The cabins use approximately 50-60% reclaimed wood from and an old schoolhouse that was deconstructed last year [see video]. The wondrous joy of using reclaimed wood is that the new structures take on the history of the old and live on. Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba, Department of Architecture – Lancelot Coar, mentioned that in a small community, in particular Clearwater, the buildings take on much more of the history of the town as community members remember who constructed each building and the history behind it.  With the cabins using reclaimed wood from the old schoolhouse, the history of that structure attaches itself to that of the cabins, and lives on.  For guests, the cabins become part of their experience as the history in the walls tell a story of years past as they add onto its future.

Each cabin differs in design yet, are similar in function. The cabins are set to increase the capacity of Clearwater and of the Harvest Moon Society, offering another experience that caters to those looking for a few more luxuries that camping or the dorm rooms at the Harvest Moon Learning Centre don't offer.  The cabins will also be open for visitors to use and I hear there may be a bed and breakfast option in the works...

Speaking with Carissa DeJong, land owner of where the cabins will be placed, only one cabin (Cabin 01 - the Honey House) will have power and electricity.  Otherwise these cabins are service-less: no water, electricity, showers or internet.  An outhouse being designed and built by a thesis student from the Department of Architecture, will be adding a bit of flair to an off-putting experience.  For more modern facilities, the cabins are a short walk to the Harvest Moon Learning Centre, where showers, a bathroom, internet and all other services are available.

For more information

In Focus: Clearwater Cabins

Stay Connected

Located in the Pembina Valley area of Manitoba, on the banks of the Cypress River, two and a half hours southwest of Winnipeg, the Clearwater Cabins are being built in the small hamlet of Clearwater, Manitoba.  The cabins will help support programs being offered through the Harvest Moon Society, as well as offering increased capacity and accommodation options for visitors to Clearwater in search of a unique experience.  

Cabin #1

Cabin #2

Cabin #3

  

   Harvest Moon Deconstruction Workshop 2012 (Time-lapse, angle 1).mov from Tommy Allen on Vimeo.

The University of Manitoba students of architecture designed cabins, will be built by the students themselves and, with the help of some trusty volunteers. The cabins will be partly built of gorgeous reclaimed lumber from recent deconstruction workshops held in and near Clearwater. The time-lapsed video above documents the deconstruction.

If you have never heard of the Harvest Moon Society:

The Harvest Moon Society (HMS) is the culmination of over ten years of developing relationships, research and rural revitalization projects taking place in and around Clearwater, Manitoba.

It was founded on the spirit of cooperation, community, camaraderie, and a keen interest in building a sustainable food system for future generations.

The HMS owns and operates the Harvest Moon Learning Centre—the former Clearwater elementary school—and hosts various educational programs, including University credit courses, learning opportunities for local high schools, and community-oriented workshops. The Society also supports a local food initiative and organizes the Harvest Moon Festival.

The HMS recognizes that its goals are only possible if both the human and ecological dimensions of sustainability are carefully tended to. Its motto, “Healthy Land, Healthy Communities”, captures this balance and is becoming well-known throughout the province and country as a result of the group’s successes. The inclusive nature of the Society has been key to this success, as new members with great ideas have joined and helped the organization grow in exciting ways.

Stay connected for more from the Clearwater Cabins build as it moves forward by visiting their blog and by staying connected to us.

Thanks to all of those allowing Prairiemango to document this build.

   

My first taste of this, came from the East Escarpment of Riding Mountain National Park. I was drawn to the compelling stories, myths and legends of the defunct Mt. Agassiz Ski Hill.

I visited communities from Ochre River in the north to Kelwood in the south and McCreary in the middle. I crossed researched much of my content on community websites and put background to pen with visits to villages in-between.

From all the articles written, posted, linked, Facebooked and Twittered, the Prairiemango website receives the most hits to the page devoted to the Town of Laurier.

A few years back, I remember having read an article in the Winnipeg Free Press about how the Government of Manitoba was going to shutdown their Community Profiles pages. On those web pages, information on population, attractions and industry can be found on every town, village and city that make up Manitoba. The point of the article from the community standpoint, was that the majority of Manitoba's small towns and villages will lose their view onto the world. Go ahead, visit the Laurier page on the Prairiemango website and read the few comments that are written by former residents of the town.

[Excerpt] 

“I grew up in Laurier.. Can't say I have great memories of Laurier, but it is how it is... I moved away when I was 15 years old, Yes the town was one big family and I do remember some of the people who lived there.. I have been married for 49 years and my husband and I made our home in Oak Bank Mb, where we raised our family. I own and operate a fine Jewellery Store, for the last 21 years, and has proven to be very successful... I haven't been to Laurier for years, but, plan to do so this summer to visit my awesome cousin Brigitte (letain) Therrien... and I do remember Florence Gamache.. lovely lady ...”.

