Fort la Reine Museum is celebrating some exciting news after receiving a $90,000 boost from the provincial government to help turn one of its key attractions into a year-round community space. The funding is part of Manitoba’s From the Ground Up – Safe Healthy Communities for ALL program, which supports community-led projects across rural areas. Turning the Trading Post into a year-round space Caitlin Post, programming and administrative manager at the Fort la Reine Museum, says the money will go toward the Trading Post Redevelopment Project, which will transform the seasonal building into a four-season facility. “We were very excited to be approved for the grant," Post says. "It was able to go out to a few other communities in Manitoba as well, which is always nice to see, as there are lots of places that need additional funding, especially when it comes to heritage locations." The trading post, located within the Fort Complex, is scheduled to be taken down this summer and rebuilt with modern amenities, including heating and electricity. The new facility will support museum programming, offer private rental opportunities, and provide a welcoming space for community events throughout the year. “We’re hoping to really focus on strengthening our own infrastructure and sustainability. Having those private rentals and more opportunities for people to visit the museum is definitely something on our mind and something we want to prioritize,” she notes. Related stories: Francophone funding boosts Notre-Dame, Fort la Reine projects Local history takes centre stage as democracy project films at Fort la Reine Stream all our news stories: Country 93 / Mix 96 / CFRY 920 A boost for heritage and community engagement The museum hopes the redeveloped trading post will draw more visitors, both new and returning, and serve as a hub for local events. “The trading post is definitely going to be a big draw, I think, especially once everything’s up and running. Hopefully, more visitors will stop by and more returning ones as well,” she adds. With construction planned for this summer, the Fort la Reine Museum looks forward to welcoming the community into its new four-season space and using it to strengthen connections, programming, and cultural heritage in Portage la Prairie.