The 2016 Royal Manitoba Fair wrapped up Saturday night and attendance over the week was up about 8,000 visits from last year. Over the six days, the fair reported it saw 110,000 visits. Figures I have from the 2015 event pegged that number at 102,000. Why the increase? Well, the 2015 version suffered from bad weather, it also ended on Easter Weekend and I think perhaps there was some ‘fair fatigue’ from locals who had seen little change in the programming year to year. But some new blood in the front office, some tinkering to the event line-up and a week of very good spring weather, all added up to impressive crowds each day. I took a walk through the barns late in the week and have included some photos for your enjoyment. Here’s a statement released from the fair’s GM Saturday night: “The achievements of the week cannot be contributed to any one event,” said Ron Kristjansson, general manager of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba. “The exhibitors, the volunteers, the sponsors and the visitors combined with exceptional competitions and an outstanding line up of entertainers all contributed to the success of this year’s event.” With the steady decline of the family farm, as larger corporate agriculture operations emerge, the fair is also a chance for city folks — not to mention Westman’s influx of immigrants — a chance to get up close and personal with the source of our food. “The mission of the Provincial Exhibition and all of our events is to educate youth about the importance of agriculture,” Kathy Cleaver, president of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, also said in the release following the fair. “The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair gives thousands of kids and families a chance to touch, feel and experience agriculture. “Our communities are changing and with more families living off the farm, these opportunities are often not available.” The next event for the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba is the Manitoba Summer Fair, June 8-12, at the Keystone Centre.

The PC Party is doing very well so far in the provincial election campaign. The mainstream media appears to be less hostile than usual — almost warming up to the Tories at times — and the polls are still in the party’s favour. But it’s no secret the way the vote splits and the concentration of party support in the province requires at least a minimally viable Liberal Party presence in some constituencies to ensure a Progressive Conservative majority. But the lame-ass Liberals are being shredded at every turn, both by their candidates’ muck-ups and the media who expected so much more from rookie Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari. So the predictions of the Grits taking a handful of seats are fading. But their candidates still need to swipe votes from soft NDPers — and even just folks who voted federally for the Liberals and PM Trudeau II — to help the Tories over that first-past-the-post predicament they inherently face in certain constituencies each election. In Brandon East, the Grits have a very capable candidate in Vanessa Hamilton, who resigned her Riverview city council seat for this race. In Brandon West we have a parachute Liberal candidate from Portage la Prairie whose rip-chord apparently failed and he hit his head hard on landing in the Wheat City earlier this week. Billy Moore’s first order of business was to completely throw off the Grits daily message stream by blurting out in a small-time debate he wants to close hospitals. He later walked that back, but his stupidity was exposed for all to see. Paul Thomas, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Manitoba, told the Canadian Press earlier this week the Liberals continue to struggle with organizational challenges and are “not in the same league” as the NDP and Progressive Conservatives. So clearly, the Tories must rethink some strategies in vote-rich Winnipeg. That’s where the election will be won for them. It’s where a majority could shrink to a minority. Or worse. And the province desperately needs a change in government. We can’t suffer another four years of the Damn Dirty Dippers. So sure, Tory Leader Brian Pallister should focus on the Capital Region. Almost exclusively. But I live in Brandon. I love Brandon. So I’m expressing here my concerns for this city. I think it’s safe to say that Tory Reg Helwer will keep his seat in Brandon West. NDPer Linda Ross isn’t that well-known — she’s been a school trustee forever, but that doesn’t create a great profile (they’re the people who really raise your taxes each year). And while Ross is a very bright woman, she won’t be running the same type of door-to-door campaign as Helwer. If the polls and talk in the street are correct, we will see a PC government elected on April 19. And Helwer, having nicely grown into his role as MLA, while proving himself capable in QP and with the media, will likely be in cabinet. That leaves Brandon East. While I plan a more thorough look at what promises to be one of the hottest races to watch in the province, I’ll just say now that NDP MLA and cabinet minister Drew Caldwell is in for the fight of his political life. Progressive Conservative Len Isleifson (pictured with Pallister at the top of this column) is a former city councillor who has been planning this run for quite some time. While Caldwell is a larger-than-life