“What makes Rockwood so special and such a gem in the Manitoba landscape is that we are so diverse,” shares Reeve, Wes Taplin. “Our communities are second to none with that hometown feel, and we want everybody to come and experience us. We are putting ourselves on the map with the growth that we’ve been experiencing in the last couple of years.” A WELCOMING LEGACY Taplin underscores that what really makes the area stand out is the sense of community. He describes,“In Rockwood, you find a lot of century farms and a lot of family names that have been here for 100 years. The people that are in the community, they don’t leave, and they’re willing to accept newcomers and neighbors with open arms.” With a population close to 10,000, the municipality is seven minutes from the city of Winnipeg, convenient for commuters and those seeking the benefits of a rural lifestyle. CAO Chris Luellman portrays,“A lot of people work in Winnipeg, but I’ve heard the comment many times,‘Once you hit that perimeter, you finally relax.’ You feel like you’re home coming down the highway. It is that quality of life and community.” A PLAN FOR GROWTH At the heart of Rockwood’s plans is Stony Mountain, a growing community poised for residential, commercial, and industrial development. “It’s had a lot of attention brought to it in the last five years, with developers wanting to expand and make it a regional service center. With Winnipeg growing so much, there has to be a place for the workers to reside, and we would like them to call Stony Mountain home,” Taplin conveys. A new 1,700-door housing development featuring single-family homes, multi-family units, and affordable housing is at the forefront of the efforts, helping to bring more residential options to the region. This also includes a seniors complex which will introduce 50 suites, followed by a review to determine the need for an age in place facility adjacent to the complex. “Basically, we’re trying to develop Stony Mountain as a complete community,” continues Luellman. “It’s got the opportunities to be developed with 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 01 ROCKWOOD, MB
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