Brandon Minute: Merry Christmas, Cancelled Programs, and Shopping Mall Fire

Brandon Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Brandon politics

This Week In Brandon:

• It’s Christmas on Wednesday. Thank you to every single one of our readers and supporters who reached out, donated, volunteered, or shared our content this year. We appreciate every single one of you and hope you have a wonderful holiday season filled with friends and family. Merry Christmas!
  
  
• We don’t often use these weekly emails to explicitly ask for support, but we’re in the middle of our year-end fundraiser, and we’ve set a goal to raise $5,000 by December 31st. This is a critical time for non-profits, and reaching our goal will ensure we can continue the important work we do. If you value what we bring to the table and want to see us keep going, please consider making a donation today. Every bit helps, and we’re deeply grateful for your support. You can contribute by clicking here. Thank you!
  
  
• There are no Council or Committee meetings this week. Regularly scheduled meetings will resume in the new year.

Last Week In Brandon:

• Police Chief Tyler Bates raised concerns about a rise in overdoses linked to an increasingly toxic drug supply in the city. Overdose deaths have doubled in the past two years, with 2024 recording seven fatalities among 50 police-reported cases. Experts attribute the growing danger to illicit drugs containing potent or harmful chemicals, such as herbicides and anti-seizure medication. Community advocates are suggesting a need for education, harm reduction strategies like naloxone use, and access to safer drug supplies to mitigate the crisis.
  
  
• Assiniboine College has seen a significant drop in international student applications, down by 78%, leading to the cancellation of five programs, including culinary arts and business administration. This decline is attributed to the federal government's cap on study permits, which also impacts local enrollment, as international students previously helped support domestic programs.
  
  
• A fire at Shoppers Mall disrupted holiday shopping, forcing several businesses to temporarily or permanently close due to smoke and water damage. The fire, which started in a store and was quickly contained, triggered sprinklers, causing further damage. Ten businesses, including Spencer's, Telus, and Scotiabank, have closed indefinitely, while two seasonal retailers had to end their temporary leases early. The mall's popular Santa photos were also cancelled for the remainder of the season due to damage to the set.