Innovation Award
Rendezvous Brewery & Taproom
Rendezvous Brewery & Taproom is a small batch craft brewery located in historic downtown Morden, Manitoba. They provide the community with a constantly changing variety of brews. Their beer ranges from light-easy drinking ales to sours, to dark stouts and everything in between. They provide approachable, adventurous beers to keep their customers coming back. Check out their pALEontologist brew, a special edition pale ale sponsored by the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre for their 50th Anniversary.
Portage Junkyard Dogs
The Portage Junkyard Dogs is a volunteer committee that creates and maintains a large multi-trail recreation system just south of Portage la Prairie along the Assiniboine River. Each year, the committee maintains the popular trails and creates cycling obstacles, ramps, and bridges with little to no external funding.
The Junkyard Dogs Trails are open to all, with a minimal membership fee to cover some of the costs of maintenance. The trails are multifaceted and are enjoyed by all ages, year-round. Thousands of hikers, cyclists, cross-country skiers, and nature enthusiasts visit the trails each year, highlighting our region as an optimal place to visit for outdoor recreation.
In 2020, communities throughout our region saw a greater need for safe outdoor recreation opportunities. As a response, the Portage Junkyard Dogs expanded their already popular hiking, cycling, and cross-country ski trails to accommodate more visitors. New ramps and cycling obstacles were built to encourage repeat visitation.
In addition, the Portage Junkyard Dogs regularly participate in the community-wide “Bike Week”, and offer free cycling tours and free access to the cycling trails along the river. The committee is hardly ever recognized for their great contribution to tourism and recreation, and I believe it is time that they receive some much-deserved praise.
Fort la Reine Museum
Despite COVID 19, the Museum accommodated 8412 visitors in 2020 (in comparison to 4847 visitors in 2019) and experimented with new innovative community activities such as Vintage Car Day, Featurette Days, Corn Maze, Craft Beer Night. Fort La Reine Museum received approximately 6000 who came to experience the Corn Maze.
https://www.todocanada.ca/city/winnipeg/event/corn-maze-at-the-museum/
Carly Boklaschuk – Carman Florist
Carly Boklaschuk, owner of Carman Florists, has taken an established business in the community and has given it a fresh new look and life. Her big smile, positive energy, creativity and eagerness to WOW her customers, is noticeable the minute you walk through the door of the shop. She and her staff strive for excellence in customer service, support and creating an experience for every visitor, hoping to make them a returning customer.
Her social media presence is at a new level in today’s marketplace and she seems to always deliver the right products at the right time. Please be sure to check out her Instagram and Facebook page.
Insta: @carmanflorists Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmanflorists/ Website: www.carmaflorists.ca
Covid restrictions only slowed Carly down for a moment, while she uploaded her ENTIRE shop onto her website. Shopping local was a breeze, as curbside pickup was always ready and waiting for you at your convenience.
A visit to her shop is more than beautiful flowers and great coffee…it is an experience with a great amount of Joy. She has made Carman Florists and Gift Boutique a “must stop” to visitors and community members alike.
Prairie City Cinema
During the COVID pandemic, the Prairie City Cinema was forced to close due to Public Health Orders. Prairie City Cinema showed a lot of creativity in developing a project that would allow them to stay open and keep business. They moved forward with a drive-in theatre in the parking lot that not only supported their business during these difficult times but also provided a fun activity for the public.
Following the guidelines, the Prairie City Cinema was able to create an online store for curbside pickup during the week and on movie nights. They offered all of the movie theatre favourites such as popcorn, nachos, candy and much more for everyone’s enjoyment!
Schott Ranch
Picture this, you pull into a gravel driveway and stop short because the farm ducks are crossing the driveway. Instantly you are submerged into a true farm experience. Troy Schott and his sister Rheagan Stewart have combined their talents and energy to launch Schott Ranch. The physical doors just opened on May 5 but the planning and organizing and social media marketing have been happening for a while. The brother-sister duo purchased greenhouses from local businessman Doug Pogson. They moved the greenhouses out to the “Ranch” and began combining their talents. Troy runs a successful landscape business, farms with his family and has livestock such as llama’s, chickens, ducks and pigs. All of which are sold directly to families in the area. Regan is a red seal chef and has a passion for locally made products. She has perfected her craft in cooking and will be offering various delicious meals at Schott Ranch.
This local business has really made a name for itself online and has been drawing a large number of people to the area based on their market reach online.
By purchasing a business that had existed in the area already, stacking other trending products from other local creators, moving it to the country and incorporating farm animals into the experience, cooking classes, meal programs, garden plants and so much more. Schott Ranch is truly an experience in shopping with a perfect farm/ rural feel to it. Ag tourism and shopping all rolled into one!