We board a four-seat Cessna 172 , greeting our Aussie captain Joseph along the way . During our 30-minute flight , we get an eagle ’ s-eye view of the meandering Assiniboine River , while Joseph describes the company ’ s spring flood tours , which makes me want to plan an April trip .
After the flight , I realize I haven ’ t eaten since my Blue Hills cinnamon bun . Lunch at Tana , an Ethiopian restaurant downtown , hits the spot . Owned by a charming couple of newcomers , it offers a buffet of ultrafresh , flavourful Ethiopian specialties made with local vegetables and meats . Ethiopian coffee , served in traditional special clay pot , washes everything down . Tana is just part of Brandon ’ s growing cosmopolitan food scene , which includes a Salvadorean pupuseria and Indian curry houses .
For coffee connoisseurs , hip java shops , separated by equally hip boutiques , now dot Rosser Avenue . After caffeinating , I make my way to the city ’ s east end where I encounter a couple of colourful characters . Don Ditchfield , a retired landscaper , opened Crow ’ s General Store antique store / ice cream parlour last year , using reclaimed items found across the province . The neon signs beckon everyone from wedding parties to hikers looking for a scoop and an Instagram pic . Ditchfield even supplies retro paper servers ’ hats for the photo ops .
Next door , I find David Barnes chopping wood at his Treesblood farm . The former teacher spearheaded the Assiniboine Food Forest , a 40-acre regeneration project aimed at restoring local ecosystems while producing sustainable food for people and wildlife . When he ’ s not repairing forests , nature lover Barnes offers trail tours , and makes and sells Manitoba maple syrup .
Dinner at the circa-1911 Prairie Firehouse is the perfect end to an eventful day . On the patio , a crowd sips craft cocktails , while diners inside nibble on pasture-raised beef . The old Fire Hall has been stylishly renovated ,
Sweet treats at Tastee ’ s
Ethiopian coffee
with an eye on its heritage . Staff pay heed to a local ghost story about Fire Chief Melhuish , who supposedly still lingers in the building . “ The firefighters told us we have to say goodnight to the chief , and if we don ’ t , we ’ ll make him mad ,” says owner Anna Dumas . The three times they forgot this evening greeting , an alarm mysteriously went off in the middle of the night . “ So we started to say goodnight to the chief !”
I end my whirlwind weekend with an earthy Sunday hike in the Brandon Hills , just 10 minutes south of town on Highway 10 . The Hills are one of Manitoba ’ s lesser-known gems . At the top , you ’ ll find panoramic views of geometric patches of farmland next to the wild landscape of marsh marigold , grassy dells and aspen forest .
After hiking down , I start my drive home , into the familiar pink and blue sunset , with great new memories in sharp focus .
The Essentials
Flight-seeing along the Assiniboine River
GETTING THERE About two hours from Winnipeg , travelling due west along the TransCanada highway . A slightly longer but more scenic route on highway 2 follows the Cypress River
THINGS TO DO Pottery painting at funTime Pottery studio : owner Milly McKenna helps budding artists of all ages
The University of Brandon ’ s well-known music school often hosts recitals
EAT & DRINK Chef dan hunter of The dock on Princess offers rotating menus , featuring Manitoba chicken and other local ingredients
Komfort Kitchen is a local fave for breakfast . order chef derek Woychyshyn ’ s pancakes , made using his grandmother ’ s recipe
ICE CREAM : TASTEE ’ S ; flIghT : BRAndon flIghT CEnTRE ; CoffEE : ZoonAR gMBh / AlAMy
64 Fall 2017 CAA MaNITOBa