A familiar Portage la Prairie tradition saw a record-breaking crowd on Canada Day as the Rotary Club served up pancakes, sausages, and community spirit during its annual Canada Day breakfast at Island Park.
Preston Meier with the Portage Rotary Club says the response from the community is overwhelming in the best way.
“The breakfast was amazing, the day was incredible. I don't think you could ask for a better day,” notes Meier. “Numbers were record-breaking numbers. We had close to 400 people that showed up for breakfast.”
While the event raised just over $1,000, Meier says it’s about much more than dollars.
“Our goal of course, is more to create an event,” he continues. “We appreciate everybody that participated and had some great volunteers that got us through.”
Funds go toward community projects
The money collected from the breakfast isn’t tied to any specific cause but goes right back into Rotary’s local initiatives.
“It’s not designed for a specific project per se,” says Meier. “But it goes to our ongoing projects, everything from our duck pond to the Rotary skate park to the Rotary Republic of Manitobah Park. Basically, it goes into our general funds, but it all goes back directly right into the community.”
Volunteers help power the event
Meier takes time to recognize the efforts of those who helped bring the event to life.
“First of all, we have an incredible committee. Travis Foster has led our committee for probably the last 10 years,” adds Meier. “It’s also kind of the first event for our new President, Dave Roberts, that started on July 1st. We’ve got a new Rotary year starting as well.”
“We had a ton of volunteers and friends of volunteers that helped us get through it,” he says. “But more importantly, the people that showed up… I saw a lot of smiles, a lot of Canada Day shirts, a lot of Canada Day flags and people were just in a generally really good mood.”
A fireworks display to remember
While Meier didn’t attend the fireworks display in person, he says he had a perfect view from home.
“I just live actually not that far from the bridge. We were able to sit out in our front yard and experience the fireworks,” remarks Meier. “Congratulations to the city. I think they put on one of the premier fireworks displays that you’ll see anywhere in Manitoba.”
“Even though we had that rain and hail, you think it dampens the spirit, but it didn’t,” he adds. “There was hundreds and hundreds of people out there watching it, and the show was one of the best.”
Rotary gears up for fall fundraiser
Canada Day breakfast is the club’s only official event on July 1, but more activities are coming later in the year.
Meier says the next major fundraiser is already in motion.
“The big event we have coming up usually is the end of September and it’s our 45th Rotary vegetable sale,” continues Meier. “We have a number of local producers that help us out and it’s really our biggest event of the year.”
“We’ve raised over $450,000 that has gone directly back into the community,” he adds.
Planning underway for 75th anniversary
Meier also shares that the club is already looking ahead to a big milestone in 2026.
“Just want to get it out there earlier, next year is our 75th anniversary in Portage la Prairie,” mentions Meier. “The club started back in 1951 and we have a committee planning our 75th gala.”
“It'll take place next spring and then we’ll get all the information out and about,” he says. “Obviously, past Rotarians, past presidents, past anybody, we want to certainly celebrate what Rotary has done in this community for the last 75 years.”
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