Keeping a balance in Macdonald

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/02/2020 (2291 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Oak Bluff has changed greatly since Macdonald reeve Brad Erb’s grandfather and great-uncle moved into the area to farm in the mid-1930s.

At that time, Oak Bluff’s economy was entirely based on agriculture and the boundaries of the City of Winnipeg were far away.

Erb, who has served on the municipal council for the past 18 years, still operates the family farm.

“We have a very strong agricultural base and it is still is important,” he said.

However, Erb is one of the farmers concerned about recent changes made by the provincial government to the south Perimeter Highway that closed access points and forced farm equipment drivers to take longer routes on service roads to get to their fields.

The RM of Macdonald abuts the southwestern edge of the City of Winnipeg, an area that is continuing to turn what was land being farmed five years ago into residential subdivisions.
As well, commercial and light industrial development is growing westward from Winnipeg along McGillivray Boulevard which becomes Highway 3 at the busy Oak Bluff intersection.

Along with new commercial subdivisions opening up in the eastern section of Oak Bluff, Qualico’s Oak Bluff West has brought hundreds of new residents into the community. The first homes were started in 2012, with 270 homes now completed or under construction and 23 condos units completed.

One of the selling points for the new homes built there is the quick and easy proximity to the city and the busy retail centre located within a 10-minute drive.

“Oak Bluff’s growth is driven by location. It’s become a bedroom community,” Erb said.

While Oak Bluff’s population is estimated at approximately 1,339, there are many more people who travel there for work and recreation. The Rink Training Centre, which opened at 57 South Landing Dr. in 2019, draws Winnipeggers who want to gain hockey skills and watch the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Winnipeg Blues play.

More space to grow family business

Marco De Luca and his family saw the land at 66 South Landing Drive, adjacent to McGillivray, as an opportunity to centralize their specialty foods wholesale distribution and coffee roastery operations as well as to open a larger retail outlet with a café and catering service. They opened the offices, distribution centre and roastery in July 2018 and the retail section and café in September 2018.

“It was the best move we’ve ever made,” De Luca said. “It’s been a fantastic change.”
On a chilly February morning, sunshine streamed into the café and people ordered coffee and fresh-baked items at the counter. Others browsed through the shelves holding European food products and the coffee and espresso machines they import and sell.

De Luca said that, while the company’s drivers were very happy with the additional space and easy access to highways, it took some time for customers to be drawn to the new premises.

“We were the first people in this (South Landing) development,” De Luca said.

Having The Rink and other businesses open nearby within the past year has greatly helped with customer traffic, he said. “Now there’s a reason for people to enter the development.”

Erb said council has invested in continuing future development along McGillivray by providing sewer and water service. “There’s lots of capacity.”

He noted that the land a bit further north and south of the McGillivray strip to La Salle/Loudoun Road is still zoned for agricultural use and doesn’t foresee it being able made available for residential development in the near future.

Ending up in a tight spot

Continuing growth within the Oak Bluff townsite, and increasing traffic volume along the south Perimeter, haven’t had a positive impact on all local businesses. Recent changes to improve safety at the McGillivray/Hwy. 3 and Perimeter Highway intersection have reduced access to Enns Brothers.

Current owners David and Vic Enns are the second generation to run the farm equipment dealership that was established in 1961. While Enns Brothers has 10 locations, David said the Oak Bluff site is still the main one for the business.

“There’s a lot that has changed and a lot that hasn’t changed,” he said. As well as farm equipment, Enns brothers also stocks powersport and lawn and garden equipment.

He said that the gas station and Tim Hortons located directly across Highway 3 has increased local traffic, but added that overall, recent highway improvements, including longer turning lanes, have helped address safety concerns.

However, it’s become harder to move the large farm equipment they sell on and off their current 10-acre property. Enns said they have purchased 30 acres of land farther north but are postponing relocation until Manitoba Infrastructure confirms plans to help the municipality extend a service road across rail tracks.

“We’re open-minded and we’re willing to work with the government,” he said.

Good farmland supports business

Domain Co-op Oil recently moved into much larger quarters in Domain. The retail area is three times larger and a storage shed for chemicals offers five times as much space.

General manager Kenny McMullan said the business, offering agricultural chemical supplies and service, bulk fuel, feed and seed supplies, moved from a three-acre space to one situated on 21 acres. The decision to expand the location was based on the continuing prosperity of local agriculture.

“It’s a super good agricultural area,” he said.

Domain Co-op Oil is a co-operative established in 1929. In 2008, a gas bar and convenience store was constructed in La Salle.

McMullan, who’s worked for the co-operative for 26 years, said Domain hasn’t experienced the residential boom underway in La Salle. He attributes this in part to the issue of wastewater disposal. Without having a municipal sewer system in place, potential developers aren’t going to invest in local land.

“It’s an issue for sure,” he said.

Red River Valley School Division was forced to close Domain School in June 2019 because of low enrolment, but there are still people who want to keep the community thriving. Local volunteers with the Domain Recreation Cooperative recently completed upgrades to the community’s indoor hockey rink.

The Domain Hall is also well-used by local groups such as the Domain Legion Branch No. 208 and the Domain Players dinner theatre.

Meanwhile about 10 kilometers north of Domain, Ventura Land Development’s Prairie View Lakes residential subdivision continues to grow.

More homes, more services

At over 3,000 residents, La Salle is the largest of Macdonald’s six communities. Much of the growth has occurred over the past six years and is in great part due to Ventura Land Development’s ongoing development of Prairie View Lakes.

Tim Comack, vice-president of development, said approximately 175 single-family homes have already been constructed, with 40 building lots just released as part of the development’s Phases 6 and 7.

