The Best Places To Eat In Brandon

Although I hail from Portage la Prairie, which is an hour and a half east of Brandon and is by far one of the greatest cities on Earth, I have visited Brandon on a regular basis throughout my life. Throughout the many, most likely thousands, of times I've been to Brandon I've had countless opportunities to dine at some of the city's finest restaurants. Today I will share some of Brandon's best places to eat. With the City hosting a population of almost 50,000 people there are countless pizza joints, fast food places and eat-in restaurants. Therefore, I have narrowed it down to five incredible options, trying to keep it as diverse as possible.

First off it is important to understand that although Portage is an amazing and inspirational city it does not have every single restaurant imaginable. I have always said that everything I could possibly need is in Portage while everything I could possibly want is in Brandon. Therefore, there would be no need to go forth and tread in that terrible collection of riff raff known as Winnipeg. Anyway, one such delicious restaurant that Brandon possess’s while Portage does not is a Wendy's. Yes, indeed that same Wendy's that has the fresh never frozen beef and cheap, frosty ice cream. Wendy's is also home to the Baconator which by all accounts imaginable beats every single fast food menu item out there. There are, of course, other menu items included at Wendy's, though I'm not sure why that would matter with the Baconator on the menu. Nonetheless this restaurant also serves up salads, kid's meals and chicken nuggets. Wendy's is located at 905 18th street on the corner of 18th street and Park Avenue, only minutes away from campus.

Sometimes fast food is great, other times you're in the mood for something more whole and fulfilling. I recently had the opportunity to dine in at one of Brandon's newest restaurants located in the the southern reaches of the city. East Side Mario's is a modern Italian restaurant that recently set up shop in Brandon. Although certainly more expensive than Wendy’s, you will find a far wider selection of meals here than any fast food place. Being an Italian based restaurant there are many items on the menu that make it feel like you're in Italy. You could dive into a dish of chicken parmesan or chow down on some signature pasta dishes. Of course, an Italian restaurant couldn't be complete without pizza! East Side Mario's delivers on this statement. There are countless pizza selections available. To top it all off there is a lounge set up right inside the restaurant in case you have free time on your weekends. East Side Mario's is located at1570 18th street inside the Shoppers Mall parking lot. Next time you're in the area stop by for a little taste of Italy. 

One major difference between the restaurants in Portage la Prairie and Brandon is that there is a large amount of ethnic dining options in Brandon. You could experience food from all over the world without ever having to leave this corner of the world. One of these ethnic restaurants that every newcomer to Brandon must try, especially if you're a fan of Eastern European cuisine, is Ukrainian Cuisine. Ukrainian Cuisine is a hidden gem within the city of Brandon and requires some background knowledge of the city in order to find. Located in the old Town Centre mall, which is at 800 Rosser Avenue, Ukrainian Cuisine offers customers delicious homemade, ethnic food. With everything from Borscht to chicken Kiev, the dishes here will make you feel like your journeying throughout the Ukrainian countryside. One of my favourite menu items is the garlic fries. These aren't your ordinary fast food fries, these are homemade, freshly seasoned french fries. Best of all they come with two dipping sauces that are literally to die for. Unlike some restaurants Ukrainian Cuisine won't break your bank account either, with prices staying fairly reasonable. Next time you want a taste of Eastern Europe but don't have hundreds of dollars to actually travel there, head down to the Town Centre and hit up Ukrainian Cuisine.

Eastern European food isn't the only ethnic food you will find in the City of Brandon. If you are a major seafood fan you have a variety of options only minutes away from the University campus. One of these options is the Japanese restaurant called Sushi Hut. Sushi Hut serves, as I'm sure you've guessed, sushi. This isn't the kind of sushi that you pick up from one of those deli coolers at the supermarket, no this is hand wrapped, quality seafood. Having first ate there only one year ago I was amazed at all the incredible options and varieties available. Best of all I went there during lunch. You see from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sushi Hut has their all you can eat sushi feature. I've seen all you can eat chicken, all you can eat ribs and even all you can eat steak, but all you can eat sushi takes the cake. If you're a major fan of sushi or have yet to try this amazing heavenly treat head down the street to Sushi Hut and enjoy every kind of sushi imaginable. Sushi Hut is located at 2728 Victoria Avenue and is a short drive, or even walk away, from Brandon University.

