LCDG honoured by Perchotte at Legislative Assembly
The Lockport Community Development Group (LCDG) was honoured by local Selkirk MLA Richard Perchotte on the floor of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
Perchotte specifically called attention to the group being a non-profit comprised of small business owners from Lockport who promote the area they love so much. He mentioned new initiatives that the group has taken on in the past few years including the Lockport Ice Fishing Village, their farmers markets, and their efforts connecting with the provincial government in hopes that a provincial park and camp group can come to the area.
Mike Faires, chair of the LCDG, said that it was amazing that the group was able to be recognized on the Legislative floor.
“[Perchotte] wanted to recognize us, because he’s aware of all the work that we’ve done, trying to bolster community engagement in the area, and also helping out our local businesses. So that was awesome,” said Faires.
He said that having someone see the work that they do and recognize it brightened their spirits and was very special.
He said that though not every member of the group was able to be at the Leg that day everyone reacted positively when he was able to share the news with the group that the acknowledgement was going to happen.
“Everybody was really excited to hear that news and to feel a sense of honour to be recognized like that,” he said.
Faires explained that the LCDG was partially formed as a response to the difficulties that local businesses were experiencing during the construction on the St. Andrews Lock and Dam. With COVID-19 restrictions taking place at the same time travel to the area slowed.
“We wanted to do something to help the community remember that it is still a destination place even though there was an inconvenience of travel. We started with the Lockport first Farmers Market, which is now going to be called the Lockport Community Market. And then, we did the ice fishing village on the river. That was a big thing for us to show off what Lockport is all about,” he said.
Even though the group came together during a difficult time he said that he thought it would turn into more than just coming together short term. In the past, his parents, also local business owners, came together with other business owners to put on the Lockport Children’s Winter Festival and there is a history of community involvement initiatives coming from the area’s business community.
“We had a good idea of what it would mean getting together, because a lot of people that are in business now here, do recall that. There’s some good heritage here, so, we kind of knew that we’d be starting something,” he said.
Faires says that it’s so important that there are groups like this in our community because it’s so easy for people to keep to themselves unless they have something to connect them.
“We want to bring everybody back together; bring back the community spirit of living in this area. I like my neighbours and I want to have a good time with them. I want to meet new people and I want to feel that community spirit. It’s really important to me to be part of a group that wants to make that more prominent in this area,” he said.
As for the future of the LCDG, keep up with their social media because they are going to be posting about future events. At the end of May, the Lockport Community Market will be opening for the first weekend of the season, there are plans for a community yard sale, and their pancake picnic planning is well underway.
Faires appreciates Perchotte taking the time to acknowledge all of the efforts that the group has put into the community.
“I really appreciate him taking the time to acknowledge everybody in our group definitely boosts our spirits to strive further forward.” Said Faires.
Perchotte for his part was glad to be able to acknowledge the group.
“I can not express my gratitude enough to all the special, heartfelt organizations that strive to make our communities a better place to live. The Lockport Community Development Group is another fine example of community members coming together in a big way. These members are the unsung heroes of Lockport and I wish them great success,” said Perchotte.
LCDG can be found online on Facebook at facebook.com/LCDGMB and Instagram at instagram.com/LockportMB.
