THE BRANDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Chamberata Chamberata
Glance
February2026
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT
SpeakingUpforBrandonBusiness
HereweareinFebruary,andthecountdownto spring is on! While our very own Manitoba Merv did see his shadow forecasting 6 more weeks of winter, our federal counterpart WiartonWilliedidnotandsayswewillenjoyan early spring Not the first time we have received conflicting information from the province and the feds, but this time I’ll choose to split the difference and see where the weathertakesme!
The new year brings a lot of heavy lifting for our chamber committees, specifically the Government Relations Committee Budgeting processandprocedurefortheCityofBrandon, Province of Manitoba, and the Brandon School Division all take place within the first quarter each year. While each budget focuses on a differentarea,ourendgoalremainsthesame.
Brandon NEEDS to be recognized as the economic and educational hub it is within the province
At the city level, this means ensuring that our municipal leaders provide predictability and a clear path forward so that our members can effectivelymanageandgrowtheirbusinesses. At the provincial level, this means providing stable and reliable funding for our education system. Unknown funding from the province createsuncertaintywhichdrivesoureducation property taxes upward Our province is also entering this year’s budget cycle with a large deficit,whichismorethandoubletheoriginally projected$794million.
On al tra re ke to kn ng spent responsibly. And finally, at the Brandon School Division level, this meansresponsiblespendingtoensure the required training is received to prepare our kids for the ever evolving workforce.
So, as we wait for an early/mid/late spring, The Chamber will continue to workhardtoensureourcommentsare considered at each level of budget deliberations.
Upcoming Events
MAR.6,2026|9:00AM-10:00AM|1043ROSSERAVE FREEEVENT,NOREGISTRATIONREQUIRED
MAR.11,2026|8:00AM-3:00PM|KEYSTONEUCT REGISTRATIONCLOSESMARCH2
MAR.182026|11:00AM-1:00PM| FREEEVENT, REGISTRATIONREQUIRED BUSINESSAFTER5
MAR 26,2026|11:00AM-1:00PM|VICTORIAINN EARLYBIRDREGISTRATIONUNTILMARCH12 REGISTRATIONCLOSESMARCH23
March Luncheon
EconomicOutlook
March26,2026 | 11:00amto1:00pm | VictoriaInn
JoinusasweexploretheeconomicoutlookandkeytrendsshapingCanadaandourregion.
$45+GST(EarlyBird)|$49+GST(Members)|$65+GST(Non-Members)
EarlyBirdPricingendsMarch11|RegistrationclosesMonday,March23
Pleasenote:luncheonticketscannolongerbeinvoiced.
Meet Your Speaker
JoinusMarch26forourEconomicOutlook LuncheonSeries,featuringCarolynRogers, p y BankofCanada.
Carolyn will deliver a timely keynote on Canada’s economic outlook and what it means for businesses, communities, and decision-makers across thecountry.Herremarkswillexplorecurrenteconomicconditions,financial system stability, and key trends shaping growth and resilience, offering valuableinsightintohownationaleconomicforcestranslateintoreal-world impactsforlocalandregionaleconomies.
LimitedSponsorshipOpportunitiesAvailable
Lastchancetogetyourbusinessinfrontof300+localdecision-makers.
BoothSponsorship-$350(plusGST)*Limited*
Includes: Two(2)complimentarytickets
Displaytableinthenetworkingarea
BECOMEA SPONSOR REGISTER
WelcomeColleenMunrotothe 2026WOWConference!
WelcomeColleenMunro,PresidentandCEO ofTheMunroGroup,asthefeaturedkeynote speaker for the 2026 Women of Westman (WOW)Conference!
