Brandon Minute: Issue 110

Brandon Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Brandon politics

📅 This Week In Brandon: 📅

• Brandon City Council will hold a regular meeting tonight at 7:00 pm. Council will review committee reports, hear presentations and delegations, and address general business matters. Two bylaw items are scheduled for first reading, including one to rezone property at 850 - 19th Street and another to amend the City’s traffic bylaw to allow digital parking payments.
  
  
• Trans Canada Brewing Company has officially broken ground on a new location in Brandon, marking its first major expansion beyond Winnipeg. The facility, to be built near the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 10, will feature a taproom, on-site brewing, and a full food menu similar to its original location, along with exclusive local products. Company representatives say Brandon’s growing population and developing craft beer market made it an attractive choice for expansion. Local leaders highlighted the project’s potential economic and community benefits during the announcement. Construction is now underway, with the brewery expected to open in 2026.
  
  
• Manitoba’s Transportation Minister is pushing back on Brandon’s request for provincial authority to set lower default speed limits, saying municipalities already have the legal ability to change speed limits through their own bylaws without needing provincial approval. Brandon City Council recently asked the Province for clearer authority and support to reduce default speeds, citing safety concerns, while also noting that fully signposting reduced limits across the city could cost about $2.25 million. Provincial ministers responded that cities like Brandon and Winnipeg can implement changes themselves if they choose, emphasizing that local governments are best positioned to decide what works for their communities. City officials say they are still seeking collaboration and further guidance from the Province, with discussions expected to continue rather than immediate changes to default speed limits.
  
  
• Brandon is launching a new tourism strategy and rebranding effort aimed at strengthening its identity and attracting more visitors. Brandon Tourism has selected Winnipeg-based agency UpHouse to lead the development of both a long-term tourism plan and a refreshed place brand. The initiative will create a roadmap for future investment, visitor experience improvements, and marketing, while also introducing a new logo and slogan to replace the current branding. Officials say this is the first time the City has undertaken a comprehensive tourism-focused strategy, reflecting a growing need to better position Brandon as a destination. The project will involve research, stakeholder engagement, and community input before final recommendations are delivered, with completion targeted for late fall. 
  
  
• FlixBus is expanding its intercity bus service into Manitoba for the first time, with a new route connecting Regina, Brandon, and Winnipeg set to launch on May 7th. The expansion builds on the company’s existing Prairie network, including routes linking Calgary and Regina, which will now add stops in communities like Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Swift Current, and Moose Jaw. The company, which owns the Greyhound brand, has been operating in Canada since 2022 following Greyhound’s exit from the domestic market in 2021. Officials say the goal is to create a seamless and affordable transportation network across the Prairies and eventually a fully connected national system. FlixBus already runs routes in Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, as well as cross-border services into the United States. The Manitoba expansion is expected to improve travel options between major Prairie cities and smaller communities.

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