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: _______________