About our Club: The official charter name is "Friendship Force of Brandon and Area" for which the first meeting was held on October 28, 2009 with 27 charter members present. Our charter was received on March 06, 2009.
Our 2019 Board of Directors
President: Hugh McRuer
Co-Vice Presidents: Deannie Dolff and Peg Hurd
Secretary: Joan Ferris
Treasurer: Marie Wotton
Past President: Lynda Nay Kamann
Inbound and Outbound Journeys
2020
Outbound planned for June to Central Iowa and Connecticut
Inbound planned from Olympia, Washington
2019
Outbound in March to Bundaberg, Blue Mountain and Murray Bridge, Australia
Inbound in September from Reno-Tahoe, Nevada and Toronto
2018
Outbound to Lower Columbia, Washington State
Inbound from Alajuela, Costa Rica
2017
Outbound to Sochi, Russia and Bursa, Turkey
Inbound from Ames, Iowa
2016
Outbound to Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Inbound from Bundaberg, Australia
2015
Outbound to Sendai and Nagasaki, Japan
2014
Outbound to Santiago, Chile and Sao Paulo, Brazil
2013
Outbound to Florence, SC, USA - 13 members participated on this journey in mid April
Outbound to Columbia Cascades, OR and San Francisco, CA - 1 member joined with Friendship Force Manitoba for this journey in mid September
Inbound from Germany - 14 ambassadors from Hamburg, Germany visited Brandon and Area at the end of June
Inbound from Chile - 9 ambassadors from Santiago, Chile visited Brandon and Area in early September
FF International Conference in New Orleans, LA, USA - 3 members are participating in the conference in mid November
2012
Outbound to Germany - 9 members participated along with 2 from Winnipeg and 2 from Edmonton joining the journey
Inbound from Brazil - 12 ambassadors from 3 clubs visited Brandon and area
Canadian Conference in Quebec City - 6 members participated and 2 members remained after the conference for a homestay
World Conference in Hiroshima, Japan - 2 members participated in conference along with joining the Manitoba Club for 2 one week journeys in Japan
2011
Outbound to New Zealand - 6 members plus 1 guest, 5 members from Calgary, 3 members from Winnipeg (Manitoba Club) and 1 member from Stratford/St Mary's, ON participated
Inbound from Australia - 19 ambassadors from 3 clubs visited Brandon and area
Global journey to Niagara region - 3 members participated
2010
Outbound to Costa Rica - 6 local members participated with 2 members from Seattle joining the journey
Inbound from Belgium - 6 ambassadors from Belgium and 2 from San Diego, USA
World Conference in Washington, DC - 4 members participated
Events
One of the interesting past event occurred in 2012 when Brandon & Area Friendship Force celebrated Friendship Day with invited guests from the Brandon's Islamic community. Four members of the Islamic community shared their religious beliefs and cultural heritage with the members present. Members were given the opportunity to ask religious and culturally related questions. The women brought various hijabs and silk saris. Our members learned how to wear the clothing and were encouraged to try them on. The Koran, as well as other related texts were shared and described as books containing "guidance for daily living". Our members appreciated having the opportunity to learn about this culture directly from the Islamic community.
Over coffee, several interactive discussions ensued resulting in a theme on friendship and the opportunity for extending friendship through exposure to various cultural and religious ways of life.
About the Region
Brandon has a population of approximately 50,000 residents and is situated along the banks of Assiniboine River. The city is situated in the southwest corner of Manitoba and is located 60 miles (100 km) from the International Peace Gardens and the U.S.A border.
Nicknamed the "Wheat City" in honor of its rich agricultural heritage and its reputation as a prosperous farming community, Brandon continues to prosper and grow as an agri-business center.
Brandon and surrounding areas are located in the midst of 5 parks. Riding Mountain National Park is approximately 60 miles (100 km) north of Brandon and covers 1800 miles (3000 km) of vegetation ranging from grassy meadows to boreal forest. It has an abundance of wild life, with 240 miles (400 km) of trails for hiking, bicycle and horseback riding, and has the handi-cap accessible Ominnik Marsh boardwalk. At the foot of the mountain is the spring-fed Clear Lake. This area boasts one of Canada's most challenging golf courses. Wasagaming is the small tourist town situated in the hub of this resort area.
