Meet NEW PRTC Tourism Coordinator Kellie Verwey

By Lisa Kopochinski

With the aim of attracting more visitors to the region, the Portage Regional Tourism Committee (PRTC) was formally reestablished in 2020 to assist with managing the Island on the Prairies regional tourism brand for the area of Portage la Prairie.

Kellie Verwey came onboard as PRTC’s Tourism Coordinator and Promoter this past spring and is the first individual in this role for quite some time.

“I returned to the tourism committee in April 2023 as a contractor,” says Verwey, who worked for the Portage Regional Economic Development as the Economic Development Coordinator and was heavily involved in the Portage Regional Tourism Committee during her tenure with PRED.

Presently, apart from the daily operations of managing its social media accounts and website, the PRTC is working on a tourist attraction pathfinding sign project, installing two information kiosks, and redesigning its printed Tourism Guides.

Verwey happily recalls June 2021 when the Portage Regional Tourism Committee hosted its very first Burger Days event that spanned seven days and saw 17 restaurants face off to see who would be crowned the best burger in the Portage region.

“Since then, we’ve hosted the 2021 Poutine Days and 2022 Burger Days. However, the 2022 Poutine Days was unfortunately cancelled. It’s my hope to bring these events back to our region, as the inaugural event injected more than $100,000 of revenue into our local restaurants and brought the community together with some lighthearted competition.”

The PRTC essentially consists of representatives from the major tourism stakeholders in the region, each with distinct specializations in different tourism categories:

• Heritage and Historic Destinations (Museums, Interpretive Centres)

• Outdoor Recreation (Camping, Golfing, Outdoor Exercise)

• Indoor Recreation (Central Plains RecPlex, Stride Place, Large Sports Tournaments)

• Community-Wide Events and Festivals (Manitoba Air Show, Potato Festival, Portage Ex)

• Amenities and Businesses (Portage la Prairie Chamber of Commerce and PRED)

• Local Government Bodies (City of Portage la Prairie, and the RM of Portage la Prairie)

• Hospitality (Hotels, Restaurants, Entertainment)

• Indigenous Tourism

As for what events local residents are interested in seeing and attending, the PRTC is currently focused on promoting the established stakeholders in the community to ensure they’re able to grow and succeed in our region.

“Each year we look for ways in which we can support both the Portage Ex and the Portage Potato Festival, as these are keystone events within our community that residents look forward to each and every year,” says Verwey.

“In addition to the annual events that are held in our region, residents tend to gravitate toward any significant sporting events that come to Portage, such as the Centennial Cup or national curling events.”

Portage la Prairie continues to be recognized as on one of Manitoba’s most desirable tourist locations, something Verwey wholeheartedly agrees with.

“We are surrounded by some unique natural attractions,” Verwey says. “Just 15 minutes north of the city, you will find Lake Manitoba, which hosts some of the most beautiful prairie sunsets viewed from the sandy beach. And along the edge of Lake Manitoba, you’ll find Delta Marsh, known worldwide by avid waterfowl hunters and birdwatchers.”

She adds that in addition to having a geographic advantage, it’s the industry stakeholders that are sitting around the PRTC table that will allow the committee to stand out.

“From the Recreation Authority that manages the major recreation facilities such as Stride Place, Splash Island and Delta Beach Campground to Fort la Reine Museum and Prairie Fusion Arts and Entertainment, our region truly does have something to offer everyone. By bringing these stakeholders together and encouraging collaboration, we’re creating an environment where all parties can flourish and continue to etch our place as a premier Manitoba destination.”

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