personality, Isleifson is determined and focussed. But just as Isleifson isn’t a name that rolls off the tongue, it’s also one that isn’t rolling around voters’ minds. So all of this preamble — yup, that’s my preamble when I’m fired up on a Friday — brings me to my point of today’s diatribe. Why have the Tories so far declined an invitation to participate in the Leaders Debate on April 7 at 7 p.m. at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium? It’s a major public forum organized by the Brandon Sun, CKLQ 880 and WCGtv. The Tories have already taken some heat in the media for stating they couldn’t attend due to scheduling, or some such nonsense. Problem is, Pallister will square off earlier THE SAME DAY at the Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s Provincial Election Leader Forum over the lunch hour. Now on the face of it, and perhaps in a high school current affairs class, Pallister is doing the right thing by working a friendly business crowd and avoiding being tripped up in a live broadcast public debate (that will surely be stacked by union activists and such). I’m a chamber member and believe in it strongly, but it’s still a special interest group. The media debate is open to the general public and will have a panel of expert reporters and a Brandon University political scientist. To me, it’s an invitation Pallister has to find a way to accept. I’m not sure Pallister understands the damage he will do to the morale of Westman Tories and to the chances of Isleifson to give Caldwell a real run for his money. Sure, a Dec. 2015 poll showed the Tories were well ahead in the constituency — the NDP was last — but the accuracy of that poll has been called into question. And it is four months old now. My main concern is that IF the Tories are to form government, then what’s best for Brandon? Sure, the city will have Helwer in Brandon West on the inside where funding and policy decisions are made, but what about Brandon East? Do we want the city to be represented by Caldwell, sitting in opposition — angry, disgruntled and simply throwing sticks in the spokes of the new government? Or do we want the entire city represented by the governing party? The way the picture looks now, from 30,000 feet up, if I was Pally, I would accept the invitation to do the media-sponsored Leaders Debate at the WMCA and use every opportunity he can to drop Isleifson’s name. That effort, combined with Liberal Hamilton’s hard work and popularity, could ensure a win for in Brandon East for the Tories. While I like Caldwell and we’ve been friends since the ’80s — heck, he was best man at my last wedding — unless his NDP is going to win the 41st general election, then I think his unwavering passion and dedication to Brandon could be better directed than heckling from the Opposition benches.

Everybody loves a great deal and it's even more fun finding one at a Garage Sale. For some folks it's like going on a treasure hunt! Even more exciting when there's more items to hunt for! The Brandon and District United are giving you the opportunity to take in Brandon's Largest Garage Sale and this year they promise it will be bigger and better than ever!! They've had great success in past years with their location in the Manitoba Room of the Keystone Centre so why mess with success? In fact, why not increase the chances of greater success? United Way Director of Operations Janis Evens says the plan is to do just that, "We've added an extra room for this year. We can manage over 200 tables allowing for more vendors than ever before and plenty of more goods for sale. It's like a bargain hunter's paradise!" The sale has become a mainstay on the list of many events the Brandon & District United are responsible for organizing. Doors will open at 9:00 AM and the sale runs until 3:00 PM on Saturday April 16. Evens says bargain hunters will enjoy their time at the sale as they can "shop the floor in the Manitoba Room and UCT Pavilion for a little bit of everything from antiques, to baked goods, to crafts and so much more! Plus there's no need to worry if we get snow or rain as we'll be able to enjoy the indoor comfort." If you'd like to rent a table of your own there are still a few left, and they are going fast. Prices are $25.00 for a table, or $30.00 for a table along the wall that includes electricity. Evens says they're quickly closing in on the 200 mark, "we're at around 150 tables thus far. We have sold out the Manitoba room and now we're expanding to the UCT Pavillion! Tables are first come first served and will not be considered reserved until payment has been received." Evens says it's best to act early when booking a table especially those booking tables near plug ins, "Tables with electrical availability are limited and on a first come, first served basis. Vendors are responsible for bringing their own extension cords. We will do our best to accommodate table location requests, but we cannot guarantee requested placements. Requests will not be considered until payment is received." For more information, or to rent a table, call 571-8929 or email events@brandonuw.ca Admission is only $2.00 and under 12 is FREE. As always the money goes straight to 2016 United Way campaign. The funds raised will be allocated to local charities that rely heavily on the events that the United Way coordinate. This event is sponsored in part by the Keystone Centre.

