Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/970533
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY APRIL 21, 2018 3 W E S T M A N Pierson's 40 th Annual Carnival of Crafts Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018 11:00 am to 4:00 pm DST Edwards Sports Centre, Pierson, MB Looking for quality crafters to join our sale. Contact: Betty Mayes 204-634-2482 bmayes@mymts.net www.carnivalofcrafts.ca Specializing in Prosthetics & Orthotics TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU BRANDON: 231-10th St. Phone: (204) 729-8216 Toll-Free: 1 (855) 729-8216 WINNIPEG: 1818 Portage Ave. Phone: (204) 837-7190 Toll-Free: 1 (855) 837-7190 Your brace should fit your lifestyle. Custom braces fabricated by experts and fit by professionals. See a Certified Orthotist. V I S I T U S O N L I N E F O R M O R E I N F O : w w w . a n d e r s o n o r t h o . c a Margaret Laurence Home Open Daily May 18 to Sept. 3 10–4 pm Off-season by appointment (204) 476-3612 website: margaretlaurencehome.com email: mlaurence@gmail.com 312–1st Avenue Neepawa, Manitoba Industrial • Construction • Safety Machinist Supplies and more.... • Abrasives & Lubricants • Pferd & Walter • Cutting Tools • Seco, WIDIA, Dormer/Pramet, Greenfield, Niagara, M.A Ford,SGS • Milwaukee Power Tools • Unbrako Socket Products •Workholding Solutions-Jergens 879 Wall Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 2T9 Tel: 204-786-7481 Fax: 204-772-8131 Manitoba: 1-800-224-0377 A.ADAMS SUPPLY (1969) LTD. Located at 258 Lake Drive West, Dauphin Beach, Ochre River, MB (just 14 Kms east of Dauphin on Hwy 20) www.golfdauphinlake.ca 2 FOR 1 18 Holes with a rented cart All M ondays eat fresh! Visit us at these locations! • SOURIS • MELITA • THOMPSON • FLIN FLON • THE PAS Hamiota Hotel Ph (204) 764-2426 Open 7 Days a Week ✸ 7 Rooms with WiFi ✸ Beverage Room and Cafe Island on the Prairies Portage adopts brand-new image concept BY DEAN PRITCHARD T ourism isn't just about telling people why they would want to visit, but why they should stay. With its newly branded identity — 'Island on the Prairies' — in place, Portage la Prairie has positioned itself as a community that can draw people in for a day, a week or a lifetime. PORTAGE LA PR AIRIE Local recreational and lifestyle amenities include Splash Island water park, Stride Place Arena and the Shindleman Aquatic Centre (below). Photos by Darcy Finley The brand concept was created by Travel Manitoba and McKim Communi- cations in consultation with community stakeholders as part of Travel Manitoba's provincial branding campaign. An accompanying logo features a multi-coloured, Indigenous-inspired sun design, anchored by a stylized "P" that calls to mind the community's recrea- tional jewel, Island Park. "Travel Manitoba and the folks at McKim Communications have really helped Portage la Prairie to see itself in a way that we haven't for a long time," says Vern May, executive director of Portage Regional Economic Development. "They came back to us with a very fantastic logo and the slogan 'Island on the Prairies' — which literally speaks to Island Park, which is right here at the centre of the city — and is reflected in the logo design," May says. "The rest of the logo concept speaks to the fact that Portage la Prairie actually gets the most sunny days in fair weather in Canada." Like many other rural Manitoba com- munities, Portage has, historically, been slow to promote its recreational and life- style appeal, choosing instead to focus on attracting business. But May says the two go hand in hand. "I think in rural Manitoba — and this is certainly not exclusive to Portage la Prairie — many communities don't see themselves as having a stake in the tourism trade and get really focused on business, not recognizing the benefits and some of the natural crossover," he says. "When you are introducing some- body to your community, whether they are going to come and live there or set up a business there, they first need to be introduced and they need a compelling reason to come. That's where the tour- ism component really becomes a natural extension of the marketing that you are already doing." The new brand identity comes at a time when Portage is experiencing great growth in its business sector. In the past 13 months, the community has attracted $1 billion in new investments, including $400 million for the Roquette pea pro- tein plant, and a $460-million expansion at Simplot. "That is going to create, in the short term, 1,100 jobs here for the next two years," May says. "But once those oper- ations are up and going there will be 270 full-time positions here. That's huge for us. At a time when we need to introduce ourselves to people that are considering looking at this as a career possibility or bringing their families here … rather than have one flag waving that is the economic development arm of what we do and an- other flag that is tourism, really selling this idea that 'Island on the Prairies' speaks to both the city and RM assets has really been fantastic." Thousands of cars traveling on the Trans-Canada Highway drive past Por- tage every day. As the community's brand identity becomes more well known, May expects more and more of those motorists will venture off the highway and discover the many treasures it has to offer. Portage boasts attractions you won't find at many other rural centres, includ- ing the Shindleman Aquatic Centre, home to rural Manitoba's largest wave pool, and Delta Beach, just a 25-minute drive from downtown. "Island Park, of course, is a big one," May adds. "Within that space, you've got an 18-hole golf course, you've got the Portage Exhibition grounds, you've got Stride Place arena, which is a twin ice sheet arena with a full gym indoors, water slides and park, as well as trade show and convention space, tennis courts, disc golf, a wildlife compound and lots of great lakeside space." In a short time, 'Island on the Prai- ries' has become an identity to wear with pride, May says. "It has captured the imagination of Portage la Prairie and people are really ex- cited to see where we go next." ■ Portage boasts attractions you won't find at many other rural centres, including the Shindleman Aquatic Centre, home to rural Manitoba's largest wave pool, and Delta Beach, just a 25-minute drive from downtown.