In the summer of 1965, The National Spiritual Assembly of Canada (governing body for Baha’is across Canada) sent a letter to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Winnipeg requesting that it encourage a Baha’i to move (pioneer) to Brandon. Baha’is had visited Brandon over the years, and since Winnipeg had a thriving Baha’i Community, it was believed that Brandon, with a population of 30,421, could also have one.

Mrs. Gol Aidun, supported by her loving husband Dr. Jamshid Aidun, immediately volunteered to pioneer. Gol offered to make the move with their children so that her husband could remain in Winnipeg to work, but within a few days, Dr. Aidun had secured a position at the Brandon Clinic.  In a miserably cold November, they moved and settled in Brandon, and then began holding weekly meetings to talk about the Faith (firesides).

Prior to the Aidun family moving to Brandon, Ray and Millie Anderson and family had already moved to Shilo in 1964 and Millie (Millicent Stonechild) was still in Brandon in 1976. The city had also already had several Baha’i visitors from 1952 – 1955.

Dr. William Guy, soon followed by his wife Margaret, became one of the first members living in Brandon to join the Baha’i community. Many youth, inspired by the new teachings of peace, unity and equality also joined the faith.

Throughout the years many Baha’is moved to Brandon. In 1966, Angus Cowan and his wife Bobbie moved just outside the city limits to support the Baha’i community by giving talks about the progressive principles of the Faith and how to apply them in Brandon.

By 1970 there were 10 adults and over 100 youth. Some parents of those youth were so impressed by the positive changes they observed in their children’s lives that they too became members. The first Local Spiritual Assembly of Brandon, consisting of nine adults, formed by election April 21, 1970. It was incorporated February 10, 1971. Nine adult community members continue to be elected annually (in April) to serve on the Local Spiritual Assembly.

Over the years Brandon’s Baha’i community has sought to uphold…

‘the fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion [which is] to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race.” *

– Baha’u’llah

Today, the members of Brandon’s Baha’i community continue to work towards achieving this goal by applying Baha’u’llah’s teachings to work for change in their own lives, within their families, and in their communities – hosting children’s classes, devotional gatherings and study circles where the focus is serving locally and beyond.

Interesting facts:

• The first Brandonite to enrol in the Faith – Sandra Dudding
• An early Baha’i to visit Brandon – Florence Mayberry (in 1952)
• In August, 2002 construction of the Labyrinth of Peace (created to raise awareness of the diverse religions, cultures and communities in and around Brandon and whose construction was conceived and directed by Dr. Allison Marshall, Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion at Brandon University) was completed. The Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Brandon contributed, along with other religious and non-religious groups, businesses and Brandon University, to this endeavour. The labyrinth was built on land near The Discovery Centre.

https://www.brandonu.ca/religion/files/2011/02/history-10-religions.pdf

Brandon Sun article