Contact Us
Community Futures Westman
Unit D - 217 10th Street
Brandon, MB
Phone: (204) 726-1513
Positive Pathways-Peter Kenyon
Peter Kenyon returned to the Westman region to deliver another one of his high impact community development workshops. In Killarney his year Peter encourage participants to reach out in their community not to merely ask for volunteers but to ask them what is it that they care about or are passionate about and to get them to work on that. As always with Peter, the workshop was well attended with 20 participants from 7 communities.
Side Hustle
We will be bringing back our successful Side Hustle Program in April 2025. Over the last 3 years we have awarded over 50 youth with micro grants to help support their small businesses. If you are an existing youth entrepreneur between 16 and 39 reach out to us starting April 1st about this year's side hustle program.
Thank you to the 36 participants who braved the winter storm to attend. Jolene was so successful we are bringing her back in September 2023 by popular demand.
2024 Children's Business Fair
In July, 2024 Community Futures Westman hosted it's third Annual Children's Business Fair. Partnering with Acton College Westman helped 26 young entrepreneurs in 13 booths, ages 5 to 15, display their goods. It ranged from selling firwood to handmade jewelry. The Fair attracted about 100 people in just 4 hours! Our follow up fair will be on July 19, 2025.
Hamiota 55+ Senior Centre and R Store
We take pride in helping turn dreams into reality. That's why we're thrilled to have played a part in the startup of the Hamiota 55+ Senior Centre and R Store. We couldn't have done it without the expertise and resources of our Community Development Analyst, Wendy Petersen.
Wendy played a crucial role in the establishment of this co-op, sharing her knowledge and resources to help make it a success. We're proud to have been a part of this journey and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
We want to send a massive congratulations to Nancy Strachan, Gwenda Skayman, Ray Brethour, Wonda Brewer and all that were involved with the Hamiota 55+ Centre and R Store in winning their award at the EDAM Gala!
Wendy Petersen and our entire CFW team are so incredibly proud of the progress and growth of the Hamiota 55+ Centre and R Store!
Congrats! We can't wait to see what the future holds! 
https://www.facebook.com/CommunityFuturesWestman/videos/273830035049034/
Community Futures Westman Performance Results |
Results as of 2025-2026 |
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Strong rural community strategic planning and implementation |
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1. Total number of community-based projects (new & on-going) |
21 |
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2. Total number of local and regionally-based community strategic plans developed and/or updated |
2 |
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Rural access to business development services |
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3. Total number of business training session participants |
515 |
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4. Total number of business advisory services |
253 |
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Rural access to capital and leveraged capital |
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5. Dollar value of loans |
$859,739 |
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6. Total number of loans |
12 |
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7. Number of jobs created/maintained/expanded through lending* |
10 |
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*Estimated at the time of lending |
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Provide additional Information (e.g. Success stories, Links to priorities, leveraging work, communications events, etc...) |
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The Business Entrepreneurship Centre located in the Community Futures building continues to provide office space for new business start ups in the Westman Region. The 10 spaces in the incubator since opening have assisted over 50 new businesses. We will continue to host projects with a lean on youth to encourage entrepreneurship as career choice We support innovation by supporting business and initiatives that can bring new technology to national and global markets. We are currently hosting two tech interns to help businesses in our region with online tools. As a small business centre, trade and investment are a priority both in assisting businesses to enter into global markets and working to attract investment to the region. |
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2nd Annual Newcomer to Business
After the success of our first Newcomer to Business event in Brandon in 2024 we brought it back in 2025. On May 28th18 organizations set up booths to let current and new entrepreneurs know how they could help. In addition we had 6 entrepreneurs give presentations on their entrepreneurial journeys with the highs and lows. The event was well attended and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive from both the participants and attendees. Thank you to everyone for attending.
Hire For Talent
We had 9 clients participate in the Hire for Talent through Restigouche CBCD’s from Campbellton, N.B. The clients were asked to participate in a survey and a webinar about inclusion in the workplace. One of the 9 was also asked to participate in an online focus group. Each participant received $500.00 for their participation and the one client who also completed the focus group received an extra $500.00. In total CFW received $17000.00 and those funds have been used to fund the Side Hustle project.
Client Profile-Lucky Break Ranch and Tack
We are proud and pleased to introduce everyone to a client from Rivers, Mb. Kim Richardson is a Certified Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator; Certified Horsemanship Association Riding Instructor; & Owner of Lucky Break Ranch. Kim says Lucky Break isn't your typical horse ranch. Lucky Break offers fun-filled programs that are full of interaction with horses, developed to help our participants build fundamental life skills, expand confidence in life (and around horses), and learn to ride and care for horses in a safe, controlled environment.
Harry Keen-Minute Muffler
Harry Keen is the Brandon Franchise owner of Minute Muffler. He has over 12 years both as an operator and later owner of the current location. His specialities are in repair of custom exhausts, suspension repair and replacement and other mechanical repairs and replacements. His shop also carry out oil change, tire repairs and replacement. The office is on the south end in Brandon.
