Location:
Ste Rose C.D.C. Office
722 Central Avenue
Ste Rose du Lac, Mb.
R0L 1S0
E-Mail: srcdc@mts.net
Ph: (204) 447-2188
 

Sposored by:
Town of Ste Rose
R.M. of Ste Rose
Ste Rose Chamber of Commerce
 

Board of Directors
Eric Altenburg
 Vic Stinson
 Ben Kardoes
 Dan Boerchers
 Yvonne Tardiff
 Alfred Bretecher
 Armin Glas
 

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Loan Program

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COMMUNITY PROFILE

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 Community Profile

&

S.W.O.T Analysis

Examining our Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats 

Ste Rose Community Development Corp.

Box 779

Ste Rose du Lac, Mb

R0L 1S0

March 2005

Executive Summary

Ste Rose is a prime location for anyone desiring to raise a family or wishing to enjoy their retiring years.  There is a sturdy family base here, and the attractiveness of a friendly small town atmosphere.

Ste Rose enjoys being a major trade center for many of our neighboring communities in the Parkland area.  The Ste Rose Community Development Corporation also recognizes a variety of opportunities for economic development, but feels that it is imperative that the community creates ideas that reach out side the traditional forms of agricultural development.

Historically this area has been a strong agricultural community, the recent developments of BSE and falling grain prices have delivered a great blow to the farming community.  The days of generational farming have become threatened.  No longer do the majority of parents encourage their children to take over the family farm.  The majority of farming parents now encourage their children to find more secure and financially stable occupations. 

This attitude threatens the existence of our rural community.   As a result of the times, farming is changing in leaps and bounds.  No longer is it about a lifestyle, farming is now a very serious and calculating business, that requires strong management and commerce skills.

It is imperative that the community seeks out ways to recruit young adults back to the community after they have attained an education or work experience.  Although it is very unlikely that we can keep all our youth in Ste Rose, alternatives must be found to get as many youth back who are ready to settle down to work here and raise a family.   In the Youth Out Migration survey done by the Parkland Community Futures Corporation, it was acknowledged by most of the youth that they would rather raise their own family in the town they themselves were born in.   Small towns are noted for being a better place to raise your kids.

It is very important that we recruit youth back to the community.  This may be possible by offering mentorship programs that will show youth opportunities of employment that will offer them the rural lifestyle but not the stress of farm ownership that their parents have discouraged them from.

Ste Rose benefits from having a major highway running through as its Main Street.  This opportunity offers our main street businesses plenty of consumer traffic.  It is disappointing to see some of our businesses closing or vacant.  It is imperative to find new entrepreneurs to establish ventures on Main Street.  Ste Rose has a proven track record for keeping a low tax base, while Manitoba is renowned for its low electricity rates, these attributes help to keep our operating costs at a reasonable rate.

This study noticed that our demographics are aging, probably at a higher rate than larger and more urban regions of the country. While this can be considered a challenge, this also may be considered an advantage for opportunity.  Now is the time to prepare for change.  As our older population will want more comforts and amenities, they also have more recreational income at their disposal.  Seniors tend to be more loyal shoppers and are more interested in the services that are offered, and will be more consumers conscientious.

It must be also noted that Ste Rose needs to learn to market itself better.  This includes having a stronger business and recruiting presence on the Internet.  More work and research needs to done to establish a stronger tourism and retirement market.

There are opportunities around us, if we chose to create a positive environment. There is a lot here to offer anyone wishing to establish a business, there is plenty of affordable prime land / buildings available, experienced hardworking workforce; a large capacity for water, waste water, treatment and landfill, so growth poses no problem.  Ste Rose is definitely in a position to encourage new key industries, such as; value added agriculture products, bio-energy, manufacturing and tourism. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary   2

