Last March, Brandon’s Westman Centennial Auditorium made an exciting announcement: after a thorough search and careful consideration of many exceptional candidates from across the country, the prestigious position of General Manager was offered to Kaitlyn Mitchell, a native of Baldur.
For many young performers, the thrill of hitting the stage is a dream come true – a rush of adrenaline, applause, and the magic of being in the spotlight. Kaitlyn Mitchell was no exception. Known throughout the area since the age of five as the “little girl with the big voice,” she captivated audiences with her powerful vocals from an early age. Her mother, Patti Everett, recalls her first public performance at the Tiger Hills Festival of Arts. “The adjudicator asked me to stand up and made me promise that I would never enter her in a non-competitive class again,” Patty reminisced with a smile.
Kaitlyn’s early years were filled with success, winning numerous vocal awards on stages throughout Brandon and the surrounding areas. She won the “Back to School Karaoke” competition several times and performed at the Dauphin Festival three times, first stepping onto that stage when she was just eight years old. It was there that her strong voice caught the attention of Canadian songstress Lisa Brokop, who was amazed by the powerhouse vocals coming from such a young girl. In high school she won the coveted “Rose Bowl” the highest honour for vocals on the same platform she stood when she was five in the non-competing performance.
What makes Kaitlyn’s story truly unique is her “nerdy” side, as she calls it – a love for the precision of numbers, spreadsheets, and the world of accounting. While she continued to impress audiences with her vocal talent, she also found herself drawn to the intricacies of business and finance. This blend of passions would eventually lead her to where she is today, seamlessly merging both worlds in her role as the General Manager of the Brandon Westman Centennial Auditorium.
Upon her high school graduation Kaitlyn enrolled in Brandon University graduating with a Bachelor of Business with a major in Accounting. The fall following university she was hired by the WMCA at what she shared was a “very entry-level” position. Throughout the years Kaitlyn worked with the organizations serving as a contracted bookkeeper and events staff member. Keeping her foot in the entertainment business she also worked behind the scenes in the production department running the tent stage with Tom Crook at Rockin the Fields. It was actually Crook who told Kaitlyn about his upcoming retirement as WMCA’s General Manager and encouraged her to apply for the position.
Now at the helm of Brandon’s premiere entertainment and cultural venue, Kaitlyn is responsible for overseeing not only the creative aspects of the auditorium but also the financial and operational components. It’s a role that allows her to combine her love for the arts with her analytical skills—two talents that, together, have shaped her into the dynamic leader she is today.
When asked about her plans moving forward, Kaitlyn shared her excitement about the opportunities ahead. “Right now, I am discovering the nuances of my unique management style,” she explained. “It’s a learning curve, but I’m eager to introduce more concerts and encourage local talent. While the WMCA is a nonprofit organization, I’m looking forward to generating revenue to support the many upgrades this beautiful building needs.”
Looking ahead, Kaitlyn is eager to grow the number of events at the auditorium. “Right now, we host 8 to 12 events a year, but my goal is to build that up to 30,” she said enthusiastically. With the Westman Centennial Auditorium recently celebrating its 55th anniversary, a quaint fundraiser and Gala was held to attract more dollars and mark the milestone. Kaitlyn explained, “Our building is beautiful, but it’s old, and with the years come a number of issues, including foundation and roofing concerns. We need significant capital to ensure we’ll be here for another 55 years.”
Never one to shy from a challenge, Kaitlyn has embraced her role of negotiating a new funding agreement with the Province and the City of Brandon. The complicated process was already underway when Kaitlyn began her position; as the last agreement was signed in 1973 it needed standardizing and Kaitlyn embraced being a part of it all. Already being a witness to a number of former plans coming to life has also been exciting and encouraging for the young GM.
Other personal milestones for Kaitlyn include a successful Sheepdog concert, the first of which she booked and promoted on her own and of course the recent 55th Anniversary Gala, which proved to be a successful event as well.
Kaitlyn Mitchell’s journey from the stage to the boardroom is a testament to her versatility, passion, and determination, and she continues to inspire others with her story. As she leads the Westman Centennial Auditorium into its next chapter, she faces a few challenges. Although she laughingly calls her position “the dream job I never knew I wanted,” she admits that her original vision was quite different: “I had always envisioned myself living in Toronto, being an account executive with Deloitte and Touche.”
Now, her dream is to see the plans for the auditorium come to fruition. “I’m really excited to see where we’ll be in five years,” she says, with a clear passion for both preserving the historic venue and elevating its role in the community.
Caption: Kaitlyn Mitchell, Brandon’s Westman Centennial Auditorium General Manager.
