As waves hit the October shores of Grand Beach, many of the summer visitors have gone home. Those who live and work in the area are worried about something else that appears to have disappeared — the businesses in town. “We’re stuck, I just think we’re stuck in time,” said Grand Beach resident Susan Prohaska. “You feel like you go two steps forward, and one back.” Prohaska managed the community’s RV park for six years. She said she’s becoming increasingly worried about nearby Grand Marais becoming a ghost town. “We don’t have a daycare, we have one grocery store that may or may not have the products you need on that day, they may or may not have gas,” she said. Prohaska said there is little reason for businesses to open until infrastructure investments are made in the town and further investments are made in the provincial park. With an aging community, she said amenities such as 55-plus housing are much needed. “Just to have a hotel, where you can come for a weekend. We don’t have that.” The Grand Marais Village Store is the only grocery store open year-round in the community. Owner Bill Snowdon told CTV News he has fallen on hard times in recent years, in part because of relocation costs tied to an aging building. Snowdon has lived in the community for more than 50 years and has run the store for more than 20. He moved the store from the entrance of Grand Marais to the site of the former XTR gas station, farther into the community. “The truth of the matter is I’m broke,” Snowdon said. “I don’t have money to buy gas. Part of the reason is my investment in this store; it’s a huge amount of money. People don’t buy as much as I wish they would here.” Snowdon said the RM of St. Clements could bring more people back if a proper sewage line were built to serve businesses and residents. “To get a major investor to come out here, you need sewer,” Snowdon said. “The town is sort of fading away.” Snowdon also supports the idea of building a seniors’ residence in the community. A spokesperson for the RM told CTV News that council presented a Grand Marais Sewer Servicing Study to residents in 2022 and held public information sessions. “Three concept options were presented, gravity, low pressure and hybrid. The purpose was to give residents clear information and gauge community needs,” a statement from the RM read in part. “Subsequently, no commitment to construct a system was made by council due to significant community objections. Any future servicing would depend on community support and available funding, and the RM remains open to continuing that conversation with residents and the business community.” The spokesperson added that the RM has continued to welcome proposals from developers for age-in-place housing, but to date developers have identified the lack of wastewater infrastructure as the barrier. Meanwhile, other Grand Marais business owners said there are opportunities waiting for the province and the municipality if they market Grand Beach as an international tourism destination. They are asking people to think big. “In Grand Marais it’s a seesaw,” said Brett Chestley, owner of Pete’s Grand Putt. “I remember The Blueberry Patch, I remember the different restaurants, the surf club, we felt like there was a resurgence. It kind of levels off, businesses start and close. We don’t see any consistency in new people entering the area.” Chestley opened the mini-golf course in 2020 and told CTV News his revenue has increased every year since. “I think Grand Beach is a gem, it could be the crown jewel of Manitoba,” Chestley said. “There’s so much opportunity and it needs some creative new ideas to kickstart it. I think it’s a missed opportunity for the provincial government. There’s no reason you can’t have a beachside restaurant, some type of stage for live music.” “We just have to start realizing that we have economic resources that the next generation could rely on,” said Joe Potenza, owner of Potenza Pizza. “We could make this place into a world class destination.” Potenza has been a business owner in the community for 43 years. He said there has never been a more important time for governments at all levels to come together for the community. He said the province should consider taking advantage of the film tax credit offered to productions that choose to film in Manitoba. “It’s Florida for six months of the year, it’s Norway for the other six months,” Potenza said. “It requires a larger conversation between public and private partnerships. If the government realizes the economic benefit of bringing world class film production. Bring a Marriott here with a soundstage and we’ll twin the highways to you. That kind of infrastructure, these are big ideas, but big problems need big solutions.” Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes told CTV News the province is always willing to collaborate with municipalities. “We recognize how great Grand Beach Provincial Park is,” Moyes said Wednesday. “We’ve invested over two million dollars in the last couple of years alone. We’ve upgraded the water treatment, we’ve upgraded the campgrounds, the concession stands, even the pickleball court.” Moyes said he understands why expanding the film industry could benefit a community like Grand Marais and the park. “We know film plays a crucial role in our economy,” Moyes said. “How do we build it for Manitobans, so we’re excited about those partnerships we can have in different sectors. If those entrepreneurs can get their idea off the ground, we can build a strong province moving forward.” Moyes said the province will make an announcement in the coming year about an investment in Grand Beach Provincial Park that should excite area residents. He could not share details at the time of publication. The province said upgrades to the park’s water treatment plant and west concession building are expected to be complete this fall.
