Too many people looking for the negative

You’ve all heard by now about the Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s “I Love Brandon” campaign. It was introduced by way of a five-minute video at a recent Chamber luncheon, the video showing clips of a variety of citizens telling the world why they love Brandon.

But within a couple of hours, the critics were out: There were too many white faces (all, in fact) on the video. The age range was too narrow (mostly 30- to 50-year-old business people) and it didn’t take in much in the way of diversification of social standing (mostly middle- to upper-middle-class Brandonites.)

Have I ever told you that’s one thing I don’t like about Brandon? That too many people look for the negative in things, and don’t mind telling the world that things stink, are wrong, should have been done this way and it’ll never work?

In fact, that’s one thing I don’t like about any city I’ve ever lived in. People in Brandon don’t have a monopoly on being negative. But not to be negative about it, those people have every right in the world to say what they want about anything. Just don’t belabour it with me, if you don’t mind.

So instead of focusing on who provided the message in that Chamber video (and understandably, the business organization used its member which are, generally, of a certain age range, a certain social standing and mainly white folks), why not focus on what the messages were? Like, what a great city we live in.

The intent of these words is not to repeat the Chamber video, but just look at what the city has going for it: The Keystone Centre, one of the most remarkable, multi-purpose facilities in Canada; the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, one of the biggest shows of its kind; the Riverbank Discovery Centre, a jewel for four seasons, but especially the summer; our city’s growing and diversifying population, which is a great development in most peoples’ books. The recent Lt-Governor’s Winter Festival displayed that diversity in all its glory of food, entertainment and lifestyle. We are a caring community: The Westman Dreams for Kids is always boosting its coffers so it can shell out when the need arises. The United Way is a godsend for a dozen or more local agencies, whose raisons d’etre is to help those who find themselves in less fortunate situations. Citizens of this city are generous to every charity, which is the mark of a caring community.

If you’re an athlete, an artist, a businessman or -woman, a student, a mom or a dad, a child with varied interests or a senior citizen anxious to keep living the good life, you can’t go too far wrong by having R7A, R7B or R7C at the start of your postal code.

Did we mention Brandon University? Brandon Wheat Kings? The beauty of the Assiniboine River Valley? Our varied industrial area? The Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium? Churches for every faith? Our shopping choices? Our city’s summer beauty, cared for tenderly by the Communities in Bloom volunteers? Our art gallery in the Town Centre?

OK, so we don’t have a television station anymore. And the weather can get pretty brutal in the winter. And some traffic lights stay red far too long when there’s nothing coming the other way for miles. But boy, you really have to think long and hard to make much of a longer list of negatives. Unless you’re inclined that way.

Brandon is just the right size, its boosters say. But 20 years from now, when it’s about 75,000 people and still a jewel on the Prairies, it will still be the right size, comparatively speaking.

We may have a TV station by then. Who knows? The weather will still be occasionally brutal. But more people who live here will continue to love Brandon — young, old, male, female, all colours and nationalities. And a vocal few will continue to complain, and cause their friends and neighbours to wonder why they just don’t move away.

By the way . . . entry forms for the 2010 tamarack golf tournament are now on the web site. Go to www.tamarackgolftournament.ca to enter.

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