Up until know I have covered singular restaurants, one dining option at a time. However, there is one location in the city of Brandon that has multiple dining options and simply must be mentioned. That is the Shoppers Mall food court. I imagine that well over the majority of students know where Shoppers Mall is and what is included within its walls. After all it is one of Brandon's most popular destinations to get together and hang with friends. At the south end of the mall you will find the food court. Although almost every mall would no doubt possess a food court, the one at Shoppers Mall is a rarity in my opinion. For the size of the mall, and the size of the city for that matter, the dining options at the food court are quite impressive. Fast food options such as A and W, Subway and Dairy Queen are included in case you wanted something quick and on the go. Tim Hortons also has an outlet here providing an excellent location to get together with friends for coffee. However, there are also places like Thai Express, Sizzling Wok and Vanelli's which provide that taste of ethnic food while you continue shopping. The food court at Shoppers Mall also includes the only outlet of New York Fries in Manitoba outside of Winnipeg. Next time your heading down to Shoppers Mall don't forget to stop by the food court and see all the dining options for yourself.

Now that I have gifted you all with this knowledge get out there and experience all the dining options that Brandon has to offer. Whether you’re a newcomer to the city or, like me, have been here many times before, you too will be astounded with all the unique and diverse restaurants Brandon possesses.

Element 120 And The Islands Of Stability

Since the early 2000s a team of chemists/nuclear physicists have been synthesizing new elements using a particle accelerator. With the latest element being created being element 118, Organesson, named after the discoverer of the element, Yuri Organesson. Even just creating these elements is a big deal. Think of it this way, one of the most powerful things in the universe, stars, which literally are the gods of the universe, are they not capable of creating any of these elements. What an achievement that mere 6ft life-forms have completed, putting the stars to shame. 

In Dubna, Russia, a new particle accelerator known as the “Super Heavy Element Factory” has finished being built. The first trials, or experiments are set to begin this year. The accelerator will be trying to create elements 120 and 119, and thus starting the eighth row on Mendeleev’s periodic table. 

The main problem of creating elements 120 and 119, is that they require different target atoms and beam atoms. The target area has gotten drastically smaller, thus requiring new technology to be developed to prevent overheating from the stream of beam atoms. The probability of creating elements 120 and 119 have also gotten significantly lower than before and scientists are not entirely sure if these elements can be synthesized. 

However, element 120 may have an intriguing property. The main problem with a lot of these super heavy elements is that they decay in milliseconds, which makes it hard to measure, or determine the chemical properties of the elements. Element 120 might be the start of the next “Island of Stability.” This is where super heavy elements may decay in days or maybe even millions of years. 

The “Island of Stability” is prediction of when a set of heavy nuclei have a magic number of protons and neutrons that temporary reverse the trend of decreasing half-life for elements larger than Uranium. Currently, it is hypothetical whether there is an island of stability around or starting at element 120. Even still, starting a new row on the periodic table will be a phenomenal, and if the island of stability exists then this will be a major breakthrough in chemistry and nuclear physics. 

Review Of The Week: The Musical Genius Of Nujabes

Often when browsing on YouTube, people will come across a mellow, or anime gif with “Lo-Fi hip hop” next to it. Perhaps to most of us the familiar jazz hip hop beats are quite common, and relaxing. However for the genre of lo-fi hip hop or jazz hip hop, it would not be what it is today without the rumoured founder, Jun Seba, Nujabes.

Notorious for using samples from jazz and hip hop, Nujabes would create atmospheric music instrumentals unlike most people had ever heard before. Nujabes’ s music started to become more well known, because of the critically acclaimed anime Samurai Champloo, which he was the prominent artist of the soundtrack. Nujabes was also the founder of a record label known as Hydeout Productions which featured some music artists such as Uyama Hiroto and Cise Starr.

On top of creating atmospheric and soulful beats that reach the hearts of listeners, Nujabes collaborated with many Japanese artists and rappers. One of Nujabes’ s popular albums Luv (sic) parts 1-6, features rappers like Shing02 and Cise Starr as the main contributors. One of Nujabes’s most popular songs, Feather, has reached about 13 million views on YouTube, despite not being as well known as Mozart, or Biggie Smalls. To put that number in perspective, the Michigan Stadium has about 100,000 seats, so this would mean, you would need 130 stadiums to fit 13 million people. 

To this day, Nujabes still continues to influence todays lo-fi hip hop artists like DJ Okawari, Uyama, etc. Even though he died in a tragic traffic accident in 2010. Many tributes are still being done for Nujabes, as well as other popular songs now being done in “Nujabes style” or “Nujabes blend”. Some examples are, Book of Rhymes by Nas (Nujabes Blend), and I Got A Story to Tell by Notorious B.I.G. (Nujabes style). Some will even go so far to say that he has influenced new emerging hip hop artists like Joji, and Elijah Who. 