As most comments on internet posts either applaud or discredit the words typed, the comments left on the Laurier page are in search of community and a connection lost in the past as their town, has seemingly been lost in the present.

For more information:

Community Futures Parkland Region - http://www.communityfuturesparkland.ca

La Grange – Laurier - https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Grange-Laurier/121310674560992?fref=ts

CDEM - http://www.cdem.com

Joie de Viver - http://joiedevivremanitoba.com/en

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurier,_Manitoba

Stay Connected

Back in the summer, I took the opportunity to go on an adventure with a few friends. We paddled our way from Big Whiteshell Lake to Nutimik Lake in the Whiteshell area of Manitoba. Over the course of four nights and five days, we paddled over calm waters, sunny skies and a birthday.

Day 1 - Big Whiteshell Lake

The hours spent paddling the waters of eastern Manitoba afforded me many hours of time to spend thinking about how our canoe trip was able to keep money in Manitoba and more specifically, the local areas that we were in. As we launched from our starting point on Big Whiteshell Lake, the water was a little choppy to the first point. Once we got into the open, the water calmed and we were into our first day of paddling.

Prior to the trip, we all spent money on new gear, food and gas to get us to our launching point and back to the farmhouse we started from. Looking around at everyone, we had our seasoned veterans and a hardy group of novice paddlers and a couple in-betweeners to even the group out. You can tell experience level by the cleanliness of each persons gear at the beginning of the trip. The dirtier, the more seasoned, clean - the less experienced.

We came upon our first portage that led us to Crowduck Lake. For those of us who hadn't paddled this route before (the majority of us) we succumbed to the thought of trekking up 200 paces with the canoes and all of our gear. We were forewarned...

I've been taking A LOT of interest on the consumption of locally produced goods and services lately and this trip only solidified that maybe I'm going a little cuckoo. While paddling this route, we saw numerous boats from local outfitter lodges filled with anglers from the US. The money spent from visitors to Manitoba for its world class angling is in the millions! If you think of their spending the entire trip, you may find a trail (post flight to Winnipeg) starting in Winnipeg, to the Lodge and back to Winnipeg. That includes transportation (planes, boats, buses), gas, food, accommodation, supplies and souvenirs.

As a local, I'd love to know where my money went that was spent getting prepared and during our trip.  Will my money trickle down the chain to the local level where the local community benefits? It's tough to say and it's equally as tough to find this information. A paper called, 'Tourism and Sustainable Development, Sustainable Tourism: A Local Perspective,' lists that,

31. Tourist businesses can make a significant voluntary contribution to resolving the social costs of tourism by:

• providing local resident employment and training opportunities, including in traditional trades and crafts;
  
• establishing purchasing guidelines that favor local goods and services procurement;
  
• making donations and investments in local recreational facilities, parks, cultural facilities and security operations (which also serve to improve local tourist amenities as well);
  
• establishing local profit-sharing arrangements.

We set up camp on the shore of Crowduck Lake roughly an hours paddle from the first portage. We couldn't have asked for a better setting on our first night. We all took our turns playing in the water. A few of us learned a new game called gunnel bobbing. That night, we cooked our first meal as a group and fell asleep to the growing sound of buzzing from the woods. Our American friend asked us, “What's that sound?” our American friend calmly asked. We calmly looked at him and said, “mosquitoes.”

Day 2 – Eaglenest Lake 

We woke up early to get started on our day. From Crowduck Lake we headed North towards the Ontario border and Nopiming Provincial Park. This was our longest day of paddling. The sun was shining and mist settling in before we headed off.

Last nights campground was a designated camp site on a canoe route. We all found it clean, comfortable and relaxing for our nights sleep. An excellent set of practices was designed by Leave No Trace. For those who have not heard of or about Leave No Trace they are,

“a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our wildlands.”

They have a set of principles of outdoor ethics:

Conducting ourselves in a manner which leaves the places we visit untouched is a factor in being responsible visitors. As visitors to a destination, we have to respect the local culture and environment, minimize our impacts upon it, and learn from our experiences. Ecotourism has been sighted as a key development in Manitoba. As per the Provinces new Green Plan 'TomorrowNow', ecotourism will play a vital role in development of Manitoba's tourism industry.

A long hot day paddling warranted many short stops along the way to bask in the sun and enjoy a reprieve from the heat by slipping into the cool lake water. When we finally landed at our next camp, exhausted from the day but, happy to be amongst great friends, a sandy beach and - a dice game...G!!!

