The Westman Recycling Council was started by a small group of avid recyclers with financial and volunteer help from the Kiwanis Club of Brandon, among others. Volunteers organized the first outdoor recycling depots in June and October 1989. The first event with recorded minutes was the first annual meeting, November 15, 1989.
The organization was incorporated in February 1990, and became a registered charity in 1995. The Mission Statement was: "to support and promote the reduction, re-use, and recycling of material resources for the benefit of Westman's environment and future generations."
The major partner in the work of the organization was the City of Brandon. In 2003, Westman Recycling, in partnership with the City, built a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at the Brandon Landfill; Westman Recycling owned the building on the City-owned land. It was a $4 million structure - financed by federal and provincial grants (about one-quarter of the total) and a mortgage (about three-quarters). Details are in the Board and other Committee minutes and agreements.
In late 2005, Westman Recycling faced a severe cash crunch - as a result of poor markets for recyclables, changes in support funding from the Manitoba Product Stewardship Corporation (MPSC), and a drop in public recycling levels. In February 2006, the City decided to sign a contract with another organization to operate the MRF; after that there appeared to be no role for Westman Recycling.
A general meeting on September 22, 2008 voted to dissolve the organization. At that meeting, the suggestion was made (agreed to by consensus) that the files of the organization be donated to Brandon University to be made available for researchers. A Board of Directors meeting on the same date voted to donate all remaining funds to a perpetual "Westman Recycling" fund with the Brandon Area Community Foundation.
A final wind-up meeting was held on March 26, 2009
Custodial History
The organization was overseen by volunteers / volunteer Board of Directors. The files were first held by volunteers / Board members in their homes. In May 1991, the organization hired David McConkey as Coordinator / General Manager, who was directed by the Board to manage the files on a daily basis from that date forward.
The files were kept in the organization's rented office space in the 1300 block of Pacific Avenue from May 1991 to September 1992, and then in the rented space in the Massey building at 6th Street and Pacific Avenue. The files were kept at the new facility at the landfill from April 2003 to February 2006. They were then stored in the basement of the Marquis Project, 912 Rosser Avenue, until August 2011 when they were donated to the S.J. McKee Archives, Brandon University.
Some files (e.g. minutes from 1995-96) were found to be missing entirely. Other files were disposed of by recycling and/or shredding as they were judged to be confidential (e.g. personnel), of an ordinary business nature only (e.g. invoices), or not useful for future research (e.g. extra copies, routine correspondence, building and equipment plans and other arrangements).
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records that document the origin, activities, demise, and legacy of the Westman Recycling Council. Records include minutes, financial summaries, scrapbooks, newsletters, brochures, media clippings, photographs and miscellaneous documents related to the construction in collaboration with the City of Brandon of Brandon's principal recycling facility.
Notes
Administrative history courtesy David McConkey. See additional notes on the organization in the curatorial file. Description by Tom Mitchell.
Item is a print of the County Council of County of Brandon made by Stuckey. Back Row (L-R): Reeve Pettit of Daly Municipality; Reeve Clegg of Elton Municipality; Reeve Whitehead of Cournwallis Municipality. Front Row (L-R): Reeve Steele of Glenwood Municipality; W.A. Macdonald, County Solicitor (Justice Supreme Court of British Columbia); Reeve Hannah of Whitehead Municipality; J. Weatherall, County Clerk; J.H. Brownlee, County Engineer.
Repro Restriction
The McKee Archives is the copyright holder for the Stuckey materials.
Named "Imperial" as building was owned by Imperial Oil Co., which had offices on the ground floor. Located on the east side of Tenth Street, south of Princess Avenue.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Imperial Dance Gardens (bandstand). Inset: Jack Jewsbury - opened Imperial in the spring of 1934.
Notes
From Roy Brown collection
Additional historical information provided by the Fred McGuinness collection (20-2009).
