December 7, 2012

NEW WORKER ADVOCACY CENTRE IN BRANDON WILL CONNECT WORKERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES: PREMIER

BRANDON-Premier Greg Selinger officially opened a new worker advocacy centre here today in partnership with members of the Brandon and District Labour Council.
“This centre will provide residents of Brandon and Westman with the information, advice and representation they need to tap into job opportunities,” said Selinger.  “The Brandon workforce is critical as we grow our economy toward our target of 75,000 more workers by 2020.  More good jobs in Westman mean more young families will choose to put down roots here and this centre will connect workers with opportunities.”
The Brandon and District Worker Advocacy Centre (BDWAC) provides a range of services including information on training opportunities through employment insurance, career counselling, access to benefits, and help with job searches and financial management.
“We’re sure our office will be of great value to the workers in the region who need help filing and presenting appeals when dealing with employment insurance or other benefits,” said Del Davidson, president, BDWAC.  “Over the years we have seen these programs become more difficult to navigate and the appeals process become more intimidating.”
The new centre is non-profit, run by a volunteer board and employs full-time worker advocate Curtis Martel.  The new office is open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
The new, community-based initiative complements existing provincial services such as employment standards services, a worker advisor office and a large Workplace Safety and Health Division presence in Brandon, said Selinger.
In February, the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) of Manitoba opened a Brandon office to service workers and employers located in Brandon and Westman.  The Brandon office provides initial adjudication of claims and case management functions, and offers a range of services such as health-care examinations, vocational rehabilitation and SAFE Work services.  In the past, customers travelled to Winnipeg for these services or Winnipeg WCB staff travelled to Brandon.

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Manitoba Got Talent

 

 

Sagkeeng's First Nation  is one proud Manitoba Community as three talented clogging/tapdancing  young men from that community claimed the coveted top prize of $100,000.00 plus a Nissan GT-R sports car  worth $105,000 as well as a host of other goodies in the, May 14, on Canada's Got Talent finale.

The three brothers - Dallas and Brandon Courchene and Vince  O Laney dazzled Canadians with their joyful dance and proved that opportunities are there for those who are prepared to work hard.

  The brothers have been jigging for years and it paid off.
The last word goes to the hard working dancers, posted on the group's Facebook page just hours ago: "WE DID IT!! THANKS EVERYONE :WE LOVE YOU ALL.

Upcoming-Event - Capturing opportunities April 24-25, 2012

February 14, 2012

CAPTURING OPPORTUNITIES 2012 PRESENTS 'THE LOCAL LIVING ECONOMY'

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Forum Provides a Prime Opportunity to See, Listen and Learn for Individual, Community Business Growth: Kostyshyn

Manitoba’s new Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Ron Kostyshyn is encouraging potential, new and experienced entrepreneurs, business owners, community leaders, youth and local organizations to attend this year’s Capturing Opportunities conference scheduled for April 24 and 25 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon.
“This year’s theme, the Local Living Economy, provides a lens through which we can view new opportunities for rural Manitoba,” said Kostyshyn.  “We’re excited to encourage the sharing of ideas between budding entrepreneurs and seasoned business leaders, and to provide an opportunity for rural Manitobans to network throughout the two-day event.”
Capturing Opportunities 2012 will feature information sessions and keynote speakers addressing new opportunities in grain marketing, food and the bioeconomy, growing from within and unique
co-operative business models with particular examples related to the local economy.
A variety of awards will celebrate the accomplishments of youth, entrepreneurs and communities, inspire all participants to learn from each other, and challenge new business strengths, the minister said.  Keynote speakers and session leaders will provide listen and learn opportunities for business growth and development.
The minister noted the Great Manitoba Food Fight will again be a featured event in a battle of unique recipes and fabulous food with a distinctly Manitoba flair.  This competition partners contestants with first- and second-year culinary students from the Assiniboine Community College’s Manitoba Institute of Culinary Arts.  Each team prepares a savoury sample for a panel of judges and pitches their product ideas.  First-, second- and third-place finalists receive product development awards valued at $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000.
The Entrepreneur Boot Camp is an opportunity for new and experienced entrepreneurs to improve their marketing skills by learning how to perfect their business proposals and presenting them to a panel of expert judges, said Kostyshyn.  The top three presenters are awarded prize packages valued up to $2,000 in cash and business services.