Day 3 – Winnipeg River 

We woke up to another sunny morning, and hardy breakfast of Red River cereal. The river was calm all day as it was the past two. We didn't have far to go as it was planned out to have a shorter paddle after our long paddle the day before. It was also a special day as it was our friends 36th birthday!

There was nothing too eventful on the day but, we did know of a set of rapids at the end just off the banks of our camping area for the night. When we got closer to our campsite, there was growing cloud cover. It was a welcome sign as it cooled the air. When we arrived at our destination, we tied up the canoes and hiked up the small hill to a campsite that overlooked the fork in the river. We quickly claimed our spots as it started to shower. A few of us set up while a couple others ran a canoe across the rapids. After, another canoe left to go across the river to gather firewood for the nights cooking.

After dinner, we surprised our birthday boy with a cake that was baked using a flat pack reflector oven and the wood fire. He surprised us with some awful root beer shnapps...

It's these experiences that join us together and what makes our stories unique and inspiring. Local culture is what a lot of us strive to experience when we travel. Enjoying local food and flare makes us yearn for that place time and time again. Respect the local culture, learn what you can prior to your trip, maybe some choice words and remember, sometimes you may have to drink the root beer shnapps.

Day 4 – Winnipeg River to Nutimik Lake

We woke up to cloudy skies and a consistent rain to start the day. Without the sun, it was difficult to gauge the time and to hear if people were awake. I got up, packed my gear inside my tent and was ready to leave after another stomach lining hardy bowl of Red River Cereal and morning discussions on the days paddle. Within a half-hour, the campsite was broken down, canoes filled and we were off towards are last campsite on this adventure.

A couple of hours into the paddle, the rain stopped and the clouds parted every so often to show us the sun. We headed towards Pointe du Bois where we knew there was a store in town to resupply our empty barrels of food with...beer. Once we came ashore, we were greeted by a Manitoba Hydro worker.

Manitoba Hydro, unannounced to us, began working on upgrading the generating station in town, which closed the portage route. After a few minutes, we lucked out and were treated to a truck assisted portage thanks to a couple of very helpful Manitoba Hydro workers.

On the banks of the Winnipeg River and now fully supplied, we bid farewell to Pointe du Bois. The sun came out for our last few kilometres of the day. We had one last small portage at the Slave Falls Generating Station. We started searching for a campsite as we wanted to be out of sight and ear shot of the dam. After a short paddle, we came into a bend in the river and spotted a small island where we spent our last night. This island had all we needed and more than we hoped for. Picturesque as it was, it also symbolized our last night of the trip before we ended off our adventure at Nutimik Lake the next day.

What is often unaccounted for, is that sustainability is a team game. Without the help and support needed, true sustainability will not be reached. It's a collective effort by everyone involved to care. As a tourism industry, we must ensure spending at the local level, environmental stewardship within the places we operate and cultural awareness for staff and visitors. Critiquing your supply chain to ensure sustainability throughout, generates a greater reach than what can be achieved alone.

Thanks to the friends new and old who planned out a great trip and kept our spirits high.

For more information:

Paddle Manitoba - http://www.paddle.mb.ca

Unsurpassed Waters - http://www.unsurpassedwaters.com

Northern Soul - http://www.northernsoul.ca

Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association - http://www.mloa.com

Eastern Manitoba Tourism - http://www.easternmanitobatourism.ca

Stay Connected

A third video from the series done for the Waabanong Anishinaabe Interpretive and Learning Centre that will be located near Hollow Water First Nation.

See the other video's already on the Prairiemango website.

For more information:

Waabanong Anishinaabe Interpretive and Learning Centre

Stay Connected

The food movement has a farm to fork mentality but, so do craftspeople. A good friend of mine, Matt Jenkins is a blacksmith and he often says, “If you get me some steel wool, I'll knit you a Volkswagen.” It's that DIY, build it from scratch, use local products mentality that has surfaced over the past few years that's intriguing. There's pockets of this all over but, it's places like Brooklyn and Portland that seem to get the attention. 

You may have seen Matt, under the name of Cloverdale Forge, at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Harvest Sun Festival or set up next to The Cube during Nuit Blanche this past summer. He learned to blacksmith from his dad who, I think learned from his.  

I've seen him hammer away on a piece of cold, unforgiving steel and make it into something soft, inviting and functional.  He has a dedication to giving back and teaching, that will carry on to the next generation of blacksmiths whether it's at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina or at the Cloverdale Craft School that Matt and his family run.

