Brandon Minute: Thanksgiving Schedules, Communications Grant, and a Transit Study Reviewed

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

This Week In Brandon:

• There are no meetings of City Council this week. Council will next meet on Monday, October 21st.
  
  
• Brandon Fresh Farms is shifting its plans for the historic McKenzie Seeds building, opting to convert it into approximately 150 live-work studio apartments instead of a vertical farm. This change was prompted by difficulties in securing investment for the farming project, despite early enthusiasm. The new project is expected to attract artists, entrepreneurs, and small business owners to Brandon's downtown core, with an emphasis on affordable studio spaces. An official project announcement is expected later this month.
  
  
• It’s Thanksgiving Monday! Several municipal facilities will be closed, including City Hall, the Civic Complex, the Parks Complex, and the Eastview Landfill. Brandon Transit will operate on a holiday schedule from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, although the Transit Information Centre will be closed for the day. Additionally, the Community Sportsplex and Youth Centre will not be open. Residents are reminded to direct any after-hours Public Works emergencies to the designated emergency line. Regular operating hours will resume tomorrow.

Last Week In Brandon:

• The Brandon Downtown Development Corporation (BDDC) requested $25,000 in additional funding from Council to support downtown revitalization efforts, but the decision was postponed until budget discussions in January. The funding would support capital projects like a new indoor pickleball facility, a housing project, and a vertical farming initiative.
  
  
• Council reviewed a transit study conducted by Watt Consulting Group outlining potential improvements to Brandon Transit. The study, which involved stakeholder meetings and public surveys, proposed three options to enhance the system's performance and safety. The first option retains the existing coverage but introduces three decentralized exchange points. The second option aims to streamline connections and prioritize the frequent Route 1, while the third option focuses on safety by shifting the main transit hub away from downtown. Council accepted the report, and further public engagement will be organized to gather feedback on these proposals.
  
  
• Westman Communications Group has received an $8 million grant from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's (CRTC) Broadband Fund to enhance internet access in 16 rural communities in Manitoba. The initiative will enable WCG to expand its fibre infrastructure by over 300 kilometers and reach 1,500 homes.