If you would like to discover the beats of Nujabes, I recommend, Voice of Autumn, Feather, or my personal favourite, Another Reflection. 

“Nujabes isn’t dead, you just need to click play.”

Reimann Hypothesis Solved?

Recently, a well-known mathematician Sir Michael Atiyah, claims to have solved a 159-year-old mathematics problem. Atiyah, is an 89-year-old mathematician, who won the Fields Medal in 1966, and the Abel Prize in 2004. Both awards are the top mathematics accolades one can receive. As for the mathematics problem itself, the Riemann Hypothesis is the current most famous unsolved problem in mathematics, as well as one of the Clay Mathematics Institute’s seven millennium problems. Each millennium problem has a reward worth one million dollars. So far, only one millennium problem has been solved. (Poincaré Conjecture)

The Riemann Hypothesis was first proposed by Bernhard Riemann in 1859. The problem is related to how prime numbers, such as 3, 5, 7, or 104527, are distributed. The distribution of such prime numbers is said to not follow any regular patterns. Riemann however, stated that the distribution of prime numbers is closely related to the following equation known as the Riemann Zeta Function.

The hypothesis states that, for s, other than the values of -2, -4, and -6… such that all lie on a critical line R[s] = 1/2, where R[s] is the real part of s. 

Many famous mathematicians such as the man who knew infinity, Srinivasa Ramanujan, or the beautiful mind mathematician, John Nash Jr.  have claimed in the past to have solved the Riemann Hypothesis, but flaws in their proofs say otherwise. 

Many mathematicians, and scientists, as well as my self, are skeptical of the proof. Mainly because it is so short. Atiyah claims to have solved it in a simple way. The “proof” is short enough to fit onto 12 pages. Rarely ever does a hypothesis like this one ever fit onto less than a couple hundred papers. For example, the proof of the Ramanujan Conjecture is estimated to be over 2000 pages. Atiyah claims that his proof uses a weakly analytical function known as Todd’s Function and the work of Neuman and Hirzebruch to prove the R.H. by contradiction. Currently, the paper is being peer reviewed to check if the claim is true. Only with time we will know if the Riemann Hypothesis is solved. 

Who’s Your Mayor?

Brandon’s municipal elections are just a couple of weeks away! Every four years the citizens of Brandon elect ten City Councilors, one for each of the ten wards, and a Mayor. This year the election date is set for October 24th. Except, this time around, the Mayor has already been chosen. Incumbent Rick Chrest has been acclaimed as Mayor for the City of Brandon in the 2018 municipal election. This is the first time in over 25 years that a Mayor has won their seat through acclamation in the City of Brandon. 

Although acclamation is rare, especially in larger cities, mayoral candidates that get acclaimed were generally the incumbent Mayor in the first place. The general public usually sees two reasons as to why this happens. The first is that the majority of the citizens of the city are satisfied with what their Mayor has done for them, over the past four years. Therefore, no one wants to run against them in the municipal election. Another reason as to why acclamation happens is that citizens aren't that engaged in the democratic process, meaning that no one really cares enough to step up and run for office. Either way, come October 24th citizens of Brandon already know who will occupy the Office of the Mayor.

Rick Chrest was born and raised right here in the City of Brandon. Although Chrest is now the Mayor for the next four years, he isn’t new to the political scene. He served as the City Councilor for the University Ward from 1995 to 2006. During his tenure on City Council, Chrest served as Deputy Mayor for eight years. In 2014, Chrest came back into the political spotlight and ran for the Mayor. On October 22nd, 2014 he was elected the new Mayor for the City of Brandon. Chrest possesses a background in business and community engagement. Prior to his election as Mayor in 2014 he was the General Manager of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and the General Manager for the Keystone Centre. Currently, Chrest owns the local franchised Leon's furniture store. He also sits on a number of boards and committees across the community. These include the Brandon Police Board, the Brandon and Area Planning District and the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium Corporation Board of Governors. 

So, what does the Mayor have planned for the next four years? One of Chrest’s top priorities has to do with the city’s finances. He says he plans on keeping a tight control on tax payer’s money and keep tax increases to a minimum. He also wants there to be a prime focus on economic development within the City of Brandon. Finally, Chrest realizes that crime in Brandon, especially crime relating to crystal meth, is a problem. He wants to put more resources towards policing and addictions treatment within the city in order to better combat the issue. Chrest also would like to see the youth of the community getting involved. He plans on working closely with the Brandon School Division to initiate a youth forum on drug addiction. Like the majority of community projects, Chrest realizes that combating crime in the city isn’t a job that one organization can accomplish alone. Overall Chrest will tackle the next four years as Mayor through a sustainable and co-operative approach.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ CENTRE: EVENTS

Located in the A.E Mackenzie Building just beside the library and Evan’s Theatre, the IPC is a place that many can call a home away from home. In the IPC people are welcome to relax, use the computer station or talk to the friendly company! They host all sorts of events and weekly activities for students.

