Cascadia Metals’ $25M expansion greenlit

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This article was published 05/07/2024 (445 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Brandon’s Planning Commission has approved an application to rezone a property at 1600 33rd St. East, facilitating a $25-million expansion project by Cascadia Metals, a subsidiary of R&R Trading.

The commission voted unanimously (5-0) Wednesday evening in favour of rezoning the property from Development Reserve to Industrial General.

Commission chair Ryan Johnston said the project has a broader benefit for the Brandon community and potential and existing businesses.

“Supporting existing businesses is crucial for our community, and I’m in favour of the proposal,” he said. “This is business growth for the city.”

He added the decision marks a significant step toward industrial development in the area.

Commissioner Garnet Boyd said: “This is a good development and an improvement for this area. I will be voting in favour of this application.”

Before the approval, Brandon senior planner Andrew Mok explained the rezoning would enable Cascadia Metals to expand its existing manufacturing plant by 125,000 square feet.

“The new addition will be on the northeast side of the current facility, increasing its total size to 225,000 square feet,” he told the commissioners. “We are looking to rezone a small portion of 1600 33rd St. East to facilitate the addition and accommodate surrounding lands for circulation and related purposes.”

The proposal, Mok said, complies with the city’s development plan, directing new and expanded industrial development to industrial areas.

“They will need to extend the public waterway from Richmond Avenue East to the southern boundary of the site and provide an offset contribution of $17,262.25 towards future road and intersection upgrades,” Mok said.

Chris Fortier, representing Excel-7 Ltd., the builder for the project, said the expansion would have positive impacts on the community.

“We’re building on the site with plans to create more jobs through four production lines,” he told the commissioners. “This development will promote growth in the area and bring a new water line up 33rd Street East, supporting expansion to other parts of the area.”

Cascadia Metals regional manager Phil Ritchie lauded the commissioners’ support for the expansion.

“We’ve undergone several developments here over the years, and this rezoning is part of our continued growth,” he told the Sun on Thursday. “The City of Brandon supports this because it paves the way for more development, which is beneficial for everyone. Our expansion will likely attract more manufacturing businesses to Brandon because it sits on 250 acres of land, which is prime for further industrial use, especially with the added rail service.”

Cascadia Metals has attracted key services like natural gas, hydro and fibre optics, and it is adding water services to the list, he said, adding the site’s clean and non-polluting nature makes it an attractive location for other businesses.

“Our domestic steel supply comes from Ontario, making this a strategic location,” he said. “We’re expanding our footprint to better serve the manufacturing sector in the region and this expansion represents a $25-million investment in the community.”

The expansion, he said, is expected to be completed by July 2025. The building should have a roof by the fall, as it is expected to be fully operational in about 13 months.

After completion, the new plant would boost the company’s staff by 20 per cent from its existing 45 employees, he said.

“The plant can run 24 hours a day, so we might need even more if we add shifts. We have long-term employees, with many having been here for over 20 years,” Ritchie added.

Regarding the future, the regional manager said the company is committed to sustainability.

“We’re looking into green initiatives like EV charging stations and renewable energy sources,” he said. “Efficiency is key for us, and that’s why we’re located on rail. It gives us a competitive edge.”

Cascadia Metals, located in Brandon’s Industrial Park, started nearly 20 years ago in a basement and now operates a full-service steel centre. Originally founded as NAPSteel on the West Coast in 1983, the Brandon branch opened as Steel Plus in 1998.

After relocating to its current 33rd Street East site in 2000, it underwent multiple expansions. Cascadia Metals now serves more than 500 clients annually, leveraging its own rail track for efficient operations.

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