From his boyhood home near Selkirk, Manitoba at Cloverdale Farm, the Cloverdale Craft School holds courses that teach you skills in blacksmithing, timber framing, natural dyes and storytelling, to name a few. The farm has catered for private events like weddings and farmhouse dinners to house concerts and contra dances. It's these types of experiences that people young and old, local or not need to be part of and enjoy.

The Cloverdale Farm supports the handmade economy through its courses at the craft school, and supporting the rural economy and culture through its events. I came across a paper titled, 'Economic Impact of the Professional Craft Industry in Western, North Carolina'. They list that the professional craft industry there,

• - Provides jobs and encourages new business...
• - Attracts tourists...
• - Represents a clean, sustainable industry that will remain in the region
• - Educates the public about the history and heritage of this unique and culturally rich area
• - Enhances learning for local elementary, high school and college level students

(For the entire paper go here - http://www.handmadeinamerica.org/assets/WNC-professional-craft-econmic-impact.pdf)

Small sampling aside, if we work towards developing and supporting a professional craft industry in Manitoba, imagine what may come of it.

There's a number of initiatives in Manitoba that you should keep track of. Here's a list of some:

Cloverdale Farm/Cloverdale Craft School - http://cloverdalefarm.ca

Manitoba Craft Council - http://manitobacraft.ca

Winnipeg Fashion Incubator - http://wpgfashionincubator.com

Harvest Moon Society - http://www.harvestmoonsociety.org

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MAKERS Part 1: ADX from Shwood Eyewear on Vimeo.

Made by Hand / No 2 The Knife Maker from Made by Hand on Vimeo.

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Prairiemango will be posting a series of videos from the Waabanong Anishinaabe Interpretive and Learning Centre (WAILC) over the course of the next few months.

To be located on the East Side of Lake Winnipeg, the WAILC will bring non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal people together in an environment that inspires, teaches and builds awareness and understanding of the Anishinaabe people.

Enjoy!

For more information:

Waabanong Anishinaabe Interpretive and Learning Centre - www.waabanong.org

Connect with us:

Enjoy this article and in the coming weeks, we will be posting more from Flat Planet Consulting.

Food Revolution

By: Thomas Singer

I recently watched Jamie Oliver’s show “Food Revolution," and would recommend it to anyone wishing to get an eye-opening view of the state of nutrition in the U.S., particularly amongst children. Food and agriculture, and their resulting nutrition, are important sustainability topics – both from an environmental and social perspective – and therefore deserve to be included in this blog.

From an environmental stand-point, it’s important to be aware of the impact of certain food and agricultural practices. Environmental impacts range from water usage and pollution, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions from methane and other sources. To put things in perspective, agriculture accounts for about 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions (UN FAO), and contributes to over three quarters of all water-quality problems in U.S. rivers and streams. Specific agricultural products have varying degrees of impact. Beef, for example, generates 24 times more greenhouse gases than vegetables and rice, and it requires 200 times more water to make a pound of beef than a pound of potatoes. That’s 60 gallons of water per pound of potatoes versus 1,200 gallons of water per pound of beef.

From a social stand-point, it’s important to be aware of the nutrition value of various foods, as well as the source and manufacturing practices associated with these foods. An organization called NuVal has developed an interesting food scoring system which assigns a nutritional rating (ranging from a low of 1 to a high of 100) to various common foods. Unsurprisingly, most fruits and vegetables score fairly high, with blueberries and green beans leading the pack with scores of 100. At the bottom end are some cookies and salty snacks, such as pretzels and chocolate chip cookies with scores of 1 and 2, respectively. While many of these scores shouldn’t be too surprising, they do represent an interesting and simple way of gauging the nutrition value of various different foods.

The ingredients that go into manufactured foods are a key indicator of the nutrition we get from these foods. Jamie Oliver points out that there is an abundance of products available on supermarket shelves which feature cryptic ingredient lists. He makes a good point that if you don’t recognize the ingredients listed then you probably shouldn’t be eating it. A few days ago I ate a bag of potato chips and was pleasantly surprised by the ingredients list: Potatoes, oil and salt. Not too bad. On the other hand, a bag of Doritos includes such items as altodextrin, monsodium glutamate, disodium phosphate, dextrose, sodium casinate, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate. Without googling, I have no idea what any of those ingredients are. We are what we eat, and it’s difficult to know what we will become if we don’t know what we’re eating.

So how is all of this relevant to corporate sustainability strategy? On the environmental side, there is tremendous opportunity for the food industry to improve water quality and efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and minimize waste – all along the value chain from production to end-use. On the social side, major companies are beginning to realize their products are having a significant influence on the health of consumers. These companies have the reach and leverage to shift consumer health and lifestyles, and are thus in a powerful position to drive positive change.

