MBiz

15 MBiz | november 2016 Selkirk Branch, which signed on early as a sponsor and is involved again in 2016. While many ticket buyers in 2015 were locals excited to peek inside the homes and get some decorating inspiration, a full half were tourists who travelled from as far as 165 kilometres away, says tour co-chair Shirley Muir. "We were thrilled that so many others could see the value in some of the great assets we have in this area and want to spend time and money enjoying our community," Muir says. The tours also attracted the attention of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection, which provided seed money to help the project with important tourism development start-up costs. Travel Manitoba also stepped in as a sponsor, and returned as a sponsor for the 2016 tour. This year, the Manitoba government began designating four per cent of all tourism dollars back to funding tourism initiatives in the province through Travel Manitoba — a sustainable funding model the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce lobbied hard for on behalf of the tourism industry for over a year. "The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce saw the direct connection between tourism and economic development early on. At Homes for the Holidays we also recognized that, and in addition to celebrating our community and sharing our history and heritage, we added the extra value of philanthropy, raising money for safe and affordable housing in the community," Muir explains. A whopping $25,000 was raised and dedicated to the construction of a new home for the Nova House Women's Shelter. For 2016, another worthy cause has been added: A new Selkirk and District Community Foundation fund called Homes for All, which will help raise money for safe and affordable shelter- related needs in the area. Crafters located at many of the sites donated a portion of their sales back to Nova House, and the event also made thousands of dollars through a silent auction. Even more crafters are being added in 2016. Nearly 70 volunteers have been involved in preparing for the 2016 tour and getting all the sites ready to welcome visitors. ■ To learn more, visit www.homesfortheholidaysredrivernorth.ca Lavishly decorated homes and heritage sites included St. Andrews Rectory, where volunteers gathered for a group photo (top and above left, photos by Donna Maxwell), and Perfect Scents (opposite page, above centre and top right, photographed by David Lipnowski). Philanthropists Jim and Betty Gaynor (at the Riverside Grill, above, photographed by Donna Maxwell) are patron sponsors.

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