The final Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC) Economic Development Tour of the fall brought a delegation Manitoba’s second most populous city: Brandon, located in the Westman region. This tour was a jam-packed two days exploring businesses across various industries and other local highlights, including the Canadian Forces Base Shilo (CFB Shilo). The delegation included government officials and business and community leaders who experienced firsthand why The Globe and Mail hailed Brandon as the second-best city in Canada to raise children.
Day 1 – Networking and Industry Cornerstones
Tour participants were welcomed with a driving tour around Brandon hosted by Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett and Brandon Economic Development Director Gerald Cathcart, who highlighted how Maple Leaf Foods, Koch Fertilizer, and Chemtrade Chemicals have been longstanding cornerstones of Brandon’s industrial sector, driving numerous opportunities for local small businesses. Notably, Maple Leaf Foods is transforming its Brandon facility into Canada Packers, creating a focus on pork product innovation. This change creates the potential for new investments for Brandon’s largest employer.
After the driving tour, we joined the Brandon Chamber of Commerce for its luncheon celebrating Small Business Week, particularly highlighting Progressive Westman’s recovery from a catastrophic building fire. Participants networked with local business leaders and toured the sprawling Keystone Centre, which hosted the luncheon – while also hosting a Brandon Wheat Kings hockey practice, an RCMP training session, and an agricultural expo. Participants were excited to tour the refreshed arena and get up close with cattle being groomed for the Ag show.
The next stop was Glendale Industries, part of the Atom-Jet Group, specializing in potable water tanker truck manufacturing. Participants observed the specialized processes that form the tanks and add a food-grade liner to ensure the highest-quality water. The day concluded with a networking dinner at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, joined by local Brandon business and government leaders in a unique historical setting.
Day 2 – Small Business Innovation
The second day began with a visit to CFB Shilo, where 400 soldiers were preparing for deployment to Latvia. Participants were thrilled to get up close with military equipment, including surveillance drones and light armoured vehicles. The delegation was impressed by the significant local economic benefits of Western Canada’s second-largest base, which spends over $20 million annually on contracted goods and services in the region, and over $100 million more in local employee salaries.
The next stop was Greenstone Building Products, where we learned about the unique process of constructing insulated composite envelope (ICE) panels, with energy savings up to 60% over traditional building methods. The company has grown rapidly in its nine years, employing over 60 people and building homes across the continent, from Resolute Bay, Nunavut, to The Bahamas.
At Assiniboine College, plans were shared to establish the Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and the Peters School of Business. The Prairie Innovation Centre will train more than 800 students in agriculture-related industries, including automation and robotics, addressing a strong industry need in ag-product processing. The Peters School will offer local co-op and mentorship programs, fostering entrepreneurship and developing business leaders locally in Brandon.
Behlen Steel Buildings, Canada’s largest manufacturer of steel building systems, was another impressive tour stop. Participants were amazed by the automated cutting stations, robotic welding systems, and the capability to handle some of the largest structural steel beams in the industry. The tour showcased steel largely sourced from within Canada, noting that their products are used in buildings worldwide, including a FIFA-certified soccer stadium in Russia with a truss 27 feet deep supporting a clear span of 313 feet!
The final visit was to Bushel Plus, a rapidly growing agricultural innovation company that has expanded from 5 to 36 employees in just two years. The company demonstrated its growing product line aimed at minimizing harvesting loss, helping farmers become more profitable and sustainable.
Brandon proved to be a welcoming community, showcasing its short commutes, diverse businesses, and innovative small businesses providing exceptional customer value.
This visit wrapped up the highly successful Economic Development Tours for this year. We look forward to your participation on future tours!
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