Southeast Manitoba defies Canada’s two-year trend of stagnant population growth, with hundreds of attendees at a recent business expo in Ile des Chenes determined to maintain the momentum. Developers transform rural fields into apartment buildings, townhouses, shops, and warehouses along the eastern Prairies edge.
Rural Appeal Drives Expansion
Ken Tallaire, owner of La Broquerie-based 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.”
Tallaire calls for reduced red tape to sustain the boom. He expresses frustration over inconsistent regulations: “It’s frustrating to hear, ‘We could do it here, but you can’t do it there,’ when towns are just two miles apart. It should be the same.”
Local Leadership Supports Quick Starts
Chris Ewen, mayor of Ritchot—the rural municipality hosting the expo—agrees. “We want businesses in Ritchot to open their doors almost immediately,” Ewen says. He emphasizes the link between housing and business success: “Businesses seek opportunities for employees to stay local.”
Keynote on Overcoming Challenges
Manjit Minhas, founder of Minhas Brewery and Dragons’ Den investor, delivered the keynote address, focusing on thriving amid adversity.
Ewen, retiring this fall to expand his Perk Mobile Coffee Bar, shares a personal story of resilience. 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 kept going,” Ewen recounts. “Now, the coffee cart operates seven years strong, serving about 1,000 events annually across Canada, including Manitoba film and TV productions.”
Future-Focused Discussions
Expo attendees also addressed infrastructure investments to support regional growth and artificial intelligence’s role in business. This marks the third annual event hosted by Ritchot, now branded ElevateMB after two years as the Edge Business Expo.