During this past month the IPC has held weekly soup servings, Thursdays at 11:30 a.m, Writing skills walkins and Beading Club on Tuesday’s at 5:30 p.m. For the events going on day to day you can always check out the Brandon University website or walk by the Centre and see their sign with a list of activities and timings.

This coming week the IPC has a few plans in place to finish off the month of September. An event which  is taking place on Tuesday, Bannock & Tea with Elders will last from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Earlier that day there will be soup served for lunch and two different sessions of beading club.

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In recent weeks the IPC hosted Medicine Picking, where people got to go out to Riding Mountain to participate in the picking of natural herbs and plants. Ceremonial teachings were made available back on September 11th when Knowledge Keeper, Barb Blind, offered her voice to those who would listen in the Health Studies Building.

Another cool and interesting event that took place was the Metis Sash making Demonstration just in the hallway outside the IPC. Mary Conway is a member of the community who has a vested commitment in keeping the sash making skills alive. She says her main reason for going through the process of making the sashes is to support the culture of her grandchildren who are Metis. Mary uses a long and complex spool to intricately weave the sash together. Each colour has a  meaning and symbolizes different aspects of the world and our lives. Truly a fascinating idea and even though it may seem time consuming, supporting the culture of our Indigenous peoples are always welcomed gifts when done with love and open-mindedness.

A big event which everyone should participate in is Orange Shirt Day, where people will be wearing orange shirts in recognition of the harm that residential school’s had on children and ultimately still affect us today. There is a list of events coming up and although Orange Shirt Day is on Sunday September 30th BU will honour the event on Friday September 28th. For more information check out the Brandon University website or walk on by the IPC and ask some questions!

Trivia Tuesdays Are Lit At Prairie Firehouse

“The trick is to just find the weird shit to do in Brandon and go to it.” That’s the advice Kate Wilson gave while discussing how to make the most out of living in Brandon and why she hosts a weekly trivia night at Prairie Firehouse with her husband Aaron Wilson.

Approximately eight years ago, what could have started off as an almost murder on Craigslist turned into a job as a trivia night host in North Carolina. “It was a legit company that sent people out to bars to do trivia, so we did that for awhile,” says Kate. 

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Originally from the southern U.S., but now living in Brandon, Kate and Aaron work at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba and the University of Brandon respectively, and have just celebrated over a year of hosting Trivia every Tuesday night at Prairie Firehouse for teams of six or less. 

This year, Kate and Aaron wanted to up the ante a little bit and host a winner takes all trivia competition where the top team takes home $200 in cash and a $100 gift certificate to Prairie Firehouse – plus a sweet trophy. “It’s just the next level of competition and really fun to watch people be super competitive,” says Kate. With only three weeks left to go and ten spots in the championship, new teams are arriving each week for their chance to win big. 

When asked what one her favourite trivia questions was, Kate fondly remembered a question where teams had to determine if the word she said was a character from Lord of the Rings or a piece of IKEA furniture. “We used backroom Lord of the Rings characters and everybody was like, ‘shit, I’m pretty sure that’s the name of my pillow!’” she laughs. 

So, if you’re looking for something weird to go to at 8:00 p.m. on a Tuesday night, join Kate and Aaron at Prairie Firehouse, just be sure to make a reservation. But be warned, I’m pretty sure Kate and Aaron’s two dogs Dexter and Sally and their two cats Ginny and Twilight are the real trivia masters. 

SERC In Brandon

A big hello to you BU folks! We’d like to introduce the Sexuality Education Resource Centre and all of the many services that students may benefit from.

The Sexuality Education Resource Centre (SERC) is a community-based, non-profit, pro-choice organization committed to promoting sexual health through education.  SERC provides education on issues that relate to sexual and reproductive health (e.g. STIs, birth control options, how to respond to a pregnancy, sexual diversity, etc.).  Additionally, SERC offers free counselling and support to the LGBT2SQ+ community, as well as their friends and family members.  Also, SERC has a free lending library full of great resources, and provides free information packages that may be for personal use, or for reference for research papers.  Best of all, SERC provides free condoms, sex dams and lubricant – no questions asked!

