Making Portage Home Again, Part 2 of 4

Like a migrating butterfly, Linda Kirton has returned to Portage la Prairie more than once. She first moved here in 1959 and attended North Ward School. She also attended LaVerendrye School, Prince Charles and PCI, which she describes as “wonderful schools, at which I later worked as an Educational Assistant.” She first moved away to Alberta at 18 to join a boyfriend and marry young. She returned in 1973. “In between, we lived in Saskatchewan, too, and decided to move back to Manitoba in 2020 just when the pandemic hit as I missed my hometown and my friends. I lost both my siblings and still have a mother who resides at the Lions Manor. Even at my age, I missed my Mom as I am all she has now.”

Although she met some wonderful people on her journeys, Linda says it’s nice to be home again where people still remember who you are. “There is no place like home, I always tell people.”

Dennis McMillan’s story is similar. His memories of growing up in Portage involve sports and community clubs. After graduating from Pharmacy in 1970, he returned to Portage for nine years, then moved his family to Carberry where he ran his own pharmacy for 28 years. In 2015, he and his wife chose to return to Portage because their three children had moved away from Carberry. “We were happy to come back to Portage because my wife, Marilyn, had two sisters and some good friends here, and we had a cottage at Delta Beach.”

Dennis noted that Portage has grown quite a bit since he first moved away. “There is lots of choice for any kind of store you would want. A major employer is Simplot and now the pea processing plant. People might read the weekly paper and see lots of people being picked up for drugs and having weapons. If you check in any town, you will probably see the same thing. Guns and drugs are everywhere. Portage has done a great job with Stride Place, a great golf course, and Crescent Lake.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by Kaitlyn Coates (McDermid) who left Portage in 2007 to attend the University of Winnipeg. She returned when she attained a teaching position at Agassiz Youth Center in 2012. “I also wanted to buy a house and quickly realized it would not be an option for me in Winnipeg for many years,” Kaitlyn says. “I was happy to be close to family and excited for my new job, but the people I’d kept in touch with had moved away, so I was a little nervous about coming back and figuring out a social life.”

I love Kaitlyn’s comment about complainers.

“Portage isn’t shiny and new, but it has so much heart. The best way to see the good in this town is to get involved. Kathy Thurston recruited me to get involved in the United Way shortly after I moved back, and it was such a great thing for me. It allowed me to meet people I normally wouldn’t meet. It also showed me how incredibly generous this town can be and how many services we have available. My first response to people who complain about Portage is to ask them, ‘What board do you sit on? What team do you coach? What’s your favorite local business? Where do you volunteer?’ If you’re not trying to better Portage, than you can’t complain.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

More stories next week.

 

 

Making Portage Home Again, Part 1 of 4

 

Have you heard it? “I can’t wait to get out of this town and never come back.”

Most often, the sentiment is voiced by teenagers and most often, they are referring to the only town they’ve ever lived in. Still, they somehow know that anywhere would be better than where they are. They almost always manage to leave. I don’t know what the stats reveal for those who truly never return, but occasionally, adults who left their hometown in their late teens or early twenties drift back. On purpose.

I thought it might be fun to interview a few people who have intentionally returned to make Portage la Prairie home again. I put out an invitation on social media and received replies from a surprising number of people who grew up here, left as young adults, and then returned to live. I’m happy to share seven stories with you over the next four weeks from Aldene Moroz, Sharryl Loewen-MacDonald, Dennis McMillan, Linda Kirton, Mitch Moar, Kaitlyn Coates (McDermid), and Colin Doyle. I hope you’ll join us as we recognize what a terrific home we’ve actually got here.

Born and raised in Portage, Aldene Moroz left for the brighter lights and better opportunities of Winnipeg at the age of 18. “Portage gets a bad rap!” she says, recalling wonderful memories of her childhood here, including picnics at Island Park, Lions Pool, and Delta Beach. When she and her husband were ready to retire in 2010, they chose Portage because Aldene’s mother lived here and needed her help. Aldene felt excited and looked forward to reconnecting. She became involved in volunteering and was surprised to land a part time job with Sunset Palliative Care. “I’ve made the nicest friends through swimming and through Weight Watchers. People are very welcoming,” she says.

When people ask why she chose Portage over a city with more cultural opportunities, Aldene tells them, “It’s affordable. Our property taxes are less than half what they were in Winnipeg for the same size home. You can do stuff with that money!”

She also appreciates the community atmosphere. “When I lived in Winnipeg, I would go to city hall and not know a soul. Here, if I stop in at city hall, I probably know five people. I can honestly say I would never move back to Winnipeg. Portage is a gem of a city with lots to offer.”

Aldene says the key to feeling at home is volunteering. “There are lots of opportunities for people to get involved, to help out. You don’t have to stay in your own clique. I’d like to see Portage grow more, see tax incentives for businesses to come here, more variety of restaurants. I hate when people drive to Winnipeg because groceries are cheaper. What about the travel cost? Support local!”

Sharryl Loewen/MacDonald is another recent “returnee” to Portage. Born here, she grew up at Peony Farm and attended Dale Prospect, Yellowquill, and PCI schools where she made many lifelong friends. At 18, she moved to Winnipeg to study nursing at St. Boniface Hospital. In May of 2020, at 63, Sharryl returned to Portage. “Our only daughter had moved here and we wanted to be close to our four grandkids, enjoy them, watch their growth and development on a day-to-day basis.”

Sharryl admits she felt a little uncertain and reluctant at first because her husband is not from Portage. But he wanted to be closer to their daughter and her family, too. “Being born and raised here, I felt comfortable as I had kept up long time friendships, so I came back to my roots.”

She has, of course, seen changes. “We never had a rec center
like Stride Place which is a big bonus for the community. Coming back to Portage in my sixties, I feel I have a better appreciation for my roots.”

More stories next week.