On the Bakken’s doorstep

By Sandy Trudel, Director of Economic Development, City of Brandon

Brandon’s proximity to southwest Manitoba’s oil fields makes us close enough to be home, especially with WestJet’s daily direct flights to and from Calgary. Brandon is the second-largest city in Manitoba offering development opportunities, services, education, entertainment, and jobs expected from the full-service urban centre that we are. Despite our size, the community has successfully retained smalltown connectivity at both a professional and personal level and the warmth and friendliness typically synonymous with small rural communities. Oilfield employees have an easy commute to work, and they and their families enjoy an excellent quality of life.

Brandon benefits from many positive locational factors, including:

• A one-hour drive to the field

• Full-service urban centre

• A skilled and semi-skilled workforce of approximately 58,000

• A responsive community college

• Excellent transportation infrastructure for ground and rail movement of materials east-west and north-south

• Reliable supply of affordable electricity and natural gas

• Available industrial land, both serviced and unserviced

• A state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility and potable water supply

• An Economic Development team of professionals to help however we can. Whether it be navigating the development process, sourcing a site for your operations, connecting with labour and/ or suppliers, helping your employees settle, we are ready to assist.

Located only an hour’s drive from the Bakken, the oil & gas sector continues to be an important economic driver within Brandon’s economy. Local consulting firms, contractors, manufacturers, and trucking firms have adapted their business model to meet the needs of the nearby oil industry. Assiniboine Community College has demonstrated their willingness and ability to provide training the oil sector requires.

Workforce is key to operational success and Brandon boasts amenities, services, educational, and employment opportunities that make the area attractive to oil sector employees and their families. As a medical referral centre for Southwestern Manitoba, the medical services available in Brandon are extensive. For nonteaching hospitals in Manitoba, Brandon Regional Health Center offers the widest range of specialized services.

A low crime rate, a wide variety of housing choices, educational excellence, and abundant recreation and cultural opportunities create an enviable quality of life for residents. Brandon is consistently ranked in the top 10 as one of the best places to live in Canada.

Brandon is a sports-oriented city full of top-notch recreation facilities offering multiple golf courses, skiing, soccer, equestrian sports, and everything in between. Multiple indoor fitness centres offering a full range of services and equipment as well as personalized trainers are found throughout the city. Several racquetball and squash courts, an outdoor and indoor running track and numerous indoor and outdoor swimming pools and water slides are readily available in the city. For those that are a little more adventurous, there are a variety of challenging recreational opportunities offered in Brandon; pilot lessons, parachute jumping and rock-climbing walls to name a few.

With the Assiniboine River winding 17 kilometres through the heart of Brandon and 44 kilometres of paved walking and hiking trails, the city is an oasis for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking and cycling are extremely popular in Brandon and the nearby Brandon Hills. Brandon offers a nice mix of man-made and natural scenic trails perfect for walking, hiking, biking, rollerblading, horseback riding, skiing, and snowshoeing. Cottage country is as close as 25 minutes.

The city is home to a variety of art and cultural offerings, featuring visual exhibits, drama, and musical performances in a variety of genres. A diverse offering of concerts and performances are available at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium. The Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba features national and international exhibitions and works by regional artists and is home to a comprehensive art school facility. Their ceramic facility is unmatched by any art gallery in Canada with many people using the ceramic facility as a studio for their own hobby or art practice. At the end of the day, Brandon’s greatest asset is the balance between profit and personal reward. Please visit www.economicdevelopmentbrandon.com or www.tourism.brandon.com to further explore Brandon’s business opportunities and quality of life attributes. You Belong in Brandon! v