Four Brandon city council candidates are joining forces on a campaign commitment aimed at improving safety and accessibility on the city’s pathway network.
In a joint announcement released Thursday, incumbents and candidates seeking re-election Shaun Cameron (Ward 4), Tyson Tame (Ward 10), Heather Karrouze (Ward 1) and Jason Splett (Ward 8) pledged to advocate for expanded lighting along sections of Brandon’s more than 20 kilometres of interconnected walking and cycling pathways.
The group says residents have repeatedly raised concerns about safety and visibility on pathways after dark, particularly during the fall and winter months. If re-elected, the councillors say they will pursue the project through future budget discussions and potential grant opportunities.
“We saw this as a unique opportunity for us to show unity and respond to feedback we have all heard from residents,” Cameron said in the release, pointing to frequently used pathway sections along 34th Street and Pacific Avenue as areas that have generated concerns.
Tame highlighted portions of Patricia Avenue in Ward 10, where pathway users must navigate stretches with limited or no lighting.
“The lack of lighting in Ward 10 has created some very dark corridors which render the pathways nearly unusable after dark,” he said. “We hope to collaborate to finish off these pathway investments by increasing their use, safety, and convenience.”
The candidates point to research from Accessibility Standards Canada and other urban planning organizations suggesting pathway lighting can improve pedestrian safety, support active transportation and help deter crime by increasing visibility.
Karrouze said several pathways in the Riverbank Discovery Centre area remain unlit, including sections leading from Kirkcaldy Drive and areas affected by flooding that has left existing lighting infrastructure inoperable.
“Pathway lighting in these areas is crucial to safety, particularly in the darker winter months,” she said.
Splett identified Patricia Avenue between 9th Street and the Tracey Street/18th Street area, as well as the pathway connecting the 9th Street traffic circle and Brandon Cemetery, as priorities for future lighting upgrades.
The announcement comes as the City of Brandon continues work on reviewing lighting standards throughout the community. The candidates say the proposal builds on existing discussions and reflects a shared commitment to improving public safety and accessibility.
“We’ve worked together on so many initiatives around the council table this term, and really see this campaign commitment as furthering the ask for this work should we be given the opportunity to continue to serve this fall,” the group said.
Brandon voters head to the polls Oct. 28 for the municipal election.
