Page 18 - Brandon Sun | Royal Manitoba Winter Fair Special Section

18 THE BRANDON SUN • ROYAL MANITOBA WINTER FAIR • MARCH 27 — APRIL 1, 2017

Dome Building is quintessential Brandon

It represents the last surviving building constructed for the Dominion Exhibitions
It is impossible to overstate the role the community asset, a major tourism Exhibitions. In 2013, the Dome Building
Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba and attraction and a tool to educate the public celebrated its 100th anniversary and here
the fairs had in the evolution of Brandon about past and current agricultural is what Dr. Ken Coates — who
and Westman. practices and the impact on our lives.” researched the fairs as part of his book
The fairs created a national The campaign, which was launched in "Pride of the Land,” which was co-
conversation around Brandon, furthering 2010, aimed at restoring a building that authored by the late Fred McGuinness
community development and driving had fallen into a state of disrepair. — had to say
economic growth. “We have had tremendous support "The places that become provincial
“As part of our own anniversary from the community to this point. As we exhibition sites become known, not just
celebrations, we are making big strides enter the final push to complete this locally or provincially, but also nationally,
on our Restoring the Glory Campaign to project, we encourage anyone interested as areas of agricultural importance,"
rehabilitate this community landmark in supporting this project at any level to Coates said.
and its four shining steel domes, which contact us and put your mark on a piece "The fairs made it clear right from the
has stood for 104 years,” Provincial of Brandon’s history,” Kristjansson said. beginning that Brandon was an area of
Exhibition of Manitoba general manager “All of our events this year will have our national significance."
Ron Kristjansson said. “This project has 135th anniversary as a theme but the It may be difficult to conceive now,
not only saved one of Canada’s most completion of this project for the fall of according to Coates, but at one time the
endangered heritage buildings, but will 2017 will mark the occasion in the most summer and winter fairs were the
soon be home to a unique interactive fitting manner.” primary place for discovering new
learning centre. Illustrating the In 1999 the building was designated a products and cutting edge technology in
Exhibition’s history, as well as experiential National Historic Site of Canada as the the agricultural sector.
exhibitions about agriculture past and only known surviving building
present, this historic building will offer a constructed for the Dominion » Continued on Page 20