Spruce Woods Provincial Park is about 45 miles (70 kms)) south east and offers a unique desert-like environment with rolling hills, hiking trails and eerie spring-fed ponds of the Devil's Punchbowl. Our Army base (CFB SHILO) is located on the edge of this Park.
Turtle Mountain Provincial Park is about 45 miles (70kms) south of Brandon and has a large block of deciduous forest, 200 lakes and wetlands that straddle the USA border and Southwest Manitoba. It offers many kinds of summer and winter sports.The towns of Killarney and Boissevain are in the area.
William's Lake Provincial Park is just east of Turtle Mountain and has a rewarding hike up the Turtle's back with apanoramic view of Southwest Manitoba. William's Lake has the most favorable conditions for wind surfing.
Rivers Provincial Park, with 38 acres of grass prairie, is located northwest of Brandon on Lake Wahtopanah which means "canoe people". Via Rail (the passenger train that travels across Canada) makes its stop in Rivers, Manitoba and passengers who wish to visit Brandon and area must disembark here.
Climate: Our summer season ranges from May to September with day-time highs of 54 degrees F (12.2 degrees C) to 90 degrees F (30 degrees C). The months of November to February usually have considerable amounts of snow and below freezing temperatures. We have 2000 hours of sunshine per year.
Closest International Airport: Our closest airport is located in the provincial capital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and is 200 km (l20 miles) east of Brandon on the Trans-Canada highway. Our Host Exchange Director will provide advice and assistance with booking the Brandon Air Shuttle for the ground transportation to and from Brandon and Winnipeg. Incoming exchange groups should pre-book this shuttle service as part of their travel arrangements (approximately $90 Cdn return fare). Check their website for updated details.
Brandon Air Shuttle : http://www.brandonairshuttle.com/
An overview of Brandon
www.brandon.ca/about-brandon
Our 2019 Board of Directors
President: Hugh McRuer
Co-Vice Presidents: Deannie Dolff and Peg Hurd
Secretary: Joan Ferris
Treasurer: Marie Wotton
Past President: Lynda Nay Kamann
Inbound and Outbound Journeys
2020
Outbound planned for June to Central Iowa and Connecticut
Inbound planned from Olympia, Washington
2019
Outbound in March to Bundaberg, Blue Mountain and Murray Bridge, Australia
Inbound in September from Reno-Tahoe, Nevada and Toronto
2018
Outbound to Lower Columbia, Washington State
Inbound from Alajuela, Costa Rica
2017
Outbound to Sochi, Russia and Bursa, Turkey
Inbound from Ames, Iowa
2016
Outbound to Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Inbound from Bundaberg, Australia
2015
Outbound to Sendai and Nagasaki, Japan
2014
Outbound to Santiago, Chile and Sao Paulo, Brazil
2013
Outbound to Florence, SC, USA - 13 members participated on this journey in mid April
Outbound to Columbia Cascades, OR and San Francisco, CA - 1 member joined with Friendship Force Manitoba for this journey in mid September
Inbound from Germany - 14 ambassadors from Hamburg, Germany visited Brandon and Area at the end of June
Inbound from Chile - 9 ambassadors from Santiago, Chile visited Brandon and Area in early September
FF International Conference in New Orleans, LA, USA - 3 members are participating in the conference in mid November
2012
Outbound to Germany - 9 members participated along with 2 from Winnipeg and 2 from Edmonton joining the journey
Inbound from Brazil - 12 ambassadors from 3 clubs visited Brandon and area
Canadian Conference in Quebec City - 6 members participated and 2 members remained after the conference for a homestay
World Conference in Hiroshima, Japan - 2 members participated in conference along with joining the Manitoba Club for 2 one week journeys in Japan
2011
Outbound to New Zealand - 6 members plus 1 guest, 5 members from Calgary, 3 members from Winnipeg (Manitoba Club) and 1 member from Stratford/St Mary's, ON participated
Inbound from Australia - 19 ambassadors from 3 clubs visited Brandon and area
Global journey to Niagara region - 3 members participated
2010
Outbound to Costa Rica - 6 local members participated with 2 members from Seattle joining the journey
Inbound from Belgium - 6 ambassadors from Belgium and 2 from San Diego, USA
World Conference in Washington, DC - 4 members participated
Events
One of the interesting past event occurred in 2012 when Brandon & Area Friendship Force celebrated Friendship Day with invited guests from the Brandon's Islamic community. Four members of the Islamic community shared their religious beliefs and cultural heritage with the members present. Members were given the opportunity to ask religious and culturally related questions. The women brought various hijabs and silk saris. Our members learned how to wear the clothing and were encouraged to try them on. The Koran, as well as other related texts were shared and described as books containing "guidance for daily living". Our members appreciated having the opportunity to learn about this culture directly from the Islamic community.
