Brandon Fire & Emergency Services Issue Thin Ice Caution On Or Around The Assiniboine River


February 24, 2022

Brandon, MB – With the public’s safety and the safety of all emergency response personnel top of mind, Brandon Fire & Emergency Services is asking members of the public to be extremely cautious when on or around the Assiniboine River. 

On February 17th, 2022, the Province of Manitoba advised that they further increased outflow from the Shellmouth Reservoir.  This increase is part of their normal operation to drawdown the level of the reservoir in preparation for spring run-off from the upper Assiniboine River.  Water levels are expected to increase by one to two feet on the Assiniboine River in the Brandon area in the coming days. 

As temperatures continue to fluctuate, ice surfaces can become increasingly unstable and fragile. There have been confirmed reports of thin ice on the Assiniboine River.  

Particular attention should be paid by parents of young children whose youngsters may still be learning about the dangers of ice safety, anyone who exercises their pets near the Assiniboine River and recreational vehicle users who traditionally access the river surface during the winter months.