Thirty-three eligible youth partnered with one of twenty-two participating non-profit agencies or service groups willing to
mentor the chosen youth throughout the project. In total this year there were 840 mentoring hours. Each participating youth received
an hourly stipend while receiving quality job skills training and contributing to their community.
THE DEADLINE FOR FILING APPLICATIONS AGAINST THE 2008 GENERAL ASSESSMENT ROLLS AND 2008 BUSINESS ASSESSMENT
ROLL IS 4:30 P.M. ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 1st , 2007.
E-Waste
The e-waste Depot for the City of Brandon and surrounding area started June 1st, 2007 and has now entered its last week of the
pilot program. Funding provided from Green Manitoba and the City of Brandon.
As a reminder, the Eastview Landfill Site e-waste Depot will accept the following:
Televisions
Computer
– monitors (CRT & Flat panel display types)
- desktop models (CPU’s, hard drives, keyboard & mouse, cables)
- Laptops
- desktop printers
DVD Players, VCR’s, Stereos
Telephones & cellular telephones
Scanners, copiers, fax machines
Rechargeable Batteries
Microwave Ovens
e-waste Depot Hours of Operation are Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Residents entering the Eastview Landfill Site stop at the Scale Office to inform the scale operator they are depositing
e-waste. The scale operator requires the items the resident is depositing and their Postal Code (for tracking purposes only). The
scale operator will direct the resident to the appropriate depot area in the Landfill Site.
As a reminder, a “Recycle Rechargeable Batteries” station is set up at the Civic Works Complex for deposit of
rechargeable batteries and cellular telephones. Items can be deposited during hours of operation 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
News for August 20th
Contest Winners!
On Thursday morning at 10:30 am, Mayor Burgess picked the 4 winners of the contest that was run. The winners are:
* Gerald on Durum Drive
* Lloyd on Ashgrove Blvd
* Murray on Marquis Crescent
* Gord on Parkdale Drive
I thank everyone for entering.
Traffic Circle Rules
As the driver approaches the yield sign he/she must yield to traffic within the circle. All vehicles must turn right. If the driver is
going to turn off at the first exit available you must signal to go right. But if the driver is going to continue past the first exit
on to the 2nd or 3rd exit the driver must start with signalling left and then signal right when about to turn at one of those exits.
Prairie Crescent Road Reconstruction
Well it has been 10 years waiting but the reconstruction of Prairie Crescent is finally getting close to being started. Work is scheduled to being
the week of August 27th and to continue for up to 6 weeks. The road will be completely removed (up to 16 inches), rebuilt and repaved. I know that this
will create some inconveniences but hope that everyone remains patient throughout the process. I will give updates as I receive them to keep everyone
up to date on the progress and anticipated completion. Letters should have been delivered to all the homes affected by this by City employees.
Canada World Youth Team
Brandon will be hosting it's third consecutive Canada World Youth team this fall. This year's program with Honduras will follow two
successful programs with Sri Lanka in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007.
A team of 9 young Canadians and 9 young Hondurans will spend two months in Brandon in November and December of 2007. They will arrive
after having spent two months in Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras. In both communities, they will be living with host families, volunteering
with local organizations, and learning as much as they can about the life and culture of the community.
The Canada World Youth Honduras - Manitoba program is seeking four more hosts! Host a young Honduran and a young Canadian in young home
for two months - from November 4th, 2007 - January 2nd, 2008. The young people are participants on an educational exchange program
between Honduras and Canada - for two months they could become members of your family, sharing in your meals, chores, joys, and
struggles. It can be an incredibly learning experience and chance to share cultures - both for the young people and the family. Host
families receive an allowance to help cover costs.
There are all sorts of ways to get involved with a Canada World Youth program...
* share a skill or knowledge you have with the team
* participate in the team's educational activities
* help with a special event
* have the team help with your event
We are also looking for...
* a meeting space for the team
* warm winter clothes (borrowed or donated)
* occasional drivers for field trips
* IDEAS of ways we can help in Brandon
Contact Bequie Lake at (204) 573-2259 or blake@cwy-jcm.org
Street Paving
* The overlays program is finished.
* Paving of the second lift of asphalt on 16th Street in the 400 block will be done on Thurs. Aug. 16th.
* 6th Street (700 and 800 blocks) will be open by this weekend.
Building activity
Building activing in Brandon continues to be strong in 2007. A way to gauge this is by looking at permits that are taken out by
developers. Permit activity continues to be very active. As of Thursday morning, we have issued 28 more building permits and 46 more plumbing
permits than on this same date in 2006.