ArespectedleaderinCanada’sconstruction and development industries, Colleen has beenpartofHughMunroConstructionsince 1977andbecamePresidentin2008 helping lead major projects across Manitoba, NorthwesternOntario,andSaskatchewan
Through decades of experience, she has become a strong voice for women in the industry and a champion for workforce development
Colleen is widely recognized for building meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities and working alongside organizations such as the Manitoba Construction Sector Council to support training opportunities for underrepresented groups including newcomers, Indigenous peoples, and women opening doors to long-term careers and economic opportunity
A trailblazer in leadership, Colleen was the first woman appointed Chair of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association andhasservedinseveralhigh-impactroles, includingChairoftheManitobaConstruction Sector Council and the Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council We’re excited to welcome ColleentotheWOWstagein2026
MORNING
AFTERNOON
Registration & Morning Coffee
Opening RemarksMargauxMiller
SpeakerSession
Networking & Marketplace Exploration
Speaker Session
TraceyMaconachie
Breakout Sessions
Dr.ChristineBovis-Cnossen-FixingtheBrokenRung
AshleighHamm-ShapingtheNarrative
TracyBaker-Future-ProofingYourFinances
Dr.ArchanaKrishnan-TheConsciousConnector
BreakforLunch
PanelDiscussion
KristenPhillips-ManitobaAgDaysInc.
TréchelleBunn-BirdtailSiouxDakotaNation
AmandaGilchrist-AssiniboineCreditUnion
BridieRitchie-RitchieBison
Networking&MarketplaceExploration
KeynotePresentation
ColleenMunro-TheMunroGroup
MANITOBA BUSINESSES FACE KEY CHALLENGES
Manitoba businesses are navigating ongoing economic uncertainty, according to the 2025 Manitoba Business Outlook Survey from the ManitobaChambersofCommerce.
Trade disruptions, rising costs, labour shortages, and shifting global dynamics are impacting planning, hiring, and investment decisionsacrosssectors,withruralbusinesses feelingparticularpressure.
Many organizations report increased operating costs and delayed growth plans as they adapt to changing conditions and ongoing economic uncertainty.Businessesalsoidentified reducing interprovincial trade barriers, strengthening infrastructure, and supporting workforce development as key priorities for improvingcompetitivenessandlongtermgrowth.
We are sharing these survey insights with our membership to help keep you informed about provincial trends shaping Manitoba’s business environment,advocacypriorities,and the broader economic outlook affecting local businesses and decision-makingacrosssectors.
JANUARY LUNCHEON
FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE LUNCHEON
EVENTRECAP
PRESENTED BY
JANUARYLUNCHEONKICKSOFFTHENEWYEAR
On January 15th, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce kicked off its 2026 luncheon calendar withaforward-lookingconversationonthefuture of agriculture. Held at the Keystone Centre, the event welcomed more than 225 attendees an energizing start to the year for learning, connection,andbusinessinsight.
AFORWARD-LOOKINGCONVERSATION
Our keynote speaker, Jacqueline Keena, Managing Director of EMILI, shared insights on emerging ag-technology, innovation, and the tools shaping tomorrow’s farms. She was joined byRayBouchard,EMILIBoardChairandPresident & CEO of Enns Brothers, for a fireside chat exploring how producers can adapt to climate, market pressures, and rapid technological change.
THANKYOUTOOURSPONSORS
A special thank-you to our host sponsor, myITsource, and to our booth sponsors Chambers Plan through SV Benefits and Manitoba 4-H Council. Additional thanks to Keywest Photo Image by Design for photography, Look Music for audiovisual support, and the Keystone Centre for the venueandexcellentmeal.
Your support helps make events like these possible and ensures our members can continuetogather,learn,andgrowtogether. FEBRUARY2026
AdvocacyRecap
2026CITYBUDGETDELIBERATIONS
Behind the scenes, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce continues to advocate on behalf of local businesses at the municipal level Ahead of the January 30–31, 2026 City Budget deliberations, the ChamberprovidedformalfeedbacktoCityCouncilregardingtheproposedmunicipaltaxincrease
Our Vice President and Chair of the Government Relations Committee, Emelio Brown, presented the Chamber’sposition,emphasizingfivekeypriorities:
Focusonessentialspendingandfiscaldiscipline
Recognizethebroadercostenvironmentfacingbusinesses
Providepredictabilityandaclearpathforward
Emphasizeefficiencyandstrategicresourceuse
Alignexternaladvocacywithessentialpriorities
Councilultimatelyapproveda67%taxincrease lowerthantheoriginalproposal butimportant questions remain around long-term planning, infrastructure investment, and cost predictability for localbusinesses
The Chamber continues to support well-justified investments while advocating for responsible financialplanningthatenablesbusinessestoplan,grow,andsucceedinBrandon
MEET A MEMBER
JK SENCHUK COUNSELLING
For many years, JK Senchuk Counselling has been supportingmentalwellnessandpersonalgrowthacross theWestmanregion.
