Winter 2011 Riverbank River Review Newsletter

1. Re-discover Brandon’s Assiniboine
Official Newsletter of Brandon Riverbank Inc.
Winter 2011
“The Great Divide”
After the high water event in the Spring and Summer of 2011, many of the pathways and
grounds around the Discovery Centre were greatly affected. The most significant impact is seen
in this picture above; of what used to be the path around the west pond behind the Riverbank
Discovery Centre. The docks located within the Arbour Trail sailed away on the Assiniboine
River, as well as the dock located behind the Discovery Centre that was once in the west pond.
Brandon Riverbank Inc. will be facing many challenges as the rebuilding process begins.
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF BRANDON RIVERBANK INC.

2. The River Review is
published bi-annually
by Riverbank Inc.
President’s Message
By: Bernie Chrisp, President
Board of Directors
Bernie Chrisp, President I would like to start off with conveying a huge thank you to all the volunteers,
Elaine McGregor, Vice- partners, City of Brandon, Board of Directors and the staff of Brandon Riverbank
President Inc. for their support, dedication and assistance during the high water event this
Colleen Elliott, Secretary past spring. With the proactive action taken by all involved the building survived
Ted Snure, Treasurer the event, however the grounds at the Riverbank Discovery Centre were not that lucky.
Due to the high water event, the grounds have certainly taken on a different look. A num-
Directors:
ber of pathways have been opened but a good number still remain closed as well as Eleanor Kidd
Cal Cuthbert
Park and Gardens, which will not be open until 2013. Our staff will keep the public posted as we
Larry Wark
strive to return to normal operations.
Richard Rounds
The Shoreline Cleanup this year, held on September 28th, was a huge success with over 100
Perry Roque
volunteers participating. Thank you all for volunteering and a salute to all of our staff in organizing
this event.
Staff:
The Power Smart Waterfall of Lights are in the process of being relocated. All of the spon-
Lois MacDonald sors displays will be located at the new winter activity area, which is located west off of McGregor
Manager Avenue. Unfortunately, there will not be enough power for the snowflakes, stars, candy canes, etc.
A small warm-up shack will be located in this area however, there will be no canteen available this
Rachelle Levesque winter season. Please come down and enjoy the winter displays.
Tourism Services & In closing, I once again, on behalf of our board of directors, thank our dedicated staff for all
Program Coordinator their efforts in making the Riverbank a great place to work, volunteer and to visit.
I leave you with this message: “Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation deter-
Dawn Riddle mines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.”
Facility Coordinator Have a great Winter!
Jeremy Lancaster
Power Smart Waterfall of Lights Re-Located for 2011-12 Season
Tourism Host
Record breaking flooding in 2011 has been a challenge for our city, region and province, however
here in Brandon we were fortunate to have sustained minimal damage to property. The exceptions
Kathleen Richards
to that statement are the recreation projects along the Assiniboine River Corridor as they have borne
Tourism Hostess
the brunt of the damage. The Power Smart Waterfall of Lights has been located in an area that ex-
perienced spring flooding annually, but the area was able to be recovered successfully for winter
Contact Us:
activities. However, significant struggles with Mother Nature began in December of 2010 when the
Brandon Riverbank Inc.
oval area flooded – unheard of in the winter months. City staff worked tirelessly to reinstate the
Riverbank Discovery Centre
skating oval and move as many displays to the dry side of the dike as possible. In the Spring of 2011,
#1-545 Conservation Drive
the record breaking flooding that sustained well into August wreaked havoc in the Power Smart Wa-
Brandon, MB R7A 7L8
terfall of Lights area. All of the light displays were safe and dry, however the warming shacks and
Phone 204-729-2141
brand new washroom and canteen building sustained significant damage. In addition, the dike road
Fax 204-729-2139
utilized for access to the winter activity area was raised more than 6 feet in numerous increments
Email: info@riverbank.mb.ca
between February and May of 2011. While this important work kept our residents safe and dry, it
Website:
has left the former Power Smart Waterfall of Lights location inaccessible for the foreseeable future.
www.riverbank.mb.ca
Therefore, in the Summer of 2011, work began to relocate the Power Smart Waterfall of Lights win-
ter activity area to an accessible, flood-free location at the west end of McGregor Avenue, 2 blocks
Any reproduction in whole or
off of 18th Street. The area will include a skating oval, 2 ice pads, skating trails leading to a warming
in part of the River Review is
gazebo, fire pits and parking. All of the large light displays have been incorporated into the area.
prohibited unless authorized
Unfortunately, the winter park will not have the drive-through access of the former location, how-
by Brandon Riverbank Inc. The
ever visitors are encouraged to skate, walk or book a sleigh ride to enjoy the light displays.
view and opinions expressed in
Construction work is nearing completion on the skating oval and flooding of the area will begin in the
this publication are those of
coming days. Watch for details on when the Power Smart Waterfall of Lights display and skating
the authors and not necessar-
facilities will be open for your winter use and enjoyment! Through partnerships between the City of
ily Brandon Riverbank Inc.
