Discussions

Does Brandon need a 6 million dollar sign we need 6 million to attract industry or to help keep the cost of living in Brandon down not a sign also we don’t have a Hollywood hill to high enough to display such a sign

The price quoted is $600,000 which still seems like a helluva lot. We know that there's bound to be some additional costs...design upgrade, material costs, installation, flashing lights...Just my 2 cents.

A pool would go further than a sign in terms of increasing tourism.  
 
We put up a sign years ago under Dector-Hurst. What are the numbers on ROI from that.  
 
Think before we spend

I take that as six million dollars.

Brandon Sun issued a correction on their website saying the city mistakenly told them it would be $6M but later clarified it would be 600k - which itself raises questions.... Although just about everything anyone affiliated with the sign idea said in that article raises questions.  
 
For the city to think a 600k sign will boost tourism is ridiculous. To say that cities like Ottawa and Toronto saw a boost in tourism because they installed signs is even more ridiculous. I'd love to see a source for that claim.  
 
Nobody is traveling to visit a sign. Might I stop to get a picture in front of a sign if I'm driving by it? Sure. But a sign isn't going to boost tourism and there's no way to prove it did.  
 
People will come or they won't come for numerous other reasons. A 600k sign is an epic waste of money when there are so many better places to spend it.  
 
By the way Brandon - you already have a giant sign - on the decommissioned water tower.  
 
Oh - worth noting - Ottawa's sign cost about 150k.  
 
Edited by JosephC, 2026-01-30 15:24:52

I've been to cities that have a city sign in a public location where people usually pose for pictures. They are never the actual tourist draw rather they are a novelty tourists happen to come across in an already established tourist location. As for the $600,000 cost I find it hard to believe someone local couldn't do a great job of a sign for much less. Local landscaping business could do the base. Local manufacturer to make the 7 giant letters.

If you want to install a fairly expensive sign, let's do it after we clean up our current big-name "tourist" locale! The exhibition grounds...when was the last time that was ever repaved? The fencing is terrible and damaged, the gates are ugly (off 16th) the landscaping terrible. The south side of the grounds is nothing but a gravel road and weeds. It's ugliness amplified by the horrible trees. The Discovery Centre is nice and maintained and well utilized during the summer months with gorgeous, groomed trails for winter activities.

don,t need no $600K sign. If there is that much loose change kicking around put it towards the huge accumulated debt! Better yet, add it to the police budget to help with the rampant crime.

For th clarification

Put in a decent water park.

How about you go to the meeting this weekend and talk about this in front of council and even the board of keystone? You do have VERY valid points.  
 
I would love to see keystone grounds, the portion of land to the south that is never used for anything to be re developed into commercial space that the city can rent out and create revenue for the city!  
 
I am also concerned about the rise in grocery prices and the city to be aggressive in bringing in new grocery stores. We cannot grow if we have the same amount of grocery stores. Having said all this, the city continues to focus on ideas that make no sense as far as spending 600K for a sign that doesn't attract anyone!

Put it towards new pool or debt. Does Brandon have that much money to throw around??

do you mean the southend of the Keystone Centre is never used? It was packed for parking during Ag Days, it was used for the demo derby's, monster trucks, Touch a truck and other uses

I wouldn't mind the sign but if you are trying to bring more visitors a sign wont just do it, why do you want more tourists in Brandon? What are tourists going to do here? We don't even have a fountain in town, we don't have statues, or decent museums or anything else, start working on that first then put up a sign.

Unless someone has friends or family here there is nothing touristy to see in Brandon. Brandon Mb. Is not Vancouver, the Okanagan or the Grand Canyon, no amount of statues or other fountains or whatever will make it a destination.

Can help a lot of needy people…

"I am also concerned about the rise in grocery prices and the city to be aggressive in bringing in new grocery stores. We cannot grow if we have the same amount of grocery stores."  
 
So, it's actually not that simple. It's been in the news quite a lot recently about how many major grocery chains essentially sign contracts with the property owners that won't allow other grocery stores to move in XX distance away. And I mean, we've talked multiple times here on ebrandon about how Sobeys is holding (and paying!) the lease at their old location in the south end to prevent any competitors from moving in. Glen Simard, the MLA from Brandon East, has brought forth legislation to deal with this. But there's no "quick fix", so to speak.  
 
Here's some more information on the topic https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/grocery-giants-control-9.7055067  
 
"do you mean the southend of the Keystone Centre is never used? It was packed for parking during Ag Days, it was used for the demo derby's, monster trucks, Touch a truck and other uses"  
 
I agree, although it could have some improvements made.  
 