Founded in 2011 by Julia Senchuk, the practice offers counselling services for adults and older youth navigating challenges such as stress and anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, grief, relationship issues, and self-esteem Julia brings a strong foundation in psychotherapy,withpreviousexperienceworkingforthe Government of Manitoba and coordinating the Applied Counselling Program at Assiniboine College. Today, she also serves as a Sessional Instructor in the Department ofPsychologyatBrandonUniversity.
At the heart of JK Senchuk Counselling is a personcenteredapproachthatemphasizessafety,respect,and empowerment Julia’s goal is to create a supportive space where clients feel heard, understood, and equipped with practical skills to cope, heal, and move forward
In addition to one-on-one counselling, Julia has expanded her work into psychoeducational workshops for organizations, businesses, and teams across Manitoba. These sessions focus on prevention, skillbuilding,andworkplacewell-being,coveringtopicssuch as stress and burnout, psychological safety, communication, conflict resolution, and managing change Workshopsarecustomizedtomeetthespecific needs of each organization, helping teams build strongercommunication,cohesion,andresilience.
Clients and partners consistently praise Julia’s engaging, warm, and thoughtful facilitation style. As Brad Hack of Assiniboine College shares, Julia is “incredibly knowledgeable” with a gift for connecting with people, while Erica Brown of Brandon University highlights her ability to create spaces that encourage meaningfulconversationanddeeperlearning
For Julia, the most rewarding part of her work is witnessingindividualsandorganizationscometogether, recognize shared challenges, and apply new skills to create positive change. Outside of the practice, she enjoys spending time with her family, her Golden Retriever who also serves as a co-therapist and the Westmanhorsecommunity
As a Chamber member, Julia values the connection, collaboration, and shared commitment to community well-being that the BrandonChamberofCommercefostersamong localbusinesses.
2025-2026EVENTLINE-UP
BoardofDirectors
JENNIFERLUDWIG|PRESIDENT SUPERTHRIFTYDRUGSCANADALTD
EMELIOBROWN |VICEPRESIDENT INTRITECHMARKETING
CHRISFINLEY|SECRETARY TREASURER MAZERGROUP
LOISRUSTON|PASTPRESIDENT YWCAWESTMAN
LISAANDREW BDOCANADALLP
MATTBERG
LIVINGSTONEOUTDOOR& LIVINGSTONELANDSCAPINGLTD
BRENTMILLER VICTORIAINN
KARINGRIFFIN ALTERNATIVEGROUP
ROBSTARKELL WEST-CANHRSOLUTIONS
AMBERWHITE ANYTIMEFITNESS
CHARLESTWEED TWEEDIASOCIALMEDIA AGENCY
ENVERNAIDOO WESTMANIMMIGRANT SERVICES
LYNDSAYSEAFOOT CURBIRDGE
EMMYSANDERSON BRANDONDOWNTOWNBIZ
ChamberStaff
CURTISHULLICK GENERALMANAGER
FRÉDÉRICRAMSAY
MEMBERRELATIONSCOORDINATOR
SANDRAAFFUN
EVENTSCOORDINATOR
MINDYCASTLE OFFICECOORDINATOR
CHERYL RACINE EVENTSASSITANT CALLIEFOWLER
MARKETINGASSISTANT
WeacknowledgethatBrandonislocatedonTreaty2territory,traditionallandsoftheCree, Oji-Cree,Dakota,Anishinaabe/Ojibwepeoples,andthehomelandoftheRedRiverMĂ©tis Nation Wehonorthehistories,cultures,andcontributionsofIndigenouspeoplestoour community
SETTING THE PACE FOR A GREATER BRANDON SINCE 1883
TheBrandonChamberofCommerceisanindependent, membershipfunded,non-profitorganizationthatrepresents Brandonbusinessfromthegrassrootslevel.
OurmissionistoencouragegrowthintheBrandoncommunityby fosteringaprogressivebusinessenvironment,favourableto enhancingexistingandattractingnewbusiness.