[For additional information see "Beatrice Brigden and Radicalism in the Methodist Church" by Tom Mitchell, Manitoba History, Number 19, Spring 1990 (P.E. 26/05/09).]
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
According to Stuckey and Bain (1996), “The Brandon, Saskatchewan & Hudson’s Bay Railway was built and operated as a totally owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway. Construction commenced in late 1905 and by the end of 1905, less than a mile of track had been laid north of the boundary at St. John. In 1906, the remaining 68.6 miles to Brandon were laid and service commenced that year. During the Depression of the 1930s, traffic declined significantly and the entire branch was abandoned in 1936. Over much of the branch’s length, the ties and rails were laid on the prairie without ballast and today little remains of the line apart from traces where there were cuts and bridges.” (p. 18)
Stuckey, L. A., & Bain, D. M. (1996). The Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways in Canada. Calgary, Alberta: British Railway Modellers of North America.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
View of the Great Northern (BS&HB) Railway building a grade [to their bridge] at Bunclody, Manitoba.
Notes
[This railway bridge crossed the Souris River. P.E.]
From the collection of Gilford Copeland of Bunclody, Manitoba
According to Stuckey and Bain (1996), “The Brandon, Saskatchewan & Hudson’s Bay Railway was built and operated as a totally owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway. Construction commenced in late 1905 and by the end of 1905, less than a mile of track had been laid north of the boundary at St. John. In 1906, the remaining 68.6 miles to Brandon were laid and service commenced that year. During the Depression of the 1930s, traffic declined significantly and the entire branch was abandoned in 1936. Over much of the branch’s length, the ties and rails were laid on the prairie without ballast and today little remains of the line apart from traces where there were cuts and bridges.” (p. 18)
Stuckey, L. A., & Bain, D. M. (1996). The Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways in Canada. Calgary, Alberta: British Railway Modellers of North America.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
View of the Great Northern (BS&HB) Railway building a grade [to their bridge] at Bunclody, Manitoba.
Notes
Grading station site
From the collection of Gilford Copeland of Bunclody, Manitoba
According to Stuckey and Bain (1996), “The Brandon, Saskatchewan & Hudson’s Bay Railway was built and operated as a totally owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway. Construction commenced in late 1905 and by the end of 1905, less than a mile of track had been laid north of the boundary at St. John. In 1906, the remaining 68.6 miles to Brandon were laid and service commenced that year. During the Depression of the 1930s, traffic declined significantly and the entire branch was abandoned in 1936. Over much of the branch’s length, the ties and rails were laid on the prairie without ballast and today little remains of the line apart from traces where there were cuts and bridges.” (p. 18)
Stuckey, L. A., & Bain, D. M. (1996). The Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways in Canada. Calgary, Alberta: British Railway Modellers of North America.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Great Northern Railway steam shovel & earth cars.
Notes
Used in the construction of the Brandon, Saskatchewan and Hudson's Bay Railway at Bunclody, Manitoba
Great Northern Railway photo
From the collection of Gilford Copeland of Bunclody, Manitoba
According to Stuckey and Bain (1996), “The Brandon, Saskatchewan & Hudson’s Bay Railway was built and operated as a totally owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway. Construction commenced in late 1905 and by the end of 1905, less than a mile of track had been laid north of the boundary at St. John. In 1906, the remaining 68.6 miles to Brandon were laid and service commenced that year. During the Depression of the 1930s, traffic declined significantly and the entire branch was abandoned in 1936. Over much of the branch’s length, the ties and rails were laid on the prairie without ballast and today little remains of the line apart from traces where there were cuts and bridges.” (p. 18)
Stuckey, L. A., & Bain, D. M. (1996). The Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways in Canada. Calgary, Alberta: British Railway Modellers of North America.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Great Northern Railway crane on Souris River bridge, Bunclody, Manitoba.
Notes
[Mr. Stuckey is unsure if this photo was taken during construction of the bridge, or whether it may have been taken during its dismantling when the railway line closed. P.E.]