Introduction   7

PART 1 – COMMUNITY PROFILE  8

Background   8

History  8

Geography  8

Location  8

General Overview    10

Population  10

Housing  13

Economy  14

Labour   15

Workforce  15

Worker’s Compensation  19

Employment Insurance  19

Employment Statistics  19

Major Employers  20

Commercial Real Estate  20

Financial Institutions  21

Neighborhoods  22

Laurier 22

Ste Amelie  22

Service Area Fast Facts  22

Agriculture  29

Rural Land  29

Farming Profile  29

Infrastructure  30

Municipal Government 30

Taxes  30

Transportation  31

Essential Services  32

Electricity  32

Telephone  33

Water System   33

Sewer System   33

Garbage Collection  33

Recycling Program   33

Economic Development  33

Community Services  34

Education  34

Post Secondary Education  36

Health Services  37

Royal Canadian Mounted Police  39

Fire Department 40

Other Services  40

Library  40

Community Internet Access Sites  41

Ste Rose Youth Outreach  41

R.O.S.E. Inc. (Regional Occupational Service Enterprise) 41

Ste Rose Resource Council for seniors  41

Ste Rose Fitness Center Coop  41

Media  41

Churches  42

Arts Culture and Recreation   42

Attractions  42

Recreation Facilities  44

Community Groups  45

Recreational Groups  45

Community Groups & Volunteer Boards  46

PART 2: SWOT ANALYSIS  47

Forward  47

Strengths  48

Weaknesses  50

Opportunities  51

Threats  52

Conclusion   53

Sources  54

APPENDIX I - STE ROSE BUSINESS DIRECTORY   55

Introduction

The Ste Rose Community Development Corporation is a for profit economic development agency.  The Town of Ste Rose, Rural Municipality of Ste Rose and the Ste Rose Chamber of Commerce support the Ste Rose Community Development Corporation.  The mandate of the Ste Rose Community Development Corporation is

“To retain, develop and expand enterprises that are viable, create wealth and generate employment within the Ste. Rose area.”

The Ste Rose Community Profile and S.W.O.T. Analysis is a concentrated analysis that examines our community’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.  This report will give the Ste Rose Community Development Corporation a way to recognize existing conditions and possible future conditions. Here is our opportunity to examine our areas of strength and define our strongest potential. This plan for auditing our community and environment will help us focus on key internal and external issues and provide an inventory of our community assets.

This SWOT Analysis was derived from public opinion as well as interpretation of the assets and profile information about the Ste Rose region.  This analysis is the basis for development of goals and future strategies and will be used to help identify opportunities that offer the Ste Rose region a set of realistic, tangible, and affordable actions for the community to pursue.

This project was funded in part by the Community Investment Support Program (CISP)

PART 1 – COMMUNITY PROFILE

Background

History

The creation of Ste Rose began in the summer of 1889, when the first settlers from St. Vital, Manitoba travelled to Ste Rose to find more hayland.  The first settlers to Ste Rose were of Metis descent. Shortly after our first habitants settled in, French voyageurs and other adventurous European settlers followed to live in the area for the purpose of farming.  Ste Rose du Lac formally became a village with a council on January 5^th, 1920.

Geography

Latitude:  51.056255 / Longitude  -99.51291

Elevation: 925 feet above sea level

Hectares covered: 62,609. Hectares

Region: Manitoba Parkland

Manitoba is located at the centre of the North American Continent, Ste Rose is centrally located within province of Manitoba, and is situated in the easterly section of the Parkland region.  Our landscape has us nestled between the Riding Mountain National Park, Lake Manitoba and Lake Dauphin. 

The average rainfall per year for the area is 366 mm / 14.64 inches. 

The average snowfall per year has been 138 mm / 5.52 inches. 

The average numbers of frost free days are 115.

Location

According to Senior International Organizations, Canada is rated as one of the best countries in the world to invest, to do business or live in.

Ste Rose is fortunately situated in Manitoba's beautiful Parkland Region, located:

·        285 kilometers northwest of Winnipeg, Mb.

·         45 kms east of Dauphin, Mb.

·         95 kms north of Neepawa, Mb. 

We are located at the junction of Highway PTH #5 going south to Laurier, or heading west to Dauphin Highway PTH #68 heading east to Eddystone;  and Highway PR #276 heading north to Rorketon.

