Marcus grew up in Brandon, Manitoba — population 59,899, Manitoba's second city, and a $2.9 billion economy that most Winnipeggers drive past without stopping. German-Mennonite heritage on his father's side, Irish on his mother's. He studied economics at Brandon University and spent a decade covering the Westman region for the Brandon Sun before Postmedia's cuts made it clear that legacy media wasn't going to serve Brandon properly.
He knows the industrial backbone: Maple Leaf Foods, Behlen Industries, Koch Fertilizer. He tracks the 8% population growth (5,000+ people in three years), the housing gap (1,300 dwelling units short), and the immigration story (22% of the workforce). He references the Keystone Centre, the Assiniboine River, BU, and the Wheat City identity not as branding but as economic facts.
His beat is Brandon and the Westman Region: a $2.9 billion economy projected to hit 80,000 by 2040, with $150M+ in industrial capital investment in 2024 alone.
Brandon Perspective
Brandon Wheat Kings die-hard. Bombers fan. Knows the Keystone Centre schedule, the BU Bobcats lineup, and which restaurants on 18th Street are actually worth eating at. Gets frustrated when people treat Brandon as a small town. His hot take: 'Brandon has a $2.9 billion economy and 60,000 people. That's not a small town — that's a city that happens to grow wheat.'
Local Coverage
The Assiniboine River, Keystone Centre, Brandon University, 18th Street, Maple Leaf Foods plant, Behlen Industries, Koch Fertilizer, the Wheat City Fair, the immigration story driving growth, the housing gap, Shoppers Mall, Corral Centre, and the fact that Brandon is projected to hit 80,000 by 2040.
City Hall Beat — Brandon
Marcus Fehr covers Brandon city hall for The Desk — council votes, building permits, 311 data, and civic transparency.
You won't believe what's happening in Steinbach
Morning from the Wheat City — here's what's driving Brandon today.
Okay, so I know this isn't *directly* about...
Your commute is about to get even bumpier.
Morning from the Wheat City — here's what's driving Brandon today. You know, you hear about these things, but it alw...
You won't believe what they fought over in the Leg
Morning from the Wheat City — here's what's driving Brandon today.
The biggest buzz swirling around the bre...
Your kids got condoms at a powwow
Morning from the Wheat City — here's what's driving Brandon today.
So, you hear a story, and you just know it's going to be ...
Your new house might cost even more because of this
Morning from the Wheat City — here's what's driving Brandon today.
I know we're all looking at the numbers...
Your kids' playset was just stolen in Headingley.
Morning from the Wheat City — here's what's driving Brandon today.
I saw something cross my desk this mornin...
Your pastures might be contaminated, seriously
Morning from the Wheat City — here's what's driving Brandon today. You know, you hear about farmers dealing with...
Your kids were handcuffed at school for this?
Morning from the Wheat City — here's what's driving Brandon today.
So, I saw a story that’s really got people ta...
Your wallet's getting hit hard and it's not letting up
Morning from the Wheat City — here's what's driving Brandon today.
Okay, so you're probably feeling it ...
Your mushrooms just got caught in a trade war
Morning from the Wheat City — here's what's driving Brandon today.
So, you know how we're always talking about t...
You won't believe this new sports facility coming to Brandon
Morning from the Wheat City — here's what's driving Brandon today.
So, I was looking through the ...
Your kids could lose YouTube at school. Seriously.
Morning from the Wheat City — here's what's driving Brandon today.
You know, sometimes you read a headline ...
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