When it comes to comparing communities, one component of the arms race is amenities and facilities available for entertainment. That’s one of the reasons both Winnipeg, Hamilton, and Regina replaced their aging large outdoor venues with shiny-new stadiums. They kept up with the times, and got some major events out of it.  Smaller cities like Brandon are not immune from those pressures to compete. The Keystone Centre has brought a lot of business and events to Western Manitoba that would have gone elsewhere. The Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium has also done its part to bring arts and entertainment events to Brandon. The Keystone Centre was built in 1973, while the WMCA opened in 1969. Brandon residents probably need to start the conversation on what they want their entertainment future to look like.  Most arenas have a lifespan of 40 years. It’s clear the Keystone Centre’s main arena had a pretty innovative design for its time, and with the addition of luxury boxes for the 2010  Memorial Cup, it has served the community very well. It’s connection to the rest of the facility makes it especially useful for agricultural and equine events. Down the road in Regina, the 1977-built Brandt Centre has a similar connection to the rest of its exhibition park. In Saskatoon, SaskTel Centre opened in 1988 with a hockey seating capacity of 7,700, and an ability to expand to 16,000 seats. After renovations, it can house more than 15,000 for hockey games.  While it is important to consider both Regina and Saskatoon are larger cities than Brandon, both communities are now talking about new arenas. Recently, several concepts for a downtown arena, were proposed by city council in Saskatoon. The one most favoured in a feasibility study places the new arena across the street from its main concert hall and convention centre, two blocks from its main transit hub and a block away from the city’s historic restaurant and retail strip. With hotels already in place, the concept mirrors the Ice District in Edmonton, and the SHED district in Winnipeg. Regina also announced plans to consider a 10,000-seat facility in the north end of its downtown core, or its Warehouse District, across the tracks from downtown and has trendy bars and restaurants. It may also consider a site on its exhibition grounds, near the existing Brandt Centre.  Discussions on both of those arena projects are happening for different reasons. SaskTel Centre is in the far north of Saskatoon. Anyone leaving the arena to go south has to go down one road. City council is looking for a downtown revitalization project, and the Saskatoon Blades WHL team would certainly benefit from being more central to corporate sponsors and fans. Parking is not an issue as there are large lots nearby. In Regina, the Brandt Centre has had mechanical issues and likely has seven to 10 years of life left as components are breaking down. Required building replacement is in sight, and can’t be pushed off.  Westoba Place has been well maintained, and that has expanded the lifecycle for this facility as it nears its fifth decade of service. The same applies to the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium. That said, there are events that skip past Brandon because of building obsolescence.  Regina Exhibition Association Limited CEO Tim Reid told CKRM the Brandt Centre generates between $800,000 to $900,000 in revenue. A new facility is projected to generate between $1.8 and $2 million. It’s difficult to determine whether a similar increase in revenue would result in Brandon, but the longer a facility stays in use, the maintenance costs will rise.  Election years are good times for public discussions on a city’s vision for the future. Should Brandon be considering a downtown revitalization project such as an arena? Should it be paired with a new auditorium? Should an new arena be built on the Keystone Centre grounds, with the existing Westoba Place repurposed? There is a need for an indoor soccer facility, or it could be turned into another equine arena or larger convention space. Will a private entity see the need for a new arena and build it themselves away from the Keystone Centre grounds? There’s plenty of options to discuss.  It’s time for Brandonites to have that conversation before they get left behind by progress.

