Town & Country

April 2018

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Country Town M A N I T O B A Editor: Pat St. Germain – pdstgermain@gmail.com WESTMAN EDITION | Saturday, April 21, 2018 M I N N E D O S A CLASSIC ROCK FEST MARKS 15TH YEAR IN 2018 MINNEDOSA KEEPS ON ROCKIN' PG 2 ISLAND ON THE PRAIRIES PORTAGE ADOPTS BRAND-NEW IMAGE CONCEPT P O R TA G E L A P R A I R I E PG 3 CREATIVE AND COMPETITIVE CABINETRY COMPANY OFFERS CUTTING-EDGE SOLUTIONS K I L L A R N E Y PG 4 PG 5 A MUSEUM AND MORE FORT LA REINE IS A PLACE TO LEARN, PLAY AND EXPLORE F O R T L A R E I N E M U S E U M & Business Boom Economic development is swinging in Souris BY JENNIFER MCFEE B usiness is booming in Souris, where entrepreneurial efforts are bringing something special to the town. Woodfire Deli, located along bustling Crescent Avenue, is one of many busi- nesses creating a buzz. Owners Steve and Buffy Cancade celebrated the eat- ery's fourth anniversary in early April, shortly after they welcomed their first baby, Rafael, to the world. "There's a lot of community pride in Souris and people like to support local businesses. It's been well received since we opened, and now it's been open long enough that we draw quite a bit of people from the surrounding areas as well," Steve Cancade says. "What makes us stand out is that we have a wood-fired oven that our kitchen is based around. We do classic home cooking with a bit of a modern twist. We're fortunate in Souris because people have really open minds and they're will- ing to try new things." For example, the typical Canadian pizza is usually topped with ham, bacon and mushrooms. But at Woodfire Deli, 'The Canuck' features Italian capicollo, local bacon and drunken mushrooms, which are cooked down in red wine and balsamic vinegar, plus a bit of garlic. Their ham sandwich, called 'The Schoolhouse,' is another hit, made with roasted local ham, Swiss cheese, arugula and poached pears. "I like that we are providing a high- er quality food to a small community, which most communities are starved for. We hear a lot from people in other small towns that we should open there because they just don't have the food op- tions that Souris has," Cancade says. "Just because people live in a small town doesn't mean they don't have a de- sire to eat better or higher quality food." Woodfire Deli also features a small re- tail section that sells staples such as coffee, olive oils, pizza flour, cheese and more. In addition, they try to bring in musi- cians to provide live entertainment four or five times per year. Open to opportunities, the Cancades also bought the town's seasonal drive- in restaurant in February 2015. The Dairy Bar, formerly known as Par West, attracts crowds in the spring, summer and early fall to its convenient location along Hwy 2. "When we bought it, we gave it a bit of an update on the menu to bring it to the present day and we just rebranded last year," he says. "We make our burgers from scratch and we have a really nice taco menu. And, of course, we've got all the ice cream treats that everyone loves." Julie Russell, economic development officer for the Souris-Glenwood Com- munity Development Corporation, says the Cancade's businesses are among many others that are generating a sense of excitement in the town. "There are some unique businesses that are newer here within the last few years," Russell says. "We also have Lagasse's Studio of Fine Arts, which was opened in 2015 by Kath- leen Lagasse. She's a local artist and she also teaches classes and has her studio there. She features other artists as well." The local pub, called Murphy's – An Irish Legacy, is another popular venue. Russell also draws attention to the Mindful Mouse, which focuses on mas- sage therapy as well as Reiki, wellness and nutrition. Adding another economic boost to the community, the 29-room Souris Hotel is currently under construction. Developed by Steel Creek Develop- ers, the hotel will be combined with an 18-suite active adult-living complex. "There was a need for senior apart- ments and more living space for that age group, so they basically took the project and split it down the middle," Russell says. "It's best of both worlds. We're hoping that will be complete and operating in May or June." On the horizon, A&W restaurant is looking for a franchiser to open a drive- through restaurant on Hwy 2. "It's a special opportunity for a small town," Russell says. The municipality has business and residential lots for sale to attract entre- preneurs and newcomers to the com- munity, and since the campground is usually fully booked in summer, plans are in the works to create overflow camping grounds. Tourist attractions include the famous Souris Swinging Bridge, and birdwatch- ing is popular, particularly since resident peacocks freely roam the streets. In the business district along Cres- cent Avenue, an infrastructure project is starting this summer with upgrades on the streets, sidewalks, sewer, water and lighting. "It's interesting to see some of the ideas that people are envisioning for Crescent Avenue," Russell says. "It's exciting to have such a huge face- lift on one of our biggest and most main streets, which is great for tourism and great for the businesses." ■ Discover more at sourismanitoba.com SOURIS The municipality has business and residential lots for sale to attract entrepreneurs and newcomers to the community, and since the campground is usually fully booked in summer, plans are in the works to create overflow camping grounds. FORT LA REINE Top: The famous Souris swinging bridge. Middle: Artist Kathleen Lagasse (right) and the interior of Lagasse's Studio of Fine Art. Bottom: Woodfire Deli owners Steve and Buffy Cancade and the oven that gives the eatery its name. Photos courtesy of Souris-Glenwood Community Development Corp. and Kathleen Lagasse

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