Brandon Minute: Issue 86

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

📅 This Week In Brandon: 📅

• City Council will meet this evening at 7:00 pm. Delegations from Brandon Downtown BIZ, Daly House Museum and several parties speaking to a proposed cell tower at 1009 34th Street will address Council. Reports will be delivered verbally by Brandon General Museums and Archives and the Keystone Centre Board of Directors. Key business items include approval of a 35-meter monopole communication tower, discussion of a real estate matter in-camera, updates to the Transit Master Plan, downtown washroom and transit information, the 2025/2026 Board of Revision report, and 2026 appointments to Council Committees, Boards, and Schedules.
  
  
• A recent community meeting in Brandon brought City officials, police, and around 40 members of the homeless population together to discuss housing needs and downtown safety. Mayor Jeff Fawcett noted the meeting aimed to hear directly from people who would use new provincial and federal housing programs, including proposals for “dry housing” with no alcohol or drugs, apartments with storage, and nearby green space. The discussion also covered public safety, with attendees expressing appreciation for the presence of police and community cadets, which helps them feel safer downtown. Brandon Police Service Chief Tyler Bates said the meeting provided valuable insights for determining the role and presence of cadets, who help prevent crime and engage with vulnerable populations. The cadet program, launched in 2023, has grown and may expand toward a 24-hour presence in the future. Overall, the session helped City staff better understand the experiences of people dealing with homelessness and will inform upcoming discussions with provincial housing authorities.
  
  
• The City has apologized after complaints arose over cemetery staff removing personal items from gravesites without notice. Families said sentimental items, including photos, hockey pucks, and small gifts, were placed in a bin with other items, some of which were broken. The removals followed a City bylaw from 2017 that allows only flowers in vases attached to headstones, though enforcement had been lax until now. Mayor Jeff Fawcett acknowledged the City’s past leniency and said better communication should have occurred before staff acted. The City announced it will review the bylaw ahead of spring cleanup and, until then, will only remove items that interfere with maintenance, create safety concerns, or are displaced. Families have requested changes to allow small tokens and lights on graves and suggested empathy training for cemetery staff. City officials emphasized the removals were not intended to be disrespectful, and the review process will be shared publicly.
  
  
• The City of Brandon has awarded Sunrise Credit Union the naming rights for the clubhouse at the Canada Packers Sports Complex on the North Hill, set to open in early May 2026. The Sunrise Credit Union Clubhouse will feature a canteen, washrooms, and changerooms. Mayor Jeff Fawcett said the clubhouse will be a welcoming space for families, friends, and neighbours to connect and stay active. The sports complex, which opened this summer at First Street North and Veterans Way, includes multiple soccer fields, a cricket pitch, and 3.6 km of pathways. Formerly known as the Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex, the total project is expected to cost $19.6 million, with contributions from the City, Province, and federal government.
  
  
• The Keystone Centre has partnered with the Brandon and Area Community Foundation (BACF) to launch the Keystone Centre Foundation, led by volunteer Executive Director Barry Cooper. The Foundation aims to support the ongoing operation, improvement, and accessibility of the non-profit facility by investing donations and allowing the Centre to use annual interest or portions of the fund for future projects. The Keystone Centre has served the community for over 50 years, and the Foundation offers a structured way to maintain and enhance the facility while engaging the public in shaping its future. BACF provides donation management services, acting as a co-steward with the Foundation. To raise awareness and involve the community, two events are planned: a Family Fun Day on December 20th and the inaugural Keystone Centre Foundation Dinner on May 14th.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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