Ste. Rose is a progressive community of just under two thousand people.   The primary trading area serves approximately 15,000 people, this trading area covers a radius of 75 kms and includes the principle rural municipalities of Ste Rose, Dauphin, McCreary, Lawrence, Ochre River, Alonsa and also includes First Nations communities such as Ebb & Flow, Crane River, Waterhen, and Skownan.   Our closest major community is Dauphin.

Ste Rose has developed in to a central service area for many rural and remote communities.  Many of the primary industries in the region, include cattle, grain, health services and retail industries.   Our local cattle auction sales draws buyers and sellers from across Manitoba and Canada.  Because beef production has become one of our major industries, the community has declared itself the “Cattle Capital of Manitoba”. Our trading area within a 40 kms radius serves approximately 15,392 people, while the population within a 100 kms radius is 46,617.

Diagram 1:  Map of the Ste Rose   

General Overview
 

Population

The total population of Ste Rose as of 2001, including the rural municipality is 1935 people.  Presently our town population is greater than the rural population, with the town population being 1045 people and the R.M. population equaling 890.  Our community is following regular trends where our rural population is declining and more individuals are choosing to live in urban populations.  With smaller families sizes being formed and our youth moving to larger city centers, our community has been slowly decreasing in size.  It is noted that our farm acreage sizes are growing with older farmers retiring and existing larger farm corporations taking over the land.  This trend is leaving many farmyard sites empty. 

In general, the male to female ratio is remaining constant at 50/50 basis.  At the last 2001 census it was noted that our population sits at a male count of  960 and the population of females are 975.    

Table 1: Ste Rose Population Change 1961 – 2001

As per the last Census of 2001 Population by Age, we can see that our population is fairly consistent to what is happening in the rest of the Parkland area.  There is a strong middle age group existing in Ste Rose.   The exact numbers and percentages of individuals and their age group is as follows;

Table 2: 2001 Ste Rose Population

Table 3:  2001 Ste Rose Population

Population Facts derived from the 2001 Statistics Census

·              The percentage of people in Ste Rose who are over 65 is 21%, which equals the percentage in the Parkland, but is higher than the Manitoba percentage.  

·              Ste Rose has a slightly higher rate of seniors over the age of 75, as Ste Rose has 12%; the Parkland percentage is 10% and the Manitoba percentage is at 6%. 

·              The percentage of children under the age 14, is lower in Ste Rose than the Parkland.  Our average is 17%, while the Parkland is at 21%, and Manitoba percentage is 22%.

·              Ethnically, in Ste Rose we have the strongest French population in the Parkland.  Approximately 48% of people in Ste Rose are of French descent, while the Parkland and Manitoba percentage is 4 and 5 % respectively. 

·              Ste Rose does not have a strong First Nation population living in the Ste Rose area, as of the 2001 census only 5% of our population is First Nation.  Ste Rose does have a strong First Nation population in the surrounding communities, these communities are frequently drawing services from our community.

·              Ste Rose does have  a very strong Metis population. Approximately 29% of the people in Ste Rose have identified themselves of Metis descent

The chart below gives an overall population and dwelling count of the Ste Rose service area.

Table 2: Census of Population and Dwellings

Housing

As of 2001, there are approximately 765 residences within the R.M. and Town of Ste Rose du Lac. Of those residences approximately 78% are detached homes, while 4 % are apartments and 8% are mobile homes.

Housing prices vary in our community with homes ranging in market value from $10,000 - $130,000.  The average cost for a residential lot is $10,000.  The average 3 bedroom starter home runs at about $75,000 and small starter homes in the area are about $50,000.  Ste Rose has proven to be a very affordable place to live.  Statistics show that our average value for a home in the area is $69,362 and the average 2 bedroom rental is $365. In the town of Ste Rose, there is the option to rent a lot in any of our two Mobile Trailer Parks, these are owned and operated by the Town of Ste Rose du Lac.