Southeast Manitoba defies Canada’s two-year trend of stagnant population growth, with fields transforming into apartment buildings, townhouses, shops, and warehouses along the eastern Prairies edge. Hundreds gathered at the ElevateMB Business Expo in Ile des Chenes this week to ensure this momentum continues.
Affordable Rural Appeal Drives Expansion
Ken Tallaire, owner of T&T Properties in La Broquerie and title sponsor of the expo, highlights the draw of rural living. “It’s the rural life that people are starting to look at,” Tallaire said. “That’s why the southeast and surrounding communities are thriving—affordability and a better life for families.”
Tallaire calls for streamlined regulations to maintain the boom. “It’s frustrating to hear, ‘We could do it here, but not there,’ when towns are just two miles apart,” he noted. “Rules should be consistent.”
Ritchot Mayor Advocates Quick Business Starts
Chris Ewen, mayor of Ritchot—the rural municipality hosting the Thursday expo—echoes this sentiment. “We want businesses in Ritchot to open their doors almost immediately,” Ewen stated. He emphasizes the link between housing and business success: “Companies seek areas where employees can live nearby.”
Keynote Focuses on Resilience
Manjit Minhas, founder of Minhas Brewery and Dragons’ Den investor, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing perseverance amid challenges.
Ewen, retiring from politics this fall to expand his Perk Mobile Coffee Bar, shared a personal story of resilience. In 2019, shortly after becoming mayor, he lost $250,000 on traditional coffee shops in six months. “One night, after deciding to close, I cried with my mom, and she said, ‘Don’t quit,'” Ewen recounted. “That coffee cart has run for seven years, serving a thousand events annually across Canada, including film and TV productions in Manitoba.”
Future Growth Priorities
Expo discussions also covered infrastructure investments to support regional expansion and artificial intelligence’s role in business. This marks the third annual event, rebranded from the Edge Business Expo.
