Brandon Sun – Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada

A total of 44 women were nominated in 11 categories for the 2026 Women of Distinction Awards that were presented at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium on Wednesday evening. (Create Marketing)

13 ‘Women of Distinction’ honoured

By Tessa Adamski 3 minute read Yesterday at 10:26 PM CDT

YWCA Westman awarded 13 recipients at an annual event recognizing strong, resilient and hard-working women across southwestern Manitoba on Wednesday evening.

A total of 44 women were nominated in 11 categories for the Women of Distinction Awards that were presented at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium.

“The concept is that it just recognizes and uplifts and empowers women throughout our entire region,” said YWCA Westman executive director Lois Ruston.

“It’s really important to stop and pause and recognize the accomplishments and the ways that women lead in our communities.”

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Accused killer showed no emotion on night of arrest

By Skye Anderson 3 minute read Preview

Accused killer showed no emotion on night of arrest

By Skye Anderson 3 minute read Yesterday at 10:25 PM CDT

A Brandon man accused of killing his 71-year-old mother “didn’t really have any emotion” during his interview with police on the night of his arrest, a Brandon Police Service member testified on Thursday.

“For the most part (he was) pretty straight-faced. (He) would often stare off toward the wall,” Const. Tyler Nichol told defence lawyer Anthony Dawson in Brandon’s Court of King’s Bench.

Gabriel Paul Heymans, 47, is on trial for second-degree murder in the death of Maureen Heymans, whom court heard he shared an apartment with at 264 McDiarmid Dr. for seven years.

On Wednesday, Crown attorneys Rich Lonstrup and Reid Girard played a recording of Heymans’ interview with Nichol on the evening of Nov. 3, 2024 — the same day Maureen’s body was found in the apartment and police arrested Heymans.

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Yesterday at 10:25 PM CDT

Police officers are seen in a stairwell in an apartment building on McDiarmid Drive on Nov. 3, 2023, after the body of Maureen Heymans was discovered inside one of the units. (Geena Mortfield/The Brandon Sun files)

Police pursuit of stolen car leads to 4 arrests

3 minute read Preview

Police pursuit of stolen car leads to 4 arrests

3 minute read Yesterday at 10:19 PM CDT

Brandon police arrested four people after a joint pursuit with the RCMP in and around the city of Brandon on Wednesday evening.

RCMP advised members of the Brandon Police Service around 9:51 p.m. that a car had been stolen in Rivers and they believed it was travelling toward Brandon.

The Virden and Minnedosa RCMP detachments were also told to be on the lookout for the suspect vehicle, BPS said in a news release.

Brandon police took positions along multiple entry points to the city to watch for the stolen car and assist if needed.

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Yesterday at 10:19 PM CDT

Housing gains touted in State of the City

By Abiola Odutola 4 minute read Preview

Housing gains touted in State of the City

By Abiola Odutola 4 minute read Yesterday at 10:25 PM CDT

Brandon has added more than 400 new housing units and recorded about $150 million in construction activity this year, Mayor Jeff Fawcett told the city’s business leaders on Thursday.

Fawcett, in his State of the City address to the Brandon Chamber of Commerce at the Keystone Centre, pointed out that the total investment includes $80 million in residential development.

“We are helping to expand housing options for Brandon residents, and we’ve exceeded our housing targets with the Housing Accelerator Fund,” he said in reference to the federal program that city officials previously estimated could bring in around $6.2 million.

“This fund is being put to work for new downtown market housing as well as transition and supportive housing across Brandon.”

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Yesterday at 10:25 PM CDT

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett delivers a keynote address during the Brandon Chamber of Commerce State of the City Luncheon at the Keystone Centre’s UCT Pavilion on Thursday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Suspected bullet fired into neighbour’s Fifth Street home

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Suspected bullet fired into neighbour’s Fifth Street home

1 minute read Yesterday at 10:22 PM CDT

Police arrested a man early Thursday morning after a report of gunshots and a suspected bullet hole in a Brandon home.

Members of the Brandon Police Service were sent to the 1300 block of Fifth Street at around 5:10 a.m.

At the home, officers assessed the bullet hole to determine which direction it came from, BPS said in a news release.

Police heard “loud crashing” noises from a neighbouring residence and suspected that’s where the gunshots came from, BPS said.

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Yesterday at 10:22 PM CDT

The Brandon Police Service station at 10th Street and Victoria Avenue. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)

NDP pledge $300K for downtown safety

By Abiola Odutola 3 minute read Preview

NDP pledge $300K for downtown safety

By Abiola Odutola 3 minute read Yesterday at 10:21 PM CDT

The Manitoba government is spending $300,000 to beef up security in downtown Brandon.

The funding was announced by Justice Minister Matt Wiebe and Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard on Thursday.

