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Final question of the week - Event hosting [Brandon Sun, The (Manitoba, Canada)](Brandon Sun, The (Manitoba, Canada) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Leading up to Brandon's civic election, the Brandon Sun will pose a weekly question to all four mayoral candidates. The goal is to address issues facing the City of Brandon, and allow readers to get to know their candidates so they can make an informed decision when they cast their vote for the city's next mayor on Oct. 22. In 2010, Brandon successfully hosted the Memorial Cup, and in 2011 snagged a prestigious horse show from Regina. Unfortunately we lost a bid to host the 2017 Canada Games. What major events would you like to see the city strive for in the next term? What will your approach be to event attraction and hosting? http://www.brandonsun.com/election/INTERACTIVE-Final-Question-of-the-Week-Event-hosting-279615302.html?thx=yDont forget to give us your opinion -- and to vote for the ideas you like the best -- by clicking here to use our interactive tool. http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/140926+ELEX+chrest3-BB+b.JPG Rick Chrest Since 1979 when Brandon hosted its first Canada Games, this community has hosted an impressive array of major events, earning the reputation of "Host City." I've had the privilege of working alongside hundreds of volunteers in hosting most of them, including World Youth Baseball, Scott Tournament of Hearts, World Curling, Canada Summer Games, Memorial Cup and countless conventions. As general manager of the Keystone Centre, I attained an intimate knowledge of this important aspect of economic development. In my opinion, our "hosting" record has slipped in the last few years and I've declared it a campaign priority for me. The key is what I call "inside-out marketing." Our opportunity to host major events is highly dependent on having a strong local group or chapter that is prepared to host the event. As one example, our strong group of curling enthusiasts has been the key to our considerable success with national and international curling championships. Fortunately, Brandon is well appointed with extremely skilled and dedicated groups and individuals in many sports, service clubs and professions. We have an opportunity to harness the expertise of Brandon First, Keystone Centre and our local accommodations sector, to partner with these local clubs and sports to reignite Brandon's Host City moniker. While canvassing all groups and sports for event possibilities, I would suggest commencing with events we have the strongest track record in such as curling. Brandon is slated to host the Provincial Men's Championship in 2015, an excellent launching pad to seek a national event such as the Brier. Hosting of major events, while having a strong economic component, has in my opinion an even greater impact on the spirit and community pride of our city. If elected, I will make it a priority to bring back Brandon's status as one of Canada's top host cities. http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/141017-mayoral-shari2-c.jpg Mayor Shari Decter Hirst Brandon has a national reputation of being a superb host city. We also have a community of passionate volunteers and community leaders to lead our bid efforts. However, over the past few years, a new element, perhaps inspired by the Olympic bid process, has crept into the bid process for major events. As crude a concept as it is, you now have to "pay to play" for the privilege to host major and even regional events. For example, to host the Brier -- a natural event for a community of passionate curlers with top-notch facilities -- it would take almost a million dollars in hosting fees paid directly to the organization for Brandon to have the opportunity to host that level of event. While smaller events have smaller hosting fees, it's still a considerable expense to factor into the event. It's important that we get back into the hosting role, which is part of our economic development plan Prosperity by Design because of the vitality, energy, exposure and revenue that it brings to Brandon and Westman. Fortunately, Brandon First has put together an excellent strategic plan for recruiting a variety of major events to Brandon. Brandon First is being supported by council, who has directed a portion of the accommodation tax revenue toward a major events hosting reserve. That way Brandon won't be shut out of the large events, and there will be minimal impact on the taxpayer. What major events would I like to see come to Brandon? The most popular seem to be sport-related, and that's fine by me. I'm not a curler or know much about hockey; but will wholeheartedly support any initiative that moves Brandon onto the national stage. And I love the thought of talking with those national sponsors about why Brandon would be a natural place for them to be making future corporate investments! But speaking of stages ... I'd love to see some of the major cultural events come to our city, especially because of the School of Music and our incredible theatre and dance programs. I loved the energy in the city when the Western Canada Music Awards were in Brandon in 2009, and how it inspired our own independent music scene. http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/140910-Jacobson-C35.jpg John Paul Jacobson 1) Events: I would encourage our city to focus on hosting unique new sporting events like putting on a Canadian University Women's Soccer championship, as it appears to be taking off at most universities. Being right in the middle of our country, we are ideally suited to pull this off. There are hundreds of national and regional shops and businesses that would likely be keen to see their names and brands behind such a new and well laid-out competition. Our enthusiasm for soccer is one of our city's best calling cards ... and I think we could see this blossom. It would be great to see a world-class soccer stadium, served with minor pitches close by in towns surrounding Brandon. With the playoff venue here, it would lay the groundwork for additional competitions in the years to come. The size and design of these pitches could be made such that they could be converted for other sports and activities like summertime cricket and large outdoor concerts while having seasonally adjusted speed skating and outdoor curling kicking into operation in winter. 2) Approach: You can't start a fire without a spark. My approach would be to make sure Assiniboine Community College, Westman Communications Group and MTS Access work together to scope out the requirements we need to create the necessary broadcast support systems that we and other larger networks require to bring in their coverage cameras and support equipment. Once this is here and on the ground, Brandon First can seek further events we can be proud to host. http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/Kovatch+Stock+Photo.jpg Mark Kovatch When organizers are looking for a location to hold an event of any size, they don't just consider the building it will be held in. They look at all the entertainment options available to their guests off-site as well. There is a direct correlation between what a city has to offer from a tourism standpoint and the number of people wanting to attend an event. That is why I have been promoting throughout this campaign -- the construction of at least two new tourist anchors in Brandon that can be used year-round. I have already mentioned the potential revenue benefits of revamping the city golf course into a more diversified entertainment complex. The money earmarked for greenspace expansion could be combined with provincial and federal flood relief programs to rebuild riverfront areas into bird sanctuaries with elevated walkways. This would help promote the importance of wetland rehabilitation while providing quiet natural settings for locals and tourists alike. I would like to see a new multi-purpose outdoor facility built on the Keystone grounds -- one that could accommodate large crowds for events including everything from snow cross to tractor pulls. It could also be the centrepiece for a Winter Family Carnival and new staging for the Folk Fest and other outdoor performances. I have said from the start that the best economic development strategy is to invest in our own entrepreneurs and small business owners. We need to diversify our hosting facilities in order to attract a wider variety of events. We don't need consultants to tell us what to do, we have all the talent we need right here in Brandon. 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