Happy trails!
The provincial government and Trails Manitoba are investing nearly $600,000 in recreational trails in Manitoba, and Teulon is on the list of communities to receive funding.
The funds come from the provincial government’s Off-Road Vehicle Land and Trail Rehabilitation Grant Program as well as the 2025 Trails Manitoba grant program.
“Trails provide important opportunities for Manitobans to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature all year long,” said Mike Moyes, minister for environment and climate change.
“This funding will help improve a number of walking, biking, skiing, all-terrain vehicle and snowmobile trails across the province and ensure Manitobans can continue to explore the great outdoors for many years to come.”
Through the Off-Road Vehicle Land and Trail Rehabilitation Grant Program, the Town of Teulon will receive $50,000 to repair and stabilize the walking trail and add signage.
This grant program provides funding for projects that propose to rehabilitate public lands and trails that have been damaged by off-road vehicle activity. The grant funds come from off-road trail fees collected from the public.
Teulon council approved a quote from Barylski Constructing for the loading and removing ballast off the railbed as part of this grant.
Other recipients include Interlake Off Road Club Corporation, which will receive $50,000 for ATV trail rehabilitation, and Grahamdale Community Development Corporation, which will receive $50,000 for rehabilitation and trail improvements in Steep Rock Beach.
In other council news:
• Seatbelt awareness will be top of mind in Teulon, where Manitoba Public Insurance plans to rent a message sign board to display in town during September and October. This initiative is part of MPI’s initiative to launch a seatbelt awareness campaign in rural Manitoba.
“The Town of Teulon deems the MPI seatbelt initiative as valuable information to have everyone buckle up,” said CAO Chris Yuen. “It only takes a few seconds to buckle up, but it could save your life.”
• Plans are in the work for Pumpkinfest, which is set for Sept. 20. The back lane east of Main Street between Beach Road and First Avenue SE will be closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., as will First Avenue SE between Main Street and the back lane.
• Council approved a $31,665 quote to buy a front deck mower and a $14,990 quote to buy a flail mower from Enns Brothers.
• Council also approved the purchase of a 2020 GMC Sierra for $40,000 plus tax from a private sale.
• CAO Chris Yuen and assistant CAO Samara Osnach were authorized to attend the Manitoba Municipal Administrators conference in Winnipeg from Sept. 8 to 10, with expenses paid.
• The CAO will sign an agreement with Catalis to provide online meeting management and alert system services for the Town of Teulon.
Yuen said that Catalis provides the online program for municipalities to create, store meeting minutes, agendas, correspondence and more.
“They also provide the online service that sends alert notifications through email, phone, text messages to registered local residents to receive updates on important information,” he said.
• The town has received audited financial statements for 2023, which show that the town’s utility incurred a $24,134 deficit due to revenue shortfall. The town will apply to the Public Utilities Board for permission to use funds from the utility accumulated surplus to recover the deficit.
• The town is transferring $13,486 to the utility reserve fund instead of the budgeted $28,000.
• The CAO is signing a grant agreement up to $70,000 on behalf of the town, with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, for climate change adaptation. The town’s climate change adaption plan will assess climate risks, engage the community and develop a plan to improve the municipality’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.
• Council rejected all bids in the request for proposal for an arena manager/attendant tender due to budget considerations.
• Brushfire Signs will replace the town’s tourist sign for $9,042 plus tax.
“The town is replacing the tourist signs because of its condition,” Yuen said.
• Council approved wage increases for the Teulon-Rockwood Fire Department to match wages with other fire departments.
• Council decided to defer the WiFi campground project to the 2026 budget year due to budget considerations.
• Volunteers are needed for a TD-sponsored a tree-planting event on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. During this event, volunteers will plant 225 one-gallon potted trees in Green Acres Park. Volunteers should wear sturdy closed-toe shoes or boots, long pants, weather-appropriate clothing, sunscreen and a hat. For more information or to register, contact Ken Fosty at kenfosty@shaw.ca or 204-963-2209.
