Page 20 - Brandon Sun | Royal Manitoba Winter Fair Special Section

20 THE BRANDON SUN • ROYAL MANITOBA WINTER FAIR • MARCH 27 — APRIL 1, 2017
Fairs were pinnacles of the year

"It was the pinnacle of the year for most people," Coates said. and "Girlie Shows" intrigued people and offered a reprieve
"It’s hard to get a handle how important these fairs were to from reality.
their livelihoods. In the last two decades the fairs have become "There is a whole bunch of things there that are a bit riské
more of a recreation, but it leads us to misunderstand how and not what good and decent people did," Coates said. "The
important the fairs were early on." best way to describe it is the city came to town."
Seed companies used the fair as a launching point for a new Anchoring it all for decades was the Dominion Exhibition
variety. Implement dealers used the fair to promote products Display Building No. II.
and push the limits of innovation. "It is a building of high symbolism," Coates said. "They
"The fair built the local economy," Coates said. "To see new purposely tried to construct an iconic building. It became the
products in those days was very rare and the fair became the cornerstone building that everyone would associate with the
hallmark for the consumer experience." exhibition. It is meant to stand permanently as a mark of the
Local farmers brought their best stock, best crop and best commitment of the Brandon region to agriculture in the area."
pitch as the fair was one of the few marketing tools producers Coates said he believes it’s important to protect a building
could rely on. that can connect people through generations.
"It was a reputation building or losing environment," Coates "The fact that they spent the money to fix the building, and
said. it’s not an insignificant amount of money, is a sign that the
It was also a place of great wonder. community doesn’t want to abandon its heritage," he said.
Brandon was a very practical city in the early years, and the "Brandon sees itself as a very modern city that is tied to a very
fair offered a glimpse into something different. important and storied past."
"There was constant noise. There was people yelling and "If you give up the buildings that have a strong resonance
screaming. They are selling things and there are hawkers and with the history of the community, then you are giving up part
games folks, rides, machines and all sorts of action," Coates of your soul."
said. "It was sensory overload."
Entertainment never seen before, including exotic animals » The Brandon Sun