Brandon, MB – Recognizing the importance that Brandon’s architectural and agricultural history both play in the community’s collective culture, Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest has proclaimed July 16th and 17th, 2016, to be “Open Brandon Days” within the City of Brandon.
The proclamation coincides with the 15th annual “Doors Open Brandon” event, which runs Saturday, July 16th and Sunday, July 17th, during the hours of 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The 24 properties on this year’s tour list are a mix of private residences, publicly-owned buildings, and museums, each with their own unique story to tell.
Morningstar notes that historical enthusiasts craving more interaction than what the event’s self-guided tour program provides may also participate in the “Memory and History: Brandon and the First World War” guided walking tour hosted by local history buff and Brandon Sun columnist David McConkey. The tour runs on both Saturday and Sunday, departing from the Brandon Armoury at 1 p.m. at 3 p.m. each day.
Also part of the “Open Brandon” weekend is the popular “Open Garden” program, which runs on Saturday, July 16th. A dozen stunning gardens in total will be open to the public for self-guided walk-throughs during a 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. viewing schedule.
Tech-savvy history buffs are encouraged to post their “Open Brandon” event experiences on social media using the #OpenBrandon hashtag, or take advantage of this year’s unique geocaching programming at 10 of different locations across Brandon.
A full list of “Doors Open Brandon” tour locations and participant details can be found on the Heritage Brandon website here: http://heritagebrandon.ca/doors-open/2016-properties, while a full list of ‘Open Garden’ locations can be found online here: http://brandoninbloom.ca/images/pdfs/Open_Garden_Tours_2016_-_Info_Sheet.pdf.
Individuals may also pick up a complimentary Open Brandon Passport, free-of-charge, at both Brandon Sobey’s locations, at Brandon City Hall (410-9th Street), or at the Riverbank Discovery Centre (545 Conservation Drive).