Poplar River First Nation still dreams of all-season road, and the political will to make it happen – CBC

Nov 11, 2024

2011 study pegged cost of road to northeastern Manitoba community at $317M, has now likely tripled: minister

Every two weeks when the winter road opens, Mabel Bruce makes the approximately seven-hour drive south from the northeastern Manitoba community of Poplar River First Nation to Winnipeg.

She goes to stock up on groceries and supplies, since “they’re a little cheaper,” Bruce said. “We bring a lot of stuff home when we go shopping in Winnipeg.”

Leaders in the remote First Nation, approximately 350 kilometres as the crow flies north of Winnipeg, have been pushing for an all-season road for the past four decades, according to Vera Mitchell, who was chief when CBC visited Poplar River in late September.

A permanent road is required to connect the community with the rest of the province, which is a fly-in community when the winter road isn’t open.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/poplar-river-first-nation-all-season-road-1.7368240