As for me, I will be looking closely at those ingredient lists on my next shopping trip.

Flat Planet Consulting based out of New York City, is led by Thomas Singer, a sustainability consultant specializing in corporate strategy and sustainability benchmarking.

For more information:

Farmers' Feast - http://www.farmersfeastmanitoba.com

St. Norbert Farmers Market - http://www.stnorbertfarmersmarket.ca

Flat Planet Consulting - http://www.ourflatplanet.com/#

Stay Connected:

Visit www.waabanong.org for more

Travel Foundation: Sustainable Tourism from Three Events and Video on Vimeo.

The urban environment is much different than its rural neighbours and thus, the practice of responsible tourism takes on a different scope.

The practice of responsible tourism does not define its place in tourism. Responsible tourism is the practice of  being responsible of your actions that benefits the  environment, community and all others in the broader  context. The tag line of “Better places to live – Better  places to visit means just that. Yes, it does put tourism secondary to life’s necessities but really, what takes priority over yours or someone else’s life? Tourism can be used as a vehicle or tool to development. Why is it that we don’t see it here or regard it as a serious industry? It is the largest industry in the world, so why don’t we start taking it seriously?

The practice of responsible tourism for small business will add meaning to your vision while potentially doing something great for your community that adds to its services and aids in its development goals. The recently released Green Economy Report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) noted that enhancing a city’s public services improves the quality of life of its residents. How can a tourism business help with this cause?

5. Measures to green cities can increase social equity and quality of life.
Enhancing public transport systems, for example, can reduce inequality by improving access to public services and other amenities, and by helping to relieve vehicle congestion in poorer neighbourhoods. Cleaner fuel for transport and power generation can reduce both local pollution and health inequality. Reducing traffic and improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists can help foster community cohesion, an important aspect of quality of life. Children who live close to green space are more resistant to stress; have lower incidence of behavioural disorders, anxiety, and depression; and have a higher measure of self-worth. Green space also stimulates social interaction between children.

Green Economy Report – Cities p.455
http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/GreenEconomyReport/tabid/29846/Default.aspx

Four years ago Hostelling International (HI) moved into a new location in downtown Winnipeg and since then, they have been a blue print for positive local community development using tourism as a focus. The HI–Winnipeg is a great example of a business integrating systems and approaches that are geared towards supporting the community that surrounds it. Gone are the VLT’s, gone is the vendor, gone are the vices that damage souls and accommodate abuse. If only the walls of the building could talk…

At the operational level, HI-Winnipeg needed to be a part of the community in order to operate in its location. The hostel is located in the downtown core of the city commonly and numerically associated with crime and negative perceptions. As a business in this neighbourhood, the HI-Winnipeg had to change the perception and reinvent the image of the area for guests and the neighbourhood. It had to become more of a community organization while still operating as a tourism business. Although, there are ongoing issues that humble the business, the reality of it is, the community is starting to see positive transformation around it. Decisions that are made that impact the business will in some cases impact the community. It’s a matter of figuring out how to involve the community and activate a connection between the physical form (the hostel) and connecting it with a positive vision for the community.

The social implications of traditional urban development
Patterns of urbanisation in many areas also raise important social challenges. The traditional business as-usual (BAU) model of urban development – typical of many rapidly urbanising areas – is characterised by uncontrolled horizontal expansion leading on one hand to urban sprawl of affluent populations with lower development densities and increased dependency on the private car and on the other hand to the peripheralisation of the urban poor, decreasing their access to the city and its workplaces, services and infrastructure. Typical developments further include the emergence of socially divisive neighbourhoods in the form of gated communities, shopping centres and business districts and, a significant increase in the level of informal development with large swathes of slum housing with no access to basic services, infrastructure and sanitation. At a general level, the rapid growth of many cities coupled with insufficient resources and poor management compromises fresh water and electricity supply, waste treatment, transport, and other infrastructure provision, affecting the urban poor most.

Green Economy Report – Cities     p.459 

Stay connected…

In a blog post written by Valere Tjolle titled - Cost Saving a Reality of Sustainability - Carbon Consultancy Chief Speaks Out, he writes about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its differences to that of sustainability and sustainable practices as a cost savings measure.

The article stresses the fact that CSR may simply be “writing a cheque” and donating it to your favourite charity. While the economy lags and is working on rebuilding, CSR donations are being cut from corporate budgets as a cost savings matter.

