Reeve says 2023 was a busy year for R.M. of Ste. Anne

When the reeve for the R.M. of Ste. Anne looks back on 2023, Richard Pelletier notes the unexpected death of one of their councillors made for a tough start to the year. 

“We lost councillor Brent Wery who sat on my side of the table, which was a big loss for the town of Richer because he was really involved with the town of Richer and even on the fire department.” 

Wery died on January 8, 2023 when his vehicle collided with a train. 

In May, Patrick Stolwyk was elected as the new councillor for Ward 3 in the R.M. of Ste. Anne.   

Also last year, council worked with the province to improve safety at the intersection of highways 12 and 210 at Ste. Anne. 

Pelletier expects they will review options next month. 

The municipality has also been updating their by-laws and Pelletier says the building by-law is one that is getting a lot of work “to make it simpler for contractors or anybody who wants to build a house or a business in the R.M. of Ste. Anne,” he explains. 

At the Association of Manitoba Municipalities conference this past fall, Pelletier says they spoke with Premier Wab Kinew about business development along the Trans-Canada Highway. 

“It would be great to see that when you get out of Ontario and into Manitoba, there is business on number 1 Highway, like we see in other provinces.” 

Pelletier says his council wants to see development on land that is not favourable for agriculture, adding there is a lot of land along that highway that would be ideal for development. 

Some other highlights from the past year include new play structures in Giroux and La Coulee, and reconstruction of some roads and ditches to improve drainage. 

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