REGINA, Sask. — Preparation for Canadian Western Agribition is in the home stretch, with a contingency plan in case new planned facilities aren’t ready.
Some cattle are to be housed in covered structures behind the International Trade Centre on REAL District as renovations on the grounds continue.
The work is due to a deal between the City of Regina and Brandt Group that will see the latter buy the Brandt Centre, Commercial Cattle Barn, Stockman’s Arena, Canada Centre (also known as Avana Centre), Queensbury Centre and Ag-Ex building, as well as portions of the parking lot. The Regina-based company has already bought the former Agribition Building and is converting it to a distillery.
The deal was to close Sept. 1 but is still not finalized. It has also changed, with city council agreeing in late August that Brandt will operate all the facilities on REAL District including those still owned by the city. Those are Mosaic Stadium, Co-operators Centre and the AffinityPlex.
The Brandt Group wants to establish REAL District as an entertainment zone.
In July, Brandt CEO Shaun Semple announced he would spend $8.5 million to completely finish an existing covered structure and build a new one to ensure space. He said they would actually provide more space than the show currently has.
Agribition CEO Shaun Kindopp said in late October that work was progressing and there is a back-up plan to gain access to Canada Centre, where renovation hasn’t begun, if the work isn’t complete by a certain date.
“We look at it every day,” he said of the construction. “We want to give people answers.”
Ongoing work on the distillery shouldn’t affect the show, Kindopp said.
“We’re looking to control what we can,” he added.
The organization in October announced a new program in conjunction with the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership and Prairies Economic Development Canada.
It is accepting applications until Nov. 8 for the Canadian Buyers Program to help qualified buyers attend the show.
Applicants must be from outside Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and can receive up to $1,000 for eligible travel and accommodation costs. They can not be exhibiting at the show and must attend for a minimum of three days.
Kindopp said applications were in the double-digits shortly after the program was announced. It is capped at 35 participants. He said he hoped this would encourage some buyers who were on the fence about attending.
The program is primarily aimed at livestock buyers but there could be opportunities for agricultural equipment and other product customers.
PrairiesCan is funding the program.
Agribition has a similar program, funded by the provincial and federal governments, for international buyers.
Meanwhile, this year will see fewer bison on the grounds as the Canadian Bison Association decided to move its annual show, sale and convention to Brandon. There will be some bison on display all week, however.
The CBA said this decision was not a result of the construction and changes at REAL District.
The alpaca halter show and fleece judging are also missing from this year’s schedule. They, too, will have animals on display.
Agribition runs Nov. 23-28.
About the author
Karen Briere grew up in Canora, Sask. where her family had a grain and cattle operation. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Regina and has spent more than 30 years covering agriculture from the Western Producer’s Regina bureau.
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