A study researching new ways to utilize the Town Centre facility in Churchill will be conducted with a total cost of $35,000. The centre is owned by the province and they are hoping to find new ways to enhance the building in order to initiate more interest in using the facility as a conference center.
Churchill Town Complex. Courtesy Town of Churchill.
Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation and Manitoba Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport, and Protection will both provide $15,000 toward the study and the Town of Churchill will kick in another $5,000. The idea of developing a conference center that will be capable of hosting 150 people will be the main focus and objective of the study
“While Churchill has become a premier eco-tourism destination and is internationally recognized for polar bear and beluga whale viewing, the community is wise to seek ways to diversify its economy,” said Minister Kostyshyn. “As well, the existing building is pivotal to community life and adding new services to its roster may benefit area residents.”
“We hope to improve Churchill’s economic sustainability by capturing business opportunities to build on its already successful tourism seasons,” said Minister Lemieux. “Churchill potentially offers a highly unique experience for meetings and conventions, which could be attractive to certain user groups.”
The assessment will explore this new objective and also analyze other remote northern facilities that have implemented meeting and convention centers as a means of drawing visitors to their communities. The study is expected to be finished by the fall.
“This partnership-based approach will seek to continue our community’s ongoing economic diversification efforts while at the same time enabling a new use for Town Centre Complex. We are pleased to undertake this necessary next step,” said Mayor Michael Spence, Town of Churchill.
Currently the Town Centre is operated through an annual grant from the Manitoba government. The many facets of the facility include a swimming pool, ice rink, movie theater, high school, bowling alley, public library, curling club, hospital, playground and town offices of Churchill.
As we put the Hudson Bay Quest to rest for another year, here are some more incredible northern lights photos from Nace Hageman ! Enjoy these parting shots from the trail. Churchill is still buzzing from the successful race finish.
Northern lights above the tent. Nace Hagemann photo.
Northern lights over the boreal forest treeline. Nace Hagemann photo.
Northern lights in the boreal forest. Nace Hagemann photo.
Swirling aurora in the Churchill skies. Nace Hagemann photo.
We can’t get enough of these incredible northern lights images taken by Natural Habitat guides and staff in Churchill. Guide Kurt Johnson was in town this past week with a group of travelers and they were fortunate to hit a jackpot of aurora borealis oval displays. The season is winding down and the viewing just keeps getting better and better!
Incredible northern lights in Churchill. Kurt Johnson photo.
Shimmering veil of northern lights over the boreal forest in Churchill. Kurt Johnson photo.
Natural Habitat Aurora Pod in Churchill, Manitoba. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
The 12th Annual Hudson Bay Quest was a resounding success. Martin Massicotte has been crowned this year’s winner and the official results are as follows:
1st Martin Massicotte
2nd Denis Tremblay
3rd Ryan Anderson
4th Peter McClelland
5th Jennifer Freking
6th Jesse Terry
7th Shawn McCarty
8th Blake Freking
9th Dan DiMuzio
10th David Daley
11th Justin Allen
DNF Charlie Lundie
DNF Tom Terry
Here’s a video by Katie DeMeulles of Team Wapusk and musher Dave Daley finishing off the race. Justin Allen and his team are also in the footage. Enjoy!
I was going to do a wrap – up on the Hudson Bay Quest but just couldn’t resist sending these along to everyone. These photographs of incredible northern lights by Natural Habitat’s Alex De Vries – Magnifico are magnificent!
The increased solar flaring last night is supposed to continue over the next few days so keep looking up. If the sky is clear, the southern part of Canada as well as some regions of the United States should get a glimpse of the aurora.
Natural Habitat’s Aurora Pod in Churchill with amazing northern lights. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Spectacular full sky display of northern lights. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Northern lights shimmering above the boreal forest. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Natural Habitat photographers outside the aurora pod in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Northern lights above the aurora pod. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
All the gee’s and haw’s have drifted across the tundra upwards to the northern lights have ceased for another year as the 2015 Hudson Bay Quest has finished in Churchill. This year’s champion is Martin Massicotte from Trois Rivieres, Quebec.
2015 Hudson Bay Quest champion Martin Massicotte. Courtesy Hudson Bay Quest.
Martin runs a paving contracting business in Quebec and dreamed of being a dog musher since age eight when he trained the family St. Bernard. In 2003 martin placed 6th in the Yukon Quest, a race that runs 1000 miles from Yukon to Alaska. He has aspired to run the Hudson Bay Quest and the Iditarod in a few years. he can now check off the Quest in a big way…with a first place prize and trophy!
His passion for the sport of dog mushing is summed up succinctly by this quote: “In leisure time, I run dogs, I think about dogs and I talk about dogs!!!”
Congratulations to Martin and all the other hearty mushers that competed in this year’s race. See you all next year!
2015 Hudson Bay Quest winner Martin Massicotte. Courtesy Hudson Bay Quest.
Canadian Rangers from the Lamprey checkpoint won best checkpoint. Courtesy Hudson Bay Quest.
2015 Hudson Bay Quest mushers. Courtesy Hudson Bay Quest.
