Planning underway for Oasis Village at Manitou Beach

Phase two would then be determined by the success and experience of phase one. The plan is for it to include 35 or 40 more units. That would result in a population of about 50 to start and then eventually able to house about 120 individuals.

Another component would be a health vacation destination retreat.

“Health vacations are a very growing industry in North America,” Byrne said. “These types of retreats or health vacations help people deal with issues including nutrition, anxiety, chronic pain, intestinal issues, and so on.”

Bryne is from Edmonton but visits his cottage at Manitou year-round. He said it was through discussion with local residents, natural health professionals and doctors that the need for this facility was evident.

The plan for the project took off with some research by Byrne in the seniors market, through consultation with seniors housing in Vancouver, Regina, Saskatoon, and Edmonton.

Tourism and economic development also did a survey on the Watrous area and found that the outflow of seniors going elsewhere for lack of accommodations is very high.

“They really can’t find the type of services they are looking for here so it was another contributing factor and the fact that it just makes sense,” Bryne said.

According to Byrne, research has also shown that the those who would populate the Oasis Village would not only come from the immediate area and the province but also from Manitoba to British Columbia.

“The majority of residents here at Manitou Beach are all individuals who have all moved here and settled here from those areas,” Byrne said. “They come to spend time at the pool, at the spa, or the lake in the summer at the campground, and have determined that it’s a great place to retire and so they are coming,”

The therapeutic powers of the lake that already brings people from all over Canada and internationally are another reason for the rising demand for a complex for retirees in the area.

Phase one would cost around $19 million and another $12 to 13 million for phase two bringing the projected cost of the building over $40 million.

Bryne has been collaborating with Paul Blaser who is an architect with the company RBM out of Saskatoon. The firm has created preliminary drawings and a rendering for the build. Those sketches were shared at a town hall meeting at the end of October. The feedback from that meeting was very positive according to Byrne.

“There hasn’t been anything of this magnitude done at Manitou Beach since the early 1980s,” he said. “But it is a big talking point in the community and I have yet to hear anyone say that it is not a good idea or that it won’t work.”

A project manager with 35 years of experience of developing retail and commercial space as well as shopping centers and malls is also on board. A marketing strategist was also hired.

Inquiries are coming in from all over the area including Lanigan, Regina, and throughout Alberta, with questions on the residencies, and obtaining a unit when available.

Byrne said his big quest right now is to get the support to get everything underway which does include investors along with potential residents. He hopes to have seed funding in place by the end of this year. Any interested investors or residents can get in touch with Byrne at michaelb@healthhavenholdings.com.

“If all of the stars align, we would be able to break ground by early or mid-summer of 2020,” Byrne said.

The economic impacts would be significant for the area as well.

“Everything ranging from an administrator, to therapists, from chefs and restaurant staff, as well as maintenance of the complex,” Byrne said. “There would be workers and contractors from all over for the build congregating on this project, too.”

The existing businesses throughout the entire region would see endless benefits through construction and beyond.

“There are so many skills set and expertise required and then the positive impacts on Manitou Beach and Watrous to support all those workers through construction and then the population increase,” Byrne said.

The year-round population has increased dramatically. This year there was a 20 per cent increase over last year, and it was recently indicated that numbers of tourists recorded in 2019 surpassed numbers in over 80 years.

“People won’t have to leave the area for those amenities or can come to a very quiet place and experience the attributes of Manitou Beach that have been promoted for years now,” Byrne said.

The target for completion of the entire project would be late 2023 or early 2024. Phase one would be late 2021 or early 2022 with Bryne citing an 18-month construction period.

“It just depends on what occurs over the next few months. We need both businesses and individuals to step up and take it to the next stage,” he said.

The Oasis Village has been modeled after upscale entities available in major urban centers.

“Once this is built, I believe that it will be postcard worthy,” Byrne said.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser

by Angie Rolheiser

Planning underway for Oasis Village at Manitou Beach

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