The Red River Exhibition finds new growth in its traditional roots
Renee Conte F
or over six decades, the Red River Exhibition has been the 10-day entertainment focus of June in
Winnipeg. Now the association that runs it sees important opportunities for growth based on its agricultural roots and in developing the 480 acres it owns just west of Winnipeg. In the early days, back in 1952, when
the Red River Exhibition was inaugu- rated by the Kinsmen Club of Winnipeg on the old Osborne Stadium site (now Great-West Life), the emphasis was very much on agricultural and community exhibits. Even after it moved to Polo Park, in 1954, and in spite of the mid- way, this remained the case. In 1997, when the Ex moved to prop-
erty it owned at 3977 Portage Ave. just west of the Perimeter, it didn’t have the infrastructure to support the original thrust, and the midway became more prominent. Recently, the Ex has been working to return to its family focus and agricultural roots, with more crafts, local displays and more animal exhibits, and by bringing horses back. Agriculture front and centre That renewed focus has gradually
been restoring the Ex’s original purpose and setting the stage for some exciting new prospects that will benefit Winni- peg and all of Manitoba. If you’ve driven down the Trans-Can-
ada Highway lately, it would have been hard to miss the construction of a major four-lane street across from the Flying J. The next phase of development will include a multi-million dollar, agricul- turally focussed, multi-acre retail and commercial development, all with little government funding.
A new agricultural commodity cam-
pus is being built, and the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba offices are the first tenants. Garth Rogerson, CEO of the Red River Exhibition Association is very excited. “The commodity campus will create an opportunity for commodity groups and agricultural organizations to relocate to our facility. As a non-profit organiza- tion mandated to support agriculture, we will be working with the producers to offer them great value,” he says.
A place to grow Manitoba's major industries. This idea of creating a synergistic lo-
cation for bringing together commodity groups in a central location will allow Red River Park to invite world-class tradeshows to Winnipeg and open up an opportunity to become the new hub of Manitoba’s agricultural sector. The plan is to make the space beauti- ful and park-like with lots of greenspace and walkways.
New exhibition space
Given Winnipeg’s central location in the heart of the continent and as the geographical east-west centre of Can- ada, it is an ideal location for major conventions, trade shows and exhibi- tions. The expansion of the Winnipeg Convention Centre pays respect to this advantage. Now, the Red River Ex will enhance that attraction with new space geared to the burgeoning agricultural and heavy equipment sector. It could also be a venue for touring trade shows, sporting events, and even concerts. An extension to the existing 40,000-square-foot Exhibition Place will be constructed soon to expand the trade show and event space to over 100,000 square feet. As well, a new 5,000-seat, multi-purpose arena is in the works with a combined exhibition space of over 300,000 feet. “It’s a very excit- ing development plan,” says Garth Rog-
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erson, “It means we can bring in some of those big agricultural shows that have been bypassing Winnipeg.”
The site is also the home of the pre-
mier horse jumping facility, Red River Meadows. Originally built for the 1999 Pan Am Games, the show-rings and newly constructed stabling facilities are among the best in the province. Access to transit and plenty of park- ing to go with the new entrance off the Trans-Canada Highway are in the works.
Stay tuned
This is just the beginning. A resi- dential subdivision is part of the plan,
Premier horse jumping facilities are part in the plans.
with access to a new retail opportunity for west Winnipeg and the growing residential areas of east Headingley and Charleswood. Westport Festival will see a one-million-square-foot development surrounded by the association’s sport- ing and recreational complexes. Hotels, shops, restaurants and theatres are all part of the plans to service residents, visitors and tradeshow attendees! The dream is underway; it’s a long
trek from the origins of the Red River Exhibition, but that vision is clear and promising, and when it is a reality, what an “exhibition” it will then be!
The architectural rendering of the new fair grounds.
Budget 2015
“Manitoba is a rising star.” BMO Capital Markets ...fastest job growth in the country. Statistics Canada “An economic leader in Canada.” Conference Board of Canada
Manitoba’s economy is strong and getting stronger.
Budget 2015 keeps the momentum building by investing in critical infrastructure, providing young Manitobans with the education and training they need, and strengthening the province’s health care system.
• 5.5 billion invested in Manitoba’s roads, bridges and flood protection over five years
• Youth Jobs Strategy
• Record numbers of doctors and nurses on the job
Find out what Budget 2015 means to you and your family at
manitoba.ca.
June 2015
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