Leons Headlines March 17: Brandon’s first St. Patrick’s Party with Irish dance, live music & long-awaited event by the McConnell Irish Dancers was hosted at the Ukrainian National Hall over the weekend.
-A closed session roundtable with the Brandon & MB Chambers of Commerce reveals local business owners are struggling with future planning due to US trade uncertainties & tariffs.
-BU sees a big drop in international student applications, due to changes in Canada’s immigration rules.
-Steinbach’s new $75M Southeast Event Centre opened this weekend for sports, entertainment, & community events with capacity from 2500-4k.
-Privacy concerns raised, as MB drug store staff wear body-worn cameras to ramp up security. Loblaws says it’s a pilot project.
-Canada’s oldest company, Hudson’s Bay to liquidate entire business if no financing secured. The company has 2 stores in MB.
-At least 32 dead in massive US storm after new fatalities reported in Kansas & Mississippi.
-Jets slip past the Kraken 3-2.
HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY! St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated on March 17th, honors St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century. He used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The day celebrates Irish culture with traditions like wearing green, parades, Irish foods (like corned beef and cabbage), and drinking Guinness. The shamrock and leprechauns are key symbols of the holiday. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated globally, especially in countries with large Irish communities like the United States. It’s a festive day with music, dancing, and food, celebrating Irish heritage.
Montreal is GREEN! Did you also know CANADA hosts the biggest parade for the holiday after New York and Boston?!?! That’s right, it’s in Montreal, and this year was the 200th anniversary of the parade which brough out a HUGE crowd to celebrate.
St. Patrick’s Day Traditions that aren’t even Irish. Many St. Patrick’s Day traditions, like green beer and parades, have little connection to Irish heritage due to commercialization and marketing.
https://listverse.com/2025/03/17/10-saint-patricks-day-traditions-that-arent-really-irish
It came from the Irish. Here are some words and phrases we use daily that originated with Ireland and the Irish.
Timely recipes to help celebrate the big day. St. Patrick’s Day is a great excuse to enjoy Irish foods like colcannon, soda bread, and even creative Ireland-inspired recipes.
https://www.seriouseats.com/st-patricks-day-recipes-11695205
And something to wash it down with! Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a Guinness Float, whether you’re out at a hotel or enjoying it at home.
https://www.usmagazine.com/food/news/guinness-float-recipe-from-the-lotte-new-york-palace/
Worst Hotels Ever! TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel site, but it sometimes highlights the worst hotels based on customer reviews.
