Proposals sought for vacant Prairie Oasis building

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This article was published 31/07/2025 (238 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Housing Renewal Corporation has opened bids for proposals to turn the former Prairie Oasis Senior Centre into a space to provide services for downtown Brandon residents.

The senior centre, located at 241 Eighth St., closed its doors in 2022 and has sat vacant since then.

The property owner, Manitoba Housing, aims to turn the building into a space that will provide “enrichment to the quality of life for the tenants” in three nearby apartment buildings.

“We don’t really have anything in mind in terms of what we’d like to see,” said Manitoba Housing policy analyst Sean Gautama. “We’re leaving it wide open.”

Gautama said the open bidding process, giving a wide scope for proposals, was deliberate.

“It’s broad on purpose, it’s quite literally intended to get a range of submissions.”

The results of the bids — which close Aug. 7 — will give a better view of what will run out of the centre, he said.

Manitoba Housing hosted a community engagement event in early May to hear ideas about what the future of the centre should be and what social services it should offer.

A letter from Manitoba Housing obtained by the Sun shows the results of how the meeting went.

About 30 per cent of the roughly 45 people who attended said some kind of food service is needed, which was a “clear” sign that it is important, according to the letter.

Other popular suggestions were affordable housing and a safe injection site.

Brandon Downtown BIZ executive director Emmy Sanderson said the May meeting was really a brainstorming session for the future of the site.

“While those were brainstorming ideas, they’re not necessarily in line with the (bidding specifications) and what’s being asked,” Sanderson said.

She said the three apartment complexes that will be part of the program already have affordable housing. Those buildings are Princess Park, Princess Towers and Lawson Lodge.

While services will be targeted to residents who live in those apartments, Gautama said, they will also be open to other people.

Sanderson said she hopes whatever happens with the centre has a positive impact on the downtown.

“We just hope it’s something that creates a positive space for people to be, however it’s utilized,” she said. “Something that builds community.”

Sanderson said that could include affordable food or programming.

“Definitely food security is a huge thing in all communities,” she said. “The cost of food is skyrocketing. For people in affordable housing on limited incomes, that’s a huge hot topic.”

She added that it’s good to find appropriate uses for vacant buildings downtown.

“Activating spaces that are vacant is generally positive,” Sanderson added. “Prairie Oasis has been unutilized for many years, and it would be great to see it being used in a positive way.”

The Sun also reached out to the YMCA, which is located next to the closed centre, but didn’t hear back by press time.

» alambert@brandonsun.com