Brandon Minute: Issue 135

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

📅 This Week In Brandon: 📅

• City Council approved an amendment to the Zoning By-law on October 19th clarifying that any new residential building behind an existing detached house may only be a secondary suite. The City says the change fixes an oversight that came to light after earlier zoning amendments meant to encourage more residential development, including the Housing Accelerator Fund zoning amendment. The rule does not affect building another home beside an existing house where there is enough space, nor the redevelopment of a site where the existing house is demolished.
  
  
• The City of Brandon says it is meeting its housing targets as the city faces a shortfall of about 1,300 homes. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada estimates that Brandon, a city of 54,000, is around 1,300 units short of current needs, with a vacancy rate of 1.9%. A federal homelessness database also recorded an approximate 10% increase in Brandon families experiencing homelessness from January to August, compared with the same period in 2025. City community housing and wellness co-ordinator Shannon Saltarelli said the City, which owns no housing itself, has secured $6.2 million from the Housing Accelerator Fund and is working to reduce red tape and refine zoning and development regulations. The City claims it is helping get 950 units built over three years, including 395 in 2025, even though housing has traditionally fallen under provincial jurisdiction. Shawn Wood, executive director of the Construction Association of Rural Manitoba, said Brandon gained about 5,000 residents between 2001 and 2021 but saw only about 700 new homes built, and that labour shortages and rising construction costs are slowing the catch-up. About 400 to 500 homes are being built in Brandon, while three- to four-bedroom rentals listed online cost from just over $1,500 to more than $2,000 a month.
  
  
• Brandon Fire & Emergency Services has released its 2025 annual report, showing it responded to 9,315 calls for service, up from 8,810 in 2024. The report counts nearly 180,000 911 calls in the area in 2025, including 7,964 requests for ambulance services and 171 fire calls. That is down from nearly 215,000 911 calls and more than 8,100 ambulance requests in 2024, though fire calls rose from 141. The service also highlighted the formation of what it called its first all-female department, led by Sarah Peto, and said 12 of its 131 staff members are women.
  
  
• The Government of Manitoba is giving $73,793 to Hobbs Manor, a seniors' residence in Brandon, for audiovisual tools, exercise equipment, and furniture. Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard announced the grant on October 22nd through the From the Ground Up - Safe Healthy Communities for ALL program. The money covers most of the first phase of the Hobbs Life Enrichment and Accessibility Project, which has a total cost of $92,242. Planned upgrades include audio-video links between the building's three main-floor common rooms, a refit of the exercise room with new flooring and senior-friendly equipment, and new furniture for common areas. Hobbs Manor is a registered charity offering affordable housing to independent seniors aged 55 and over, with 100 apartments and 110 to 120 residents in a 42-year-old building. The program provides up to $100,000 per project to non-profits, municipalities, and northern affairs councils, and the Province says it has approved more than $12 million for 208 projects across Manitoba so far in 2026-27.
  
  
• Brandon residents vote for mayor, ward councillors, and school board trustees on Wednesday, after an advance-voting turnout that City of Brandon senior election official Heather Ewasiuk said was on track to set a city record. A total of 1,325 people voted in the first two advance polls on October 14th and 17th, just 141 short of the city's record of 1,466 advance votes, set in 2014. Ewasiuk said she expected close to 1,800 advance voters once the final day of advance voting, at City Hall on October 22nd, was counted. Turnout had already far exceeded the 376 advance votes cast in 2022 and the 655 cast in 2018. Ward 8 recorded the most advance votes in the first two days, at 202, followed by Ward 7 at 175 and Ward 10 at 151. Ewasiuk credited a mayoral race between two well-known candidates, fewer seats filled by acclamation, and the City's advertising on social media, digital signs, and radio. She said the City may look at larger voting locations in future elections, though that would carry an added cost.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Brandon residents can vote in the municipal and school board elections on Wednesday, October 28, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Review the list of voting places and make sure you have the required ID ready before heading to the polls. Then, get out there and make your voice heard!

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