A new cell tower in Steinbach is signaling high hopes in the area.
Audrey Harder, executive director of the Pat Porter Active Living Centre (PPALC), says she was contacted about the tower around one year ago.
"Because we're in town and it's so close to airports, they had to make (the tower) shorter, which is fine. They've leased part of the property, and they're really great to work with," she says.
The new tower sits on the PPALC grounds but doesn’t take up any parking space and won’t interfere with future plans for expansion.
"It's going to be on the other side of the building," Harder confirms.
Cell service in southeastern Manitoba has long been a challenge, especially for rural residents who often face unreliable coverage.
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For Harder, the installation of the tower is a hopeful step in the right direction.
"It will hopefully make it better for people with their cell phones and whatever they need it for," she says.
The tower also brings a welcome financial boost for the PPALC.
"For us it's a little bit of an income that we can say is steady," Harder says. "So that's good."
Written with files from Adi Loewen