The families are coming, the families are coming — to The Maples that is.

Many people consider The Maples to be the fastest growing community in Manitoba. There are several interesting, novel reasons why this not so new, northwest suburb of Winnipeg is the choice destination for thousands of young families.

 Since 1998, the population has grown by more than 15%. The real estate market bidding wars are alive and well here, where new families are changing the "homescape" of the area.

 Numerous retirees and seniors in the area are electing to downsize and move into condominiums and apartments. Young families, with an average of three children, are eager to snap up the available houses.

 The pressure of this population boom is clearly being felt in Maples area schools. Many schools are bursting at the seams. To ease the crunch, several portable classrooms have been constructed adjacent to the existing schools. In two years, Maples Collegiate is on track to become the largest Manitoba high school.

 Brian O’Leary, superintendent of the Seven Oaks School Division, must be the busiest person in the school district. He has had to secure classroom space for more than 350 new students during each of the past several years. Brian loves the challenge and calls it, "a good problem."

The superintendent also contends that, "people move to The Maples because it is a safe community with affordable houses."

 The Maples has carved out its own character and is well-known for its award-winning flower gardens. Almost every home sports a lush, colourful garden. It’s one of the reasons why summer strolls in the neighbourhood are so popular.

 The hub of the district is the very busy Maples Community Centre, where 14 basketball teams are registered. The centre’s popular cricket and everyday seniors programs are a few of the many other activities available at the centre.  

 The Maples has the curious distinction of having a traffic stop sign at almost every corner of every street.

Visitors to the community do make light-hearted comments about "stop sign city." However, the signs are credited for slowing traffic in a quiet neighbourhood, where the population is growing fast.

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Maples Collegiate and Maples Community Centre are inviting area residents to the official grand opening of the new track and field oval and new outdoor basketball and tennis courts.
The event will take place Thurs., May 31 at 2 p.m. at 434 Adsum Dr. For more information call 953-1190.

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The West Indian Indo Canadian Cultural Organization will host its annual cultural concert next month.

The concert is scheduled for Sun., May 6 at 2 p.m. at the Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba, located at 737 Keewatin St.

Contact Soam Narine at 253-5741 for more information.

Derek Dabee is a community correspondent for The Maples. You can contact him at ddabee@mymts.net.