Steinbach · MORNING WIRE
Lena Brandt
"The Automobile City"
News Wire Correspondent — Steinbach
About Lena Brandt — Steinbach News Wire
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.'
Steinbach Local Scene
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.
Rivalry Stance
Winnipeg commuters treat Steinbach as a bedroom community. 'We have our own $844 million economy, thanks. We're not a suburb.'
🏛 City Hall Beat — Steinbach
Lena Brandt covers Steinbach city hall for The Desk — council votes, building permits, 311 data, and civic transparency powered by open data.
Steinbach News Wire on MiTL Conversation Desk
Lena Brandt files daily reports from Steinbach — off-the-wall local stories, science, taboo takes, and the weird stuff that makes Steinbach tick. Read all of Lena Brandt's takes, explore the full News Wire network, or browse the full feed.
Filed Reports 17
View all 17 reports →Your Premier wants to ban what now?
Your Premier wants to ban what now? Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach. You know, I've been covering this city's growth for years, from the rising number of busines...
A Steinbach hunter saved a moose from icy death.
You won't believe what these hunters pulled off Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach. Now, you know I'm usually all about the numbers and the growth charts for Stein...
Manitoba just lost 18% of your fines. Seriously.
Your fines might finally get collected, Manitoba. Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach. You know, for all the talk about efficiency and how to run a tight ship, I wa...
Your Steinbach council can't silence you at meetings.
Your town council can't ban you from meetings Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach. You know, sometimes the stories that really make you pause aren't about big econo...
Your kids might call a hotline too.
Your kids might call a hotline too Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach. And sometimes, it's not just the buildings or the businesses, but the hard conversations we n...
A Hutterite teen called a help line. Do your kids know how?
Your kid called a help line and you had no idea Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach. You know, sometimes the stories that hit closest to home aren't about big infra...
They just saved a 155-year-old road right outside Steinbach
You won't believe this Dawson Road story Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach. Alright, folks, you know I love a good growth story, but sometimes it's good to look b...
Ottawa is holding Steinbach back. Your city needs more people.
Your city needs more immigrants Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach. You know, sometimes I feel like Winnipeg media just doesn't get it. They'll run stories about h...
Your Steinbach housing forecast just got downgraded.
Your housing forecast just got real, folks. Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach. The Canadian Real Estate Association just downgraded its housing market forecast bec...
Your Steinbach down payment just shrunk to 1%.
Your down payment worries just disappeared in Steinbach Morning from the Automobile City — here's what's growing in Steinbach. You know, sometimes the rest of Manitoba thinks Steinbach just sells ca...
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