Keystone Centre, Provincial Ex receive $155K
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The Manitoba government is investing $155,000 to support tourism and event infrastructure in Brandon through funding for the Keystone Centre and Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba.
The funding, provided through the province’s From the Ground Up — Safe Healthy Communities for All program, includes $100,000 for the Keystone Agricultural and Recreational Centre and $55,000 for the Provincial Ex.
Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard, who announced the funding Monday, said the two organizations play an important role in attracting visitors and hosting events in western Manitoba.
Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba president Tim Rowan stands inside the Dome building on Monday afternoon. (Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
The Keystone Centre will use its funding to upgrade the Brandon Multiplex, including dasher boards and glass at the Flynn Arena.
Simard said the investment will help the Keystone Centre focus more resources on attracting events while ensuring its infrastructure remains in good condition.
“I think it’s really important that we continue to support the Keystone Centre not only in bringing events to Brandon, but making sure that the infrastructure that we have is replaced and up to the highest standard,” Simard told the Sun.
Provincial Exhibition president Tim Rowan said the funding will help the organization develop a strategic plan, including a talent assessment, virtual coaching and event-specialist support.
“The funding will help us assess our future while preserving our 144-year history,” he told the Sun. “We’ve been around for 144 years, and that’s a long history. We want another 144 years.”
Rowan said the organization is at a point where it needs to examine how it can remain relevant to a changing community while maintaining its agricultural roots and heritage.
The strategic planning process will look at the organization’s operations and how it can become more involved with the broader Brandon community, including newcomers to Canada, he said.
“We want to preserve our heritage and make sure that we’re still a strong organization, but become an even stronger organization and involve more of the community.”
Simard said knowing the province can provide funding for infrastructure such as arena boards allows the Keystone Centre to put more money toward attracting events.
According to a 2023-24 economic impact assessment cited by the province, the Keystone Centre contributes $78.1 million annually to Manitoba’s economy and supports more than 2,000 jobs.
Simard said the centre is important not only to Brandon, but to the province as a whole.
“Anything that we can do to support such an important place, we will do,” he said.
» aodutola@brandonsun.com
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