February of 2024 will mark one full year for Dean Hammond as Executive Director of the Riverbank Discovery Centre and Brandon Tourism.

He says 2023 was a definitely a learning year to see all the many events, activities and programming that take place at the Discovery Centre!

The year ended with the announcement of a new trail system that would facilitate winter recreation, as well as winter walking trails, running adjacent to the Assiniboine River. 

Please listen to more of this new trail system with Dean Hammond below!

In the spring of 2024 Hammond says they are looking forward to placing the newest additions to Sawatzky Gardens, a sculpture garden showcasing the works of Glenboro artist, Peter Sawatzky.

"We're also working with a local garden club to create a garden in front of our building," shares Hammond, "and then of course working with many organizations that want to host events on the Riverbank grounds next year."

One highlight of 2023 was Rib-Fest and those folks are asking to return this coming summer so there will be lots of wonderful sounds of grilling, smells of BBQ sauce and juicy morsels of meat to taste!

Canada is also a huge highlight for the Riverbank Discovery Centre and all the hundreds of people who come out for a full day of entertainment, food trucks and activities, to finish the day with their spectacular fireworks show!

Swamp camp is the Discovery Centre's kids summer program where children learn about all the critters, birds and wildlife that live along the riverbank - and that will also be continuing in the summer of 2024.  

The kayak and canoe launch have been a wonderful addition to their recreational offerings and to expand the dock use and watercraft rental is something they're interested in delving into this spring.

That's a goal of ours is to have more offerings for paddle sports down here so we're working with some community partners who have interest in the Riverbank being able to expand our paddling options," explains Hammond. "I would love to have instruction down here at some point in time, and I'd love to have paddling events going on during the summer. So, we're looking at those options as well."

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