Brandon, Brandon Riverbank Inc. and the projects many partners, we are confident that 2011 will
see the re-development of this important winter destination.
For more information, please call 729-2141.
PAGE 2 RIVER REVIEW: WINTER 2011

3. Brandon Riverbank’s Annual Fall Cleanup
The Brandon Riverbank Annual Fall Cleanup completed in conjunction with the Great
Canadian Shoreline Cleanup was a great success this year! This event saw over 100 vol-
unteers clean up the Assiniboine River Corridor and collect 580 kilograms of garbage and
recyclables. This was the biggest Annual Fall Cleanup to ever take place at the Riverbank
Discovery Centre. Individuals also picked up garbage and recyclables from Queen Eliza-
beth Park, the south side of the 3rd Street Dam as well as weed the Labyrinth of Peace.
The World Wildlife Fund had recently credited Brandon with the cleanest shore-
line in Manitoba and Brandon was up for the challenge to defend that title. Sincere
gratitude is expressed to all the local businesses who generously donated coupons, gifts
certificates, prizes, BBQ supplies and their time! Prizes were awarded by draw and also
for specific categories. The largest item collected was a flight of stairs and a dock located
in Queen Elizabeth Park, the heaviest item retrieved was a tractor tire, the most unusual
item found was an old rusty oven door and the most cigarette butts were found by the pedestrian bridge. A very special thank
you goes out to all the volunteers who participated and helped coordinate this important event and we hope to see you again
next year!
BRANDON RIVERBANK’S 2011 DUCK DRAW WINNERS
The Duck Draw Winners are as follows:
1st prize: $5,000 sponsored by Westoba Credit Union—Donna Lippett from Brandon
2nd prize: Prescription Maui Jim Sunglasses from Total Eye Care—Tillie Lund from Brandon
3rd prize: Blackberry 9670 with 6 month service package from MTS Allstream—Gordon Stevenson from Brandon
4th prize: Camping Package from Canadian Tire—Avery Walker from Brandon
5th prize: $250 gift card from Shoppers Mall Brandon—Zachary Dyck from Brandon
6th prize: $250 gift card from Safeway Ltd.—Brittany Fisher from Glenboro
7th prize: 2 night stay at Royal Oak Inn & Suites—Liz Leaming from Souris
8th prize: 1 night stay at Lakeview Inn & Suites and gift card from Remington’s Seafood & Steakhouse—Joan Atkins from Brandon
9th prize: Blu-ray Player from Leon’s Furniture Superstore—Ashley Lacey from Brandon
10th prize: Prize Package from Coca-Cola Bottling—Terry Jaenen from Brandon
UPDATE—ELEANOR KIDD GARDENS—CLOSED UNTIL 2013
The 2011 High Water Event has had a significant impact on this popular summer gathering place. Over the last number of years,
Eleanor Kidd Gardens has become a summer destination, hosting many Music in the Parks performances, visitors from all over
the world and more than 50 weddings seasonally. In late 2010, the decision was made to cancel all bookings for 2011 as dike
construction and potential flooding were going to make the area inaccessible. Unfortunately, the Gardens did sustain significant
flooding and the dike road that provided access to the area has been raised more than six feet.
A plan has been developed to re-design the Gardens area, incorporating the raised dike road. However, work to the dike in that
area will continue throughout the summer of 2012 as will construction in the Gardens. For these reasons, Eleanor Kidd Gardens
will remain closed throughout the 2012 season, with plans to re-open the area to the public for the Summer of 2013. It is our
intention to provide an even better garden area, while incorporating the dike structure that will keep our community safe and dry
for years to come!
Riverbank Discovery Centre Hours:
Winter Hours: Monday—Friday 8:30am—5:00pm
Saturday & Sunday 12:00pm—5:00pm
December 24th: 12:00pm—3:00pm—Christmas Eve! December 31st: 12:00pm—3:00pm—New Year’s Eve!
December 25th: CLOSED—Merry Christmas! January 1st: CLOSED—Happy New Year!
December 26th: CLOSED—Boxing Day! February 20th: 12:00 pm—5:00pm—Louis Riel Day!
