Tourism future at Centre of Canada starts with Trans-Canada Farmers Market

Drivers passing the Centre of Canada after work or on their way to cottage country on Fridays this summer will soon be able to pull over to sample some local food and art.

The park near Dufresne on the north side of the Trans-Canada Highway – and at the longitudinal centre of our country – is hosting its first farmers’ market June 27. The markets will run every Friday until Aug. 22 from 3 to 7:30 p.m.

Vendors can supply local food, or create art and more to share. Students will also be selling baked goods and lemonade to fundraise, according to Taché economic development officer Martha Petrusevich.

“Literally any local entrepreneurs that we have (can apply to join),” she said.

Petrusevich became economic development officer last September and shortly after was put in charge of developing the Centre of Canada Park, which first opened in 2017. It had been run by a non-profit, then an RM subcommittee before the reigns were handed off to the Community Development Corporation and Petrusevich, who was recently given the Rising Star Award at the Manitoba Economic Development Awards.

The tourism action plan developed by the RM is now starting to be implemented.

“They said that the Centre of Canada is the anchor of all tourism,” explained Petrusevich.

She pointed to a wall on the park’s shelter, which keeps the tables covered in the Dawson Trail’s history, as she started describing its future.

“We’re going to have a map over here with ‘you are here,’ and then we’re going to have places to eat, places to stay, and places to visit with the name, QR code, and the address,” said Petrusevich.

“I’m working on a whole bunch of things,” she added.

The map is planned for the end of this summer. Each local business would have a license plate shaped space to put its information.

A provincial grant to create a gift shop has also been applied for.

Tree Canada is soon bringing more local students to plant $10,000 worth of trees after planting 400 spruce saplings in September 2023. They have plenty of space to work with, as the RM has bought a total of 60 acres by the highway, according to Petrusevich.

Expect food trucks to also be parked along the access road across from the new polar bear mother and cub carving donated by local chainsaw carver Bernie Penner and placed beside the little library stocked by Bibliothèque Taché Library.

Long-term plans include shops, restaurants, and glamping to increase traffic beyond the estimated 1,500 vehicles that already stop every day in the summer.

“Part of our master plan is to have some glamping, some yurt-style, something like that,” explained Petrusevich.

“Not only have people shortly stop, but to have people actually stop here and have something here for them to enjoy (and stay),” she added.

Looking even further ahead, Petrusevich envisions winter attractions like an outdoor rink.