Infrastructure Readiness

Ensuring that the Portage la Prairie region is ready and responsive to the needs of industry, we are actively exploring how best to tackle the infrastructure needs of new development in a manner which allows us to be “shovel ready”.

Historically, many jurisdictions have operated with a strict policy which identifies that the developer assumes all costs associated with greenfield investment. However, as the world becomes more competitive and Manitoba vies to improve its visibility and success related to investment attraction, at a local level, we are also looking at what steps we can take to ensure we are putting the best foot forward for our new partners in business – and that our participation reflects our investment in their success.

There are no easy answers when it comes to municipal infrastructure. The increasing costs of installation and ensuring that what is installed will fully meet the immediate needs and is also scalable to future growth is an important consideration. However, we continue to work internally as well as with investment partners to arrive at solutions that create a foundation for mutual success.

Tourism Development

It’s quite possible that Portage la Prairie is one of the Province’s most chronically under-rated destinations for tourism in southern Manitoba. Often considered to be too close to Winnipeg to have a strong tourism appeal on its own, the area is rich with sports and recreation amenities, bountiful in historical sites and important heritage milestones, alive with an inspiring pulse of arts and culture, and is celebrated for our outdoor experiences as well. We are working to ensure that new visitors get to know all of that about us and remind old friends why they should come back for a visit.

In 2017, we partnered with Travel Manitoba as one of the first communities to adopt the agency’s new “place branding” for our community and we are pleased to introduce everyone to Portage la Prairie – “Island on the Prairies”. This new community identity has helped to unify a number of committees and organizations to recognize the value of partnership and collaboration internally to broaden the scope of our marketing and ensure better coordination of our respective efforts. We are thankful to Travel Manitoba for bringing the idea forward and helping us to create a brand that the community has rallied behind and which will propel us to new heights in the coming years.

The Portage Regional Tourism Committee (PRTC) was formally re-established in 2020 to assist with managing the Island on the Prairies regional tourism brand for the Region of Portage la Prairie. The PRTC consists of representatives from the major tourism stakeholders in the region, each with
distinct specializations in different tourism categories:

● Heritage and Historic Destinations (Museums, Interpretive Centres)
● Outdoor Recreation (Camping, Golfing, Outdoor Exercise)
● Indoor Recreation (Central Plains RecPlex, Stride Place, Large Sports Tournaments)
● Community-Wide Events and Festivals (Manitoba Air Show, Potato Festival, Portage Ex)
● Amenities and Businesses (Portage la Prairie Chamber of Commerce & PRED)
● Local Government Bodies (City of Portage la Prairie, and the RM of Portage la Prairie)
● Hospitality (Hotels, Restaurants, Entertainment)
● Indigenous Tourism

Visit us at www.islandontheprairies.ca and find us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IslandOnThePrairies/
Twitter: @island_prairies