New Islamic centre gets $325K lift from NDP

The provincial government is contributing $325,000 toward the Brandon Islamic Centre’s proposed new worship centre.

The funding will go toward a larger facility just outside the city that will accommodate the centre’s growing congregation.

Manitoba Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard, who made the announcement shortly after Friday afternoon prayers in the centre at 834 10th St., said the funds are specifically earmarked for acquiring land for the proposed facility.

“This is about helping a growing community access a larger space,” Simard, the MLA for Brandon East, told the Sun. “We know the current facility is too small, and this investment supports not just religious practice, but a place to gather, learn and build community.”

The centre is in the process of acquiring about 3.55 acres at the southeast corner of First Street and Patricia Avenue in the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis at a cost of $325,000.

Last month, during a community Iftar hosted by the centre and attended by Premier Wab Kinew, Deputy Premier Uzoma Asagwara and Simard, among others, BIC explained the need for the expanded facility and sought provincial support.

At the time, Kinew told the Sun the province would look into the request.

BIC secretary Muhammad Abidullah said the organization has already raised significant funds internally, with community donations reaching nearly $480,000 by the end of March.

“This is a big leap,” Abidullah told the Sun on Friday after the announcement.

“It’s a very positive announcement that will have an impact for decades on our growing community, which is about 1,000, and the Brandon community at large.”

Once the land is secured, the next phase will focus on design, engineering and regulatory approvals over the next year, with a potential groundbreaking timeline targeted for spring 2027, pending fundraising progress, he said.

Simard said the funding aligns with the province’s broader priorities of inclusion and population retention.

“It’s about making sure people can stay in Manitoba and build their lives here,” he said. “Spaces like this help retain families and attract new residents by giving them a sense of belonging.”

The minister said the province’s “one Manitoba” approach and commitment to support diverse cultural and faith communities across the province were the motives behind the funding.

The proposed centre will serve multiple roles beyond religious use, including community programming and potentially a daycare, which could address broader needs, he said.

Simard said the additional daycare spaces would be a “win-win,” especially given long waitlists.

“The immediate priority is completing the main facility.”

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett said the project reflects a broader pattern seen in the city’s history, where cultural and faith centres help communities take root and grow.

“These spaces give people a reason to stay,” Fawcett said. “They allow families to grow, connect to their culture and still be fully part of the wider community.”

The project follows more than 10 years of advocacy by the Muslim community in Brandon to secure a larger space.

Fawcett said the development represents meaningful progress after years of discussions.

“We’re closer to something they’ve been working toward for a long time,” he said. “This is a step forward for the entire community.”

While final designs are still in development, Abidullah said, the proposed facility could include a larger worship space, community gathering areas, and educational and social programming spaces. The potential daycare would be subject to infrastructure and regulatory requirements.

Abidullah said planning and design work will run alongside efforts to secure development agreements with the city and the RM of Cornwallis.

Despite provincial support, he said the bulk of construction funding, estimated at $3 million or more, will come from community contributions.

“If every resident contributed even a small amount, we could reach our goal quickly,” he said.

“This is not just a project for today … It’s something that will strengthen Brandon, Manitoba and Canada for generations.”

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