Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett sits down with Brandon Sun political reporter Colin Slark to talk about the first 100 days in office, what he has accomplished in his first few months as head of council, and what he has yet to do. 

Former 2PPCLI soldier Glen Kirkland opens up this week on his recent humanitarian work, in particular his time ferrying needed supplies between Poland and warn torn areas of Ukraine last year. Kirkland was in town to receive an award from the Rotary Club of Brandon, when he sat down with Sun columnist Deveryn Ross to talk about the experience.

Anne Boychuk has been a well-known fixture of Brandon's artistic community for decades, but she has become particularly well-known for her colourful Christmas window paintings on various downtown Brandon businesses when the holidays are on the horizon. Neighbours is a new podcast, hosted by the Brandon Sun's Deveryn Ross, which seeks to tell the stories of the people who live and work in our community, and get to know them better. Anne Boychuk is Deveryn's first guest. 

Today on the show Sun writer Ian Hitchen has a sit down conversation with Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson during her stop in Brandon on Nov. 4. In our conversation with the premier, we touched on several local subjects, including safe injection sites, government Perimeteritis, election speculation and homelessness within our city. Special thanks to freelance audio producer Daniel Mosionier for his help on this week's podcast. 

Good afternoon and welcome to another edition of Sunny Side Up. Today on the show, Barry Cooper joins me in studio to discuss his time serving as the president of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. He and I have a discussion on what Westman businesses have been through coming from a pre-pandemic time to where we are today in the current business climate. Cooper shares some thoughts on the resilience of small business owners and entrepreneurs stepping up to the challenge of growing their business, some of his goals in office before his term wraps up and experience working for Heritage Co-op. Later on in the show, Perry Bergson, the elder statesman of the Brandon Sun joined me in studio to catch up on the Brandon Wheat Kings, baseball and a 30 plus year career covering news, sports and music. Perry and I explore what it was like when he joined the newspaper for the first time in 1989 and how the Brandon Sun looks today.

Today on the show Colin Slark and I have a sit down conversation with Jean Charest, the former leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and three term premier of Quebec. Charest is currently running as a candidate in the leadership race for the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and graciously took some time to join us live in the studio while making a campaign appearance in Brandon. The three of us discuss why he believes he is the right choice for the leadership role, his background in politics and policy initiatives he would like to see implemented if elected. Enjoy this special edition of Sunny Side Up!

Today on the show, I have a sit down conversation with Constable Amanda Conway of Brandon Police Service where her and I had a chance to discuss Project Resilience 911, a project she co-founded giving first responders in Westman a place to have their mental health concerns heard on the job. Cst. Conway and I discuss her time working on the force for seven years in Brandon and a 20 year career serving the public while learning some of the stresses and resources available to first responders in need who may need a break after experiencing trauma on the job. Later on in the show, Karen McKinley and I discuss her background in journalism, working in small town Ontario and Alberta before moving on to Thunder Bay and Yellowknife for work, prior to joining the Brandon Sun. We also get a chance to discuss her most recent Focal Point feature on sustainable gardening in Westman. All this and more on this week's edition of Sunny Side Up!

Today on the show, Colin Slark and I have a sit down conversation with our current two term head of council, Mayor Rick Chrest. The three of us discuss his time in office over the past two terms, including a look into some of the plans that were on the table for Brandon's downtown neighbourhood. Chrest shares some thoughts on this upcoming municipal election, who he would like to see run on council and why voter turnout is of greater importance this time around as he previously announced he would not be running again for a third term. We get an inside look at what he plans to do after his time in office and more on this edition of Sunny Side Up!