Council OKs grant request for renovations

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This article was published 04/10/2022 (1233 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Brandon will apply for grant funding from the province to cover part of the cost of renovating the Library/Arts building after a delegation from Western Manitoba Regional Library, Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba and Brandon General Museum and Archives voiced their support for the project to councillors at Monday’s city council meeting.

On the meeting agenda was a vote on whether to apply to the province’s Arts, Culture and Sport in Communities Fund to cover half of the estimated $10-million cost of renovating the Library/Arts Building on Rosser Avenue, next to The Town Centre mall.

That fund, announced earlier this year, aims to distribute $100 million in grants for large capital projects, small capital projects and community and cultural celebrations over the next three years.

The large capital project stream provides up to 50 per cent of funding for a capital project if approved, up to a maximum of $5 million.

Alysha Farrell, chair of the AGSM board, talked about the need for “third places” in the community — not a home or a workplace, but a space where the community gathers to connect. That, she said, is what the Library/Arts building can become if the renovations are pursued.

“We know that art enriches our lives, it helps people develop different perspectives,” she said. “We need more of those spaces. We’re too much in our social media bubbles.”

Though Brandon General Museum and Archives is currently located on 10th Street, the proposed renovation would see it move in with the library and art gallery.

At the last council meeting, museum board chair Brent Chamberlain and director Keith Waterfield spoke in favour of the renovation project and were both in attendance on Monday.

Erika Martin attended the meeting on behalf of the library.

Speaking on behalf of city administration, general manager of corporate services Dean Hammond said the conceptual design unveiled to the public earlier this year tried to consider all three organizations’ current and future needs.

Since only one application can be submitted per applicant for each stream, this project would be the only submission the city could put forward in the large capital stream of the program.

For those wondering how all three organizations could fit together in the building, Hammond said the current tenants aren’t taking up the entire footprint of their floors.

Should the funding not be received, the city would have to re-evaluate the project or find an alternate source of funding.

Hammond said the city would have to fund its $5-million contribution through debt.

“This is only a piece of what we’re trying to do downtown,” said Coun. Jeff Fawcett (Assiniboine). “It’s not a silver bullet … we’re not abandoning downtown.”

It is also possible to create a fundraising account for local philanthropists to donate toward the cost of the library renovations, Hammond said.

Council approved the grant request unanimously.

Following the discussion on the Library/Arts building project, Coun. Bruce Luebke (South Centre), chair of the Keystone Centre’s board of directors, revealed that venue will either post a small surplus or small deficit this year.

Though the Canadian National Arabian and Half-Arabian Horse Show — the centre’s highest-billing annual event — was cancelled this summer, Luebke said the Keystone has signed new five-year leases with Brandon Curling Club and Manitoba Ag Days.

Fawcett asked Luebke if the horse show is expected to return after this year’s cancellation, and Luebke said there is still a contract between the centre and the event organizers for future years.

Luebke also reported that the resurfacing of the centre’s east parking lot has been completed in time for the new Brandon Wheat Kings season.

Later, on behalf of the city’s audit and finance committee, Fawcett said that as of August the city was projected to be on budget for its operating and utility funds by the end of the fiscal year.

During the inquiries portion of Monday’s meeting, city manager Ron Bowles said a group representing the taxi industry in Brandon has approached city administration about increasing the allowed fare structure for taxi rides.

According to Bowles, a delegation from the taxi industry is scheduled to appear before the city at the second council meeting of 2023.

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