The City of Winkler is restructuring recreation and tourism leadership ahead of the new Meridian Exhibition Centre construction.

Key positions will need to be filled after longtime Director of Parks and Recreation Rick Denison was recently let go and events coordinator and Recreation, Culture and Tourism Director Deb Penner announced she will be leaving in February.

Winkler Mayor Martin Harder says a new team will be required to oversee the expanded facility that he notes has been compared to the Keystone Centre in Brandon.

"It's much more diverse... than just an arena," he says, noting the facility includes two arenas, an exhibition centre that must juggle scheduling for soccer, baseball, and special events.

"It just takes a much more dynamic team there in order to make sure everything we're hoping for gets accomplished,"

Marketing will also be a key factor, he says. "You don't want to have facilities sitting empty."

The city also hopes to attract larger concerts that have passed over Southern Manitoba in the past because of the lack of large venues. Harder notes hosting a banquet with 500 people is drastically different compared to the ability of holding a gala for 1,200. "It's a whole different ball game."

"Hopefully we can attract bigger events to this region that are not just competing with something else, but adding additional capacity for events we've never had before."