Please feel free to come by and check out the office, meet the friendly staff, and learn more about available programs and services and grab some swag and safer sex supplies The SERC office is located at Unit C-1700 Pacific Avenue in Brandon.  For more information about SERC, please contact us at (204) 727-0417, or via e-mail at brandon@serc.mb.ca.

For more information about what we do, visit our website at www.serc.mb.ca. Also, sign up for our E-News by following the links on our website or like us on Facebook.

This information was provided by the Sexuality Education Resource Centre. 

Awareness In The Month Of September

An overall theme for September is reproductive health. This month seeks to promote awareness of ovarian cancer, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and prostate cancer. 

September is also awareness month for childhood cancer, Alzheimer’s (Alzheimer’s Society), and mental health recovery (Recovery Day Canada).  

September 16 – International day for the preservation of the ozone layer (UN Environment Programme)

The ozone layer is the most important shield we have for preserving life on earth. This day is observed in accordance with the day in 1987 on which nations committed to signing the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The UN urges participation by protecting yourself from ozone layer depletion by avoiding excessive sun exposure and researching the small ways you can minimize your own impact on the ozone layer. 

September 20 – Annual Alzheimer coffee break day (Alzheimer’s Society)

Coffee Break day is the Alzheimer’s Society’s annual nationwide fundraiser to support programs and services that help those diagnosed as well as their caregivers and family members. Participants receive a cup of coffee in exchange for a donation and the chance to catch up with friends and meet new people in community organized events. For more information visit azlheimer.mb.ca. 

September 21 – World Alzheimer’s day (Alzheimer’s Society)

Dementia is a term used to describe various brain disorders that affect memory, thinking, behaviour, and emotion. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Lack of understanding creates social stigma that results in dehumanization, strain in relationships, insufficient care, lower rates of diagnosis and delayed support. This day (and month) is dedicated to destigmatize and prevent the spread of misinformation surrounding Alzheimer’s. You can participate by joining in on an Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer’s, for more information visit walkforalzheimers.ca. 

September 21 – International Day of Peace (United Nations) 

The UN defines this day as being devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace within and among all nations and peoples; it is intended for global commitments to peace above all differences to contribute to building an international culture of peace. From taking a minute of silence at noon to participating in organized activities, there are multiple ways to participate. Visit internationdayofpeace.org/get-involved/ for a complete list. 

September 23 to 29 – National Forest Week (Canadian Forestry Association)

Forests are fundamental to national economy, culture, traditions, history, and the future. National Forest week encourages people to learn more about Canada’s forest heritage and raise awareness of forests as a renewable resource. The Canadian Forestry Association encourages you take a walk in the woods, plant a tree, care for a neglected tree, and educate yourself and others on the prevention of forest fires through. 

September 29 – World Heart Day (World Heart Federation)

Cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) is the worlds leading cause of death. This day is to focus on action to prevent and control CVD as well as educating people about controlling risk factors like tobacco use, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity – abstinence from these could avoid 80% of premature deaths. The World Heart Federation encourages people to participate in activities to take charge of heart health and encourage heart healthy living.

Supplies For University

As students are settling into their courses their minds begin to wander, wondering if they truly are prepared for the school year.  Did you pack everything you needed from home? Did you remember your keys and wallet? Did you get all the necessary supplies? Back in elementary, and even high school for some, those type of things were often taken care of by parents. No more! Welcome ladies and gentlemen to adulthood. Yes, that same adulthood that is filled with bills, stress and taxes, and more taxes and more. Today we will explore what supplies are absolutely necessary for university and where to get them. 

The first thing that often comes to mind when we think of university supplies is school supplies. These include items such as notebooks, loose-leaf, binders, pens, pencils, highlighters, backpacks and calculators. Most of these supplies can be found right on campus at our local Brandon University Bookstore. Here you will be able to purchase all those smaller but necessary items that your parents used to buy for you. Of course you don't have to purchase these items on campus. With Brandon hosting a population of just under 50,000 people there are a variety of shops and stores that could easily provide you with the necessary school supplies. At the far south end of 18th street, you know that big, busy street in front of the university, you will find Staples. Staples is an office supplies store and therefore would no doubt have everything you could possibly need in terms of basic school supplies. Going North on 18th street, in what is called the Corral Centre, you will find none other than Wal-Mart. Here you will find those highlighters you thought you didn't need for an arts course or that scientific calculator you forgot at home and need for a mathematics course. In terms of cost Wal-Mart would most likely be the cheapest location in Brandon for the majority of basic school supplies. Finally, if you turn eastward on Victoria Avenue and continue until you hit 9th street you will come face to face with Superstore, as well as by far the worst parking lot in Brandon. Here, if you can actually find a place to park, you will find much of the same items that Wal-Mart and Staples have, just different brands at different prices. Of course basic school supplies are not the only type of "supplies" that you will need for university. 

