(about Brandon, MB Canada, last edited on Oct 02, 2007)
Named “Brandon” for the nearby Brandon Hills, the city is located 197 km west of Winnipeg in the southwestern part of the county and nestled along the Assiniboine River. The city is also close by to Highway 1 and the main highway to the USA. This perfect location, also called Westman, makes it an easy destination to get to.
After Winnipeg Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba with a population of approximately 43,000 and a trading area of approximately 180,000 and with an economy based on agriculture and trade continuing a long tradition based on agriculture. The city is nicknamed “The Wheat City”, jus to give you an example on how rooted the city was and is to agriculture.
Being a progressive community, things are going pretty well in Brandon and the rich and abundant farmland makes agriculture a profitable business while advances in transportation and technology have created an attractive situation for the city's residents. This can be proved by the local’s quality of life that is pretty high and which residents work diligently to maintain. Quality of life and competitive advantages and the great number of opportunities and the unique charm of the city that is based on originality are what attract people to settle down in Brandon.
A great contribution to their education has the presence of many museums among which the air museum is to be noted, thus the city boasts a vast selection of educated and team-oriented individuals with a community spirit.
Education is an important factor in bringing up the city’s youngsters so the presence of the great number of high education venues does not come as a surprise. The list is long and includes Brandon University, Assiniboine Community College, The Manitoba Emergency Services College and The Midwestern School of Business & Technology / Robertson College, University of Manitoba four-year satellite nursing program and the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre.
The city’s downtown has undergone some renewal and it is a pleasant place to stroll. There are excellent shopping facilities with plenty of small shops lined on the Eighteenth Street, two shopping Malls large department stores.
Entertainment opportunities abound both inside and outside the city. Starting with the restaurants that can be numbered next to the finest in Manitoba and continuing with other cultural and recreational venues like the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, the two local theatre companies 7 Ages Productions & Mecca Productions, and concert halls the visitor can have a great time.
Great time is also ensured by the Brandon Festival of the Arts if you happen to visit Brandon in February and March, Brandon Jazz Festival and the Folk Festival that takes place every summer.
But besides entertainment in this city that boasts amenities and conveniences you would expect to find only in big metropolis, the quietness of the countryside, namely of the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis, is just a few steps away. The Assiniboine Riverbank is another place for you to wind down and enjoy the attractive walkways, cycling routes, nature reserves and picnic spots. So no matter what you fancy loud crowded places or the tranquility only nature can provide you are sure to find both in Brandon area.
Whether you're looking for a relaxing vacation with the opportunity to rediscover the sites, or just enjoy the scenery or to experience a great area for outdoor fun, Brandon is the place to be.
