Leons Headlines May 13: Brandon’s empty McKenzie Seeds building has been sold to Blackbird Housing, which plans a $20M redevelopment into 130-suite senior housing with medical services & amenities.
-MB Agriculture says seeding is now 50% complete, SK has been delayed because of cold temps & stubborn spring snow, particularly in the north.
-A consulting firm sued by Virden over its failed Aquifer water system denies wrongdoing, claiming the town & province ignored recommendations that may have prevented the 2025 failure.
-MB Hydro is running a simulated gas pipeline emergency in St. Lazare today to test response to a real-world pipeline incident.
-Many MB garden centres cut back on seasonal staff due to slow sales, as unusually cold May weather delays demand.
-Downtown Brandon’s Summer Market is seeing vendor spots fill quickly for weekly markets featuring local makers, food, and entertainment.
-Brandon SD Brookwood South K–8 school project public consultation open house is set for May 20.
-A 53yr old Ste. Rose man died after his motorcycle left the road Monday.
-Salvation Army will open its new Community Services location in Neepawa today at 1pm.
-Brandon Humane Society says it’s nearing capacity again, and could exceed 80 animals by next week unless more adoptions happen.
-Premier will deliver his State of the Province address in Brandon on May 14 at a Chamber luncheon amid a Budget 2026 forecasted $498M deficit.
-Brandon Transit warns service cuts may be coming unless the province restores 50-50 transit funding.
-Online luring cases have surged 344% from 2020 to 2025, prompting police to warn parents that predators are increasingly targeting children through social media, gaming, and messaging apps.
-US DEA Chief testifies fentanyl ingredients are entering Canada through the Port of Vancouver for Canadian cartel-linked drug labs before drugs are trafficked into the US.
Dunkin’s to launch in 2027 for a second time. America’s Favourite Bakeshop is invading Canada. Dunkin is rolling north like it owns the place — America’s sweet tooth has officially crossed the border, and while some fans are excited, others are wondering if there’s enough room for another donut chain in today’s restaurant environment.
What US Restaurant Chain do you REALLY wanna see in Manitoba (Canada). While some US food chains have snuck into places like Alberta and Toronto with a location or two, widespread nationwide launches of new chains have been few and far between since Covid. With Dunkin making it official, which chains are most popular HERE in Manitoba? Below is the TOP 5 with the closest CURRENT US LOCATION:
5. Texas Roadhouse (Grand Forks ND)
4. Culver’s (Minot ND)
3. Cracker Barrel (Bismarck ND)
2. Chick-fil-A (Grand Forks ND)
1. Sonic Drive-In (Minot ND)
Multiple people highlighted the car service, breakfast, and nostalgic roller-skate vibes. Clearly the biggest fan favorite!
Manitoba’s Narcisse Snake Dens are BUSY. Manitoba doesn’t just have snakes — it has the world’s largest snake gathering event every spring. Forget concerts… in Narcisse, it’s all hiss and no tickets.
Facebook Marketplace “sleight of hand” scam warning. Marketplace deals are great until the “magic trick” turns your wallet into thin air. If a deal feels like a magic show, you’re probably the disappearing act.
Motorcycle hanging from Vancouver traffic light crash, NO IT’S NOT Ai. That’s not parking — that’s a full airborne commitment to bad decisions. Somehow Vancouver traffic keeps finding new ways to go vertical.
SUPPLY CHAIN EMERGENCY?!?!? OIL? Critical Minerals? Toilet Paper?!??! NO IT’S A Diet Coke shortage! Thankfully it’s in India. A Diet Coke shortage sounds like global chaos with a twist of lime, however if it spreads, Canada might be one crisis away from a very jittery population.
Netflix lawsuit possibly affecting car insurance? How? The Texas lawsuit against the streamer is being watched here in Canada too. Our privacy laws are strong but old, like 20 years old. At this point, your Netflix subscription might come with legal fine print and a deductible.