Over coffee, several interactive discussions ensued resulting in a theme on friendship and the opportunity for extending friendship through exposure to various cultural and religious ways of life.
About the Region
Brandon has a population of approximately 50,000 residents and is situated along the banks of Assiniboine River. The city is situated in the southwest corner of Manitoba and is located 60 miles (100 km) from the International Peace Gardens and the U.S.A border.
Nicknamed the "Wheat City" in honor of its rich agricultural heritage and its reputation as a prosperous farming community, Brandon continues to prosper and grow as an agri-business center.
Brandon and surrounding areas are located in the midst of 5 parks. Riding Mountain National Park is approximately 60 miles (100 km) north of Brandon and covers 1800 miles (3000 km) of vegetation ranging from grassy meadows to boreal forest. It has an abundance of wild life, with 240 miles (400 km) of trails for hiking, bicycle and horseback riding, and has the handi-cap accessible Ominnik Marsh boardwalk. At the foot of the mountain is the spring-fed Clear Lake. This area boasts one of Canada's most challenging golf courses. Wasagaming is the small tourist town situated in the hub of this resort area.
Spruce Woods Provincial Park is about 45 miles (70 kms)) south east and offers a unique desert-like environment with rolling hills, hiking trails and eerie spring-fed ponds of the Devil's Punchbowl. Our Army base (CFB SHILO) is located on the edge of this Park.
Turtle Mountain Provincial Park is about 45 miles (70kms) south of Brandon and has a large block of deciduous forest, 200 lakes and wetlands that straddle the USA border and Southwest Manitoba. It offers many kinds of summer and winter sports.The towns of Killarney and Boissevain are in the area.
William's Lake Provincial Park is just east of Turtle Mountain and has a rewarding hike up the Turtle's back with apanoramic view of Southwest Manitoba. William's Lake has the most favorable conditions for wind surfing.
Rivers Provincial Park, with 38 acres of grass prairie, is located northwest of Brandon on Lake Wahtopanah which means "canoe people". Via Rail (the passenger train that travels across Canada) makes its stop in Rivers, Manitoba and passengers who wish to visit Brandon and area must disembark here.
Climate: Our summer season ranges from May to September with day-time highs of 54 degrees F (12.2 degrees C) to 90 degrees F (30 degrees C). The months of November to February usually have considerable amounts of snow and below freezing temperatures. We have 2000 hours of sunshine per year.
Closest International Airport: Our closest airport is located in the provincial capital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and is 200 km (l20 miles) east of Brandon on the Trans-Canada highway. Our Host Exchange Director will provide advice and assistance with booking the Brandon Air Shuttle for the ground transportation to and from Brandon and Winnipeg. Incoming exchange groups should pre-book this shuttle service as part of their travel arrangements (approximately $90 Cdn return fare). Check their website for updated details.
Brandon Air Shuttle : http://www.brandonairshuttle.com/
An overview of Brandon
www.brandon.ca/about-brandon
