A simple conversation over coffee has blossomed into a community-wide demonstration of pride, volunteerism and teamwork in Winnipeg Beach.
Nearly 30 volunteers came together on June 26 to restore the iconic Boardwalk sign, transforming a weathered landmark into a fresh welcome for residents and visitors just days before Canada Day.
The project was spearheaded by resident Christine Sokaluk, who said the idea began during a casual conversation with Interlake visitors Dave and Karen while enjoying coffee at the Breakwater Restaurant.
Professional painter John Torfason applies a fresh coat of stain to the iconic Winnipeg Beach Boardwalk sign on June 26 as nearly 30 volunteers came together to restore the landmark ahead of Canada Day. The community-led project transformed one of the town’s most recognizable welcome signs through a day of teamwork and volunteer effort
“They mentioned it was too bad the Boardwalk sign needed fresh paint because it’s one of the first things people see when they arrive in Winnipeg Beach,” Sokaluk explained. “Before long, we were talking about whether the community could paint it together before July 1.”
After approaching the Town of Winnipeg Beach, Sokaluk learned the sign was already scheduled for maintenance later this summer. Rather than replacing the town’s plans, she proposed completing the work earlier with volunteers so municipal staff could redirect their time to other community projects.
Town officials embraced the idea, while Manitoba Parks quickly approved the initiative, supplied the stain and arranged for maintenance crews to trim surrounding trees to improve access to the sign.
As word spread, local businesses and residents eagerly stepped forward with additional support.
Grushka’s Gutters donated scaffolding and later added new clad trim for the sign. Home Hardware supplied paint brushes and trays, while the Breakwater provided fresh fruit for volunteers and Midnight Annies kept everyone refreshed with drinks throughout the day.
Other community members pitched in with folding tables, tents, new LED light bulbs and countless hours of labour. Volunteers removed deteriorated boards, completed repairs, stained the sign, painted hard-to-reach areas and helped with cleanup.
Professional painter John Torfason began preparing the site at 7:30 a.m. and worked throughout the day, while Ron Suzuki completed repairs to damaged boards and reinforced portions of the structure before lending a hand with the finishing touches.
Throughout the project, residents and visitors stopped to offer encouragement, chat with volunteers and admire the progress.
For Sokaluk, the project represented far more than a fresh coat of stain.
“This is what building community together looks like,” she said. “We don’t have to have the same opinions, and we still can show up for one another. That’s what makes our community special.”
Inspired by the momentum surrounding the project, Sokaluk also created “Team Winnipeg Beach” T-shirts to give residents another way to show their community pride. Demand quickly grew from a handful of shirts to dozens of orders.
The unisex shirts are available in sizes XS to 2XL for $35 and 3XL to 6XL for $40, with Sokaluk emphasizing they are sold at cost to cover only the shirt and printing expenses.
“You are all a part of Team Winnipeg Beach whether you wear a T-shirt or not,” she wrote in a post promoting the initiative.
Sokaluk said the shirts are intended to foster a sense of belonging and encourage residents to continue supporting one another and their community long after the Boardwalk project is complete. Residents interested in purchasing a shirt can contact Sokaluk through the Team Winnipeg Beach Facebook page.
By day’s end, the refreshed Boardwalk sign stood as a visible reminder of what can be accomplished when neighbours work toward a common goal.
“We showed up for our beach, for our community and for one another,” Sokaluk said. “That’s community pride.”