Outstanding Manitobans, communities and organizations will be officially recognized through the Capturing Opportunities Awards, presented in five categories:

• outstanding community leadership;
• rural youth achievement;
• economic development innovation (community);
• economic development innovation (corporate); and
• entrepreneurial innovation. 

Awards will be presented at the Celebration Banquet.
“Our province has an impressive track record for creating new products and promoting innovative thinking for business and community development,” said Kostyshyn.  “Encouraging creative thinking by individuals of all ages develops an environment where businesses can thrive and grow.  The annual Capturing Opportunities event is excellent fuel for our province’s economic engine.”
Watch www.capturingopportunities.ca/ for program information.

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Seniors Housing in Brandon

January 20, 2012

GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND MANITOBA CELEBRATE 34 NEW AFFORDABLE CO-OP HOUSING UNITS FOR SENIORS IN BRANDON

BRANDON, MANITOBA– The Governments of Canada and Manitoba today announced $2.03 million in joint funding for a new affordable co-op housing development. The 34 units will enhance housing quality and accessibility for seniors in Brandon. Celebrations took place at a groundbreaking ceremony.
The announcement was made by Merv Tweed, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Drew Caldwell, MLA for Brandon East, on behalf of Kerri Irvin-Ross, Manitoba Minister of Housing and Community Development.
“Our Government is dedicated to assisting those in need, which is why we are proud to have invested in this housing project in Brandon,” said MP Tweed. “The new units are safe and affordable, and help to enhance the lives of seniors who call them home.”
“This is a wonderful investment to announce during the UN International Year of the Co‑operative,” said Caldwell. “Members of housing co-operatives can enjoy the freedom of their individual housing unit while benefiting from the social support of being part of a co-op community.Our government continues to invest in a range of housing and support options that allow older Manitobans to age with independence and dignity.”
The building, to be located at 620 McDiarmid Drive in Brandon, will be four storeys high and consist of 14 one-bedroom and 20 two-bedroom units. The Housing Co-Op, developed with the Western Manitoba Seniors Non-Profit Housing Co-operative Ltd., will also be receiving rent supplement assistance from the province to allow six of the units to be rented on a rent geared to income basis. Total project cost is estimated at more than $5.8 million. Construction is expected to begin within a month. Recently, Manitoba Housing and Community Development issued a $10 million province-wide request for proposals for construction of 150 new independent and supported-living seniors housing units. The Western Manitoba Seniors Non-Profit Housing Co‑operative Ltd. initiative is the first of the Manitoba projects to be announced.

The project received $2.03 million in funding through the amended Canada-Manitoba Affordable Housing Agreement. Under the Agreement, the federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to an overall investment of $176 million for affordable housing throughout Manitoba.
The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest more than $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of almost 615,000 households living in existing social housing. In Manitoba, this represents some 41,250 households. These investments are improving the quality of life for low-income Canadians and households living in existing social housing, including individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people.
Through Manitoba’s Long-Term Housing Strategy, HOMEWorks! which was introduced in 2009, the Province of Manitoba, with the financial assistance of the Government of Canada continues to make significant investments in the development of social and affordable housing. The Province promised the delivery of 1,500 affordable housing units across the province and has already committed to the development of over 900 units. HOMEWorks! supports ALL Aboard, Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction strategy by increasing the supply of quality, affordable housing for low-income Manitobans.  More information about HOMEWorks! is available at www.gov.mb.ca/housing.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/.

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Guide to accessing convenient child-care centres

November 17, 2011

1,000 CHILDREN PLACED WITH CANADA'S FIRST ONLINE CHILD-CARE REGISTRY

FIVE MONTHS AFTER FULL IMPLEMENTATION: MACKINTOSH

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New Web Map Feature to Help Parents Find Most Convenient Child-care Centres

