Former Manitoba air force base reborn as rec centre

In May, the sod was turned to kick off the new $3 million Central Plains RecPlex at the former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Base Portage La Prairie in southern Manitoba. While the CAF vacated the area 25 years ago, the base is still in operation – under the aegis of Southport Aerospace Inc. – and still provides all of the basic training for the Royal Canadian Air Force through the Canada Wings Aviation Training Centre on site.

The former base is also home to several satellite educational facilities, health care agencies, commercial/industrial plants and 500 full-time residents.

"The demolition of our old recreation centre is well underway," said Peggy May, Southport Aerospace’s CEO. "We are excited about this project. We hope it will be up and operating by next spring."

The former rec centre, May noted, housed an aquaplex, including an adult pool and a kids’ pool. However, when Portage La Prairie opened its Shindleman Aquatic Centre five years ago, it made the Southport aquatic centre obsolete.

The new Central Plains RecPlex will house a 100-metre two-lane running/walking track, a cardio area, a climbing wall, and a connection to the existing gym by a lift. There will also be change rooms, a food service area, a day care for 30 children and a bright open space with big windows on the main floor for weight and exercise equipment.

A climbing wall, May said, is intended to be the jewel in the crown of the rec centre as there isn’t anything like it in the region.

She added that the foyer is intended to also serve as a meeting place and reception area. May noted that Southport is going to be looking for green energy opportunities, such as LED lighting, in the construction of the new facility.

"We want the RecPlex to be energy efficient and sustainable in the long run," she said. "Our goal is to establish a world class business centre here balanced with lifestyle wellness and recreational facilities. We can’t wait to offer some of these new amenities to the community and to the people in the region."

Southport is financially self-sufficient and debt-free. It has annual revenues of about $8 million from which it is able to finance projects such as the new RecPlex and last year’s $6 million airfield apron.