Another form of "supplies" that are practically required for university is laptops. Unlike high school laptops are used on a daily basis at university. Many students use them to take notes in class, instead of writing in scribblers or notebooks. Laptops are also used to write essays and assignments as well as do research. Unfortunately, laptops are much more expensive than your basic school supplies. However, like school supplies, Brandon offers a variety of businesses in which laptops or desktops can be purchased at. In the Corral Centre both Wal-Mart and Best Buy offer laptops and desktops. Here you will be able to browse multiple brands and models and find the best fit for the courses you are taking. It is best to purchase these items early as many businesses put on back to school sales where you could end up saving hundreds of dollars. Money you will no doubt need for the rest of the "supplies" required at university. 

Finally, some of the most important supplies that you could purchase for university is textbooks. Many courses, although not all, require or heavily advise students to purchase a corresponding textbook. This will assist you in not only studying for the course but completing assignments and projects as well. Textbooks that are required for a particular course you are registered in can be purchased at the Brandon University Bookstore on campus. However, as many people probably presumed they are far from cheap. In some cases, you can purchase used textbooks either from the bookstore or other students. Although used textbooks are sometimes not in the best condition and they sell incredibly quick. Therefore, before you go on a spending spree which can easily rack into thousands of dollars you should verify with your professor if the textbook is required or recommended and make a decision from that point on. 

Although this seems like a lot of supplies just for one year of university, making sure these housekeeping items are done early will allow you to put more focus on your coursework. Some of the supplies may last beyond one year of university such as a laptop or desktop. Others, such as textbooks, can be sold to other students the following year should they require them for a particular course. Therefore, check to make sure that you have all the supplies necessary to succeed at university. Being properly supplied will allow you to strike one more thing off that dreadful preparation list. 

A Lasting Impact: An ACC Graduate’s Work in Tanzania Impacts Thousands

Jon Sebastien took full advantage of the opportunities within his grasp to better the lives of people thousands of kilometers away in Tanzania.  He graduated in 2009 from the Land and Water Management program at Assiniboine Community College and with the skills he learned during the program, particularly project management, Sebastien was able to “create his own job” through an internship. This internship later led to employment with SNV Netherlands Development Organization, where Sebastien played a crucial role in bringing better cookstoves and solar energy to rural communities in Tanzania.

More efficient cookstoves are vital to Tanzanians as 95% of the country’s energy comes from the burning of firewood and charcoal. The result of the dependency on these two sources has led to environmental degradation and a lack of sustainability as deforestation becomes a more prominent issue. This project also aimed to better the lives of Tanzanian women who could spend up to ten hours of their day collecting fuel, starting the cookstove, preparing and cooking the meal.

During the EnDev program that Sebastien worked in, the new cookstoves could burn either firewood or charcoal at a rate of 45-55% more efficiently. The stoves are produced by small entrepreneurs in Tanzania, and when they’re sold to a customer the entrepreneur receives points that are redeemable to support growth and production capacity.

  “It’s like Air Miles for entrepreneurs… As long as it’s going to assist with production. They can get anything from water storage tanks for ceramics to metal cutters and power tools to bicycles.” Sebastien said when he returned to Brandon after eight years in Tanzania.

The program was a huge success. 60 small enterprises, employing more than 100 people full-time and another 200 part-time, collectively produced more than 2,500 stoves a month as a new product line within their enterprises.

EnDev undertook the task of expanding solar energy in Tanzania, rewarding companies who go the extra mile to hook up farmers who live far from conventional power grids. Sebastian developed a private sector fund to stimulate the spread of solar power in the rural Lake Zone region, using Results Based Financing (RBF.) Companies that meet the fund’s criteria can get direct financing – but only upon verified delivery of quality solar product sales to rural customers. This project has been life-changing to people such as Elizabeth Mukwimba, 

Mukwimba, a 62-year-old Tanzanian farmer, stated, “Having an energy-efficient cookstove has made a huge impact. The difference with solar is also huge! We used to have to use kerosene for lighting. With the price of kerosene always going up, solar makes a huge difference for people like me. It means my grandchildren can see to study in the night.”

History of Brandon

Well here we are. Beginning another semester on a big stretch of aspen parkland on the banks of the Assiniboine river. Most of us don’t give much thought as to what preceded our existence in a place and prefer not to think of ourselves as a data point on a census. 