New Partner in Arbor Trail
We are very pleased to inform Council of a new partner in the 125th Arbor Trail development. Wally's Trenching provided the trucking cost
in hauling approximately 2100 yards of soil for this project on Saturday, August 11th. This construction company approached us in the
spring about helping out with some of our green space projects in what they referred to as" Giving Back To The Community". We are
very grateful for their commitment to this project and future projects throughout our community.
Project Disappear
On Tuesday, August 14th, 2007 the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police launched a website that deals with long term missing
persons in Manitoba. Please visit the website at www.macp.mb.ca
Downtown Development
Update from the Mayor: Eight members of the Renaissance Brandon Committee attended a meeting and planning session on
Thursday, August 16. Several recommendations to Council will be forthcoming at the next Council meeting slated for
September 10th. I am very pleased with the accomplishments of this newly formed task force since its inception in June of this year.
News for August 13th
Contest Update
The draw for the 4 $50 gift certificates will be made Thursday, August 16th by the Mayor. I will e-mail the winners and will
deliver the certificates next week. Good luck to everyone.
P.S. If you do not win, blame the Mayor!
Ward Meeting Update
On Tuesday, August 7th I had my 1st ward meeting during this term. Mayor Dave Burgess, Acting Police Chief, Ian Grant, Director of Development
Services, Ted Snure and Steve Hayward from the City were in attendance. The new police station, downtown development, street construction, in
addition to other topics were discussed with those in attendance.
A schematic of the new traffic circle on 34th and Richmond was unveiled and the changes to the intersection were discussed. I am hoping that
the picture can be shown (and seen) during the council meeting on Monday, August 20th.
I would like to thank all those who attended, from the ward and the city.
Manitoba Heritage Tattoo
Manitoba Heritage Tattoo which was going to be held in Brandon on August 25 and 26th, 2007 has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales. The
event was going to feature the finest military bands from the four western provinces. Included were a 125-voice choir, a 50-person gun run, a
25-person musical ride and three re-enactments from Brandon's military history.
Welcome Here Project
The Elspeth Reid Family Resource Centre and Westman Immigrant Services (WIS) have been selected to take part in a national Family
Resource Programs Canada project. The project strives to create more welcoming communities through increased participation of immigrant
parents where they gain knowledge about Canadian life, for new and supportive peer relationships and have opportunities to contribute
in a meaningful way. Brandon was one of four communities in Canada selected for this program, which will run until March, 2008. With
this project the Elspeth Reid Family Resource Centre is pleased to build on an already existing partnership with WIS to provide
programming for Brandon’s increasing immigrant population.
Sportsplex
The Manitoba In Motion free Tuesday evening public swim attracted 262 swimmers on July 31st and 212 on August 2nd. The free
swims will continue until August 21st with the pool closing for maintenance from August 27th to September 15th.
Caterpillar problem
Update from Operations: There is not a serious outbreak of caterpillar infestations in our community. This particular caterpillar affects the Shubert
Chokecherry and some apple tree varieties. Our crews are dealing with this and the basic remedy is the removal of the infected
branch as they tend to mass in a web when not feeding. As mentioned the media has done some coverage on the issue and the
University Hort Line is in operation throughout the summer as a information tool for the community to ask and have pest related
problems identified with suggested treatments.
The Parks Section also has been a source for public enquiries for many years and many property owners continue to consult parks
staff about pest problems.
We have been trying to coordinate a joint public information site with the University (Bill Paton) but this has not been developed
at this time. Our hope is to have information put on our web site as it is identified. We are looking at this for next year.
We do not have authority for enforcement on public property.
News for August 6th
Ward Meeting
I will be having a ward meeting on Tuesday, August 7th at 7:00 PM at Westridge Community Centre (behind Linden Lanes School on Willowdale). We
will be discussing the traffic circle that will be going in on 34th and Richmond as well as anything else you wish to discuss.
Construction
• Zenith Paving will be doing overlays on 13th Street from Richmond Ave. to Park Ave. on July 30th and 31st, as well as
overlays on Park Ave. between 10th & 13th Streets on July 31st.
• Paving of the lower lift of asphalt on 6th Street in the 700 and 800 blocks will be done on July 31st and August
1st. The sidewalks will follow the paving on 6th Street.
• The storm sewer is being installed through the Traffic Circle on 9th Street. The traffic circle should be
ready for repairs within 1 week.
• A walkway is being installed on 18th Street from Kirkcaldy north to Braecrest Dr.
Law Enforcement Torch Run Fund Raiser
On August 24th & 25th, 2007, Members and Staff will participate in a mini run for the Law Enforcement Torch Run. This
run will take place at the Kircaldy School and end at Walmart. Following the mini-run there will be a few short
speeches at which time Inspectors Ian Grant and Jim McIssac of the Winnipeg Police Service will go up on the roof
of Walmart in an effort to raise funds. All proceeds will go to the Special Olympics.