"For the city to think a 600k sign will boost tourism is ridiculous. "  
 
I'm not saying I support spending $600k on a sign, but I think most people are missing the point of the sign. It's not that people are going to come see LOL. But in this day and age of social media, I think the idea is that it will make it into pictures (even if it's just locals to begin with), raising awareness that Brandon exists.  
 
"$600,000  
Can help a lot of needy people…"  
 
It can, but not as many as you think, or as long as you think. One could argue that we should spend money that is going to generate economic activities, as that is truly what will help people in the long run by providing tax revenue, employment, and sustainable growth. It's like when people complain when the city spends money on flowers - yeah, we could spend the money elsewhere, but it's something that makes our town attractive and appealing.  
 
I mean, unless you're in truly dire financial straits, most people would spend time and money making their home a nice place to live. What makes it different on a civic level? We could criticize everyone who doesn't give every cent beyond their basic needs to the needy, but we don't do that. While it's critically important that we fund those programs, we are also permitted to spend money elsewhere.  
 
Edited by Abbysmum, 2026-01-31 20:32:45

While a big Hollywoo style sign would certainly look interesting somewhere along the north hill facing south, I agree that it would probably be a waste of time compared to a water park or something else of that nature.  
 
Since this is a city with 2 post secondary institutions, I feel like that should be part of this conversation. Things for students to do once they are here. A trampoline park comes to mind as one year round option.

My thoughts exactly. If the City was flush with funds, then great, put up a sign. Many other things are needed right now

$600,000 for a sign. The population of Brandon is over 50,000. That's $12 per person.  
Anytime a project like this is announced anywhere, the critics come out.  
But it provides an iconic landmark that people will think about for decades to come. When you do a Google search for Brandon, pictures with the sign will come up.  
This sign won't solve everybody's problems but it is something the community can be proud of. And as time passes, the chorus of critics will grow dimmer.

It sure is.. what percentage or how many days of the year is that area used in those events? the ratio that it sits empty most of the year than it is used. Yes weather plays a factor. But if that area is developed into commercial that is rented out. It creates all year revenue.

Availability of parking and outside events is a necessity for the future of keystone centre.  
 
Why take that away for a whim.  
 
So much commercial property is developed and empty in Brandon let’s fill that up first.  
 
Oh if you do put in businesses they need parking and more shortages.  
 
Plus don’t forget security access to grounds would now be limited.

Especially at that price or any price.  
 
Sign on the highway says Brandon. And has changed a few times over the years.  
 
Yet what is needed is a big arrow that says turn south on 18th to go to Brandon. Shopping etc.  
 
Driving on no 1 go right passed not even knowing or seeing Brandon.  
 
Waste of money and time.  
 
Remember it is not just $600,000 cost. Add in all expenses of contract process. Maintenance. Etc. it isn’t a one time expense.

Think of it this way... for that price you could build a very nice house or even buy 2 decent houses. Something that would last for years to come, and take almost a lifetime to pay off for most people.  
How can it possibly cost that much to build a sign that says BRANDON? and why would you spend that much money on it?  
 
Edited by Lucille58, 2026-02-03 09:27:08

called their city councilor to let them know how you feel about this topic? They are the people that we elected to represent us.

I couldn't have attended if I wanted to. I cannot do public speaking. It's a terrible thing.

If you really want to draw tourism you will need two things:  
1. A destination like a casino, mountains, ocean front, historical site or something similar to attract people  
2. Attractive places for people to stay.  
 
I will use Medicine Hate as an example They used to have a water park, but when it became about the same size Brandon is now, they got rid of it due to increasing upkeep costs. Medicine Hat has 4 pools at the moment, none of which contribute to tourism. They are mainly used by locals for swimming lessons and local events. But the hotels aren't hopping because they have 4 pools.  
 
Now let's look at a place like Canmore. Canmore, which sees significantly more tourism than Medicine Hat, well it has only one pool and zero water parks. How on earth do they draw people? The mountains, and their close location to Banff National Park.  
 
If you want to get real about attracting tourists to Brandon, you will have to invest tens of millions of dollars to build a park that rivals the rest, like the one in the West Edmonton Mall, because an outdoor park will only attract people in the summer months, making it cost prohibitive. And you will need to bring in hotel stays to make it a true tourism destination, and not just something the hockey families do when they are here for tournaments.

Considering one could buy 3 small houses at that price, it’s ridiculous a hugely expensive sign is even considered here when we need more doctors, affordable housing etc.