As part of the Manitoba government’s ongoing effort to help families make ends meet, Premier Heather Stefanson today unveiled an $87-million Family Affordability Package to immediately provide families with children, seniors living on a fixed income, and Manitobans who are hurting the most, with benefits to help ease the burden of rising costs and high inflation. “We know that many Manitobans are hurting right now and having a hard time making ends meet,” said Stefanson. “Not only are we recovering from the pandemic, but we are also facing the burden of the new federal carbon tax along with soaring utility bills and rising prices on everything from gasoline to groceries. Manitobans need help right now and we’re taking action.” Help for Families with Children As part of the new Family Affordability Package, Manitoba families with children and a household income of less than $175,000 in 2021 will receive a Family Affordability benefit cheque of $250 for the first child and $200 for each additional child. An estimated 145,000 families with approximately 282,000 children will benefit with an average cheque of approximately $440 per family, totalling $63 million in benefits. Help for Low Income Seniors In addition, seniors with less than $40,000 in family income, who claimed an Education Property Tax Credit in 2021, will each receive a Family Affordability benefit cheque of $300 to help ease the burden of rising costs. This $16-million initiative will help approximately 52,500 senior households living on fixed incomes. Help for Manitobans Most in Need Manitobans receiving Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) will benefit from a long-overdue increase to the basic needs rate starting in October 2022 for the month of November. EIA general assistance clients without dependent children will receive an extra $50 per adult each month. All EIA disability clients will receive an additional $25 per household each month. Additionally, to help feed even more struggling families who are turning to food banks to help make ends meet, the premier said help is also on the way with a temporary grant program called the Food Security Fund, which will support community organizations grappling with growing demands. Stefanson noted historic tax relief measures were also part of Budget 2022 with the $2,020 Tax Rollback Guarantee, which has now exceeded to $2,400 or $4,800 for a two-income family. Some of these initiatives include: expanding the child-care subsidy program; phasing out of education property taxes; introducing a new residential renters tax credit; and providing rebate cheques to vehicle owners through Manitoba Public Insurance. “This phase of the Family Affordability Package is our way of standing with Manitobans by providing immediate benefits and help for those who need it most,” said the premier. “But there is more help on the way as we work to provide benefits to Manitobans, not just with one cheque, but with ongoing benefits.” To find out more about the Family Affordability Package, visit: https://www.manitoba.ca/familyaffordability/.

The Manitoba government is once again providing free entry to provincial parks over the Labour Day long weekend, Environment, Climate and Parks Minister Jeff Wharton announced today. “The diversity of landscapes and waterways throughout Manitoba’s provincial parks provide a broad range of recreational and relaxing activities to suit any taste,” said Wharton. “This long weekend may mark the start of the transition from summer to fall, but there’s still time to participate in your favourite warm-weather activities and with free provincial park access this weekend, there’s no reason not to.” Vehicle permits are not required to visit provincial parks from Friday, Sept. 2 to Monday, Sept. 5. However, regular fees still apply for provincial campgrounds. Individuals who want to camp can check site availability and make a reservation through the Parks Reservation Service at www.manitobaparks.com or by calling toll-free 1-888-482-2267. Several provincial park campsites, cabins and yurts remain open through the fall, allowing campers to stay as late as Thanksgiving. Park interpreters will once again welcome schools this fall for free guided programs at Birds Hill, Spruce Woods and Whiteshell provincial parks. Teachers are encouraged to book field trips for trail hikes, exploration activities and other curriculum-based learning experiences at park interpretive centres. The ‘Parks in the Classroom’ programs are also available to connect with park interpreters remotely for engaging online sessions. For details on interpretive programming, visit www.manitobaparks.com. To help protect provincial parks for future generations, the minister reminded Manitobans to do their part in stopping the spread of invasive species. Firewood should be obtained and burned locally, and never transported out of the city of Winnipeg, to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer. To prevent the spread of zebra mussels, all water users, including boaters, fishers and beach users, must follow the specific decontamination and bait requirements in place in control zones. Anyone transporting watercraft including canoes and kayaks, must stop at watercraft inspection stations when they are open. For more information on invasive species, visit: www.manitoba.ca/StopAIS. Beach users are reminded to be water smart, which includes never swimming alone, being within arm’s reach of young children and wearing properly sized life-jackets. Visitors can borrow life-jackets in select parks and return them after their activity. Select parks offer a Life-Jacket Loan Program. For more information, visit: www.manitobaparks.com. Manitobans can stay up to date with provincial park news, activities and events by following Manitoba Parks on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MBGovParks or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MBGovParks.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On August 28, 2022 shortly after 10:00 pm, police responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision with wildlife in the 900 block of 1st street N. The driver of the vehicle displayed signs of impairment.  The 27-year-old female provided samples of her breath, which were more than twice the legal limit.  She was later released and will appear in court on September 1, 2022 on charges of Driving While Ability Impaired, and Driving with More Than 80 mgs of Alcohol in Blood.