After the glaciers of the last ice age receded in southwest Manitoba about 10,000 years ago, the land was home to people who would become known as the Ojibwa, Cree, Dene, Sioux, Mandan, and Assiniboine groups. Although the area’s history doesn’t start in the 1880s, most information readily available to the public regarding Brandon’s past starts with the era that saw a great influx of Quebec and Maritime Protestants followed by British and American immigrants. 

The expanse of a city we now inhabit was first imagined by a boat of people, carrying goods upstream from Winnipeg to Fort Ellice, a Hudson Bay Post on the Assiniboine near todays St. Lazare. 

The south bank of the Assiniboine was empty, but the north bank housed a bourgeoning town named Grand Valley. Grand Valley was settled by two brothers; John and Dougal McVicar in the 1870s. Although the exact location of the westward extension of the Canadian Pacific Railway had not yet been determined, routes through Minnedosa or Rapid City had been considered. With this expectation, regular voyages made by steamwheelers brought increasing numbers of settlers from the east.

In Spring of 1881, citizens of Grand Valley were thrilled to find out that the railway powers that be had decided on a more westerly route Winnipeg. The McVicar brothers jumped at the chance for their humble settlement to become a railway trade hub when the CPR sent a scout to decide on the divisional point for a townsites along the railway. This scout was Thomas L. Rosser, who had recently made a career change from being Confederate Cavalry Major General in the American Civil War to the chief engineer of the Canadian Pacific Railway. 

For the railway to be built through Grand Valley, Rosser offered Dougal McVicar $25,000. McVicar countered with $50,000 to which Rosser supposedly replied “I’ll be damned if a town of any kind is ever built here” – a fairly courteous response, considering his previous employment. So Rosser crossed the Assiniboine and built the railway town on the south side of the river. When rumour of an impending change for the site of the railway began circulating, Grand Valley had hope again to be the site but the city was built on a low lying plane and flooded extensively. After this, Grand Valley began to gradually disappear, 1884 Brandon newspapers ran ads offering to swap “that warehouse in Grand Valley for a horse”.

Within a year of Rosser’s passive aggressive move to build an entire town opposite the McVicar’s, population growth was exponential. In April of 1882 leading citizens called a public meeting that resulted in applying for a city charter. The charter was passed by the provincial government on May 30, 1882, meaning Brandon had skipped village or town phase of growth and skipped straight to being a city.  

It’s thought that the name Brandon originated from the Blue Hills of Brandon. The namesake of a Hudson Bay trading post “Brandon House”. Which was named after a hill on an island in James Bay where Captain James moored his ship in the winter of 1631. Brandon may more accurately be referred to as Brandon IV. 

The population of Brandon increased considerably with each coming train from the east. Settler Beecham Trotter described Brandon as of April 1882 with “streets… filled with a picturesque throng – land sharks, remittance men with dogs and guns, prospectors, adventurers of every stripe”. 

The first school board was elected in 1881. The Brandon Sun published their first paper in 1882. 1882 also saw Brandon’s first agricultural exhibition, the construction of multiple hotels, and the first central school on the west side of 100 block of 10th street. In response to inequities regarding railways and tariffs, including the CPR’s monopoly over land and the provincial control of resources, the Farmers Protective Union was established in 1883 in Brandon. 

The County of Brandon was formed in 1884, with the incorporation of surrounding municipalities including Cornwallis, Elton, Whitehead, and Glenwood, but was dismantled the same year. This was the same year that the construction of the first Brandon Courthouse began on Louise Avenue east and Rideau street. It operated until 1908, served as a provincial jail until 1979, and is not part of Rideau Park personal care home. The Canadian Pacific Railway was finally completed in 1885. Prior to this year, 6th street was a bustling hub, but after the economic development of 1886, Rosser Avenue became the most dominant street in the city. By the end of the 19th century, Brandon was ahead of its prairie counterparts with a federal agricultural research station, provincial jail, mental hospital, school of nursing, and Brandon College. 

Brandon’s first taxi service opened by the Dennison Brothers offered the choice between an auto or horse drawn vehicle in 1909. In 1912 construction of the Prince Edward Hotel began at the southwest corner of 9th street and Princess with an estimated cost of $500,000. The building was set to be extravagant, faced with brick imported from Belgium, and set to be decked out with European furnishings that ended up at the bottom of the Atlantic with the Titanic. The building was demolished in 1980.  

Although the first woman elected to Brandon’s public office in 1915, settler women couldn’t vote until 1916. However progressive a woman in office may have been in 1915, Brandon’s first female mayor wasn’t elected until 2010. In 1916, compulsory education was instituted and the purchase and consumption of alcohol was declared illegal in Manitoba. Seed packaging company, McKenzie Seeds originated in Brandon and during this grew into one of the largest seed houses in the British Commonwealth. 

