Town & Country

T he village of 700 residents has renewed its status as a full-service tourist area by restoring picnic and campgrounds as well as the beach, public dock and baseball diamonds, along with new playground facilities. Local attractions, activities and amenities include birdwatching, pick- erel fishing, hunting, a golf course, boating, groomed snowmobile trails, two restaurants, three museums, a hotel, bed & breakfast, big game out- fitters, gas stations, grocery stores, a gift shop and more. "We're a full-service community in which visitors can spend a day sight- seeing or book a room and spend several days enjoying all of our ac- tivities and attractions," says Pauline Riley, who headed up the restoration. An experienced fundraiser who moved to Winnipegosis from Winnipeg several years ago because of her love of Lake Win- nipegosis and the nearby Mossey River, Riley was familiar with the complex applica- tion processes required to obtain grants from federal, provincial and municipal governments. "You can only sell so many hot dogs to raise money locally," she says. As president of the Winnipegosis Historical Society, Riley was ap- pointed Project Manager of a 10-per- son committee charged with raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to rebuild the village and the RM of Mossey River. After five years of "continuous and very stressful fundraising," the committee helped to restore the pre- flood lustre of the community. Historians, archeologists and sight- seers will be awed by original build- ings — many designated as Provin- cial Heritage Sites — that have been preserved or completely renovated by the historical society. One example is the 1897 CN Sta- tion, bought by the village from the railroad for $1 and transformed into the Winnipegosis Museum. Because the railway-tie foundation was rotten in one place, causing the building to list, building engineers suggested the most viable long-term solution was to lift the building, re- move all the ties and set it on a new concrete footing. It was a challenging and costly reno- vation, but Riley says it was worth it. "The station now houses a large collection of local antiques, memora- bilia and archeological specimens from 10,000 years ago." The Leo Hryhuruk's Museum fea- tures an eclectic collection of farm implements and other antiques dat- ing from the 1800s and 1900s. And the Dr. Medd House Museum, which is soon to be designated a Provincial Heritage Site, was established after the house was donated to the town by Edna Medd, a great-granddaugh- ter of the doctor. The two-storey home was occupied continuously by members of the Medd family from 1912 to 2011, and contains items from the original surgery, living and dining areas, as well as the bedrooms and guest rooms. Both the Medd House Museum and the Winnipegosis Mu- seum are open from May to September and staffed by univer- sity students from the area who need summer jobs. Along with financial help from three levels of government, the Thomas Sill Foundation contributed to the refurbishment of Winnipeg- osis and the village waives taxes on historical buildings. One of the most visually and spiritually inspiring structures in the village is the Ukrainian Catholic Church, designed and constructed in 1929 by the prolific Father Philip Ruh, who is credited for creating 33 ornate churches in Canada from 1920 to 1950. Often referred to as "prairie cathedrals" because of their imposing height and large onion- shaped domes, the church interiors are lavishly decorated with icons of the Virgin Mary, as well as stained- glass windows and hand-carved wood screens. The site of the original Fort Dau- phin, the Winni- pegosis area flour- ished in the 1900s, welcoming settlers from throughout the world who prospered by selling timber, trading fur and commercially fishing. The four-day 100th anniversary in mid-July attracted more than 750 visitors, more than doubling the population. "Our renovation and renewal ef- forts are starting to pay off," Riley says. "There has been a noticeable increase in tourist traffic since we took the initiative to spruce up our flood-damaged beaches and to reno- vate our historic buildings and sites of interest." Remaking HistoRy Remaking HistoRy VentureoutintothebeautifulParklandAreainDauphinManitoba andtakeinthisbreathtakingcustomdesigned4600sfhome! Thesurroundingpropertyenhancesthebeautyofthishomewith acascadingwaterfallinamongstanexquisitelylandscapedyard. ofDauphin 1022MainStreetSouth Dauphin,MB Phone(204)622-7770 info@remax-ofdauphin-mb.com www.remax-ofdauphin-mb.com Thinkingoutsidethebox...?! GrowingCommunitiesOneIdeaAtATime 204.546.5100 888.987.2332tollfree www.communityfuturesparkland.ca BusinessDevelopment • Loans • Assistance&GuidancewithBusinessPlanning • Assistance&GuidancewithBusinessPlanning • Information&StatisticsontheParklandRegion • Information&StatisticsontheParklandRegion • KnowledgeofCurrentGovernmentPrograms • KnowledgeofCurrentGovernmentPrograms CommunityDevelopment • CapacityBuilding • StrategicPlanning • Organizational&Project Development/Management • EconomicDevelopment • InformationandResearch •Respectfulschool environmentsthrough cooperation,diligence, integrityandkindness •InclusiveEducation •Incidentsofbullyingand racismwillbeaddressed •Studentsmeetingorexceeding averageprovincialandnational achievementlevels •Graduationnumbersmeetingor exceedingManitobarates •StudentspossessingWorkplace EssentialSkillsupon graduation SwanValleySchoolDivision"ClaimedforSuccess2014-2017" Every Student, EveryDay, Claimedfor Success! Aneducation secondto none! Healthy students andschool communities! Everystudent graduating withasecured pathway! Public Improving OutcomesforAll Learners Strengthening PathwaysBetween andAmongSchool, Post-Secondary Educationand Promotingthe Developmentof Wellnessand HealthySchool Environments Strengthening Community Relationships toSupportLearning Country Town & MANITOBA Editor: Pat St. Germain pdstgermain@gmail.com inside Saturday, September 26, 2015 RestoRation makes foR happy 100 th anniveRsaRy Local treasures include historical artifacts, the Dr. Medd House Museum and the ornate Ukrainian Catholic Church. Photos courtesy of Winnipegosis Historical Society By David Square For the Winnipeg Free Press the 100 th anniversary of the village of Winnipegosis was especially meaningful this summer. the Village Council recently completed a major restoration project in the small community after it was ravaged by floods for three consecutive years. brighter futures get ready to take the leap Calling all entrepreneurs /4 programs for all ages / 5 brambles nubian goat farm / 6 Local attractions, activities and amenities include birdwatching, pickerel fishing, hunting, a golf course, boating, groomed snowmobile trails, two restaurants, three museums, a hotel, bed & breakfast, big game outfitters, gas stations, grocery stores, a gift shop and more. The 1897 train station has been transformed into the Winnipegosis Museum. Photos courtesy of Winnipegosis Historical Society the kids are alright

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