Keystone going strong after 50 years

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This article was published 15/06/2024 (613 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As the Keystone Centre marks its 50th anniversary, key stakeholders and the community are celebrating the institution’s past, present and future.

Over five decades, Keystone Centre board chair Bruce Luebke says the hub has evolved from a modest exhibition hall and arena into a sprawling, multipurpose facility that serves as a cornerstone of cultural, agricultural and recreational life in Westman.

“As a significant contributor to the economics of the province and the city, the Keystone Centre enhances the quality of life in Westman as a hub of culture, agriculture, entertainment, sport, recreation and live events,” Luebke told the Sun on Thursday. “The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba plays a key role in achieving those hub items, particularly in agriculture.”

The Keystone’s financial stability, he said, has been bolstered by significant provincial and municipal support, adding the provincial government and the City of Brandon each contribute $375,000, with additional support from local tax revenues every year.

“In 2023, the provincial government announced an $8-million investment over five years to support the centre’s sustainability plan, alongside a $3-million grant from the Arts, Culture and Sport in the Community Fund,” Luebke said. “The City of Brandon’s partnership added nearly $8.6 million, ensuring the centre can continue its vital role.”

Despite this support, he said, the Keystone faced challenges, including the loss of the Canadian National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show, a major event that provided significant revenue and prestige.

The management team is working diligently to attract new events, but replacing such a significant event is difficult, he said.

General manager Connie Lawrence expressed pride in the Keystone’s evolution.

“From our humble beginnings, we’ve grown into a world-class complex with state-of-the-art facilities and a deep commitment to community engagement,” Lawrence told the Sun. “The centre now boasts over 540,000 square feet of building space, including a state-of-the-art agriculture centre and expanded exhibition areas.”

Over the past five decades, she added, the organization has undergone significant transformations to enhance its infrastructure and stay attuned to the needs of the clients and the community.

Among the most notable developments is the expansion of the exhibition space, which now totals more than 130,000 square feet, and the addition of a state-of-the-art agriculture centre, she said.

“This increased capacity has enabled us to host larger events and conferences, attracting visitors from across the region and beyond. Total building space under one roof, 540,000 square feet,” Lawrence said.

“Strategic priorities guide the Keystone Centre’s future focused on sustainability, innovation, community partnerships, and diversity,” she said.

The team, she said, is committed to reducing the facility’s environmental footprint, enhancing its visitor experience with new technologies and fostering strong bonds with local organizations, adding it aims to remain a welcoming environment that reflects the diversity of the community.

Provincial Exhibition president Clint Swain highlighted the enduring partnership with the Keystone.

“The Provincial Ex and Keystone Centre have always and a great working relationship. We are in constant communication to ensure that we are working together to ensure the success of both organizations,” he told the Sun. “We both rely on each other to be successful. Without the Keystone, we as an organization wouldn’t be able to host our events and as a stakeholder, it needs our revenue to help their operational costs. The Keystone Centre acts as our caterer for our large events in the Dome Building and having them in the same parking lot is an asset to us.”

With the new modifications to the arena, Swain said, the Provincial Ex looks forward to future collaborations with the Keystone, adding it is exciting to bring a new experience to showcase agriculture in the City of Brandon.

Tim Reid, president of OC Leadership, the firm in charge of public engagement for the Keystone, highlighted the transformation in public perception and community involvement.

“There was once a time when there were questions about whether the Keystone Centre would be built. Today, it’s hard to imagine Brandon without it,” Reid said. “The centre has fostered special relationships with residents, who have grown up playing hockey, attending Wheat Kings games and participating in agricultural events.”

To sustain and grow public engagement, Reid emphasized the importance of listening to the community.

“We approach public engagement with open ears and an open mind. Developing and maintaining strong relationships with the community, clients, partners and staff is crucial for anticipating and addressing needs,” he told the Sun.

Former general manager Dan Robertson, reflecting on his extensive history with the Keystone, shared his insights into the facility’s evolution and impact.

“I have worked for the Keystone Centre on three different occasions and as an engineer in the Enns and Flynn arenas for about five years in the early 1990s before leaving to pursue a career in accounting and finance,” he told the Sun. “I returned to the Keystone Centre during a very busy and exciting time in 2001 in the role of controller. In the early 2000s the Keystone Centre went through a significant transformation, and I worked closely with the general manager of the time, Patty Griffith.”

Together with Griffith, he said, they were responsible for the demolition of the old barns on the west side of the building to make way for the Canad Inns hotel development, adding the duo worked through a very tough negotiation with Canad Inns and were able to reach an agreement that was mutually beneficial for both the Keystone Centre and the hotel.

Following the demolition of the barns, the Keystone Centre needed a new agricultural facility.

“We were able to secure funding from the City of Brandon and Province of Manitoba and we built the Westoba Credit Union Agricultural Centre of Excellence,” Robertson said.

Offering advice to new employees and future staff, Robertson stressed the importance of treating every event, regardless of its size, with utmost importance.

“It does not matter if it is a kids minor hockey game, a master curling league, a convention with 50 guests or a Brandon Wheat King playoff game, Manitoba Ag Days or the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, treat every guest and event organizer as the most important guest in that moment,” he said. “Work hard and go above and beyond to make their experience as memorable as possible.”

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett shared his connection to the Keystone and its impact on the community.

“Growing up here, I always knew it as the home of the Wheat Kings,” he said. “Over the years, it has expanded continuously and serves a range of community purposes. I’m very proud to be the mayor as the Keystone Centre celebrates its 50th anniversary.

“Every phase of the Keystone’s development was a significant investment, but it continues to be heavily utilized. There’s hardly any place in North America with such extensive multipurpose space under one roof. We’re very fortunate to have the Keystone Centre serving our region.”

Looking ahead, Fawcett anticipates continued growth, and adaptation.

“Operations will always be a challenge for a facility this large. In the next 50 years, I expect discussions about building a new arena and developing green spaces for public use,” he told the Sun. “We also aim to develop the green space for more public use and explore how we can collaborate with other partners, such as the Provincial Exhibition, to enhance the centre’s role. The adaptable nature of the Keystone Centre gives us plenty of opportunities to meet future needs.”

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