Boissevain is one of several Westman communities that picked up a grant through the provincial Building Sustainable Communities (BSC) program.

Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke was in Brandon Wednesday to announce the latest round of funding which is flowing to 427 projects across Manitoba. In the Westman region 46 projects secured $2.2 million in funding.

Work will start this August on a new swimming pool in Boissevain. Head of Council Judy Swanson says the grant is welcome news. “We are delighted and thankful to receive the $300,000 from the province. It really helps a small community like ours when we are doing something like the magnitude of our pool project. We had applied for the grant but you never know if you are going to get the grant.”

The new aquatic centre will cost roughly $1.2 to complete. The municipality of Boissevain-Morton is waiting for word a federal grant application.

The BSC program was launched in 2019 to offer municipalities and non-profit organizations a streamlined process to apply for community grants for planning activities, organizational capacity building projects, equipment costs, capital infrastructure and other local or regional initiatives that enhance a community.

“Our existing pool will operate for this season and we’ll shut down a week or two early in August so work can start on the new swimming pool. It’ll be constructed where the existing pool sits. The new pool will be larger and it will have accessibility so people can walk in. It has slides and a place for laps. It has a toddler’s area” said Swanson.

Plans call for the present change rooms to stay in use for the new pool. Some upgrades will be done to spruce up the change rooms at the pool.

A number of groups in and around Boissevain picked up grants and Judy Swanson says it’s great to see this provincial support flowing into the community.