Southeast Manitoba defies Canada’s two-year trend of flat population growth, with local businesses actively working to sustain the momentum. At a recent business expo in Ile des Chenes, hundreds gathered to promote ongoing development. Fields along the eastern Prairies edge now host new apartment buildings, townhouses, shops, and warehouses.
Rural Appeal Fuels Expansion
Ken Tallaire, owner of T&T Properties and title sponsor of the ElevateMB Business Expo, highlights the draw of rural living. “It’s the rural life that people are starting to look at,” Tallaire states. “That’s why the southeast and surrounding communities thrive—affordability and a better life for families.”
Based in La Broquerie, Tallaire’s firm constructs homes and businesses in the area. He calls for streamlined regulations to support continued prosperity. “It’s frustrating to hear, ‘We could do it here, but not there,’ when towns are just two miles apart,” he explains. “Rules should align.”
Local Leaders Prioritize Speed and Housing
Chris Ewen, mayor of Ritchot—the rural municipality hosting the expo—emphasizes rapid business launches. “We ensure businesses in Ritchot can open their doors almost immediately,” Ewen says. He links housing availability to 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. Her talk centered on overcoming challenges, a core expo theme.
Ewen, retiring from politics this fall to expand his Perk Mobile Coffee Bar, shares a personal resilience story. In 2019, shortly after becoming mayor, he lost $250,000 on traditional coffee shops in six months. “One day, we closed. That night, I cried with my mom, and she said, ‘Don’t quit.’ I persisted,” he recounts. “Now, the coffee cart operates seven years strong, serving a thousand events annually across Canada, including Manitoba film and TV productions.”
Future Growth Priorities
Expo discussions also covered infrastructure investments to bolster regional expansion and artificial intelligence’s business role. This marks the third annual event by Ritchot, now branded ElevateMB after two years as Edge Business Expo.