PAGE 3 RIVER REVIEW: WINTER 2011

4. Membership/Metre Donor/Arbour Trail Activities at the Riverbank
Bench Program Information
Discovery Centre
Name: ____________________________________
✂
Address:____________________________________
____________________________________ 2011 has been a very difficult year at the Riverbank Discovery Centre
and for our organization, Brandon Riverbank Inc. Planning and prepa-
Phone: ____________________________________ rations for potential high water began in January of 2011 with dike
Email: ____________________________________ construction between the Discovery Centre and Kirkcaldy Drive taking
place in February and March. Operations began to be affected when
Membership Section: the Interpretive Ponds flooded in April. Staff at the Riverbank Discov-
❑ Single Membership $10 annually ery Centre (including Brandon Riverbank Inc., Brandon Tourism, Bran-
❑ Family Membership $20 annually don First, Ducks Unlimited Provincial Field Offices and Manitoba Habi-
tat Heritage Corporation) were evacuated on May 6, 2011. At that
❑ Lifetime Membership $200 point, flood projections indicated that Conservation Drive, the only
access into the facility, would not be able to be maintained with sand-
✂
Metre Donor Section:
bag dikes. Indeed, approximately twelve hours after the staff were
❑ Yes! I want to support the Assiniboine Riverbank evacuated and the facility closed, Conservation Drive flooded and
Enhancement by purchasing a metre for $100. remained underwater for a number of days. The building remained
closed and inaccessible throughout the month of May. Water rose
Arbour Trail Information
within a few feet of the building, but the main level was not affected
❑ $250 Commemorative Arbour Trail Shrub Grouping by water. The High Water Mark on the steps south of the Centre has
❑ $500 Commemorative Arbour Trail Tree been permanently etched into the concrete, a lasting reminder of the
record breaking water levels. The dike was removed from across Con-
Bench Program servation Drive and the facility re-opened on June 1st.
❑ $1200 Concrete bench Unfortunately, it will be a long time before operations can “return to
(Throughout the City of Brandon) normal”. With the building closed for a month, our organization’s
revenue from room bookings, programming, souvenirs sales and
_________________________________ events were impacted. In addition, the large event space north of
Name/Inscription for Metre Donor, the building remained under water until the end of summer, causing
Arbour Trail or Bench donation the re-location of all of our major events including Cancer Society’s
Relay for Life, Canada Day Celebrations and the CIBC Run for the Cure
Or I want to support Brandon Riverbank Inc.
to name a few. Even though the event space has finally dried up,
with a donation of $ ________________________ pathways that hosted the many fundraising walks and runs have been
dissected by dike construction in many locations leaving them cur-
❑ Yes! I would like to volunteer for rently inaccessible. Staff are working with City Engineering to regain
Brandon Riverbank Inc. in the following area(s): accessible pathways and to reclaim the event field early next spring (if
❑ Fundraising ❑ Special Events ❑ Programs possible). Ideally, we will be in a position to begin inviting back our
events for the Spring of 2012.
Make cheques payable to
Finally, the flooding has left some significant damage to the grounds
Brandon Riverbank Inc. and return to: surrounding the Discovery Centre. The Assiniboine River has com-
Brandon Riverbank Inc. pletely washed out the dike between it and the west interpretive
Riverbank Discovery Centre pond. Damage is extensive and has left our western pond basically
empty as the river has receded. The organization is currently work-
✂
#1-545 Conservation Drive
Brandon, MB. R7A 7L8 ing with a number of organizations to determine the best course of
action, but it appears that we will work with Mother Nature’s work
Phone: 729.2141 Fax: 729.2139
and not try to re-establish the dike between the river and the pond.
Email: info@riverbank.mb.ca
We are trying to be realistic in our re-development efforts as well as
✂
Website: www.riverbank.mb.ca using the washout as an opportunity to educate visitors about the
force of water and long-lasting effects of flooding.
❑ Please send me more information to share with
As this article has demonstrated, Brandon Riverbank Inc. is in a re-
a friend who may be interested. building process. We request your patience as we work to re-
establish the Riverbank as Brandon’s gathering place.
Bench Donors since the Spring & Summer Newsletter:
St. Augustine of Canterbury, Catholic Women’s League, Please visit www.riverbank.mb.ca to view the photo
90th Anniversary gallery with a special slideshow featuring a collection of
Donations have been made by: pictures of the Riverbank Discovery Centre and
Massey Family Gerald Barnes Family
surrounding areas during the 2011 Flood!
Vera Skayman Ken & Joan Al-Molky
PAGE 4 RIVER REVIEW: WINTER 2011