MBiz

34 MBiz | november 2016 SOUTHPORT P eople who live, work and play in Southport are enjoying more local amenities this fall. A new day-care centre opened in September and recently, the community held a grand opening for its newly expanded Central Plains RecPlex. The $3-million RecPlex project was undertaken following surveys of residents and tenants, including military personnel who train or work at the 3 Canadian Forces Flight Training School operated by KF Aerospace. Southport CEO Peggy May says military personnel suggested moving the cardio and weight facilities from the sunless lower level to the main floor. But they also had more pressing needs. "We found out at the same time that the military were in desperate need of day care," May says. "Not only for their members who are here, but also for contractors who are here day-to-day." Some parents were taking their children as far as St. Claude, about 40 kilometres south of Portage la Prairie. Now, there are 28 child-care spaces available in the new Portage Day Care located in the RecPlex. Just three kilometres south of Portage, Southport is now home to Western Manitoba's largest indoor rock-climbing wall. By the end of the year, the RecPlex will also have a Sawmill Tea and Coffee Co. kiosk. "We have not only the military on-site, but we also have 600 residents who live here who aren't part of the military and they don't have a place to get coffee," May says, adding that while the military mess is available to residents, operating hours are not necessarily convenient. The coffee shop is the result of a cooperative effort between Prairie Partners Inc. and Visions of Independence, a non-profit organization that seeks employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. Prairie Partners opened the first Sawmill Tea and Coffee Co. location in Boissevain five years ago to provide jobs and skills-training. A menu will be posted on the shop's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sawmillVOIsouthport. A non-profit property management and development company, Southport has been working to expand amenities and diversify its tenant base since it was established in 1992, following the closure of Canadian Forces Base Portage la Prairie. Along with support services and accommodations for Royal Canadian Air Force pilot training, tenants include manufacturer Airport Technologies Inc., Red River College's Stevenson Aviation Campus and Assiniboine Community College (ACC), which delivers two licensed practical nursing programs on-site. May says Southport is working with ACC to offer an agricultural program. It's also working on a new hangar facility and seeking users who can take advantage of its airfield. The RecPlex already draws users from Portage. In the past, it had separate entrances for the bowling alley and other facilities, but the upgraded RecPlex has a single main entrance to welcome everyone to the day care, coffee shop, climbing wall and all the other amenities. May says that's an important element, since to many users, the RecPlex is the public face of Southport. "We're pretty happy to show a fresh face and new opportunities and new attractions in there." ■ ONWARD & UPWARD Southport opens day care and expanded RecPlex

• Cover