Brandon Sun – Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada

Safe space for youth given 2-year extension

By Alex Lambert 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:25 PM CDT

Despite some concerns by area residents, 24-hour youth safe space in Brandon will be allowed to operate for at least another two years, Brandon city council decided on Monday.

The facility at 450 12th St. has been operated by the Brandon Friendship Centre since 2025 and provides transitional housing and basic amenities for youth aged 16 to 26.

The approval will allow the city to get more data about benefits and drawbacks of the site before council considers longer-term approval.

“I think what we’re going to do is probably what should have been done the first time, is to actually track data better,” Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett said after the meeting.

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YWCA Westman unveils $40M women’s campus plan

By Abiola Odutola 5 minute read Preview

YWCA Westman unveils $40M women’s campus plan

By Abiola Odutola 5 minute read Yesterday at 10:18 PM CDT

YWCA Westman unveiled plans Thursday evening for an estimated $40-million women’s campus at a community launch in Brandon.

The project is expected to bring emergency and supportive housing, sexual-assault services and other supports under one roof for women and children across the Westman region.

The launch, held at the Backyard on Aberdeen, marked the beginning of a broader fundraising effort for the proposed campus, YWCA Westman chief executive officer Lois Ruston said.

“We’re talking about it with the community and letting everyone know what the vision is,” she told the Sun after the event. “The provincial government has provided about $350,000 in pre-development funding through a few departments, while over $1 million has been raised so far from government programs, credit unions, a number of family and business donors.”

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Yesterday at 10:18 PM CDT

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Scott Kirk, director of operations for the Brandon Regional Health Centre (from left), walks with Dr. Arleigh Trainor and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew down a hallway during a tour of the Brandon Regional Health Centre’s emergency department on Thursday afternoon, after the province’s doctor recruitment announcement for Prairie Mountain Health. (Photos by Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

18 doctors recruited for health region

By Rylee Gerrard 4 minute read Preview

18 doctors recruited for health region

By Rylee Gerrard 4 minute read Yesterday at 10:17 PM CDT

The NDP government announced Thursday that 18 new doctors have been recruited for Prairie Mountain Health since 2024 — but Doctors Manitoba says the focus should be on retaining doctors in rural areas.

Premier Wab Kinew and Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara were in Brandon to announce 137 new physicians have been recruited during the last two years through the provincial Health Care Retention and Recruitment Office.

The 18 new physicians practising in PMH are a mix of emergency and family doctors, Asagwara told reporters during a media event at the Brandon Regional Health Centre.

“We’ve made a point for the retention and recruitment office to really laser focus on the areas where we know there is a great need, and the ER was one of them,” Asagwara said.

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Yesterday at 10:17 PM CDT

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No jail time for pointing BB gun at safety officers

By Tessa Adamski 6 minute read Preview

No jail time for pointing BB gun at safety officers

By Tessa Adamski 6 minute read Yesterday at 10:15 PM CDT

A Sioux Valley Dakota Nation man found guilty of pointing a BB gun at first responders apologized in court for the harm he caused the victims, including a woman who quit her job in law enforcement because of the trauma she experienced.

Cyril Elk, 47, said he has been sober and focusing on rehabilitation since the incident on Jan. 11, 2024, when he aimed the weapon at two First Nations safety officers who were responding to a medical call involving his partner at his home in Sioux Valley.

“I’m sorry to the victims and also to the courts for my actions and my behaviours,” Elk said during his sentencing hearing in Brandon’s Court of King’s Bench on Thursday.

“I would like to sincerely apologize to the victim for all the pain and trauma I may have caused in her life due to this incident. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me,” he said.

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Yesterday at 10:15 PM CDT

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Road rage; Man helps woman, gets arrested

2 minute read Preview

Road rage; Man helps woman, gets arrested

2 minute read Yesterday at 10:14 PM CDT

DAUPHIN ROAD RAGE

A driver in Dauphin is facing charges in two “apparent” road rage incidents on Tuesday evening, Mounties say.

RCMP responded to the first incident around 6:20 p.m. involving two motorists near the intersection of Ninth Avenue and Second Street Southwest in Dauphin, RCMP said in a news release on Thursday.

Police said a 31-year-old man was waiting at a four-way stop when an SUV drove up beside him. The male driver of the SUV pulled out a knife and made gestures that he was going to open the man’s door before the victim left the scene, RCMP said.

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Yesterday at 10:14 PM CDT

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The Highway 83 bridge across the Shell River was closed due

Hwy. 83 bridge over Shell River expected to open in December

By Connor McDowellLocal Journalism Initiative 2 minute read Preview

Hwy. 83 bridge over Shell River expected to open in December

By Connor McDowellLocal Journalism Initiative 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:11 PM CDT

The Highway 83 bridge over the Shell River near Inglis is expected to reopen to traffic in December.

