With the next municipal election coming up this fall, Stonewall council took the time to reflect on their four-year term.
Road and street improvements include upgrades on 4th Avenue North and paving on Limestone Bay to support business expansion in the industrial park.
In parks and recreation, the past four years have brought a new small dog park, solar crosswalks, solar park lighting, glamping bunkies and upgrades to the splash pad entrance.
The daycare, built through John Q, created 74 additional daycare spaces in the community.
With economic development in mind, council hired a new economic and tourism development officer, while also expanding the town’s social media presence and tourism marketing. Families enjoyed community events such as an Easter egg hunt, Pages & Pumpkins and a movie in the park.
The town offers programs to promote multi-unit construction and revitalization, as well as incentives to support businesses and entrepreneurs. Private investments are further bolstering the local economy.
Multiple master plans will guide long-term investment and future planning, including plans that focus on the cemetery, Quarry Park and the Memory and Healing Garden.
Annexation efforts wrapped up in January 2024 to bolster the town’s growth potential. In addition, the old post office served as a training centre for post-secondary education opportunities. For youngsters, the new before- and after-school recreation program supports families. As well, the new Voyent Alert emergency notification system improves safety in the community, as does the implementation of snow zones.
Beyond these successes, the municipality also faced its share of challenges over the past four years. Several initiatives are dependent on external entities, including the personal care home project, the regional water project, the town’s future in the Winnipeg Metro Region and the intersection project for highways 67 and 236.
The Save the Kilns project faced budgetary constraints so it had to reduce its original scope. The zoning bylaw updates and secondary plan creation are delayed while the South Interlake Planning District reviews the impact of quarry operations, which has paused the review of SIPD’s regional development plan.
Looking ahead, the town plans to modernize its public spaces.
“The Main Street redevelopment pilot project will enhance public spaces for community use and enjoyment,” said Mayor Sandra Smith. “Using paint, movable furnishings and planters to create a fun, festive atmosphere that will draw people to Main Street provides economic support for the business community while fostering interest in long-term investment into the town’s core.”
Development of the age-in-place campus continues with plans to include independent living and assisted living along with services, amenities and memory care in one location.
As well, new commercial development is expected along 2nd Avenue North.
The town received two GRO grants from the provincial government, which will be used toward improvements at Kinsmen Lake, Quarry Park and active transportation networks.
Work is also underway for the integration of regional active transportation.
“We believe that extending and integrating our active transportation system is important,” Smith said. “We have taken steps to ensure that this is included in our planning for the age-in-place and with the Whiteland team.”
The provincial government recently confirmed the town’s application and awarded $2 million to extend the path along 4th Street and Highway 67. The first phase of construction will align with work on the age-in-place campus and the Quarry District development, which is a project by Whiteland Real Estate to transform about 50 acres of land along Highway 67 on the east side of town with commercial and residential space.
About 15 acres will be dedicated to the Quarry District’s commercial core.
“A key feature of this is making the connection to the broader regional trail system in Rockwood,” Smith said. “This has been a priority we have heard very strongly from many of our residents.”
