For outdoors-loving Brandon residents, the Riverbank Discovery Centre and its network of walking/cycling/cross-country skiing paths along the Assiniboine River is a frequent stop.
If you’re from farther away, you might want to add the site to your schedule the next time you’re in the Wheat City.
Why it matters: The Riverbank Discovery Centre is a gateway for urban audiences to learn about wetland and prairie ecology and for rural visitors to enjoy fun in nature.
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Located just off one of Brandon’s main arteries (18th Street) on the north side of the river, the facility is across the road from the stores and restaurants of Brandon’s Corral Centre.
Devastating floods in 2011 and 2014 caused major damage to the previous ponds and pathways of the area. Ponds could not be restored to their previous form, although new projects have been completed in the intervening years to build recreation capacity on the changed landscape.
Today, revamped nature trails take visitors through marsh and lowlands around the information centre and are home to a myriad of bird species and native plants. The centre is a nexus point for Brandon’s 17-kilometre trail system, which passes through both wetland and native prairie.
Waterfowl like geese and ducks, muskrats, turtles, ground squirrels, red-winged blackbirds and swallows are often sighted. Purple martin houses near the centre swarm with these birds. Trails feature a floating boardwalk and cross the Red Willow Pedestrian Bridge over the river.
The centre is developing itself as a hub for paddling. The Assiniboine Kayak Cove is just south of the information centre and sports a dock and easy access launch for kayaks and canoes. Rentals are available and the site hosts regular public paddle events.
Those who have time for a workout can do so in the great outdoors on the centre’s outdoor fitness equipment east of the centre.
The grounds commonly host community events, festivals and concerts. Green space north of the information centre includes an outdoor amphitheatre with the covered Fusion Credit Union Stage, a picnic area and a nearby playground, including an accessibility park.
In the northeast corner of the grounds lies the Labyrinth of Peace. This spot was designed to encourage religious tolerance, cultural awareness and peace. It consists of 10 pillars each with the symbol of peace from various religions. The labyrinth was created more than 20 years ago, but was given a facelift in 2022.
A newer cultural feature sits south of the labyrinth: the All Nations Sharing Circle. The circular cement pad has seats around it and seven signs outlining the seven sacred teachings of Aboriginal communities: love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth.
This could be a stop for quiet contemplation. It is also occasionally reserved by groups for traditional use and events.
The informational centre building itself features ecological education displays, complete with stuffed examples of local wildlife and birds. Nature-themed books are for sale, along with crafts, information pamphlets and souvenirs.
The facility hosts regular farmer’s markets every Saturday from early June until the end of September. Other celebrations, concerts and cultural events take place over the summer.
In the works
The centre hopes to draw even more tourists and visitors in the future.
The biggest planned addition is a sculpture park that will feature bronze sculptures by renowned artist Peter Sawatzky. He lived many years in the community of Glenboro, to Brandon’s southeast, and the park hopes to serve as a legacy for the artist.
His work already graces the entrance to the discovery centre (a sculpture of two blue herons) and the grounds near the outdoor amphitheatre, where a doe and two fawns are displayed.
Incoming sculptures will also be themed around Manitoban wildlife. Current plans call for 15 pieces, spread within a landscaped park between the river and Conservation Drive and will stretch from the information building to the northwest corner of the grounds. At that corner, there are plans for a large bison sculpture with three bison walking west to greet visitors.
Another major piece will be the Seal River Crossing. That sculpture depicts a herd of about 10 caribou crossing a shallow Arctic riverbed. The sculpture is slated to be installed this fall near the information building. A miniature is displayed inside the main building.
Booklets are on offer with further details on incoming statues. Over several years, there are plans to include a giant bull moose, three wolves emerging from a forest, an eagle set to take flight, a polar bear, and a mother cougar with two young cubs, among others.
Some of these sculptures are already completed but the landscaping for them will take additional time and funds. Next year’s major project will be a large black bear sculpture.
“Sawatzky is world famous, and this project will be a game changer for us,” said Dean Hammond, executive director of Brandon Riverbank Inc. “We hope to attract visitors from across Canada and around the world.”
The facility has received provincial grant money and private donations toward the sculpture park.
“Other people and organizations are already interested in becoming donors or sponsors of individual pieces and of the landscaping around them,” Hammon added. “We hope that once the Seal River Crossing has been installed that this will generate additional funding.”
