Leons Headlines Oct 16: Brandon fire crews are investigating a Wednesday blaze near Vic Ave that destroyed a garage & vehicle, caused small explosions & kept firefighters on scene until early evening.
-BSD Ward 1 residents vote today in School Trustee By-election 8 am-8 pm, with 7 candidates vying to fill a vacant seat following a trustee’s resignation earlier this year. https://www.brandon.ca/city-hall/election/
-Brandon’s business community gathers today at the Vic Inn for the Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
-Mecca Productions opens “The Magical Land of Oz” tonight at 7 p.m. at the WMCA featuring a cast of 160.
-Heritage Co-op raises over $11K during Fuel Good Day Sept 16 to support Westman Dreams for Kids & 7 local food banks.
-Opened in 1987, Portage Place Mall Wpg is being demolished to make way for a new residential & medical centre that will reconnect downtown in 2028.
-$1M jewelry hiest-2 Wpg men are recovering after being shot during robbery at home-based jewelry business in the city.
-Ottawa is investing $2.3 million in Manitoba’s AI sector to create 77 digital media jobs, train 100 workers, and help 50 small businesses adopt new technology.
-MB & Ottawa are investing $9 million to repair 738 affordable rental homes through low-interest loans and housing support programs.
-Toronto Blue Jays notch 1st ALCS win hammering Mariners 13-4 in Game 3. Game 4 of the ALCS goes tonight in Seattle 8:30 pm ET.
-NHL-Jets are in Philly to face the Flyers tonight.
-WHL-Wheat Kings host Kamloops at 7pm.
When Social Media Warnings Go Too Far
A local woman recently shared a disturbing experience on social media, describing how a man allegedly followed her around a store. Feeling scared, she posted a detailed account of what happened — including a clear photo of the man — and warned others to “watch out.” Within hours, the man saw the post and publicly responded. He said the accusations were false, explaining that he was shopping with his wife and sister and could be verified on store security footage. He said the post damaged his reputation and that he may take legal action for the false claims and unauthorized use of his image. This situation quickly turned into a local controversy — and it’s a powerful reminder of how a genuine feeling of fear can lead to serious unintended consequences when handled publicly online. Here’s the takeaway:
-It’s always okay to feel uncomfortable or unsafe — trust your instincts.
-But NEVER post identifiable photos or accusations about strangers on social media without verified evidence. Doing so can be considered defamation and cause real harm if the person is innocent.
-Instead, report the incident privately to store management, security, or police.
-If you want to warn others, describe the situation (“a man made me uncomfortable at Store XYZ”) without photos or names.
And remember: once something is posted publicly, it can’t easily be undone. Social media can spread warnings fast — but it can also ruin reputations just as quickly. When in doubt, report privately, not publicly.
Portage Place Mall is No more. There’s a giant hole in what used to be the atrium of Portage Place mall as work transforms the space into a residence and medical centre. For decades, the mall was a popular attraction for shoppers and mall lovers. However the late 90’s saw an exodus of tenants and patrons soon followed, and the mall (like many) started to empty. But today we looked back at the mall and shared some of our fondest memories of Portage Place. Below is the video of the opening in September 1987!
Troy Scott: I watched Hook opening weekend at the Famous Players Theatre.
Julie Governo Mazsa: Met my husband by the clock tower on a blind date! All those school field trips to the IMAX, and waiting for the fountain to hit its highest point — great memories.
Melanie Mann Gadsby: Oh wow! I remember training there in the ’90s when I worked at Suzy Shier — until someone dropped their pants and 💩 on the floor outside the store! 🤣
Joni Menzies: Last time I was there, my husband and I were in the food court when a woman ran through as security and police tried to catch her. She was leaping over tables like a pro athlete! Before that, I remember going at Christmas with my parents — the fountain was magical back then.
Treena Nystedt: As a teen, every trip to Winnipeg meant shopping at Portage Place. We’d park in the parkade, walk through The Bay, then into the mall — great family memories.
Vicki Johnston: My mom worked for the company that made the light fixtures, and I worked for the company that made the windows.
Megan Lelonde: It was a magical place — the shopping, the IMAX, all those windows around the food court. I’m glad it’s being rebuilt into residential and medical space.
Michele Carels: I went to hair school across the street and often went there for lunch — we basically lived at Urban Planet.
Jodi Bootsman: My grandpa used to take us country kids just to ride the escalator!
Alan Jason Daniels: Mrs. Vanelli’s Pizza — every visit with my mom and siblings in the ’90s. Bought movies and CDs from HMV, loved the sound and scent of the fountain.
That’s also where I first talked on the phone with someone I’ve loved for 20 years. And I saw Batman Forever there after my dad won free tickets!
Jay Dee Bee: On a Grade 6 field trip in 2002, I pressed a pop machine button and a free Coke came out — been trying ever since, never worked again! 😂
Kyle Hoffmann: IMAX field trips, the restaurant overlooking Central Park, and the fountains — those were the best.
Tyler Rimmer: Most of us 90s kids only went there on field trips.
Corey Martin: I miss that IMAX theatre; I went all the time in the early ’90s.
Shelley Morissette: Worked there when it opened — it was beautiful at first, but after five years, it went downhill.
Mur Young: Used to grab coffee there; loved the fountain and that leather jacket store.
Cory Christison (Top Fan): IMAX theatre memories!
Brad Paul: The IMAX was the only reason I went.
$1 MILLION JEWLERY Heist in Winnipeg! And it’s all CAUGHT ON CAMERA! This is intense and terrible. Crime in Manitoba is a big challenge but this is on an entirely different level. These poor new Canadians had their jewelry store cleaned out at gunpoint and two are in hospital from bullet wounds. This can’t happen!
HAPPY SPORTS DAY! Most of us have played and watched hockey, baseball, soccer and golf. But the world is filled with sports and some sports are not only celebrated in other parts of the world, they’re just plain weird! Here are the top 5 weirdest sports on Earth — all 100% real:
🐸 Extreme Ironing (UK) – Competitors iron clothes in extreme locations — mountain tops, underwater, even while skydiving.
🧀 Cheese Rolling (England) – Participants chase a wheel of cheese down a steep hill, often tumbling head over heels.
🪳 Cockroach Racing (Australia) – Spectators bet on roaches sprinting toward the finish line; yes, they even have names.
♟️🐐 Chess Boxing (Worldwide) – Athletes alternate between rounds of chess and boxing — brains and brawn in one match.
🪶 Sepak Takraw (Southeast Asia) – Like volleyball, but players use only their feet, knees, chest, and head to kick a rattan ball over the net.
Extreme Ironing – Competitors take ironing boards to wild locations like mountain tops, forests, and even underwater, combining the thrill of adventure sports with the mundane task of ironing clothes. It’s equal parts ridiculous and impressive — proving people will do anything to avoid wrinkles.
Cheese Rolling – Every year in Gloucester, England, brave (or foolish) contestants chase a wheel of cheese down a dangerously steep hill. Most end up tumbling and crashing, but the winner gets the cheese — and bragging rights.
ELECTION DAY in the Brandon School Division. And while voters head to the polls in a by-election to select a new board member to sit on the board at the local school division, there are some big changes in Educaiton on the horizon and they’re coming fast. Ai is not just changing the way we learn, it’s changing the entire experience. AI Replacing Teachers (San Francisco) – Some schools in San Francisco are experimenting with AI to replace human teachers. Supporters say it personalizes learning, but critics worry it could remove the heart and human connection from classrooms.
