The Organization
Building Community Since 1882
Rich in history, the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba was established in the agricultural community of Brandon, Manitoba in the year 1882. Through the production of three annual fairs, this volunteer-lead organization showcases agriculture and links urban and rural through education and awareness while providing entertainment, community pride, and economic enhancement to the region.
Ride and midway at the Manitoba Summer Fair during the 1960s
The Provincial Exhibition is governed by a board of 39 directors, with the day-to-day operations administered by six full-time staff. The Provincial Exhibition office is located in the historical Display Building No. II at 1200-13th Street in Brandon, Manitoba. The building, constructed in 1913, is a designated Canadian heritage site.
The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba plays a pivotal role in showcasing the importance of the agricultural industry in western Manitoba. Studies indicate that the organization has an economic impact of approximately $18 million dollars annually (per a 2014 report) to the city of Brandon. During each fair, additional part-time staff and hundreds of volunteers work together to produce each event.
Fairgoers attend the 1916 Manitoba Summer Fair
In 1882, shortly after the incorporation of the city of Brandon and two years before the creation of the Chamber of Commerce, The Brandon Agricultural Society was formed to showcase and promote the sale of agricultural products.
Local businessmen put up $200 and called for entries for cattle, horses, pigs, poultry and grains. This was the start of the exhibition’s first fair, today known as the Manitoba Summer Fair. The summer show began on the corner of what is today 10th and Victoria Avenue and moved to its present location on the Keystone grounds in the late 1800s.
The need soon arose for a second annual fair and by March 1906, the Brandon Winter Fair was born. The purpose of this fair was primarily to promote the sale of livestock and to encourage improvement in the breeding lines and care of animals. Numerous educational opportunities were added to the fair as well displays by government agencies, implement dealers and other manufacturers. In addition, there was now the opportunity to attend lectures and meetings of breed associations and other agricultural groups. The Winter Fair began on the Keystone grounds and later moved to the Wheat City Arena location and remained there until the building of the Keystone Centre, which now hosts all three of the Provincial Exhibition annual events.
In those early years, both fairs ran independently until 1967 when the amalgamation of the two fairs took place and the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba became an entity. On July 11, 1970, the Brandon Winter Fair was granted patronage by a visit from her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and became the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Manitoba AG EX, the youngest of the three productions, made its first appearance in 1973. Today, Manitoba AG EX is Manitoba’s largest all-breeds cattle show.
Restoring the Glory
In 2009, local supporters, Gord Peters and his wife Diane, collaborated with the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba to make it their personal mission to restore the glory of this proud symbol of our heritage of agricultural excellence and an iconic representation of Brandon and Westman’s agricultural history. Thank you to all of our donors and supporters. This project would not have been a reality today if it hadn’t of been for your dedication and generosity.
The historic and restored Display Building No. II on the grounds of Brandon’s Keystone Centre.
History of the Dominion Exhibition, Display Building II (Dome Building)
From 1879 to 1913, the Dominion Exhibition, a national agricultural exhibition, was held annually across Canada. This was a prestigious and important event that communities competed fiercely for their fair to be designated the distinction of the “Dominion Exhibition” from the federal government.
In 1913, Brandon’s bid to host the Dominion Exhibition was successful and the infrastructure to host this esteemed event would be constructed. The city of Brandon was recognized for its community’s progressive attitude and the agricultural excellence of the region.
Reports indicated that over the 10 days of the fair, there was 200,000 visits. The fair opened on July 13, 1913; local hotels were filled to capacity and the overflow had to be boarded in the local roller rink. Brandon’s streetcar system opened just in time and during fair week, trailers were attached to the cars to help move the crowds. The 1913 Fair was a spectacular success and deemed “the best ever.”
During the years following the Dominion Fair, Display Building No. II saw many uses, from swine displays to hockey games and petting zoos, and more recently as a cold storage space for the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba. The building has been in continual use for nearly a century.
In 2009, the Heritage Canada Foundation listed the domed building as one the most endangered structures in the country. Parks Canada, on its website, described the building as a “rare surviving example of the late 19th and early 20th century type of exhibition halls” built for agricultural fairs. The well known “Dome Building” was constructed for the hosting of the Dominion Fair in Brandon in 1913, and is the only surviving building in Canada constructed for this series of Fairs. Renovations began the same year and were completed in the spring of 2018.
The restoration and redevelopment of Dominion Exhibition Display Building No. II preserved an important part of the agricultural history of our community and our country. The restored building is a cultural and tourism asset for Westman. It houses a large agricultural hall that can be rented out for events such as conventions, weddings, markets, etc. The building is also home to offices of local businesses including the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba.