The following notes represent a consolidated record of all group discussions held in Ste Anne on February 21, 2006. Notes from the French discussion group have been translated into English for inclusion. The final Creating Opportunities report reflects the input received at this and other consultations held throughout Manitoba.

Opportunities | Supports | Entrepreneurship

OPPORTUNITIES

A number of value-added opportunities exist in Manitoba.

What opportunities exist for value-added business in this area?

• Programs to help older farmers and encourage new, young farmers.

• Byproducts of hogs, such as methane.

• Meat processing plant, and secondary processing, near to production location.

• Loans are available in bilingual communities.

• Bio-energy production, using crops or livestock manure.

• Wind energy generation

• Peat moss sites could be developed.

• Quality of rural living attracts residents seeking recreation, education, safety.

• Tourism, including retreats, wellness and spa facilities, camping and outdoor activities.

• Historical centres and buildings to serve tourists.

• Build a covered bridge to attract tourists.

• Develop potholes and sloughs to attract tourists.

• Windsurfing on open land in the winter, taking advantage of local wind conditions.

• Further development of snowmobile and ATV trails to attract more tourists.

• Parks, recreational facilities, sports centres.

• The Trans Canada Trail runs through the area and needs to be taken advantage of.

• Recreation centre

• Potential for hunting and fishing in the area is great.

• Sales and repair of recreational equipment.

• Recreational services

• Development near the provincial park, benefiting from its ability to attract tourists.

• Restaurant specializing in French Canadian cuisine.

• Expansion and improvement of existing businesses.

• Supply of products and services that large local industries are currently importing.

• Telecommunications information centre

• Silica sand mine south of Ste Anne was discovered 40 years ago, but never developed.

• Bottling of plentiful, high quality water.

• Value-added production, such as cupboard manufacturing, on local Hutterite colonies.

• Machinists for small scale, low volume items.

• Large scale perogy production to supply caterers, church groups, retail, etc.

• Serving of regional cuisine

• Organic products

• Buckwheat honey

• The region’s dairy industry could support more cheesemaking.

• Growing small fruits, such as saskatoons and sea buckthorn.

• Sugar shack enterprises

• Crafts

• Farmers' market

• Promotion of raw products

• Industries supported by the strong agricultural base, such as packaging.

• Encourage new industries, new businesses and new enterprises.

• Encourage people to build businesses that are self-sustaining, rather than part time and dependent on other sources of revenue.

• Healthcare services have the potential to be further developed.

• New residential developments.

What is preventing the area from taking advantage of these opportunities?

• Lack of common vision and lack of encouragement from within the community.

• Stakeholders (municipalities, businesses, residents) need a team spirit.

• Lack of co-operative development and community interaction.

• Lack of managerial strength among business and community projects.

• Local residents shop away from home and need to be encouraged to shop at home.

• Competition from larger centres such as Winnipeg and Steinbach.

• Lack of development and promotion of tourist attractions.

• Need serviced campsites

• Need large facilities and accommodations for conferences, etc.

• Lack of diversification and industry, major dependence on agriculture.

• Not enough government assistance

• Permit and licensing requirements

• Need information sources to be more easily accessible from multiple departments or levels.

• Lack of research statistics

• Country of origin regulations – cannot identify as purely Manitoban or Canadian.

• Forced to rely on export of produce, to access markets.

• Lack of research on crop varieties – more public research dollars are needed.

• Lack of product-specific market research.

• Lack of financing and marketing and promotional skills for entrepreneurs to get started.

• Small businesses find it difficult to expand.

• Lack of entrepreneurial education

• There is a fear of investing money in our communities.

• High cost of high technology.

• Need to provide the skill set required for business plans.

• Need to help small business if communities are to expand or even remain stable.

• Development requires considerable energy and effort on the part of those involved.

• Proximity to Winnipeg and Steinbach makes rural development more difficult.

• Lack of quality services available in larger centres.

• The Planning Act is a barrier to moving forward, planning regulations restrict development.

• Agricultural land development for non-farm, residential uses.

• Small population

• Lack of jobs for young adults, youth are leaving the area.

• Need more labourers

• “Brain drain” from people leaving, especially the younger ones.

• Need employment programs to involve young potential farmers in farm enterprises.

• Remote areas have limited access to reasonably priced education.

• Need more immigration, to increase the population base.

• Lack of residential development

• Need access to highspeed Internet.

• Public infrastructure

SUPPORTS

Communities, industry and government can support value-added development in a number of ways.

What can the community and industry do to promote and support the development of value-added opportunities?

• All levels of government need to work together.

• Municipal councils need to be proactive in looking at zoning issues.

• Need a “one-stop shop” for people to find information.

• Simplify the importing and exporting of goods and services.

• Community development officers in each municipality.

• Leadership in municipalities

• Promote community interdependence, spirit of co-operation, goodwill.

• Mentoring programs are needed to guide new start-ups.

• Encourage cultural experiences for youth.

• Community groups for young and old.

• Partnerships with industry for promotion.

• Provide road and rail transportation infrastructure.

• Supply water.

• Attracting jobs will lead to infrastructure development, which in turn leads to more construction and more people in the area.

• Something similar to Winkler’s incubator mall; supported by community and industry with space available at a reduced rental rate, but perhaps an industrial park instead.

• Increase the availability of services.

• Provide easier access to technology, such as highspeed Internet.

• Increase age 55+ residential development.

• Financing for low-cost living accommodations.

• Sweat equity to help reduce cost of development.

• Diversification of agricultural production

• Develop facilities to serve the travelling public, such as truckstops and restaurants.

• Tourist attractions and tourist centres with publicity pamphlets for visitors.

• Promote bilingual nature of region and provide French education.

Which government activities would be the most effective in supporting value-added development?

• Reduce regulations and restrictions.

• Development officers from community development corporations (CDCs).

• Develop plan and vision for the future.

• Regional and provincial development plans.

• Provide public funds to help in the development and planning phases of projects.

• Industrial zones

• Investment in water and sewer, fibre optics, natural gas, road systems.

• Upgrading of facilities

• Youth entrepreneur programs and teaching of entrepreneurship.

• More vocational, skills and business administration courses and training, perhaps bilingual.

• Re-examining the feasibility of criteria for Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI).

• Better communication regarding how to access programs and funding.

• Continuation of Rural Entrepreneurial Assistance (REA).

• Local government employment incentives

• Work co-operatively to develop public infrastructure, including roads, water, highspeed Internet and energy development.

• Healthcare services and a resource centre for seniors.

• Housing project for the elderly.

• Exchange visits between seniors.

• The structure of industries helps immigrants to move in and become established.

• Need broader base of industries to stabilize the area.

• Maximize tourism.

• Promote French culture, offer bilingual services and take advantage of new French school division.

• Publicity campaign

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Entrepreneurship drives value-added development and innovation.

What specific efforts or programs are currently being pursued in this region to support entrepreneurial development?

• CDCs, CDEM, RRR Community Futures, bilingual service centres and other organizations.

• MAFRI reorganization into Growing Opportunities and Teams.

• Need more co-operation and collaboration.

• Economic development north of Highway #1.

• Youth programs

• Education program for adults

• North East Regional Development Strategy (NEREDS) publishes quarterly magazine and has a board to discuss progress of plan.

• “Showcasing Eastman”, August 2007 in Beausejour, will showcase all that Eastman has to offer and will feature a youth forum.

• Locating development properly

• Development plan for each municipality.

• Following the example or leadership of other communities.

• Promoting the tourism industry

• Developing public infrastructure

• Agricultural industries such as pork and dairy.

• Seine – Rat River Conservation District.

How can entrepreneurial development be better supported?

• Communicate with provincial and federal government agencies to promote projects and policies.

• Try a regional approach to accessing grants.

• Seek volunteers to support group efforts.

• Establish a network of interested and talented people.

• More support is needed in schools to prepare students for being independence, including budgeting and life skills education.

• Enhance linkages with distance education and Assiniboine, Red River and St. Boniface colleges.

• Encourage co-ordination and awareness of educational opportunities within the region.

• Need to start early in the school system.

• More competition and challenges in the school system to build entrepreneurs.

• Revise the curriculum, expanding home economics and shops classes, and introducing trades.

• Investigate the possibility of improving existing school libraries for community use.

• Need more mentorship programs.

• More youth programs like some in place today (Place aux Jeunes).

• Entrepreneurship in 4-H projects with mentorship.

• Service centres

• Promote rural communities and rural living in larger urban communities.

• Promote unique culture, heritage and geography in an effort to foster more tourist activity.

• Develop partnerships between local groups to promote the community.

• Publicize community activities.

• Infrastructure development, including technology, communications and education, to attract more industry.

• Technology development plan as part of enterprise development plans.

• Improve the agricultural marketing system to generate more sales and revenue.

• Investigate options for value-added processing.

• Encourage local processing plants to pool their resources by promoting the idea through local Chambers of Commerce and obtaining the support of municipalities.