Brandon Minute: Pickleball Delays, Fair Attendance, and Community Centre Redevelopment

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

This Week In Brandon:

• There will be a City Council meeting this evening at 7:00 pm. There will be a Public Hearing on the City’s 2025 Financial Plan, a discussion about Citizen Appointments to the Brandon Downtown Development Corporation, and decisions made on several zoning amendment proposals.
  
  
• The Wheat City Tennis and Pickleball Hub is facing construction delays, but some courts are still expected to open by October. The east and west sections of the building, which will house four courts on each side, are easier to complete and should be ready for use. The main building, which will include amenities like lounges, a pro shop, and fitness areas, is behind schedule, meaning the club portion may not open by the target date. The project, aimed to revitalize the downtown area, is expected to attract 12,000 visitors in its first year. Meanwhile, the City is also in talks to develop the empty lot across the street into residential housing.
  
  
• The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair remains popular! The Fair experienced a strong recovery after a slow start due to bad weather. Initially facing delays and lower attendance, the event gained momentum drawing between 10,000 and 12,000 visitors daily. New performances, including a high-flying acrobatic and knife-juggling act, helped boost the fair's appeal.

Last Week In Brandon:

• The Manitoba government announced an investment of $6 million to redevelop the Park Community Centre in downtown Brandon, which will include a new non-profit child-care facility. The facility will offer 62 spaces for children, helping to meet the growing demand for affordable child care in the area. The Park Community Centre, a cornerstone of the community for nearly 80 years, will continue to serve as a hub for recreational programs and events. Mayor Jeff Fawcett and local leaders said the project is an important way to support families and strengthen the centre’s role in downtown Brandon.
  
  
• Retail theft has become a growing concern in Brandon. Police Chief Tyler Bates reported over 50 arrests and the recovery of $10,000 in property during a recent crackdown on retail crime. Bates emphasized the importance of a proactive, prevention-focused approach rather than merely responding to incidents in the downtown area. Mayor Jeff Fawcett noted that repeat offenders are largely behind the ongoing thefts, which have forced businesses to invest in additional security. City officials are seeking more provincial support to strengthen Brandon’s efforts to combat retail crime, hoping for similar resources to those provided in Winnipeg.
  
  
• Brandon University has hired BDO Canada LLP to conduct an external review of its stalled Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project, which was initiated in 2020 to modernize its academic and administrative systems. Despite investing over $6 million, the project was halted in early 2024 due to numerous challenges, including delays from the COVID-19 pandemic. The review will assess project management, decision-making, and vendor performance, following a transparent bidding process. BDO's review will span 18 weeks and consist of three phases: scoping, investigative work, and reporting. The final report will include findings and recommendations for improving future projects and be presented to the University's board and community.