Portage la Prairie MLA Jeff Bereza welcomed students from Portage Collegiate Institute's (PCI) Roving Campus last week to Winnipeg to see the politician at work.

Grade 10 - 12 students soaked in the Manitoba Legislative Building while Bereza recognized the work of everyone involved in the roving campus with a private member statement, which showcases people who do ordinary/ extraordinary things within our community.

"I'm hoping they got as much out of it as I did because it was great to see them sitting up in the gallery and observing what we do as politicians," he continues. "It's just nice connecting with the future leaders of our community."

Bereza says raising a child and operating the Roving Campus takes a village.

"The initiative is something else. The whole community has kind of got behind this and Portage la Prairie has really stepped up here." 

file photo Portage la Prairie MLA Jeff Bereza.

The MLA notes that with the community's help, this program is where it is today, with businesses providing opportunities to overcome the barriers students face by giving things like gym clothes, shoes, lunches, school supplies, and more.

"It's helped these kids from Grade 12, and it's also helped some of them move on to post-secondary. It is just an amazing program that really gives these kids an opportunity to get a hand up."

Connecting with the community's future leaders is something Bereza tells PortageOnline he values.

"PCI and the Portage la Prairie School Division are really setting a high bar that all divisions should look at moving forward with." 

Established four years ago, in 2020, the Roving Campus functions five days a week. Three days are devoted to teaching essential outcomes and certifications, with the other two days reserved for planning, coaching, and one-on-one instruction.