Discussions

A group with ties to the Provincial Exhibition wants development on the Keystone Centre grounds stopped.  
 
Group spokesman Reg. Forbes says the Ex donated the land for the Keystone with the understanding it would remain green space.  
 
The group says the city doesn't contribute enough financially to the Keystone Centre operations.  
 
That's something mayor Dave Burgess disputes. He says the city kicks in over 600 thousand dollars annually.  
 
Burgess says recent renovations and expansion have been paid for by the city and senior governments.  
 
The group has launched a post card campaign to convince the province and city to stop potential development. Source: CKLQ News.  
 
I am in full agreement with the aims of this group. This land has been used for a Summer Fair since October 1882.  
 
The first Board of Directors were mainly farmers from the surrounding area like Mr. J.W. Vantasswel, Mr. Charles Pilling and Mr. George Halse. Mr. J.E. Smith was a Real Estate broker, farm implement dealer and livery stable operator.  
 
Mr. William Johnson and Mr. R.T. Evans were also farm implement dealers. Mr. Thomas Lockhart was an agent for a Manitoba loan company.  
 
This Fair was considered a flop because poor weather kept exhibitors away, but the second Fair was planned anyway.  
 
This year, (1883) the city fathers supported the Fair and gave a generous donation of $2,500, and the Brandon District Council gave a further grant of $2,000.  
 
Another grant from the provincial government of $2,100 gave the Fair Board all the support, and money they could ever have wished for.  
 
With this money the Agricultural Society could purchase a small Lot of land south of the city, (Richmond Avenue) and erect a building called “the Crystal Palace” named after the massive structure erected in England for the 1851 London International Exposition.  
 
From these early endeavours, the city of Brandon and the residents of south west Manitoba have had an open area to host these exhibitions, and to sell off this parcel of land will someday haunt us when a suitable public need will require this space and it will no longer be available.  
 
Source: Pride of the Land, (An affectionate History of Brandon’s Agricultural Exhibitions), By Ken Coates and Fred McGuiness.