Previously, the only welcome visitors would see on their trip into the Wheat City were provincial billboard-style signs and green highway indicators, but that is set to change by the end of next month.
Six brand-new, specially designed signs are set to go up at every major entrance to Brandon, including on the east and west entrance via the Trans Canada Highway, on Highway #1A near Kemnay, on Veterans Way, and along the north and south entrances of Highway #10.
“We are moving away from the provincial ‘billboard-style’ signs and towards a more welcoming, stylized sign,” said Sandy Trudel, Director of Economic Development in Brandon.
“The journey of planning and designing Brandon ‘Welcome’ signage at the main entrances to the city has been a long and interesting one, but they are finally ready for installation. Ultimately, the sign size coupled with its impactful, but timeless design conveys to motorists that Brandon is a vibrant, full-service urban centre.”
Funding for the signs was originally placed into a reserve fund in the 2010 budget year by the previous City Council, and then approved for use in the 2012 budget year by the current council.
“We were approved for $140,000 from the reserve fund,” said Trudel.
“And after looking at fabrication and design costs, we will be coming in under-budget.”
The signs were designed with the help of Form Media, working with Trudel and Louis McDonald, Brandon’ Tourism Manager.
“We worked together on a design for a long time, and this was the one that rose to the top,” said Trudel.  “The linked ‘D’ and ‘O’ in the Brandon word mark symbolizes the sense of belonging that is the most common reason people site for staying or returning to Brandon. It speaks to the importance of community, family and support for one another, and the fact that we are stronger together. Meanwhile, the graphic itself can mean different things to different people. Those with ties to agriculture may see an image of wheat or crops representative of Brandon’s history and economy, while those who understand the importance of family and community in Brandon might see people connected in an embrace.”
Five of the signs are expected to be erected by the end of August, though the one going up on Highway #10 North will take a bit longer, as the steeper ditches will require extra engineering work. The two “Gateway” signs on the Trans Canada will be the largest, standing roughly 20 feet high by 10 feet wide. The smaller signs will be approximately 12 feet high by six feet wide.