Leons Headlines April 28: It’s Election Day in Canada. Polls are open at 8:30 am to 8:30 pm; bring valid ID. Find your polling station & candidate info at https://elections.ca/home.aspx
-Members of the MB Filipino community mourn the death of 11 in Vancouver, after a SUV rammed into a crowd at a street festival Saturday evening; 30yr old Vancouver man charged.
-Brandon University’s leadership faces scrutiny after BUFA passes a no-confidence motion over concerns about accountability, campus safety, transparency & a failed $6M ERP project.
-Brandon SD issues a safety notice urging parents to remind children about personal safety after a suspicious person approached a student last week, an incident reported to police.
-Woman found not guilty of manslaughter in Brandon man’s 2020 overdose death.
-MB PC party picks former CFL Football player Obby Khan as new party leader to succeed former premier Heather Stefanson as Opposition leader.
-MB water bomber fleet to get a multi-million-dollar upgrade, replacing 3 aging aircraft with new Canadian-made planes and $80M price tag.
-Spring smile cookie campaign begins today at Westman Tim Horton’s locations with 100% of proceeds going to local projects & charities.
-Brandon United Way’s Largest Indoor Garage Sale at the Keystone Centre attracted 3000K over the weekend.
-Horror movie Sinners continues for a second weekend at #1 at the box office.
-Jets allow 5 unanswered goals as Blues tie series 2-2 after downing Jets in St. Louis 5-1. Game 5 is Wednesday in Wpg.
(Greg Crisanti and Brad Pardy at Tims in Brandon)
While SMILE Cookies will help MANY Groups across Westman this week, in Brandon something very special is being planned at the Brandon Clinic, and it’s called a SMILE ZONE. The Smilezone Foundation is a Canadian charity dedicated to transforming hospital and healthcare spaces into vibrant, comforting environments called “Smilezones” to uplift children facing medical challenges. These zones feature colorful murals, interactive technology, sensory items, and comfortable furnishings designed to ease anxiety and promote healing. Since its inception in 2012, the foundation has established over 400 Smilezones across Canada, aiming to make tough days a little brighter for young patients and their families.
100% of proceeds go to local organizations, including:
📍 Brandon – Brandon Area Community Foundation & new Smilezone at Brandon Clinic
📍 Dauphin – Watson Art Centre
📍 Neepawa – Beautiful Plains Community Foundation Inc.
📍 Virden – VCI Basketball Nets & Sports Equipment
📍 Moosomin – MacLeod Elementary School
🎉 Help spread smiles where they matter most!
Can’t say I’ve seen this in Canada but regardless, this is NOT a good sign. More Americans are financing groceries with buy now, pay later loans — and more are paying those bills late, survey says: As economic worries rise, more Americans are using “buy now, pay later” loans for groceries but are struggling to repay them.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/26/americans-groceries-buy-now-pay-later-loans.html
Inflation and the BIG MAC PRICE HIKE. Here’s How Much A McDonald’s Big Mac Cost In 2000 Vs 2025: The Big Mac has gone from an affordable meal in 2000 to an expensive treat by 2025.
https://www.tastingtable.com/1839378/how-much-big-mac-cost-2000-vs-2025-mcdonalds
Why Are Airplane Windows So Small?: Airplane windows are small mainly for safety and structural reasons.
This Ridiculously Simple Pineapple Hack Has Gone Viral For Actually Working, And Millions Of People Are Admitting It’s Something They Never Knew: A surprisingly simple pineapple-eating hack has gone viral, impressing millions who never knew it before.
