Brandon makerspace gets $100K to refurbish mobility equipment

A Brandon non-profit will use $100,000 in provincial money to refurbish donated walkers, wheelchairs and other mobility equipment and resell them at lower prices, while expanding the downtown makerspace where volunteers learn to do the work.

The Manitoba government said in a news release Friday that the grant goes to the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation (BNRC) through its From the Ground Up, Safe Healthy Communities for ALL program. Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard announced the funding.

How the equipment program will work

The refurbishment project costs $141,574 in total, so the provincial grant covers about 70 per cent of it. BNRC plans to build partnerships with local hospitals and care homes to collect donations of gently used equipment. Community members who help repair the equipment or run the store will earn discounts on their monthly makerspace membership fees in exchange for their volunteer time.

Simard said residents will gain “skills, mentorship and a path to employment,” while families get access to mobility equipment at a lower cost.

Karra Burney, BNRC’s executive director, said restoring and repurposing the equipment builds skills, reduces waste and helps people get essential gear for a fraction of what it costs new. Board member Ted Dzogan, who came up with the idea, described it as a medical, affordability and environmental program that is above all about building community.

About the makerspace

BNRC’s Creation Nation Makerspace is an accessible downtown space where residents develop skills, creativity and leadership with the help of mentors. It serves Brandon’s downtown and core neighbourhoods and draws people from across the Westman region. The non-profit also runs community development, housing and homelessness supports, economic development and safety initiatives in the city’s core residential neighbourhoods.

The grant program behind it

From the Ground Up provides up to $100,000 per project to non-profits, municipalities and northern affairs councils for community revitalization, youth programs and capital improvements, so the Brandon project received the maximum. The province said the program has supported 208 community projects across Manitoba in 2026-27, with more than $12 million in approved funding. Groups can find the details on the province’s grants page.

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Source: Manitoba government news release, Oct. 23, 2026.