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34 SPRING 2018 SNEATH GROUP CITY LIGHTS Young couple brings new life to downtown Brandon BY JIM TIMLICK Photos courtesy of the Sneath Group What was old is new again in Brandon, thanks to an enterprising husband-and-wife team who are helping to revitalize the city's historic downtown area. Robyn and Jason Sneath founded the Sneath Group four years ago, soon after Jason opened a dermatology clinic in the city. Today, the Sneath Group is comprised of four different companies, including the SKIN Clinic, an upscale coffee shop, a property development company and a commercial construction business. As diverse as the four enterprises might seem, they share a common thread — all four are connected in one way or another to some of Brandon's most historically significant buildings. The Sneaths own the Fraser Block, named in honour of Brandon's first mayor and one of the city's oldest buildings. It's home to the SKIN Clinic and Fraser Sneath Coffee, a funky, third-wave coffee house. Their development company, Bowerbird Holdings, oversaw renovations to the main-floor space where those two businesses are located. The couple is also the driving force behind the redevelopment of the historic Bass Building. Built in 1905, it will soon be home to a bridal shop, hair salon, bakery, medical clinic and several other businesses. Renovations are being handled by Sneath Projects, the couple's in-house contracting company. Bowerbird Holdings owns seven buildings in Brandon, including an old urban grain elevator and two apartment buildings that are both located in what Robyn refers to as "character buildings." In total, it has some 20 commercial tenants and another 20 residential tenants. Robyn says while she and her husband have been pleased with the success the Sneath Group has enjoyed, they feel an even greater sense of pride about the role they have played in bringing more people and businesses into downtown Brandon. "This has been so gratifying for us. It's not just about doing business but doing something that matters and is changing people's perceptions of the city," she says, adding their efforts have resulted in 15 new or existing businesses moving into the downtown area. "It's very exciting to be a part of that." The Sneaths grew up in Winnipeg, but both have connections to Brandon and the Westman region. They first met more than 20 years ago at Pelican Lake, located about an hour outside of Brandon, where their respective families owned cottages. Several of Jason's family members still live in Westman. The couple moved to Brandon in 2014, after Jason signed a return-of-service agreement with the local regional health authority to open his dermatology practice there. The agreement expired last year, but the Sneaths have no plans on going anywhere any time soon. "We've become so invested in the community it's hard to imagine ever leaving," Robyn says. In fact, they now consider themselves dyed-in-the-wool CONTINUED >>

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