BRANDON MUNICIPAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE
Councillor Harwood provided a verbal report on the recent Municipal Heritage Committee meeting held July 19, 2007. He
stated that the committee had arranged for walking tours during the Brandon 125th Homecoming weekend and had hosted
the Doors Open Brandon event this past weekend, both of which had been deemed a success. Councillor Harwood
also reported that the committee was looking at conducting a public meeting in the fall to discuss the Heritage
Resources Plan for the City and had submitted a bid to host the Community Heritage Manitoba Conference in October
of this year. He concluded by noting that work was currently underway to present the cemetery walking tour as a
virtual tour on the City's website.
Green Burial
“Green burial” is a concept and practice that is very popular in Europe and is now beginning to gain popularity in
North America. In Europe there are numerous cemeteries that permit green funerals exclusively while in the United States
and Canada there have only been two fully and two half declared cemeteries.Those individuals that choose to have a
truly “green” type burial choose to not be embalmed (burial must occur within days and must be closed casket or the
body must be refrigerated), to be buried in a biodegradable casket (wicker, pine board, cardboard) without a
grave liner and to utilize a natural marker (wood carving, unprocessed stone, tree).
The elements of a traditional
burial that are harmful to the environment are: the contamination of the ground with embalming fluids; the breakdown
over time of casket / urn / liner (metal decay, etc.); the mining and processing of stone for markers; the
cremation process (burning emits pollution into the air); and the mining and processing of hardwoods and metals for caskets.
While many may not choose to move completely to a “green” burial there are steps that individuals can choose to make
their burials be more green;
• choose a bio-degradable casket / urn without a grave liner;
• choose to be buried in areas that do not require a grave liner;
• choose natural markers such as walking stones or wood carvings instead of headstones;
• choose to not be embalmed;
• choose to have ashes scattered rather than buried.
In a review of both the Manitoba Cemeteries Act and Brandon’s Cemetery By-law there is nothing that
prohibits green burials however, there are areas within the cemetery that do require liners to be used in
order for ease of maintenance of the site but individuals can chose to purchase plots in other areas where
this is not required. The only other restriction is that we currently do not have a designated area for the
scattering of ashes. Administration is currently working on a cemetery development plan that will include
an area for scatter grounds and potentially a natural wooded area to provide for this alternative.
In terms of the other options such as refrigeration, natural markers, and bio-degradable caskets, these
are options that can be discussed with the funeral home, however pre-planning should be considered if
this is something that is desired so that arrangements can be made to facilitate the required short time
frame for burial.
Pothole Phone Line
In response to Councillor Rice’s enquiry regarding whether the existing pothole line could be used for
other citizen concerns because of the convenience of them being able to call and leave a message, we
have done some considerable work over the last year on the phone system at the Civic Service Building.
In the past it was difficult to get to the section (Streets, Sanitation, etc.) and to leave a message in either
the on or off hours. We have now setup the 729-2285 number so that the public has a directory of the
various sections and have placed a mail box at each of these lines so that they are able to leave a
message if the section Chargehand is away from the phone. If they would like to talk directly to someone,
at any time they can press zero and either speak to one of our administrative assistants during the day or
to the call centre personnel in the off hours and the message will be forwarded from there.
We want to be able to respond as soon as possible to citizen calls and with the phone lines and
mailboxes in each section now being linked directly to each of the Chargehands, it has allowed us to
respond more effectively to these calls. In time we would like to see all calls go through this line as it
relates to the work we do, so that it becomes easier for citizens to know exactly where they can call
without having to look up multiple numbers.The 729-2285 number is recorded in the phone book under After Hours Trouble
Calls and Public Works. Prior to the next edition of the phone book, we will review the listing with Information Technology to
determine if a more prominent / clear listing can be developed.
Airport Security
The City of Brandon is responsible for the airside security at the site, meaning that we are responsible for
ensuring that the runways, approaches and equipment is not accessed by unauthorized personnel. The
security of airside operations at all airports is regulated under Transport Canada and as such all airport
personnel are trained in proper security protocol and are certified in airside operations. In the case of
airside security being breach, airport personnel would contact the Brandon Police Service and then they
would jointly be required to address the situation. Under Transport Canada Regulations the Brandon
Police Service or any other uncertified person does not have the authority to enter airside operations
without being escorted by a certified person, thus the requirement for a joint response.
In terms of passenger security, the airlines are responsible for ensuring that each passenger is screened
prior to boarding their aircraft and are responsible for ensuring that all passengers are escorted to the
terminal. At the time the charter service was operating out of the terminal, the preflight security was
performed by CATSA, but due to the low passenger volumes presently, this is conducted by the airline in
accordance with Transport Canada regulations. If a breach were to occur the Brandon Police Service
would once again be called to assist in addressing the issue.
