The Keystone Centre announced today a new partnership with Ticketmaster to service the Keystone Centre’s ticketing and on-line fan engagement services. As the Keystone Centre’s official ticketing partner, Ticketmaster will provide ticketing for all Brandon Wheat Kings hockey games, concerts and events inside Westoba Place. Brandon Wheat Kings fans will have access to Ticketmaster’s industry-leading digital ticketing technology. Ticketmaster offers fans a seamless experience when buying, transferring or managing tickets. Fans can use their mobile device to easily manage verified tickets via download to a digital wallet. All home game tickets that are sold and transferred are authenticated, giving fans peace of mind as they shop their ticket options. “We are excited to introduce Ticketmaster to Wheat Kings fans,” said Drew Clayton, Brandon Wheat Kings director of ticket sales. “We want to ensure our fans have a first-class ticket buying experience and the Keystone’s move to Ticketmaster should help accomplish this. The software is very user friendly, allowing fans to not only access their season tickets, but to easily transfer tickets to friends and family form their desktop or mobile phones.” 2022 will see the first full events season following the cancelled 2020, and abbreviated 2021 seasons. The introduction of Ticketmaster to the Keystone Centre will allow for a more fan-friendly event experience, including enhancing concourse traffic flow, and a more efficient on-line ticket management system. Ticketmaster will begin servicing Keystone Centre and Brandon Wheat Kings ticketing on September 1st, 2022. “We’re looking forward to the season with Ticketmaster on board,” says Jeff Schumacher, Keystone Centre CEO & general manager. “The team from Ticketmaster have already made a great impression on our organization, and having the ability to leverage their years of unparalleled success in the industry will help us improve the fan experience for the incredible events we look forward to hosting at the Keystone Centre.” Tickets for events at the Keystone Centre may be found by visiting KeystoneCentre.com, WheatKings.com, or Ticketmaster.ca.  

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.