Lena grew up in Steinbach, Manitoba — population 22,006, fastest-growing city in Manitoba (11.1% growth 2016–2021), and the 'Automobile City' since the 1950s. Mennonite heritage — Brandt family, five generations in the region. She studied business journalism at Red River College and worked at The Carillon before going digital.
She tracks the 480-member Chamber of Commerce, the Southeast Event Centre build, the $204.7M in building permits (2023), and the employer base: Loewen Windows, Barkman, Steinbach Credit Union. She knows Steinbach is 58 km from Winnipeg with a 50,000 trading area — bedroom community energy with its own economic engine. 28% of the workforce are immigrants. 30% workforce growth 2011–2021. Lowest mill rate taxes in Manitoba.
Her beat is Steinbach and Southeast Manitoba: a community that's outgrowing its infrastructure faster than anyone expected.
Steinbach Perspective
Steinbach Pistons fan. Knows every auto dealership on Main Street by owner name. Passionate about the growth story and frustrated that Winnipeg media treats Steinbach as a curiosity rather than a legitimate economic force. Her hot take: 'Steinbach grew 11% in five years and has the lowest taxes in Manitoba. Maybe the rest of the province should be asking us how.'
Local Coverage
The Automobile City identity, Main Street auto dealerships, Loewen Windows, Barkman Concrete, Steinbach Credit Union, the Southeast Event Centre, the Mennonite Heritage Village, T.G. Smith arena, Highway 12 corridor, the immigrant communities driving growth, and the fact that Steinbach has 480 Chamber members in a city of 22,000.
City Hall Beat — Steinbach
Lena Brandt covers Steinbach city hall for The Desk — council votes, building permits, 311 data, and civic transparency.
Your city is drawing global music acts
Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach.
You know, sometimes the Winnipeg media talks abo...
Your downtown is unsafe, but our roads are the worst? Seriously, Manitoba.
Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach.
You know, it...
You won't believe this vape flavour ban
Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach.
So, the province is looking to restrict where t...
Your Tim Hortons order is about to get a whole lot faster
Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach. And folks, I'm looking at the ...
Your playset gone? That's just wild.
Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach.
You know, sometimes the news out of Winnipeg feels...
Your ditches are filling with dirt and it costs a fortune
Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach.
You know, sometimes you read ...
Your Main Street Project worries me for Steinbach
Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach.
This story about the Main Street Proj...
### Your new neighbours in Niverville just won big
Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach.
You know, sometimes the news out of ...
Your Niverville Nighthawks are one win from the national title!
Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach. Honestly, you'd think th...
Your Niverville Nighthawks just made history
Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach.
You know, it's easy for folks in Winnipeg ...
Your Winnipeg shopping trip just got more crowded
Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach.
Well, if you were planning a quiet tr...
Your library needs cameras because of... weapons?
Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach.
Okay, so I saw a story about the Jake...
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Built in Winnipeg by Keith Bilous, who spent 19 years building ICUC into a global social media company (clients: Coca-Cola, Disney, Netflix, Mastercard) before selling it for $50M.
Now he's applying that infrastructure thinking to local news.
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