However, the argument arises, that with an increased focus on implementing sustainable practices, your business will be better off in the long term and as such, will be your cost savings practice. In simpler terms, if your water bill decreases, your bottom line increases and you are left with the flexibility of spending or saving that extra lint in your pocket to do good things – eg: donating to your favourite local charity.

Let us look into this a little further from an operational point of view and ask the question, as a tourism business-

What can we do to implement sustainable practices at no cost?

First, let us define ‘sustainable practices’ as, actions that provide long-term benefits and viability for the environment, people, culture and economy.

Second, let us define ‘no cost’ as free.

Below, we listed four easy to use and implement actions that any tourism business can do:

Check your waste at the door -Limiting your waste, limits the need for your garbage pick up. You may be able to cut costs by simply cutting a weekly pick up to a biweekly pick up. Remember the saying of reuse, reduce and recycle? Add into the mix “compost” and you’ll notice the difference and lack of smell (in the garbage) right away.

Support your community -There’s always a way to support your community. What you don’t want to do is gate them off. Welcome the community with open arms, some coffee and your set. Remember, you want to be inclusive and not exclusive and out of reach. Perhaps there is room enough to offer them a community meeting space? Support those that support you and build relationships with likeminded businesses and organizations.

Watch your water – Full loads of laundry and not selling plastic bottled water are two ways to increase your aqua karma. Check with your areas heath codes if you’re allowed to use cold water only cycles for your commercial washers and dishwashers.

Educate – Never lose a chance at educating others but remember, to educate through action. As you start implementing sustainable practices throughout your operation, invite this as an opportunity to educate your staff. A binder full of the information that’s easily accessible to your staff works fine. Your employees are the lifeblood of your business, what better way to educate guests, than to have educated staff that are well informed, knowledgeable and champions of change. Better yet, invite staff to implement their own practices.

Knowledge is power and knowledge is FREE!

For more information follow the links below:

Sustainable Business Practices

Green Your Business: Toolkit for Tourism Operators

To read the blog post in full by Valere Tjolle, you must sign up to:

VISION on Sustainable Tourism

Be Social

Do you agree with them?

Connect and let us know:

Spotlight Magazine 2010 is downloadable on the Prairiemango Resources page.

Thanks to WTM WRTD.

Enjoy!

There are some very direct relationships with the closure of the Mt.Agassiz Ski Area and the vitality of the surround region.  It seems as though history has taken grasps of the future and is holding it back from cocooning into something beautiful.

I’m a firm believer that if you don’t have the support of your community, you won’t get anywhere fast.  In the case of Mt.Agassiz, the community never left, never forgot and is ready and willing to be there once again.

What does community involvement mean for the region? 

It means employment in an economy searching for alternatives with a rate of unemployment constantly increasing.  It means that there is potential for year round employment, year round investment, increased regional awareness and a reason to stay.

It means that the regions communities take ownership of their future and with ownership, pride ensues and evokes identity.  Understanding our communities helps us to understand ourselves and where we belong and where we see ourselves going.

According to the Canadian Community Development Handbook:

Community development stems from the belief that the community itself has or is able to develop solutions to the issues and opportunities within the community.  Rather than waiting for someone else, community members believe in their own ability to take action.

In the aspects of tourism and community development - according to Responsibletourism.com, Community based tourism is tourism in which local residents (often rural, poor and economically marginalised) invite tourists to visit their communities with the provision of overnight accommodation.

Accommodation aside, where there seems to be a lack of development, is a strategy that is inclusive, dynamic and with a fresh outlook for the future of the community.  Tourism is inclusive and can be as dynamic as any industry with proper planning and implementation.

In a paper written by Harold Goodwin & Rosa Santilli Titled: Community-Based

Tourism: A Success? - Generally Community based tourism projects provide collective benefits, for example through contributions to community funds for the development of community assets such as schools, clinics…  

So, how do we come up with ideas and solutions that focus on the communities needs?

How about the needs of its youth?

Where does Manitoba rank?

You tell me: _______________

Nearing the end of October, Polar Bear season will be in full force. Churchill, Manitoba will welcome hundreds of visitors over the span of a few weeks to see one of the world’s largest carnivores that are also a species at risk (almost).

Top 10 things you should know before you go (on the train) to Churchill?

1. The train trip from Winnipeg to Churchill is really 40 hours long…maybe longer depending on the condition of the tracks.

2. Bring a sleeping bag and a pillow for the ride.

3. If you are lucky enough to have both seats in your isle and the seats in front of you are free, turn those seats around. You now have a makeshift bed.

4. Do enjoy the meals on the train. They are quite tasty but, stay away from the microwave hamburger and ham sandwich. You’ll thank me later.