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett said the city is still determining exactly how the money will be used.

“This will ultimately be a decision for the council,” Fawcett told the Sun. “We know the $300,000 is coming for downtown safety, but the specifics — whether that’s expanded cadet programs, additional security or improved lighting — will be discussed at the council level.”

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Yesterday at 10:21 PM CDT

Fair-trade artisan rugs are family affairs

By Tessa Adamski 4 minute read Preview

Fair-trade artisan rugs are family affairs

By Tessa Adamski 4 minute read Yesterday at 10:17 PM CDT

Ten Thousand Villages Brandon is kicking off its annual event on Saturday promoting the sale of more than 250 hand-knotted fair-trade rugs made by artisans in Pakistan.

The opening reception for the event begins at 10:30 a.m. in the store at 829 Rosser Ave. and will feature a presentation by Yousaf Chaman, the director of Bunyaad, a fair-trade company based in Lahore, Pakistan.

Chaman, who grew up in the capital of Punjab, told the Sun he plans to share artisan stories and tips on how to care for the Tribal, Bokhara and Persian rugs and runners that range from classic to contemporary designs and vary in size and texture.

Bunyaad, which means “foundation” in Urdu, aims to preserve the rich cultural heritage of traditional rug-making while increasing employment opportunities for people in Pakistan.

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Yesterday at 10:17 PM CDT

Yousaf Chaman, director for the Bunyaad fair-trade program, lies alongside some of the 268 hand-woven Pakistani rugs and pillows available for sale at the Ten Thousand Villages store on Rosser Avenue in Brandon on Thursday. See story on Page A2. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Crocus Plains team brings home 8 gold medals

By Abiola Odutola 4 minute read Preview

Crocus Plains team brings home 8 gold medals

By Abiola Odutola 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Eight students from Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School are heading to Toronto next month to represent Manitoba at the Skills Canada national competition.

The students will join more than 500 competitors from all parts of the country to participate in over 40 skilled trade and technology competitions May 28 and 29.

All eight earned gold medals by excelling at the Skills Manitoba competition in Winnipeg last Thursday.

The delegation includes Grade 11 students Nia Smith, Kayla DeCosse, Cody Johnson, Parker Martin, Landon Klassen and Avery Maendel, and Grade 12 students Victor Aderemi-Fawoye and Laurie Paquet.

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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School students Victor Aderemi-Fawoye, Cody Johnson, Parker Martin, Landon Klassen, Kayla DeCosse, Nia Smith and Laurie Paquet were recently awarded gold medals in the Skills Manitoba competition. Not pictured among the gold-medal winners is Avery Maendel. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Music fest gets nod for late closing, alcohol sales

By Alex Lambert 3 minute read Preview

Music fest gets nod for late closing, alcohol sales

By Alex Lambert 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Brandon City Council has given the green light to the Salamander Summer Music Festival to rock on later into the night and to serve alcohol.

The community-event designation allows music to be played until 11 p.m. on the Friday and Saturday during the festival.

The fourth edition of the festival is slated for July 17-19 at Rideau Park.

“It gets dark so late in the summer, then if we were to shut down early, you wouldn’t get that evening festival atmosphere,” organizer Jenn Watson said in an interview on Tuesday.

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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Salamander Summer Music Festival organizer Jenn Watson speaks during last week’s city council meeting in Brandon. Watson says the festival has seen significant growth, with a record number of artists applying to perform at this summer’s event. (Alex Lambert/The Brandon Sun)

Dangerous driving; woman sought

2 minute read Preview

Dangerous driving; woman sought

2 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

DROVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC

Police arrested a Waywayseecappo First Nation man after he allegedly drove into oncoming traffic while impaired on Sunday.

Officers from the Manitoba First Nations Police Service’s Waywayseecappo detachment saw a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed on Highway 45 against oncoming traffic and straight toward the police cruiser at around 7:30 p.m., MFNPS said in a news release on Wednesday.

Police stopped the vehicle and arrested the driver, who appeared to be intoxicated by alcohol, the release said.

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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Accused killer said he couldn’t recall severe 1998 accident

By Skye Anderson 3 minute read Preview

Accused killer said he couldn’t recall severe 1998 accident

By Skye Anderson 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

A Brandon man accused of killing his 71-year-old mother had been severely injured in a workplace accident almost 30 years ago, court heard on Wednesday in Brandon.

Gabriel Heymans, 47, told Const. Tyler Nichol of the Brandon Police Service that he had no recollection of the 1998 accident during a police interview on Nov. 3, 2023 — the same day his mother’s body was found and he was arrested.

A recording of the interview was played in Court of King’s Bench during the third day of Heymans’ trial.

Heymans has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Maureen Heymans, whom court heard he shared an apartment with at 264 McDiarmid Dr. for seven years.

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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026