The Manitoba government is investing $1.1 million from the Provincial Parks Endowment Fund to support park enhancement projects across the province, Environment, Climate and Parks Minister Jeff Wharton announced today. “Manitobans love their provincial parks and our government is excited to announce the latest round of park improvement projects,” said Wharton. “Through the Provincial Parks Endowment Fund, our government is ensuring that funds are available in perpetuity for important projects to help preserve public parks for future generations.” In all, this year’s funding will support 64 improvement projects across Manitoba, the minister noted. “Manitoba's strengths are its people and its natural wonders, and nowhere is this more evident than in our stunning provincial parks,” said Lesley Anne Fuga, board member, Friends of Birds Hill Park Inc. “We applaud investments that improve accessibility and visitor experiences while also helping ensure the long-term ecological integrity of the parks we love.” The funding will support a variety of accessibility improvements at Birds Hill Provincial Park, such as building an accessible path to the washrooms at the West Beach and paving the Bur Oak parking lot. In Whiteshell Provincial Park, accessibility projects include the addition of eight new accessible campsites along with upgrades to 17 existing accessible campsites and the installation of 10 new accessible button door openers on public buildings such as camp offices, washrooms and shower facilities. Three accessible campsites will also be added at Grand Beach Provincial Park. Other improvements include upgrades to yurts at various locations including Asessippi, Camp Morton, Stephenfield and Spruce Woods provincial parks. In Nopiming Provincial Park, improvements will be made to picnic tables and campfire pits at backcountry canoe route sites along the Bird River, Seagrim’s Chain and the Rabbit River. Improvements will also be undertaken at several boat launches in the northwest region, including Bakers Narrows, Clearwater Lake and Grass River. At Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park, projects include adding a viewing telescope and minor maintenance to the walkway through the marsh along with trail signage improvements and the addition of a new amphitheatre for interpretive programs. Renovations will also be made to the Hecla Village fish museum. Funds will also support conservation and biodiversity enhancement projects including prairie management initiatives at Spruce Woods and Beaudry provincial parks. For the complete list of 2022 Provincial Parks Endowment Fund projects, visit www.manitobaparks.com. Launched in 2021 with an initial investment of $20 million, the Provincial Parks Endowment Fund is expected to generate approximately $1 million per year to help enhance visitor experiences at Manitoba’s provincial parks. Priorities for the fund are determined through a process involving engagement of citizens and stakeholders, Wharton noted. In addition, the province released a report today summarizing a public survey on the Provincial Parks Endowment Fund. In all, 2,232 people responded to the EngageMB survey. Results showed that Manitobans love parks, with many park projects identified as priorities, including trails, habitat restoration and enhancement along with improvement to campgrounds and other recreation facilities. This feedback played an important part in the decision-making process for allocating the funds, and park users will continue to have opportunities to provide input in future years. A link to the report can be found here: https://engagemb.ca/provincial-parks-endowment-funds. The Provincial Parks Endowment Fund encourages private and philanthropic contributions and enables the province to follow the wishes of generous donors who want to leave a legacy of support for parks. With a matching formula that provides one dollar for every two dollars donated from other sources, the fund has the capability to grow and support even more projects and improvements, noted Wharton. Manitobans wishing to donate to the Provincial Parks Endowment Fund can find more information at www.manitobaparks.com. Donations are administered through The Winnipeg Foundation. Manitobans can stay up to date with provincial parks news, activities and events on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MBGovParks and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBGovParks. (Province of MB Release)