The first world war saw many of Brandon’s buildings being repurposed; Brandon’s exhibition building was used as an internment camp from 1914 to 1916. The Brandon Collegiate Institute was used as an emergency treatment centre to treat the unmanageable volume of patients during the 1918 flu epidemic that took approximately 1,215 lives. Prohibition ended in 1923, the same year that the first radio station was established by CKX and owned by Manitoba telephones (now known as Bell MTS). 

From a small blip in the endless great plains to a stop for the Assiniboine River fur trade, to the modern Wheat City we now know, that is a brief and fairly accurate description of how Brandon Manitoba became the default coordinates for our google maps app.

Weise worte

    Herzlich willkommen in der Brandon Universität! Es muss gleich vorweg gesagt sein dass euer Leben sich drastisch ändern wird, jetzt wo euer Unileben anfängt. Nur keine Angst, ich hab da so manche Tipps die euch diese Wandel Periode etwas einfacher machen könnten. Erster Tipp: Lernt neue Leute kennen. Momentan sind rund 3500 Studenten hier zu Hause, und jeder hat seine eigene Geschichte und Hintergrund. Die Uni ist der perfekte Platz Menschen kennenzulernen denen ihr in eurem Leben sonst nie begegnen würdet. Zweiter Tipp: Jeder macht mal Fehler und hat Zeiten wo sein Studium ihm etwas schwer fällt, wenn ihr irgendwann mal in diesen Schuhen steckt dann ist das trotzdem kein Grund einen Nervenzusammenbruch zu erleiden. Es stehen euch mehrere Programme zur Verfügung die euch auf eurem, vieleicht stolprigen Weg, zur Abschlussfeier helfen können. Fragt einfach im Studentenservices Büro nach. Dritter Tipp: Habt spass! Das Unileben kann zeitweise richtig stressig werden, erst recht wenn ihr euch nur auf euer Studium konzentriert. Das Leben geht weiter auch während den Semesterprüfungen. Das soll nicht heissen das ihr nicht auch büffeln müsst, nur dass ein jeder sein Gleichgewicht zwischen Spass und Arbeit finden sollte. Wenn alles gut geht steht ihr am ende nicht wie Faust da und sagt  „Habe nun, ach! Philosophie, Juristerei und Medizin, Und leider auch Theologie Durchaus studiert, mit heißem Bemühn. Da steh ich nun, ich armer Tor! Und bin so klug als wie zuvor”.  

Translation, German To English

Wise Words

    Welcome to Brandon University! It must be said right away that your life will change drastically now that your university days have started. Just don't panic, I have a couple of tips that could make this transitional period easier on you. First tip: Get to know new people. At the moment there are around 3500 students at BU, each with their own story and background. The University is the perfect place to meet people that you would otherwise have never run into in your life. Second tip: Everyone makes mistakes and experiences times where they struggle at school, should you ever find yourselves in this situation there is still no reason to panic. There are many programs at your disposal that can help you on your, perhaps bumpy, road to graduation. Just go to the student services office and seek help. Third tip: Have fun! University life can get quite stressful at times, especially if you are solely concentrating on your studies. Life continues even during exams. That isn't to say that you won't have to  study hard as well, just that everyone should find the right balance between work and play. If all goes well you won't have to say, as Faust does, at the end "Have now, alas! quite studied through Philosophy and Medicine, And Law, and ah! Theology, too, With hot desire the truth to win! And here, at last, I stand, poor fool! As wise as when I entered school”.

Brandon Knights Chess

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Last year a few chess enthusiasts came together at the University to create a chess club. It culminated ten months later with a few of the younger players heading to the East Coast to play at the national level after mopping the floor with nearly every other person in the group. Seriously, it was embarrassing how one-sided the games they played against me were. Do not underestimate fourteen-year-olds, they haven’t developed the empathy to not embarrass a weak-willed fragile adult like me.

I deserved it. 

The chess club will be meeting every Saturday starting on September 8th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the university Harvest Hall. Sometimes it lasts a little longer than that. You can drop in with a small donation to the club, get some practice in and prepare for the planned big tournament at the end of November. There will be lessons for beginning players, training and analyses for players with some games under their belt, and a challenge for those who have an ego about this stuff or want to play at a higher level. Trust me, it won’t last long. You can also just come and play for fun. 

The organizer, Rod Riquelme, matches players by ability and makes sure everyone that shows up can play the maximum amount of games. So if you’re awake by 1:00 PM on a Saturday and want another excuse to avoid the course readings, come join the Brandon Knights.