'A tremendous feeling': Brandon's Royal Winter Fair wraps up week-long celebration
A long-running, beloved Brandon event is celebrating a successful return to fully in-person festivities this spring break.
The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair concluded Saturday after six days of activities, entertainment, food, and more.
"It's been going absolutely fantastic," said Mark Humphries, general manager of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, "We've got the crowds back, trade show full, the equestrian shows going on, the weather's been on our side, so we've had a real good week all the way around."
This is the first fully in-person edition of the fair since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Humphries said last year's event was a challenge. "We had five weeks to put on a show, which was extremely difficult for staff and volunteers," he said. "Last year, we were still under COVID restrictions, so we had rooms taken up for the jab centres. This year we've got everything back and we're running at full steam."
Some of the events taking place at the Keystone centre included a four-horse team championship, farm relay, birds of prey competition, and the Woofjocks – a group of trained dogs performing tricks.
The Manitoba room featured a selection of food vendors, exhibitors, and live entertainment.
Humphries said crowds of people turned out for the fair. "Family day was absolutely bursting … great sponsors, great volunteers. Now that COVID's behind us, we're looking to build and build."
He added the fair is a great economic driver for the entire Westman region. "We've got the hotels all smiley again because we've been filling the hotel rooms, filling the local restaurants and local shops, so everybody bounces off the fair. It's a tremendous feeling for all of us," said Humphries.
The organization runs two major fairs per year. The Manitoba Summer Fair returns to Brandon June 7-11, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.