Brandon Minute: Issue 65

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

📅 This Week In Brandon: 📅

• There will be a meeting of City Council this evening at 7:00 pm. The agenda includes a presentation from Brandon First and a delegation speaking on Council Procedure and Governance Reform. Other items include procurement for sewer cleaning equipment and police pursuit SUVs, a tender for a street reconstruction project, and funding for an outdoor sports field clubhouse. Several bylaw readings are planned, including amendments for stormwater infrastructure borrowing and rezoning proposals.
  
  
• The Gambler First Nation has begun construction on a unique 130-room hotel in northwestern Brandon, marked by a sod-turning ceremony on June 17th, 2025. The hotel, part of Phase 2 of a three-phase project, will feature three giant teepees at its entrance serving as a lobby, restaurant, and conference room - the largest functioning teepees in the world. The project symbolizes economic development and cultural pride, reflecting the community’s vision and leadership. Crews are set to start work next month, with an anticipated opening in July 2027. A Michelin chef will design the restaurant’s menu and layout. The initiative has been praised for inspiring First Nations communities and supporting future generations. Phase 3 will include building low-income housing, although no timeline has been set yet. The project highlights Brandon’s growing role in tourism and First Nations economic ventures.
  
  
• The Brandon Parent Council Collective has called for a thorough review of the Brandon School Division’s lunch programs, emphasizing that these should be treated as essential student services rather than volunteer-run efforts. Currently, the program relies heavily on volunteers, which the group says is unsustainable, unsafe, and unfair, especially as many parents now work outside the home. Concerns were raised about the lack of insurance coverage for volunteers, who face liability risks when supervising large groups of children. Volunteer turnover is high, and many lack proper training or support, leading to staffing challenges and disruptions during lunch periods. The collective proposed a hybrid model where the school division would take responsibility for daily operations, including staffing and insurance, while parent councils would handle administrative tasks like fee collection. The division has responded respectfully and is engaging in further discussions, with hopes for a more sustainable, supported approach moving forward.
  
  
• A provincial committee on local journalism, chaired by MLA Robert Loiselle, will begin a tour of Manitoba on June 26th, with a scheduled stop in Brandon on July 7th. The Committee aims to engage with media outlets, stakeholders, and the public to discuss ways to support and strengthen local journalism, which is vital for a healthy democracy. Meetings will also be held in Winnipeg and Winkler, along with a virtual session for northern communities. The consultations will particularly focus on rural and northern media as well as cultural media serving French, Filipino, Punjabi, and Chinese-speaking communities. The Committee includes four government MLAs and two opposition MLAs.
  
  
• Brandon’s Police Chief says that the recent stabbing at a local high school, in which an indigenous teenager attacked a Nigerian Canadian student with a sword, was a deliberate and hate-motivated act. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew personally apologized to 15-year-old Chinonso Onuke and his family for the attack at École secondaire Neelin High School, offering the apology “on behalf of the Indigenous people”. Joined by Deputy Premier Uzoma Asagwara, Kinew visited the family’s home to show support and hear their concerns. The family appreciated the visit, calling it healing and humbling. Kinew presented Chinonso with a Premier’s Challenge Coin and commended his strength. The family shared their experiences with racism and raised concerns about safety, which Asagwara, herself a Nigerian-Canadian, acknowledged while praising the Nigerian community’s resilience. The visit also sparked discussion about reviewing school safety policies, including the role of school resource officers.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Have you ever struggled with red tape in Brandon?

Maybe it was a frustrating battle to set up a business, a long wait to get a permit, or a confusing experience trying to pay a parking ticket. 

Your stories help shed light on where the system is failing and where it needs to improve.

Send us your experiences - the good, the bad, and the downright frustrating - by replying to this email.

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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