Big news for the City of Morden!
"Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) has announced that Morden is on the books for a 1st Street and Thornhill Street upgrade," announced Mayor Nancy Penner, noting the department put together the design in 2024 and plans to get to work in 2025. "We will be getting a re-design with turning lanes and traffic lights."
"I will believe it when I see it," Penner added with a chuckle. "Hopefully that will happen. We all know the congestion that happens at First Street and Thornhill trying to come into town and get out of town."
With 2024 marked by several big moments, like the opening of a new school and Council's plans to move on a long-term wastewater solution, the Mayor, in a year-end interview with PembinaValleyOnline, turned her attention to the future and what's in store for the city in 2025.
"We have such a beautiful community, and we have the bones to build with," she said. "It is a pleasure to envision, dream and explore what can be done to enhance the community for its residents."
"I have a very strong Council that is very supportive and creative in their ideas, and that is just the grounds that I so appreciate working with (as well as) a very strong City Manager," added Penner, noting it is this support that helps guide her through the good and difficult times.
WHAT ELSE IS IN STORE FOR THE CITY OF MORDEN IN 2025?
In December, it was announced that Morden, Winkler and the R.M. of Stanley were joining forces to launch a feasibility study exploring a temporary solution to Morden's wastewater processing capacity shortage. In another show of regional cooperation, the three municipalities will be examining the possibility of establishing a regional airport in the coming year.
"The vision is, we already have recreation with the fly-in club at our airport," said Penner. "The Morden airport already takes in air ambulance. But I think, with an expanded airport, we can look at the economic benefit for growth within the community. We have businesses here that are corporate, international businesses that they could fly-in their executives here."
In addition, Council expects to unveil its new strategic plan early in the new year.
"Last year, we went through a strategic planning session with public consultation, working with staff and Council. We've got our plan in place," said Penner.
As well, Council and administrators are in the early stages of plotting out the city's 2025 budget, including any capital projects on the to-do list.
Meantime, the city's Community Gardens have found a new home at 1st St. North for this coming summer.
"We're developing forty-acres that will eventually see all of our soccer fields up there, but our community gardens will be up there," explained Penner.
She noted, designs are being drawn up for further development of the space.
"Eventually, we'll see it expanded with some shed storage, picnic tables, shelter and parking. It'll be developed as we go forward."
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER GROWTH
2025 will also provide for additional post-secondary educational and training opportunities for city residents and those in the surrounding area.
To start, Assiniboine College's 18-month Accelerated Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma program will get going next week. Penner believes this opportunity will help staff the city's two new daycares.
Intake for Assiniboine's Practical Nursing program in Morden will open in January as well.
"When I look back to 2024, there was twenty-four LPNs that graduated, and twenty-two of them were hired within Southern Health-Sante Sud. So, that is a huge win-win for both our community to provide education right here in our backyard and then have employment right here," said Penner.
And, thanks to a PrairiesCan skills and training project grant, the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology will be bringing its Network Systems Administrator course to Morden in the fall, with intake happening in June.
With files from Robyn Wiebe