A new foundation and abutment for the bridge is being constructed and crews will rebuild the riverbank and roadway approaches, the province said in a news release on Thursday.

The December timeline depends upon weather conditions and construction progress.

Riding Mountain West Reeve Grant Boryskavich said the news is welcome.

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Updated: Yesterday at 10:11 PM CDT

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Alberta referendum mail-in special ballots are seen in Calgary, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Some referendum questions flip to ‘no’ as the count continues in Alberta

The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Some referendum questions flip to ‘no’ as the count continues in Alberta

The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:56 AM CDT

EDMONTON - More of the constitutional questions in Alberta's historic referendum have flipped to "no" with votes still being counted.

Alberta voters went to the polls on Monday and were asked 10 different questions.

The key question was on separation and roughly 75 per cent of votes backed staying in Canada, but it has taken longer to count votes on the nine other questions.

Early results showed Albertans were in favour of proposals such as choosing their own judges, abolishing the Senate and changing the Constitution to boost provincial rights.

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Updated: Yesterday at 8:56 AM CDT

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This composite of handout images shows Canadian Armed Forces members, left to right, Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, Pte. Shaun Farrell, Pte. Aidan Goulding and Sgt. Morgan Wong, who died during a training exercise at CFB Wainwright in Alberta, on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Canadian Armed Forces (Mandatory credit)

Weather, time of day factors in probe of deadly Wainwright military base fire

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Weather, time of day factors in probe of deadly Wainwright military base fire

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:23 PM CDT

EDMONTON - The decision to hold a live-fire training exercise at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright during a high-risk fire month will be part of the investigation into the fire that killed four soldiers and injured dozens.

Military officials said the grass fire broke out Saturday on a grenade range at the base southeast of Edmonton in a permanent danger area, which prevented firefighters from putting it out early on.

The fire was being monitored when, in the afternoon, a strong wind quickly shot flames over to an area where the soldiers were in attack training.

The base's training-range standing orders document cautions that units firing between August and October should plan early morning shoots when fire risk is lower.

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Updated: Yesterday at 8:23 PM CDT

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Prime Minister Mark Carney and his wife Diana Fox Carney board a government plane in Ottawa, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

In Ankara, Carney looks to turn the page in Canada’s relationship with Turkey

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

In Ankara, Carney looks to turn the page in Canada’s relationship with Turkey

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:49 PM CDT

ANKARA - Prime Minister Mark Carney is betting that a promise to deepen Canada's economic and social ties with Turkey will help reset relations between two countries that haven't always seen eye to eye.

Canada is forming a three-year "strategic partnership" with Turkey aimed in part at securing a free-trade agreement, Carney announced Thursday after an hour-long meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

In a prepared statement delivered alongside Erdogan, Carney said Canadian negotiators will return to Turkey next month to begin negotiations on a free-trade deal.

"By lowering costs, cutting barriers and creating greater certainty, we will open new doors for companies and investors in both of our countries," Carney said.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:49 PM CDT

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Trucks are seen in front of the Chateau Laurier hotel as a protest marked by gridlock and blaring horns reached its 14th day in Ottawa on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Supreme Court of Canada to hear federal appeal over use of Emergencies Act in 2022

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Supreme Court of Canada to hear federal appeal over use of Emergencies Act in 2022

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:48 AM CDT

OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada will hear federal arguments about the government's legal justification for using the Emergencies Act to quell protests in the national capital and at key border points four years ago.

The top court's decision Thursday to examine the matter will give the government another chance to argue its case after lower courts twice found the decision to invoke the emergencies law was unreasonable.

No date for the Supreme Court hearing has been set but it's likely to take place next year.

For about three weeks in January and February 2022, downtown Ottawa was filled with protesters, including many in large trucks that blocked streets around Parliament Hill.

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:48 AM CDT

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James Cody Bryant, centre, is seen in a court sketch drawn during the accused's appearance in U.S. district court in Seattle on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lois Silver

Tumbler Ridge conspiracy suspect James Bryant pleads not guilty in U.S. court

Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Tumbler Ridge conspiracy suspect James Bryant pleads not guilty in U.S. court

Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:27 PM CDT

SEATTLE - The alleged co-conspirator in the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., has pleaded not guilty in a U.S. court and is set to go on trial in December, accused of aiding one of the deadliest school attacks in Canadian history.

James Bryant entered the plea in a brief arraignment appearance in Seattle on Thursday, after a grand jury last week indicted the 30-year-old Bellingham, Wash., resident for conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country.

Shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar killed eight last February, including five students and an educational assistant at the local secondary school, before she fatally shot herself as police closed in.

The criminal complaint against Bryant, who uses female pronouns and goes by the name Melody, alleges she colluded with Van Rootselaar online, helping set up an attempted livestream of the murders.

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Updated: Yesterday at 3:27 PM CDT