Leons Headlines Nov 20: Brandon City Council to investigate how other cities pay their councils to see if ours should be full-time & earn more, with a report coming in February & any changes set for 2026.
-Brandon’s mayor is welcoming MB Hydro’s proposed $3B combustion turbine project, while environmental groups oppose it, as Hydro says it’s needed by the end of the decade to meet rising demand.
-Manitobans can once again enter paramedic training right out of high school after MB removes prerequisite courses that sharply reduced applications, helping Red River fill all 40 seats this fall, yet rural areas still face over 200 paramedic vacancies.
-A 29-year-old man sentenced to 3 and a half years in prison for helping transport a kg of cocaine from Wpg to Brandon for a man guilty of trafficking in May.
-Wpg police say a single suspect is responsible for a string of 22 arsons & break-ins at restaurants, politicians’ offices & businesses since June, charging a 35yr old man Tuesday.
-Food insecurity has reached record highs in Canada, affecting about 25.5% of households. This compares to roughly 16% of households in Mexico and 13.5% in the USA.
-Tickets are on sale today for the PBR Canada Cup Series, which returns to Brandon on May 1–2, 2026.
Holiday Train. The Holiday Train is rolling again and made its first major stop last night in Montreal. Fans and communities are gathering along the route to enjoy the festive music and holiday spirit and you’ll want to mark December 5th in your phone, although no stop in Brandon this year.
AI bringing back loved ones. AI is now being used to create lifelike digital interactions with loved ones who have passed away. People are using this technology to reconnect and preserve memories in new ways.
Great American Smokeout. The Great American Smokeout encourages smokers to quit for at least one day, sparking long-term change. Quitting smoking has immediate benefits for your body, including improved heart and lung health. And if you quit for 15 years or more, it’s like you never smoked to begin with!
Family holiday gameplan. Half of Americans admit they need a family holiday gameplan to survive the season. The question now is whether Canadians will feel the same pressure this year.
https://studyfinds.org/half-of-americans-need-game-plan-to-survive-holiday-dinners
Winnipeg direct to Iceland. WestJet is launching a direct Winnipeg–Reykjavik route this summer. Flights are slated to begin June 27, making Iceland more accessible for Manitobans.
What are these Foods?!?!?! Many popular food names are regularly mispronounced, often leading to funny or awkward moments when ordering. Luckily, experts have stepped in to help settle the debate on the correct pronunciations.
https://www.tastingtable.com/2026205/popular-foods-pronounced-incorrectly
AI cheating: Divorce lawyers warn that “AI cheating” is on the rise, as partners engage in secret relationships with chatbots powered by large language models. This new form of infidelity is creating unique legal challenges for married couples.
https://boingboing.net/2025/11/20/divorce-lawyers-say-ai-cheating-is-a-growing-phenomenon.html