5. At each pick-up point, take time to stretch your legs and walk around.

6. When the train stops in Dauphin, there is a 7-11 and a grocery store 5 minutes away. Be quick to grab some provisions but remember the train waits for nobody!

7. On the way back from Churchill, there is a four (4) hour stopover in Thompson. Take some time to walk around and check out the Spirit Way.

8. Remember to bring a toothbrush, toothpaste and a small towel for the train.

9. Travelling is all about the people you meet along the way. Get to know some of your fellow train travellers because chances are, you will be running into them in A LOT in Churchill…at Gypsy’s…

10. There’s no WiFi signal on the train. If you bring your laptop, make sure to have a good selection of music. Better yet, bring a book and read or, if you’re more adventurous, write a book (See #1).

As you may have noticed, I only spoke about the train. This is because there is no information ANYWHERE about the train ride that's of much use.

If you would like information about your potential trip to Churchill Manitoba, check the links provided below:

• Everything Churchill
• Travel Manitoba
• Destination Churchill
• Tourism North
• Town of Churchill
• Via Rail
• Churchill Travel Guide (Polar Bear Alley)  

You can now download WTM World Responsible Tourism Day - Spotlight Magazine on Prairiemango.  Check the Resources page for more.

Thanks to WTM WRTD for allowing Prairiemango this honour.

June through August Churchill becomes the Beluga Whale Capital of the World.  The beluga whale being equally at home in the salt water as fresh, you can see them swimming in Hudson Bay, as well as in the Churchill River.  Located on the Churchill River is the Port of Churchill which also houses the northernmost grain elevator in North America.

Yes, the photos above are of beluga whales.  If you think that you can do better, by all means, head up to Churchill and try. 

Please leave you comments below, or >>here<<

1. The Welcome to Churchill sign details the seasons of the Town
2. Churchill is located on the coastline of Hudson Bay

A few more sights before the day is done, the train heads through Thompson and later Gillam. A short time away from Thompson, a brief stop in Pikwitonei is taken to drop off some passengers and supplies and we’re off again.

Passing over lakes and rivers, it’s hard to imagine the amount of work that went into building this rail line.

As the sun sets, the second night on the train is upon us. Next stop Churchill…

 

Connecting with our cultural roots can help us understand where we come from, where we may belong and where we may be heading. Living in the city, we often forget about the land that cultivates many lives. We often romanticize of the rural farming lifestyle of growing our own produce and crafting artisanal products for local consumption.

Connecting with our local farms and experiencing first hand the lifestyle will help us understand and relate to the struggles that they are facing this year. The weather has plagued many fields with an excess of moisture where crops will not grow and for some, where they have not been seeded. We have to be mindful that the livelihoods of our local farmers; is in jeopardy.

With Agri-tourism gaining momentum in the Manitoba, we have to be supportive and open to a future where tourism done right may be the new rural reality. Tourism focussed on sustainability is the goal whereby the local culture is strengthened, admired and respected. By visiting Farmers Markets all over Manitoba, we can support our local farmers by purchasing their products. Farmers Markets are a way to visit many farms without having to leave the comfort and convenience of one location.

This year, there are a couple of initiatives in the mix in Manitoba that are working towards connecting you with your local farmers:

1. At the Farm Gate – Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve
2. Open Farm Day – September 19, 2010 [Province wide]

Meet Your Farmer - Chase Farm from Pull-Start Pictures on Vimeo.

Have something to say?  Say it >>here<<

The Winnipeg to Churchill train doesn’t stay in Manitoba for the duration of the trip. It dips into Saskatchewan for a few kilometres. A short break in a town called Canora is a 15 minute stopover, where you can get a glimpse of a town that will make you want to revisit on your own time.

What I love in all small towns is that there is almost always at least one Chinese restaurant. If there isn’t, chances are there used to be.

1 – Canora, Saskatchewan not to be confused with Kenora, Ontario

2 – No, I’m not representing Coke but, Wong’s Café, as it is one of two Chinese restaurants found in Canora.

3 – The Via Rail map shows that the Hudson Bay Line travels into Saskatchewan before darting back into Manitoba and Northeast to Thompson and then Churchill, Manitoba.

For those who have not heard, the train trip to Churchill takes approximately 48 hours. It is often said that, “Travelling is about the journey and not the destination.” With 48 hours to spend thinking about your life, you will soon start to think of the destination.

1 + 2 + 3 = 48 hours

4 – seen below: We’re almost there…

Have something to say?  Say it >>here<<

From my seat on the train, you can see the devastation on farmer’s fields that the wet weather has played throughout southern Manitoba this year. What should be fields full of wheat, flax and canola are now fields of ponds and lakes. This year, the yellow canola flower is a rarity.

