Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/815055
2 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY APRIL 22, 2017 P O R T A G E L A P R A I R I E T O U R I S M Visit our 2,500 sq. ft. showroom Custom Cabinetry . Design Consultants . Professional Installation Quartz . Granite . Laminate Countertops . Sinks . Faucets info@creativekitchensmb.ca / www.creativekitchensmb.ca Killarney, MB 204.523.8712 Variety of online programs • Medical • Photography • Education • Liberal Arts • And more! Visit www.dakotacollege.edu/online for more information O N L I N E Surrey, BC (604) 543-7744 Edmonton, AB (780) 432-5575 Calgary, AB (403) 243-3553 Winnipeg, MB (204) 783-5500 S e rvice & Selection Since 1975 Driving Tourism Traffic TURNING A CORNER TO SHOWCASE PORTAGE ATTRACTIONS BY GEOFF KIRBYSON T here has never been a problem getting motorists to come to the Portage la Prairie area, only convincing them to turn off the Trans-Canada Highway. More than three million vehicles pass by the city of 13,000 every year, heading towards either Brandon or Winnipeg, but if David Sattler and other stakeholders can convince just a small fraction of them to get out of their cars and do more than fill up their tanks or get a cup of coffee, local cash registers could be ringing like crazy. The general manager of the Portage Regional Recreational Authority is heading up an effort to educate drivers about the many attractions the city has to offer — and convince them to hit the brakes and get out their wallets. For example, he bets you didn't know Portage has a peninsula just south of the Trans-Canada known as Island Park. In addition to a campground, the "island" features tennis courts, the 18-hole Portage Golf Course, biking and walking trails, picnic areas, free concerts in the summer and the Splash Island water park. With a capacity of nearly 500 people, Splash Island is one of Manitoba's biggest water parks and because it allows people to bring a picnic lunch, it's more economical than many of its competitors. "We have something for everyone. You can get away from the city and still be close to everything," Sattler says, adding part of the advertising push this summer will include erecting highway billboards. If you like your water without chlorine, Delta Beach, located in the south basin of Lake Manitoba, offers a public beach that's just a 15-minute drive away. Portage also has a number of regular summer events, including the PortageX — the longest- running fair in Western Canada will mark its 145th anniversary July 7-9 with the usual assortment of midway rides, games of chance, family entertainment, horse and cattle shows, and food — and the Portage Potato Festival, which celebrates the city's most important vegetable, on Aug. 11-12. McCain and Simplot, which operate large potato processing plants in Portage and employ hundreds of people, pass out free French fries in honour of the all-important spud. The Fort la Reine Museum at the east end of town is another favourite attraction. This summer, it will host a number of travelling exhibits, including one exploring the experiences of Canadian soldiers who served in Belgium during the First World War, and another featuring the story of Anne Frank and the Holocaust during the Second World War. The biggest recreation attraction in town is Stride Place, a $43-million facility that features two arenas, a fitness centre and meeting places. The two rinks are in such high demand from local hockey teams and other skaters that they don't attract much attention from outsiders, but the nearby athletic fields get as much use from people in Brandon and Winnipeg as they do from locals. In fact, some of the best under-14, under-16 and under-18 baseball teams from Winnipeg play regularly in Portage and that's only going to snowball as the city increasingly uses the athletic field complex for summer tournaments. And let's not forget that Portage has more than a half-dozen strawberry farms that welcome visitors in July to pick their own berries — and sample the odd one at the same time — or buy them by the box. While Portage will always compete with attractions and events in other communities, Sattler says there has to be more of an effort to point travellers in the right direction. "We can be our own worst enemy. We're missing a large segment (of motorists) who would make Portage their destination if they knew what we had to offer. A lot of it is awareness. Portage has a lot of amenities but they can be missed. Even if you're driving through town, you might miss them. Unless you're detoured, you can drive through the centre of town and not know that the island is two blocks south," he says. Other organizations making the tourism push are the Portage Industrial Exhibition Association, Fort la Reine Museum, the Portage Golf Club, the Potato Festival, the City of Portage la Prairie, the Portage & District Chamber of Commerce and Portage Regional Economic Development. Sattler says everybody is excited about the economic benefits that could come Portage's way. "The potential for Portage is very large considering we're 90 minutes away from the majority of people in the province." Portage has a peninsula just south of the Trans-Canada known as Island Park. In addition to a campground, the "island" features tennis courts, the 18-hole Portage Golf Course, biking and walking trails, picnic areas, free concerts in the summer and the Splash Island water park.