Brandon is a city in southwestern Manitoba, Canada.
The surrounding area is often referred to as "Westman".
The city started as a major junction on the Canadian Pacific Railway, and was incorporated in 1882.
Brandon, the second largest city in Manitoba, is a major service centre for the surrounding agricultural area. Brandon's industry reflects its agricultural history. Three of Brandon's largest employers are a major fertilizer plant, a major pork processing plant with exports to much of the world, and a call center for a major American wireless carrier. Other industry includes more call centres, as well as retail and government services for the surrounding area of Westman. It is also home to Brandon University and the Assiniboine Community College .
The current mayor of Brandon is Dave Burgess.
Sports
Brandon played host to the 1979 Winter Canada Games and the 1997 Summer Canada Games.
Brandon is currently home to the following amateur sports teams:
Brandon is often referred to, although not yet officially, as The Curling Capital of Canada. Brandon has hosted many curling events including:
- The Brier - the Canadian Mens' Curling Championship
- The Scott Tournament of Hearts - the Canadian Womens' Championship
- 1995 World Curling Championship - Mens' and Womens' Championship
- 1997 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials - the first ever Canadian trials after curling became an official Olympic Sport
Media
Newspapers Serving Brandon
Local
Available Throughout Brandon
Radio Stations
FM
- 91.5 CIWM - Community/Aboriginal
- 92.7 CBWS - CBC Radio Two - Classical
- 94.7 CKLF - Star FM - Adult Contemporary
- 96.1 CKX - KX96 - Active Rock
- 97.9 CBWV - CBC Radio One - News/Information
- 99.5 CKSB-8 - La Première Chaîne - French News/Information
- 101.1 CKXA - 101 The Farm - Country
- 106.5 CJJJ - CJ106.5 - Assiniboine Community College
AM
Television Stations
- Channel 5 - CKX - CHUM/CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
- Channel 4 - CKYB - CTV, a repeater of CKY-TV Winnipeg. Local commercials inserted by CKX
- Channel 2 - CKND-2 - Global, a repeater of Global Winnipeg. Local commercials inserted by CKX
Famous Brandon people
City Issues:
Vacant Brandon Mental Health Centre (BMHC)
The Brandon Mental Health Centre is a picturesque group of buildings in the city's north end. The facility was abandoned in the 1990s as mental health services were moved from away from a institutional setting, and into the communities of the patients. Some would like to see the centre re-open as a mental health facility.
Assiniboine Community College Relocation
There is a desire o move ACC out of its current location in the east end. Some would like to see it moved to the BMHC. That option is considered too expensive by many of the involved parties, and others say that the buildings are ill suited to some of the programs offered at ACC.
External links