TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL | Top 10,000 Places to Visit in Canada
The page created by Dylan Gow | Red River College | Photo by Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, CC BY 2.0
Nicknamed ‘the Wheat City’ because of its agrarian roots, Brandon continues to be a powerhouse for agri-business and expos today.
Photo: Reine Koppel, CC BY 4.0
Wagons loaded with bags of grain awaiting delivery to elevators in Brandon, c. 1888; Archives of Manitoba, Wikimedia Commons
Canada’s experimental farms system was established in 1886 by a federal government to introduce profitable new methods and products.
The Brandon Experimental Farm is one of the original five. It was acquired in 1888. It has tested and introduced crops, livestock and cultivation techniques adapted to the eastern prairies.
Photo: Agnes Deans Cameron, CC BY-SA 4.0
This non-profit, charitable organization is founded and operated by volunteers. It’s dedicated to the airmen who trained, served, and most importantly died while serving their country in the air from 1939 to 1945.
This museum is unique because it’s the only one in the world dedicated solely to remembering those of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The plan was signed back in 1939 when only 4,000 people were in the Royal Canadian Air Force. By the end of 1943, the enrollment reached 250,000!
The museum is fitting for Manitoba because so much of the training was carried out right here in Manitoba.
Commonwealth Joint Air Training Plan, January 1943
Photos: Bzuk, Wikimedia Commons
Known as Brandon’s central park, the centre provides a family fun experience. Founded in 1995, the Brandon Riverbank showcases the long-term process of establishing and developing the Assiniboine River Corridor to become a place to connect people with nature.
Many events take place here to contribute to an active and healthy community such as charity walks and runs, Canada Day Celebrations, meeting and of course, family gatherings. The park is filled with wildlife, information stands, walking trails and benches. It also has a gift shop to remember your time and the Riverbank Discovery Centre.
Photo: facebook.com/brandonriverbank
Come see where Brandon’s first lawyer and mayor, Thomas Mayne Daly 11 lived from 1882 to 1896. The house has been preserved and serves the community as a place to learn and share history.
Come visit in the summer months and you’ll see a beautiful garden full of native flowers that painted the landscape.
Photo: facebook.com/dalyhouse/
Located in Brandon’s original Manitoba Government Service building, this museum has a variety of exhibits to explore Brandon’s past and present.
The museum is home to B.J Hales Natural History Collection which is the largest taxidermy collection in the Westman region. The collection is over 100 years old and has over 800 different specimens.
The museum has a vast number of artifacts and collections showing how Wheat City was formed and founded.
Photos: Google Street View; facebook.com/brandongeneralmuseum
The AGSM has been serving Brandon and the surrounding regions for over 100 years. It was founded back in 1907 and is Manitoba’s oldest centre for visual art.
The gallery offers year-round exhibitions showcasing artwork from local, provincial and national artists that often highlight and encourages new understandings of the community. This is a great place to bring the whole family.
Photo: facebook.com/TheAGSM
The Keystone Centre is home to the Western Hockey Leagues, Brandon Wheat Kings. The Centre also hosts 3 fairs as well as shows and events.
The 5,102-seat arena was built in 1973 and has hosted some memorable events such as the 2010 Memorial Cup, 1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship and the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier. WWE even help their Monday Night Raw even in 1995.
Every year the Keystone Centre hosts the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair which is an annual agricultural fair and is Brandon’s largest event. Events at the fair include livestock sales, show jumping and horse competitions to bring awareness to agricultural programs.
In 1970, the event received royal patronage from Queen Elizabeth and is one of two fairs in Canada with royal patronage.
Photo: facebook.com/KeystoneCentreBrandon
Brandon is home to former NHL goalie Ron Hextall. Hextall played 13 seasons on 3 different NHL teams.
During his rookie season in 1986-87, he won the Vezina Trophy and led the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals. Despite losing to the Edmonton Oilers, Hextall won the Conn Smythe Trophy which is awarded to the playoff’s most valuable player.
Ron was also the first goalie in the NHL to score a goal. By shooting the puck into the opponent’s empty net. He did so again in the playoffs making him the first goalie to score in the playoffs.
Photo: Jim Tyron, CC BY 2.0
