on a guided tour from the Parkland building to the former Nurses’ Residence building on Saturday afternoon. (Photos by Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)

Tour revisits Brandon mental health history

By Abiola Odutola 5 minute read Preview

Tour revisits Brandon mental health history

By Abiola Odutola 5 minute read Yesterday at 11:16 PM CDT

The City of Brandon hosted about 80 people in a walking tour Saturday at the former Brandon Mental Health Centre (BMHC).

The guided tour, organized by the city’s Parks and Recreation department, explored the history of the institution and the evolution of mental health care in Westman.

The tours took participants through parts of the former campus, including the Parkland building, nurses’ residence building (now Assiniboine College’s Manitoba Institute of Culinary Arts building) and the Valleyview building.

For tour leaders Laura and Doug Crookshanks, the site offered more than a history lesson.

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Yesterday at 11:16 PM CDT

Local

The Brandon University campus. (The Brandon Sun files)

This Week on Campus — Oct. 19, 2026

4 minute read Preview

This Week on Campus — Oct. 19, 2026

4 minute read Yesterday at 11:16 PM CDT

BRANDON UNIVERSITY

Dr. Mythili Rajiva, author of “Girlhoods in Traumascape,” will give a guest lecture on Monday at 5 p.m., in the Gathering Space of the John E. Robbins Library. In her work, Rajiva asserts that girls and younger women constantly receive messages influenced by settler colonialism about sexual violence. She argues that we need to listen to them speak in their own voices about the impacts of media, parental worry, school surveillance and interactions with their peers.

The Brandon University New Music Festival returns on Monday and Tuesday, with concerts each evening at 7:30 in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall. Monday’s concert will feature the BU Orchestra with guest artists Janna Sailor, Rita Ueda and Megumi Masaki as they journey across cultures, places and identities through contemporary music. On Tuesday, works by BU composers and guests will be featured in an evening that will bring together diverse musical traditions and creative voices exploring movement, cultural connection and belonging. Admission is $20 for each concert. Saina Khaledi, who will be a guest performer for both concerts, will also give a presentation on Tuesday afternoon. Khaledi will give performance demonstrations and talk about the history of the santour, a hammered-string musical instrument, and Persian music. This presentation will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., in the R.D. Bell Hall in the BU Music building. There is no admission fee, and all are welcome.

Dr. Tom Smith of Brigham Young University will talk about the dangers of bringing domestic dogs into bear habitats in a Science Seminar Series talk on Tuesday at 1 p.m. His team looked at more than 300 human-bear conflicts involving dogs to analyze potential risks and benefits. Dr. Smith will present his talk online, but there will be a live audience in Room 4-47 of the Brodie science centre. Email TeepleH@BrandonU.ca for more information.

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Yesterday at 11:16 PM CDT

Local

A man tries to extinguish a fire during clashes between protesters and police in Paris, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)

Macron condemns those who ‘sought to bring down the Republic’ after rioting mars nationwide protests

Sylvie Corbet And Alexander Turnbull, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Macron condemns those who ‘sought to bring down the Republic’ after rioting mars nationwide protests

Sylvie Corbet And Alexander Turnbull, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: 8:46 AM CDT

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday voiced the public’s “anger” and “shame” over rioting and looting during nationwide protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. At least 2,400 people were arrested.

Macron echoed other government officials in blaming much of the violence on far-left activists, accusing them of attacking police and public buildings to foment chaos.

“Those who looted will have to pay for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,” Macron said in a televised address to the nation.

He denounced “unrestrained violence” by “insurrectionist elements from radical far-left groups, joined by numerous criminals.”

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Updated: 8:46 AM CDT