Until now, the focus has been on building homes for young families, but Comack said construction will soon start on Country Vista Estates, offering bungalow-style duplexes targeted at older buyers who are looking to downsize but don’t want a condominium.

“It offers a chance to stay in the community and downsize,” Comack said.

Two-story townhouses and duplexes are planned within Prairie Place within Prairie View Lakes in 2021.

Comack said Ventura is working with Homestead Co-op, which owns and operates the former Jeni’s Food and Hardware on Rue Principale, to have the grocery store move to a site adjacent to Highway 330. Plans for the commercial development also include a strip mall for retail and service providers.

As well as creating a large playground, close to 20 acres of park space and walking and cycling paths within Prairie View Lakes, Comack said Ventura provides an annual grant to Caisse Community Centre.

Opened about six years ago, the centre includes a gymnasium, multi-purpose and meeting rooms, commercial kitchen and fitness centre as well as baseball diamonds and an outdoor rink. The centre hosts recreational programs run by Macdonald-Headingley Recreation District and private businesses, fitness classes, and before- and after-school care, among others.

Challenges for older residents

Oak Bluff’s draft secondary plan, now under consideration by Macdonald council, contains a graph showing that the number of residents over age 60 is smaller than average for communities in the province. This is mainly due to families moving into homes in Oak Bluff West, which saw over 100 housing starts between 2017 and 2018.

This balanced scenario isn’t the case in the other five Macdonald communities and the needs of older adults must be considered, Erb said.

“We don’t have the full capacity of retaining our seniors,” he said.

La Salle is the only community that has a medical clinic and there are no hospitals and few dedicated seniors’ homes within the municipality. There are no long-term care facilities.

Ray and Joyce Kasur live in Meadowbrook Villas, a retirement community for older adults, in Sanford. They moved there from Winnipeg 14 years ago when the retirement community was in its first phase. Roy said there are now between 125 and 130 homes and the development is in its second phase.

“It’s a great place to live. We love living out here.”

“It’s a mixed bag in terms of where people have come from,” he said. “There’s a lot from Winnipeg and even some from Thompson.”

Kasur said he and his neighbours help each other and are willing to offer a ride into the city for groceries or an appointment.

The Kasurs volunteer on the Macdonald Services to Seniors’ advisory board and Kasur said the non-profit organization really helps to keep local seniors active. Weekly congregate meal programs are offered in Sanford and Starbuck as well as group recreational events and workshops with speakers who address topics of interest to older adults.

Seniors resource co-ordinator Leanne Wilson said the lack of long-term seniors housing and transportation options are two problems which often force Macdonald seniors to relocate, usually to Winnipeg.

“There’s not a lot of seniors housing around,” she said.

If a senior is unable to drive their own vehicle, that’s a big problem unless they have family members or friends who can help.

“It’s not always easy finding drivers,” Wilson said of the Services to Seniors’ volunteer driver program.

Seniors living in Starbuck and Sanford who are mobile can find grocery staples at the few local retailers in their communities. Brunkild and Oak Bluff don’t have any stores other than gas stations selling groceries.

Wilson said another challenge arises from Macdonald’s location next to the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, but within Southern Health-Santé Sud. An older adult might be temporarily hospitalized in Winnipeg then sent to a hospital or care home within Southern Health, located in Portage la Prairie or Carman. This can result in the patient residing a long distance from their home.

“This comes up all the time,” she said. “If they have to go into hospital, where do they go?”

Keeping communities healthy

Dawn Til Dusk owners Jack and Maggie Crompton have run the convenience store and Canada Post outlet for about 30 years.

Along with locally owned Archie’s Meats and the Prairie Roots Consumers Cooperative store, Starbuck residents can buy their staples within the community.

While Crompton said she loves living in Starbuck, she worries about being able to sell the business and retire.

Starbuck’s Richardson Pioneer elevator and agri-service centre shows that agriculture is still the economic driver of the community even though many new residents might commute to Winnipeg or elsewhere for work.

Local volunteers help keep the Starbuck Hall, Recreation Centre and Curling Club going.
Brunkild is also situated amid good agricultural land but has always been a smaller centre, with local students being bussed to Sanford. Former municipal councillor Cynthia Bisson said some of the village’s main landmarks, such as the Brunkild Hotel, have been torn down or closed.

“We were once the liveliest place. It was the place to be,” she recalls.

Even though some longtime residents have moved away or died, there’s still enough community spirit to keep the Brunkild Memorial Recreation Centre’s doors open. Centre board president Ronda Karlowsky said exterior renovations were recently completed and the next project is foundation repair.

The centre held its AGM on Feb. 24 and Karlowsky said she’s pleased to have two new members step onto the nine-member board.

“We have always been able to fill the board. We’re hoping that will keep things alive.”

Erb said he commends the Brunkild volunteers with keeping the hall updated and open.

Tax revenue climbs

Macdonald council will soon present its draft 2020-21 financial plan. In the past 20 years, municipal tax revenue has jumped from approximately $3.7 million in 1999 to over $11.4 million in 2019. This makes the municipality second only to the RM of Springfield in terms of tax revenue, and with continuing residential and commercial growth, and agricultural land values among the highest in Manitoba, it is likely to hold onto second place.

Erb said, more expectations come with more growth, and that is the biggest challenge for council.

“We must try to strike a balance on growth and service delivery on growth.”

 
Population estimates for RM of Macdonald
(As of Feb. 2020)
Brunkild – 100
Domain – 74
La Salle – 3,006
Oak Bluff – 1,339
Sanford – 1,112
Starbuck – 431
Rural – 2,372
Total – 8,434

— Supplied by the RM of Macdonald