Westman

Funeral For:  Diane Wiens 
Funeral Date: July 16, 2023 
Diane Wiens, 75, of Gardenton passed away Wednesday, July 9th at Bethesda Hospital. She is survived by her husband Dave, 3 daughters, 1 son, and their families.  
A memorial service for Diane Wiens will be held Wednesday, July 16th at 1pm at Birchwood Funeral Chapel. 
A come and go celebration of life will be held at Birchwood Funeral Chapel Tuesday, July 15th from 7 to 9pm. 

Funeral For:  Katharina Dyck nee Funk 
Funeral Date: July 23, 2025 
Katharina Dyck nee Funk, 96, of Niverville passed away Thursday, July 3rd at Heritage Personal Care Home. She is survived by 2 daughters, 4 sons, 3 sisters, 3 brothers, and their families. She was predeceased by her husband Isaac, 1 sister and 5 brothers. 
A memorial service for Katharina Dyck nee Funk will be held Wednesday, July 23rd at 3pm at Birchwood Funeral Chapel with ash interment at a later date. 
Donations may be made to Niverville Foundation for the Handivan. 

“Wish You Were Here: Greetings from Brandon - A Walk Through Brandon’s History in Postcards”

The Daly House Museum staff has been working hard to bring a new exhibit titled “Wish You Were Here: Greetings from Brandon” to fill the exhibit hall. Curator Eileen Trott, Exhibit Assistant Chloe Diamond, and Local Collector Renè Gareau have created a walk through the history of Brandon, letting visitors see the city develop from a small farming community to the bustling city we know today. 

Running now! United Way West Central Manitoba (UWWCM) is inviting everyone in the community to help students start the school year off strong through its annual Restaurant Challenge in support of Tools for School.

It’s a friendly competition where local restaurants rally together for a great cause.

Each year, United Way’s Tools for School program provides school supplies to students who need a little extra support, ensuring they walk into class with confidence and everything they need to succeed.

Competitor Stephanie Outhwaite couldn't be more excited to be a part of the upcoming event featuring the Manitoba Heavy Games coming to the Deloraine Fair this year.

It's a rich history going back a long time, as Outhwaite explains. "It's a traditional game from the Highlands of Scotland," she says proudly. "It's been a tradition for many years when they would compete to find the strongest competitor in each clan. Since then, it's gone all over the world, but it's true to the Scottish heritage."

Ottawa says it will work to align its flight security regulations with those in the U.S. after Washington dropped a rule that required passengers to remove their shoes during security screenings.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday that passengers at American airports no longer need to remove their shoes because officials have found other ways to keep travellers safe.

Canada does not require passengers flying domestically or to non-U.S. destinations to take off their shoes for screening, unless a security officer decides it's necessary.

Six Republican lawmakers have sent a letter to Canada's ambassador calling for action on the wildfires sending smoke billowing across the international border into their states.

In a Tuesday letter to Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman, representatives Tom Tiffany, Brad Finstad, Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach, Glenn Grothman and Pete Stauber of Wisconsin and Minnesota said their constituents are coping with suffocating smoke from Canadian wildfires.

Premier Wab Kinew confirms the Manitoba government is backing away from a controversial intersection redesign near Carberry, following overwhelming opposition from residents, farmers, and local leaders.

During an interview with Golden West Broadcasting, Kinew says the province will no longer proceed with the proposed Reduced Conflict U-Turn (RCUT) for the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 5; the site of a tragic 2023 collision that killed 17 people.

The Manitoba Wildfire Service advises the majority of the province continues to be at a high and extreme fire danger level and anticipates challenging conditions as existing fires continue to grow.

Manitoba Parks advises the southern portion of Atikaki Provincial Park is closed effective 5 p.m. today, including the Bloodvein and Gammon river corridors and Aikens Lake. All park users must vacate the area. For updates on park closures, visit www.manitobaparks.com.

City of Brandon and Westman Immigrant Services Launch Youth Rise Leadership Program 

Media Release - July 9, 2025

The City of Brandon and Westman Immigrant Services (WIS) is pleased to announce the launch of the Youth Rise Leadership Program, an initiative aimed at empowering and retaining youth through civic engagement and leadership development.