Spring is in the air! And oh boy, a fair is in the air at the Keystone Centre. My first Royal Manitoba Winter Fair experience was in 1984. After just moving to Brandon from Toronto. I was overwhelmed with the sights, sounds and smells. Especially the smells. The Winter Fair works your olfactory senses as much as your ocular muscles. From the warm sweetness of the food carts — mmm, mini-donuts — to the earthy farmyard aroma in the stables, the Winter Fair is one very large, very entertaining spectacle. Day 1 of the 109th Royal Manitoba Winter Fair kicked off with very strong attendance. I’ve never seen so many people at the Sunrise Breakfast (which leads off my photo story below). “The first day of the fair was great,” Provincial Exhibition GM Ron Kristjansson, said in one of the daily releases from what is a very efficient communications crew. “The weather was fantastic and we were thrilled with the turnout for the start of fair week.” I took some pictures of the unlikely duo of Brandon West PC Party MLA Reg Helwer and Brandon East NDP MLA Drew Caldwell chatting and greeting visitors at the door. The duo are in the middle of a gruelling provincial election. Oh, and Caldwell is the guy wearing the black hat (no comment). And what would a fair be without the venerable Doodles the Clown, who I caught in action at the breakfast. Onstage were the very bouncy Team T&J. I walked through the barns and Petting Zoo, before returning later to catch the opening night ceremonies. Mayor Rick Chrest and his wife Karen Chrest were some of the dignitaries who entered Westman Place in a horse-drawn carriage. A Guard of Honour, comprised of soldiers, sailors and aviators from CFB Shilo, with representatives from the Brandon Cadet Corps, were on parade. Special guests from the Winnipeg Infantry Tactical Group rappelled from the ceiling to present Kathy Cleaver, president of the Provincial Ex with the CFB Shilo flag along with the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba flag. All very cool and all very well organized. One of Brandon’s most talented pop/rock singer/songwriters, Mariah Phillips, of the band Misty Street sang the national anthems pitch perfect. Then came the evening’s program in a fairly full arena. I chose to photograph the horse jumping — a rather difficult sport to image when indoors. For photo buffs, when I was first shooting the fair in 1984, I was using Nikon gear with a limited selection of slow, prime manual focus lenses and Ilford HP5 400 speed film, which I would push-process in the darkroom to 1,600 or 3,200. The lighting in the Keystone Arena back then was brutal — low intensity and severe drop-off in the corners of the rink. The results weren’t great. This week, I was using my very advanced Sony RX10ii cameras, which have an attached auto-focus lens that optically zooms from a 35 mm equivalent of 24mm - 200mm, with digital zoom then seamlessly taking over to around 400 mm — all at a fairly fast f2.8 aperture. While these cameras are described as “prosumer,” I’m getting a real kick out how wonderfully they work. And at a fraction of the weight and cost of the traditional professional Nikon or Canon gear. My cameras can easily be set to the 35mm equivalent 3,200 speed or higher without any noticeable digital noise. And the arena is so much cleaner and brighter than it was 30 years ago. Anyhow, here are some of my images from earlier this week. I hope you enjoy them.

PART 1 – 20 Questions with Rick Chrest Mayor of Brandon BDNMB.CA – Will a casino ever be considered by the City of Province? MAYOR – Not totally our choice or call the casino’s are licensed by the Province of Manitoba.  A while ago they did a market study of Western Manitoba and they said it only could support one casino and that is the current facts. BDNMB.CA – Is making the Sportsplex and or Rec Centre a private venture? MAYOR – Those types of places need public participation in terms of funding…. It is very difficult to make those private facilities.  The golf course is a different situation …. Council wants to keep the green space and protecting of it.  We hope the Rec. Centre can sustain itself as a public recreation facility.  We are trying to find the best fit for it. BDNMB.CA – Long term viability of the Keystone Centre? MAYOR – Due to the size of thefacility it will require assistance from all three levels of gov’t.  It will need assistance on the capital side things wear out and get old.  Operations it can almost cover the costs. BDNMB.CA – Neil Thomson has released the Keystone Centre is showing a positive cash flow. MAYOR – Even if the building made $200,000 dollars it would be a drop in the bucket for a facility of that size. BDNMB.CA – Can you speak about South end development? MAYOR – Their is an application for urban expansion this is known to the public and it is a co operative effort between Cornwallis and ourselves and their will be costs such as roads and sewer etc. BDNMB.CA – Are you originally from Brandon? MAYOR – Born in 1959 and lived here my life and my father lived here… it has been an interesting career. BDNMB.CA – Role models? MAYOR – Growing up The Fonz – Sam Malone – Hawkeye (Mash)and of course my parents. Rick Borotsik of course had some input to running for this job. BDNMB.CA – Can you name a Brandon celebrity? MAYOR – Yes of course plus people like Doug Murray – Bob Mazer – Gord Peters and Kelly McCrimmon is well known throughout the world.  If people have heard of Brandon they will have heard the name the Brandon Wheat Kings with our NHL stars etc. BDNMB.CA – What is your guilty pleasure? MAYOR – That is easy for sure wings or pizza I am not really a guy that likes chocolate BDNMB.CA – Favorite restaurant? MAYOR – I think Brandon is known for Pizza … we must be world famous. BDNMB.CA – Cruz or Trump? MAYOR – You know out of the 5 candidates left I really couldn’t be too interested in any of them.