1 – Canola field
2 – Countless numbers of fields have been devastated by this year’s weather

Have something to add?  Contact me >>here<<

We have to start somewhere and it might as well be Winnipeg. If you’re taking the train (Via Rail) to and from Churchill, your journey will start and end in Winnipeg.

1. Union Station Winnipeg – Look up once you enter through the front doors and gaze upon the dome above.

2. While waiting to board, there are numerous photos detailing the history of Union Station.

3. The trip by train to Churchill takes close to 48 hours. Get comfortable, this is your main vantage point for the entire trip.

4. Union Station is located at The Forks. On its way out of the city, the trains passes beside the markets.

Stay tuned for The Churchill Archives: Volume #2 

Have something to add?  Contact me >>here<<

A few weeks back, Manitoba held its first Ecotourism Conference. What was quite evident from the beginning, was that there were people there wanting (scratch that), needing advice on what to do, how to do it and what outcomes may come of it.

For many tourism definitions - please read:

• Defining an Industry

From my observations, the majority of the people were looking for tangible ideas and advice as to how best to operate an ecotourism business. They were searching for answers and realistic real world examples.

What was asked near the end of the conference was to showcase best practices from the many regions that make up the Manitoba tourism industry. What I am proposing on this latest BLOG post, is an example from Costa Rica.

You may ask yourself, “How is this going to be relevant to Manitoba?”

Read what is written and assess what is and is not relevant to your situation. If anything, this will open your eyes to the possibility of tourism as a catalyst for sustainable development.

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Proyecto Campanario 

Location:

Office – San Jose, Costa Rica

Biological Reserve - Peninsula de Osa, Costa Ri

View Proyecto Campanario in a larger map

The Campanario Biological Station lies in the Pacific lowland tropical rain forest of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica and stretches nearly 150 acres inland from the sea.

Mission:

Proyecto Campanario, a multifaceted conservation effort of its founders and supporters, is dedicated to preserving tropical eco-systems, both terrestrial and marine, through protecting a tract of tropical lowland rain forest and its coastal zones in Costa Rica, offering environmental education programs for national andinternational students of all ages, promoting tropical research and studies, and working with the local communities.

Programs:

Since Proyecto Campanario's creation in 1990, with the Campanario Biological Station as the central focus, different programs and activities have emerged to put the mission into action. 

Proyecto Campanario is engaged in 10 different programs:

1. Protection of a tract of tropical lowland rain forest and its coastal zones in Costa Rica, maintaining the eco-systems with a minimum of human impact. 

2. International tropical ecology courses and camps offered to university and secondary school student groups as the "intense field trip" to give first-hand experience in field studies in tropical eco-systems and in living off-the-grid. 

3. National environmental education programs for Costa Rican students to study their tropical forests through in-country exchange programs and sponsorship by local companies. 

4. Eco-tourism adventures for visitors looking for a vacation with an educational focus. 

5. Volunteer and internship programs exchanging part of room and board for work in the Station and/or in the San Jose office.

6. Research and species inventories in terrestrial and marine eco-systems carried out by national and international investigators and Campanario volunteers.

7. Local community involvement and service projects to support nearby schools, to offer short courses to the local community, to promote sustainable tourism, and to work with park officials.

8. Regional involvement in development associations and other conservation NGOs to continue conservation efforts of the Osa Peninsula. 

9. National level involvement through the Costa Rican Network of Private Nature Reserves which supports and defends private conservation in Costa Rica and throughout the Central American Isthmus.

10. Expansion of the Campanario Biological Station through acquiring nearby tracts of land under pressures of "development".

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What sticks out in my mind about Proyecto Campanario is the focus on improving the local community and the education that underlies their conservation efforts. The work that is carried out at the Field Station, directly affects the well being of the surrounding communities.

Take for instance the economics of it all, money that is brought in pays for:

• Staff both in the office and out in the field (Guides, Biologists, Field workers)

• Boat drivers to transport everyone to the field station from the access point at Sierpe

• Supplies bought in town (food and water)

• Supplies for the local school (pencils, paper, books)

• Land acquisition to increase the area of conservation

• Etc, Etc…

Compare this list to the programs being offered and initiatives that have been undertaken and you’ll start to see and realize that tourism done right, can mean so much more for the well-being of the community, environment and local economy.

So, what’s stopping us from doing something similar here in Manitoba?

Don’t believe me?

Try it out for yourself.

Want to learn more?

All you have to do is ask >>here<<