Five months after Canada’s first online child-care registry was fully implemented across the province, more than 1,000 children have already been placed with the help of this convenient tool, Family Services and Consumer Affairs Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.
Manitoba’s parent-friendly online registry is now also getting its first major upgrade since a pilot project was launched in Brandon a year ago, the minister said.  The website will now have a new map feature that allows parents to find child care along their commuting routes or near a convenient location.
“Manitoba families and child-care providers have proved the value of this innovative tool that helps parents easily find convenient licensed early learning and child care,” said Mackintosh.  “And now we have a new planning tool to help parents and further improve and refine our child-care growth strategy.”
Based on recommendations by families and child-care providers, the new online map feature makes it easy for parents to search for licensed child-care providers along a specific route or near a location of their choice.  The province has invested $231,000 in this significant upgrade, Mackintosh said.
As of today, there are about 8,000 total online registrations across the province, which represents about 5,000 children currently looking for child care and another 3,000 children registered for future spaces.  There are currently 29,811 licensed child-care spaces in Manitoba.
Since 1999, the province has funded 11,000 new spaces, half since April 2008 when it launched its five-year child-care strategy called Family Choices.  About 2,660 new licensed spaces are currently in various stages of development.
The government has committed to fund a further 2,900 child-care spaces, said the minister.  In total, 5,560 spaces are in development, have funding committed or are being planned for the next few years, he added.
The province will post registry statistics on its Internet site quarterly beginning Dec. 31.

The online registry can be found at www.manitoba.ca/onlinechildcareregistry (English) or www.manitoba.ca/registredesgarderies (French).

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED

September 4, 2009

NEW JUDGE APPOINTED TO PROVINCIAL COURT


Attorney General Dave Chomiak today announced the appointment of Robert Heinrichs to the provincial court of Manitoba.

“The dedication of Robert Heinrichs to the profession of law and his deep commitment to community have been made evident in the 24 years he has been practising law in this province,” said Chomiak. “He will serve the people of Manitoba well in this new position.”

Until his appointment, Heinrichs was a senior attorney with the legal aid office in Brandon. Much of his practice has been in the areas of criminal law and child protection. He is a graduate of the University of Manitoba and received his law degree in 1982.

In addition to being a foster parent for the past 12 years, Heinrichs has been the registrar for the Brandon Diocese Anglican Church and served as the president of the Brandon Community Options board, which provides residential and day programming for mentally disabled adults.

Heinrichs will sit in Winnipeg. His appointment will assist the provincial court to offset demands on the judiciary stemming from some unusually lengthy and complex matters scheduled for the coming year.

The new judge was selected from a list of candidates recommended by an independent judicial nominating committee. The committee was chaired by then chief judge of the provincial court of Raymond E. Wyant and included three community representatives, representatives of the Law Society of Manitoba and the Manitoba branch of the Canadian Bar Association, and a provincial court judge.

The appointment is effective immediately. A swearing-in ceremony will be scheduled as soon as possible.

October 31, 2008

SOUTHWESTERN REGION CASINO SITE REPORT RELEASED: CHOMIAK, EVANS– – –
Committee Recommends Site North of Brandon As Best to Maximize Economic Benefits


The committee established to identify the best location for a new casino in southwest Manitoba has recommended a site just north of Brandon, Attorney General Dave Chomiak, minister responsible for the Gaming Control Act, and Grand Chief Ron Evans of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), announced today.

“This site is the best location to capture the market potential of this region,” Chomiak said. “It will create opportunities for economic development for the benefit of all Manitoba First Nations. As a significant entertainment attraction, it will also create economic spinoffs for the entire region.”

The site is located in the Rural Municipality of Elton, north of the Trans-Canada Highway and on the west side of PTH 10. It was proposed by a group comprised of the Keeseekoowenin First Nation, Rolling River First Nation and Waywayseecappo First Nation.

The selection of this recommendation stems from a process launched by the AMC and the province following a market study done in 2007. In response to a request for expressions of interest issued in June 2008, four proposals were submitted by First Nation site sponsors.

“The site selection committee was mandated to identify a site that will provide the most benefits for all 64 of the First Nations in Manitoba,” said Evans. “This was not an easy job to do and we commend the members of the committees for their unwavering commitment to the site selection process.”

The casino will be planned and developed under a separate process led by the AMC and will be operated on behalf of all Manitoba First Nations. The land where the new casino will be built will be converted to reserve status. The casino will operate under the same regulatory and operational framework that applies to South Beach and Aseneskak casinos.

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NOTE: The committee’s report, the 2007 Market Study and other background material are available on the AMC website at www.manitobachiefs.com/ and the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission website at www.mgcc.mb.ca.


The Government of Manitoba is distributing this news release on behalf of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Government of Manitoba.