Islamic Centre still eyes new home

The Brandon Islamic Centre is moving ahead with plans to acquire land just outside the City of Brandon for a new mosque and community facility estimated to cost about $3 million or more.

The centre hopes to build a larger mosque and community facility there to accommodate its growing congregation.

The proposed development would be located on about 3.55 acres at the southeast corner of First Street and Patricia Avenue in the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis, secretary Muhammad Abidullah told the Sun.

Abidullah said the land is expected to cost about $325,000 — essentially the same price the property was purchased for in 2019 by a community member who held it with the intention that it would eventually be used for a mosque and community centre.

“The new mosque and community facility is estimated to cost about $3 million, as early planning stages alone could cost around $500,000.”

He said the owner has kept the land so the centre could purchase it once the necessary approvals were in place, and a conditional-use approval for the development was granted by the RM of Cornwallis in September 2025.

“It’s not a single-person project. It’s a whole community project — the Muslim community, the non-Muslim community, the City of Brandon, the RM of Cornwallis and the Province of Manitoba,” he said.

If the purchase goes ahead, the centre plans to build a facility that includes a mosque as well as a range of community-oriented amenities.

Plans include classrooms for weekend education programs, a potential school that could serve up to 200 students, a gymnasium and a daycare, and the building would also include a professional kitchen that could be used by local groups for community meal programs, Abidullah said.

He said organizations such as the Brandon-Westman Christmas Cheer Registry could potentially make use of the facility.

Other features under consideration include community gathering areas, outdoor recreation spaces such as basketball courts and ample parking.

“The goal is to create a welcoming hub where families can worship, learn and connect,” he said.

“If we recruit professionals to Brandon but don’t provide the infrastructure for their families to learn and grow, they may choose to leave. This kind of facility helps people stay and build their lives here.”

Before construction could begin, the centre would need to carry out several preliminary steps, including geotechnical surveys, traffic studies, architectural design and engineering work.

A key issue is whether water and sewer services can be extended to the site.

Because the property lies within the RM of Cornwallis rather than Brandon, the centre is seeking co-operation between the two municipalities.

Abidullah said the RM has sent letters to the city about the issue, and the centre hopes discussions will move forward.

The organization is also open to applying for government grants if the project includes services such as child care or partnerships with other community groups, he said.

Asked about the possibility of provincial involvement, Premier Wab Kinew told the Sun the province is open to discussions.

“We’ll follow up on their invitation for discussion and explore the idea,” Kinew said in an interview. “We want to support organizations in Manitoba that are helping neighbours and providing recreation and other opportunities.”

The centre’s search for a larger space has been ongoing for many years.

Abidullah said the organization previously acquired another property in Brandon, but the site was later purchased by the city and eventually became what is now known as Errol Black Park.

The history of that transaction dates back roughly 25 years, Mayor Jeff Fawcett — who said the events occurred long before his time in municipal office — told the Sun.

“My understanding is that was a real estate deal that they were looking to do for a police or fire station, and it was purchased at market value,” Fawcett said.

The mayor said the proposal at the time sparked a significant public debate about whether a fire station should be built on the site.

“It was a very, very large public debate about the fire station not wanting to go there,” he said.

Fawcett said the property had previously been used for an industrial recycling-type operation that handled materials such as batteries, which may have contributed to concerns about the site.

Fawcett said the city has worked with the centre over the years as it explored possible locations for a larger facility.

“We’ve worked with them for a decade on looking at different property,” he said.

When Central United Church went up for sale several years ago, Fawcett said he reached out to the centre to suggest it as a potential option. The building was ultimately purchased by the local Hindu community for use as the Brandon Hindu Temple (Mandir).

For several years, however, the Islamic centre’s leadership has indicated that the First Street and Patricia Avenue location is their preferred site.

“They’ve looked at other sites as well, but for about a decade they wanted to be on that property,” Fawcett said.

At this stage, he said the proposed development is primarily a matter between the centre and the RM of Cornwallis.

“Nothing has come to our table,” Fawcett said. “Everything that’s going on is in Cornwallis.”

He said if servicing or annexation discussions are required, the RM would bring a formal request to Brandon.

The centre’s current mosque on 10th Street has struggled to keep up with demand in recent years as the Muslim population in the region has grown.

Attendance at Friday prayers often exceeds the building’s capacity, forcing the centre to hold multiple prayer sessions or rent larger venues such as the Dome Building or the Healthy Living Centre.

Fawcett said a new facility could have a positive impact on the broader community.

“I think it would be great for the community,” he said. “It allows people to stay, build more community and be part of the greater City of Brandon.”

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