Branden Leslie, Member of Parliament (MP) for Portage-Lisgar, celebrated Friday the grand opening of his newly opened office in Winkler. The move from Morden to Winkler was marked by an enthusiastic gathering of local dignitaries from surrounding communities.

The new office is located 2-915 Navigator Road in Winkler.

Leslie expressed his excitement about the new office space, stating, "I'm excited about this big grand opening of our newly relocated office in Winkler. We have a beautiful space here."

Despite the change in location, Leslie emphasized the services provided remain consistent, with a refreshed look. He noted the new office would continue to offer the same services as before, but with a renewed energy and updated environment. He highlighted the advantage of Winkler's more central location within the riding, which would enable his office to extend its services more effectively.

"One of the most rewarding parts of the job, actually, is seeing my staff be able to help somebody in their personal life when dealing with the federal government, it's very rewarding," said Leslie. 

He detailed the variety of federal services his office provides, such as assistance with passports, permanent residency and citizenship, stressing the rewarding nature of helping constituents navigate the federal bureaucracy.

Before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Leslie spoke about the significance of collaboration with local partners. He expressed gratitude for the attendance of past and present municipal leaders, provincial colleagues, and his family. 

"My wife and I, we've decided in terms of our ribbon cutting is past, present, and future... firstly, for me, the future is my beautiful wife Cailey and our even more beautiful four-month-old daughter, Maeve, so I'm gonna get her to help us cut this ribbon," he shared.

Looking ahead to his return to Ottawa, Leslie reiterated his commitment to representing local concerns at the federal level. 

"In a couple of days we'll be heading back to Ottawa, and it's that opportunity to take the concerns that I hear... and take those back and communicate them to the federal government in Ottawa, and make sure we send the voice of here to Ottawa, not the other way around," he concluded.