Summer 2024 Update

Brandon Plays Host to Multiple Events All Summer Long!

This past summer, Brandon, Manitoba, was a bustling hub of events, drawing participants and spectators from across the region and beyond, starting off with the Active Aging in Manitoba Manitoba 55+ Games (presented by Play Now) from June 18-20, a spirited celebration of active living among seniors. Held at multiple venues across the city, the games featured nearly a dozen varied events such as pickleball, swimming, and golf as well as horseshoes, cribbage and scrabble. The three day event was a success, bringing together nearly a thousand competitors, over a hundred volunteers and highlighting the city’s dedication to supporting wellness and community engagement for older adults.

Highlighting local music talent and Manitoba-core vibes, the Salamander Summer Music Festival took center stage, featuring an eclectic mix of musical acts and visual artisans that spanned genres and filled the beautiful Rideau Park in Brandon’s East End from July 21-23 with vibrancy, art, music and prairie culture. Look for this event to return again in 2025!

The 2024 Bonanza – Herefords in the Wheat City held at the Keystone Centre’s Agricultural Centre of Excellence from July 24-27 showcased our agricultural hosting capabilities by bringing livestock handlers from around the globe to Brandon to host their annual Canadian Junior show. With events like Team Grooming, Individual and Team Judging, Showmanship, Speeches, Art, Photography, Literature, and many more, Bonanza is an event of international magnitude that draws participants and visitors from all across Canada, the United States and the world.  Brandon First was pleased to provide support to this and all of the events we hosted this summer.

As August approached, Brandon hosted a series of high-profile sporting events that underscored its role as a premier destination for athletic competition. From July 31 to August 4, the city welcomed back the Canadian National High School Rodeo, featuring impressive displays of rodeo skills from top high school competitors across Canada. This was followed by the Western Canadian U13 Boys and Girls Softball Championships from August 1-4, the first Westerns of it’s kind at the Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex, securing the facility as one of the premier softball tournament locations in the nation. Additionally, the Softball Manitoba U11, U13 and U15 AA Provincials, held from July 26-28,  saw 31 teams of young athletes from across Manitoba vie for the for the provincial title in the largest tournament the ANSC has hosted to date.

We’re looking forward to our upcoming fall events and can’t wait to see what summer 2025 will bring!

For photos of these and other events Brandon has hosted check out our Photo Albums!

Brandon First Holds Annual General Meeting at Dome Building

Every June Brandon First invites our members to attend our AGM for lunch and and update on all things Brandon First. Board Chair Chris Heide and Executive Director Jenn Watson presented a year in review highlighting our successes and outlined our plans for the upcoming year. Our audited financials were presented by Todd Birkhan of BDO. We also confirmed our board composition for the 2024/2025 board season and are excited to have the following 11 people guide our organization into the upcoming year:

Chris Heide – CAA Manitoba – Board Chair
Grant Hamilton – Brandon University – Board  Vice Chair
Shonah Rathwell – Pinnacle Event Rentals – Board Secretary
Janis Evens – United Way/Member at Large – Board Treasurer

Lanny Stewart – Brandon Tourism
Gerald Cathcart – Economic Development, City of Brandon
Brad Danielson – Benmarks of Brandon
Amber Little – Clarion Hotel and Suites Brandon
Carla O’Greysik – Assiniboine College
Adam Cudal – Keystone Centre
Sara Grexton – TBirds Food Fun Games

We also said goodbye to board member Anna Dumas who joined our organization in 2018 as owner of Prairie Firehouse restaurant and remained a committed member of our board for the last 6 years, serving as Vice Chair and general board member. We thank her for all of her contributions to Brandon First over the years!