A large wood frame building on the grounds of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba in Brandon, measuring 250 feet by 64 feet, was built between 1926 and 1927 at a cost of about $30,000. Its original use was to house provincial exhibits that had previously been shown in the Crystal Palace and other buildings formerly at the site. Although built by the Exhibition, the building was initially leased for ten years by the provincial government.
The building was opened officially on 4 July 1927 with a ceremony attended by Premier John Bracken. It contained displays on natural resources (minerals, forests, game), labour bureau, fire protection, first aid treatment, mental hospital, bureau of health nurses, boys and girls’ clubs, Manitoba School for the Deaf, public school, dairy, livestock and poultry, women’s institutes, Manitoba Agricultural College, and other provincial departmental interests. Among the provincial representatives who assembled the exhibits were agricultural extension director Norman Cairns MacKay, agronomist Thomas James Harrison, animal scientist Gordon William Wood, entomologist Alvin Aalentine Mitchener, home economist Mary Caroline Moxon, horticulturist John Robert “Bob” Almey, dairyman Lorne Alexander Gibson, and livestock man James Reynolds “Jim” Bell.
On either side of the building’s east-facing main entrance were the words Education, Agriculture, Industry, Commerce, Co-operation, Conservation, Progress, Thrift. At the time of a 2017 site visit, the entrance had been boarded over but the large words were still present.
In later years, the building was used for exhibits by schools. In 1952, it was renovated for use in hosting the Manitoba Trade Fair.
The building
East-facing main entrance to the Manitoba Government Display Building (1927)
Source: Brandon Sun, 20 July 1927, page 4.
East-facing side of the Manitoba Government Display Building (no date)
Source: Pride of the Land, An Affectionate History of Brandon's Agricultural Exhibitions by Ken Coates and Fred McGuinness, 1985.
West-facing side of the Manitoba Government Display Building (November 2017)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
South-facing side of the Manitoba Government Display Building (November 2017)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Former main entrance to the Manitoba Government Display Building (November 2017)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.83197, W99.95699
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Dominion Exhibition Display Building II (Fairgrounds, Brandon)
MHS Centennial Organization: Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba
“Railway will run right into fair grounds,” Brandon Sun, 4 April 1927, page 1.
“Official opening of new provincial fair building on first day of exhibition,” Brandon Sun, 4 June 1927, page 1.
“New display buildings,” Brandon Sun, 25 June 1927, page 7.
“Western Canada’s greatest exhibition to open Monday and new records looked for,” Brandon Sun, 2 July 1927, page 1.
“New provincial display building is worthy one,” Brandon Sun, 5 July 1927, page 1.
“Resources of province well shown at fair,” Brandon Sun, 29 June 1931, page 9.
“Air Force may take over more buildings soon,” Brandon Sun, 28 August 1941, page 1.
“Exhibition display space at premium as interest mounts,” Brandon Sun, 13 June 1952, page 15.
Pride of the Land, An Affectionate History of Brandon's Agricultural Exhibitions by Ken Coates and Fred McGuinness, Winnipeg: Peguis Publishers, 1985.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 20 April 2026
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