The City of Brandon is pleased to provide an update on the future of Brandon’s Community Sportsplex Arena, as well as provide a pool update! Earlier this year, we asked our community to weigh in on the future of our community sportsplex. The Sportsplex means so much to our community — it gives us a chance to have fun while staying healthy — whether that’s on the ice, on the court or in the water. By meaningfully consulting and listening to you and your neighbours, and carefully studying the information and recommendations of the Recreation Needs Assessment & Conceptual Design for Brandon’s Community Sportsplex Arena, we’ve heard from our community that they are very supportive of renovating the Ice Rink to retain the indoor ice surface.  At the last Council meeting on September 18, Brandon City Council approved a request to release the proposal for the detailed design of a new Sportsplex ice plant and arena upgrades. This allows for the next step in the process to take place, which includes the engineering services for the new ice plant to be secured, and the design of the new ice plant and associated upgrades to begin this fall.  We expect construction of the ice arena to take place in 2024, with the rejuvenated arena up and running by late 2024. In Other News...the Pool Is Open Again!  The pool gets closed once every two years for a three-week period to ensure proper maintenance. We closed the pool for this regularly scheduled maintenance on September 3, and we’re pleased to announce that maintenance was successfully completed, and the pool reopened as scheduled on September 23! For all programming with the City of Brandon Parks & Recreation Services, please visit City of Brandon - Recreation Programs.

The Tiger Hills Hockey League (THHL) held their annual fall meeting the other evening as the league gears up for the start of the 2023-24 season. The biggest news coming out of the meeting is the return of the Boissevain Border Kings who are are returning after a one year leave of absence. However, the Cartwright Clippers are taking a year off this year so it will be a 16 team circuit again. As a result of the changes, Killarney will be moving to the East Conference while Boissevain will slot into Killarney's spot in the west. Each team will play an 18-game schedule with the season kicking off around the 20th of October. Jay Pringle, of the Border Kings, told bdnmb.ca that the team has 2 goalies and over 25 skaters right now. The roster will be filled by 6 imports and the rest will be local. "We are hoping to be a team that plays hard, gets into playoffs and has a chance to make something happen in the playoffs" said Pringle.

On Saturday September 30, approximately 18 amateur boxing matches will be taking place at the Imperial Ballroom (Victoria Inn) between fighters from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and all the way from the USA. More than 10 boxers  from Brandon Manitoba/Peak Performance will be competing including Dustin Colon, Miguel Zapata, Jesse Kruetzer, Owen Haight and others. Josh Elmes, who has spent five seasons playing professional hockey in the ECHL, will be making his amateur boxing debut. Eight year old Marley Batson will also be making her debut, in one of the three female bouts confirmed for the card. Organizer Rodman Batson tells bdnmb.ca that so far they have sold the majority of their tickets for the event. "I am super excited for this boxing card. This is going to be our best turnout yet." Those looking to purchase the remaining tickets or tables can do so via one of the methods below. -by calling 204-727-7016 -by texting 204-573-2114 -by visiting Peak Performance at 863 10th St.

The City of Brandon is pleased to announce that they have entered into a 10-year partnership agreement with Maple Leaf Foods Inc., for the naming rights of the Outdoor Sports Field Complex. The new sports complex will be named “The Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex.” Located at First Street and Veterans Way, the Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex will include a FIFA sized soccer field, up to eight 11 v 11 soccer fields, one dedicated 9 v 9 soccer field, a cricket pitch, a clubhouse with changerooms and washrooms, and 3.6 km of pathways. With investments from the governments of Canada and Manitoba, the City of Brandon is on track to see the project completed by early 2025. “The City of Brandon is pleased to enter this partnership with Maple Leaf Foods to ensure that the Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex will be viable for years to come,” said Mayor Jeff Fawcett. “Maple Leaf Foods is an avid supporter of our community, so it is only fitting that the Outdoor Sports Field Complex be named the Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex. The much-anticipated complex would not be possible without the support from our many partners, including the provincial and federal governments. The Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex will provide a great resource to the residents of Brandon and our surrounding region.” With the vision to be the most sustainable protein company on earth, Maple Leaf Foods is committed to the communities in which it operates and recognizes that resilient and healthy communities are essential for a sustainable future. Celebrating 25 years in the Brandon community next year, Maple Leaf Foods proudly employs more than 2,200 team members at its world-class pork ‘super plant’ in Brandon. “Maple Leaf Foods is proud to be part of the Brandon community, and we are excited to partner with the City of Brandon to invest in this incredible new facility,” said Jim Brown, Site Leader at the Maple Leaf Foods Brandon Plant. “As the largest employer in the area, we know that our team members and families will benefit from this facility for decades to come, and we are happy to play a role in bringing it to life for all to enjoy!” The City of Brandon strives to provide quality events, programs, facilities, and services to all residents while being mindful of how its main revenue source, property tax dollars, are utilized. The sale of naming rights provides the City with alternate funding sources to benefit the quality of life for the residents of Brandon and the surrounding area. Sponsorship is an excellent way to partner with the City of Brandon and promote your business or organization. Several sponsorship opportunities remain for various fields and amenities. Businesses or residents that are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact City of Brandon Parks & Recreation Services at parks@brandon.ca or 204-729-2148.

Local pickleball player Joe Healey recently travelled to Regina to participate in the 2023 Pickleball Canada National Championship and returned home with a title to his credit. Healey competed in the Men's Singles Skill: (3.0 And Under) Age: (16 And Above) category, alongside 12 other participants. In conversation with bdnmb.ca Healey said he won 13 matches in total over the weekend. He cruised through his opening few matches en route to the championship tilt. As the championship was a double knockout format, he met an opponent (Jairus Stonehouse) he had defeated earlier in the tournament in the finals. Healey lost the best of 3 final. As it was the first loss he suffered over the weekend, the two then squared off in a game to 15, with Healey coming out on top 17-15. A relative newcomer to the sport, Healey said he only took up the sport last fall. He took off the winter to participate in other sports like squash and hockey. Summer brought him back to the pickleball courts and he has participated in a number of tournaments this summer across the Prairies. He primarily practices out at Stanley Park and has a number of upcoming tournaments tournaments on the horizon including Arborg and Calgary.