Leaving a Legacy - Community Input Sought

2010 promises to be a spectacular year for the active citizens of the Portage la Prairie area. The highly anticipated completion of the PCU Centre on Island Park combined with the coming of the Power Smart 2010 Manitoba Winter Games all add up to an exciting year for the community. But the big winners will undoubtedly be the athletes of the future who will benefit from the Portage la Prairie Games Legacy Fund.

The legacy fund will consist of the proceeds from hosting the Winter Games in Portage la Prairie. Each previous Manitoba Games was able to leave a legacy by investing in the sports and recreation facilities in their communities, and Portage Host Society co-chairman Jim Malenchak expects the same to happen following the local competition, which will be held from March 7-13, 2010.

“These Games are an incredible opportunity for Portage la Prairie and the surrounding area to significantly upgrade our existing sports facilities and provide the citizenry with the means to enjoy an active lifestyle for years to come," Malenchak says.

But what exactly, will be the legacy of the 2010 Power Smart Manitoba Winter Games in Portage la Prairie? That is the question Games co-chairs Malenchak and Ferdi Nelissen are asking the people of the Central Region to answer. In keeping with the community spirit of the Games, the Host Society of the 2010 Power Smart Manitoba Winter Games is inviting all members of the community to share their vision of how that Legacy Fund will be distributed.

“We want to hear from the people who use the facilities. We want to know what the public would like to see as far as upgrades and improvements,” stated Malenchak. “The strength of our bid was the community support that Portage promises. This is another great opportunity to involve as many people as possible in a very important aspect of the Games' planning.”

Five per cent of the Legacy Fund, to a maximum of $5,000, is already destined for KidsSport's Central Region. KidsSport is a national charity of Sport Manitoba which breaks down barriers by providing funding for children who otherwise couldn't afford to participate in organized sports. The fund covers equipment costs and registration.