From the collection of Gilford Copeland of Bunclody, Manitoba
According to Stuckey and Bain (1996), “The Brandon, Saskatchewan & Hudson’s Bay Railway was built and operated as a totally owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway. Construction commenced in late 1905 and by the end of 1905, less than a mile of track had been laid north of the boundary at St. John. In 1906, the remaining 68.6 miles to Brandon were laid and service commenced that year. During the Depression of the 1930s, traffic declined significantly and the entire branch was abandoned in 1936. Over much of the branch’s length, the ties and rails were laid on the prairie without ballast and today little remains of the line apart from traces where there were cuts and bridges.” (p. 18)
Stuckey, L. A., & Bain, D. M. (1996). The Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways in Canada. Calgary, Alberta: British Railway Modellers of North America.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Great Northern Railway steam shovel loading cars near Bunclody, Manitoba.
Notes
Used in the construction of the Brandon, Saskatchewan and Hudson's Bay Railway at Bunclody, Manitoba
From the collection of Gilford Copeland of Bunclody, Manitoba
According to Stuckey and Bain (1996), “The Brandon, Saskatchewan & Hudson’s Bay Railway was built and operated as a totally owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway. Construction commenced in late 1905 and by the end of 1905, less than a mile of track had been laid north of the boundary at St. John. In 1906, the remaining 68.6 miles to Brandon were laid and service commenced that year. During the Depression of the 1930s, traffic declined significantly and the entire branch was abandoned in 1936. Over much of the branch’s length, the ties and rails were laid on the prairie without ballast and today little remains of the line apart from traces where there were cuts and bridges.” (p. 18)
Stuckey, L. A., & Bain, D. M. (1996). The Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways in Canada. Calgary, Alberta: British Railway Modellers of North America.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Great Northern (Brandon, Saskatchewan and Hudson's Bay) Railway construction camp near Bunclody, Manitoba.
Notes
From the collection of Gilford Copeland of Bunclody, Manitoba
According to Stuckey and Bain (1996), “The Brandon, Saskatchewan & Hudson’s Bay Railway was built and operated as a totally owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway. Construction commenced in late 1905 and by the end of 1905, less than a mile of track had been laid north of the boundary at St. John. In 1906, the remaining 68.6 miles to Brandon were laid and service commenced that year. During the Depression of the 1930s, traffic declined significantly and the entire branch was abandoned in 1936. Over much of the branch’s length, the ties and rails were laid on the prairie without ballast and today little remains of the line apart from traces where there were cuts and bridges.” (p. 18)
Stuckey, L. A., & Bain, D. M. (1996). The Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways in Canada. Calgary, Alberta: British Railway Modellers of North America.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Great Northern Railway steam shovel.
Notes
Used in the construction of the Brandon, Saskatchewan and Hudson's Bay Railway at Bunclody, Manitoba
Great Northern Railway photo
From the collection of Gilford Copeland of Bunclody, Manitoba
According to Stuckey and Bain (1996), “The Brandon, Saskatchewan & Hudson’s Bay Railway was built and operated as a totally owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway. Construction commenced in late 1905 and by the end of 1905, less than a mile of track had been laid north of the boundary at St. John. In 1906, the remaining 68.6 miles to Brandon were laid and service commenced that year. During the Depression of the 1930s, traffic declined significantly and the entire branch was abandoned in 1936. Over much of the branch’s length, the ties and rails were laid on the prairie without ballast and today little remains of the line apart from traces where there were cuts and bridges.” (p. 18)
Stuckey, L. A., & Bain, D. M. (1996). The Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways in Canada. Calgary, Alberta: British Railway Modellers of North America.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
View of a Great Northern (BS&HB) Railway trestle east of Bunclody, Manitoba.
Notes
Under construction [Note small train dumping earthen fill. P.E.]
From the collection of Gilford Copeland of Bunclody, Manitoba