Businesses across western Manitoba are still working to recover from flash flooding that struck the region in June and July, with many owners racing to complete repairs before winter sets in and while they wait on provincial disaster assistance.
The Westman region was hit by intense rainfall over the summer, with some areas receiving between 100 and 150 millimetres of rain in a short period, triggering evacuations and widespread damage. The flooding set off 52 local states of emergency across Manitoba communities and affected more than 1,300 kilometres of roads, including 100 highways and 63 bridges.
Repeated Flooding Hits Local Shop Owner
Dan Grazier, owner of Grazier Custom Manufacturing Ltd. in Swan River, said his shop flooded twice this summer — first in early June and again on Canada Day. He had already cleaned up and made repairs to the store’s front office after the initial flood before the second deluge undid much of that work.
Grazier said he is tens of thousands of dollars into repairs, with much of the earlier spending effectively wasted since the damage will need to be addressed again. While his equipment was largely spared, he is still restoring the rest of the building and waiting for the province to begin distributing disaster financial assistance. He said he and many other business owners in the area are relying on that provincial aid because their insurance policies did not cover overland flooding.
The province has said it has received more than 2,500 applications for disaster financial assistance. The application deadline is Oct. 8, and those approved will be able to submit invoices and expenses tied to the storm until July 2027. A separate flood recovery program is also available to residents of select communities who do not qualify for the standard disaster assistance stream.
Grazier also became an informal spokesperson for Swan River’s business community during the flooding, when widespread power outages disrupted communication. He met with Premier Wab Kinew when the premier visited the region shortly after the flooding to discuss local concerns. He said contractors are working hard to help restore homes and businesses, but the limited number of local tradespeople means the work is stretched thin.
Suppliers and Ski Club Bracing for What’s Next
In Swan River, the local Co-op store has restocked drywall and finishing supplies to meet expected demand from residents and businesses continuing their rebuilds through the fall and winter. Manager Les Konjolka said the store struggled to keep up with demand for cleaning supplies and generators in the weeks immediately after the flooding, but is now better prepared for the ongoing recovery work.
Scale of Manitoba's Summer Flooding
Elsewhere in the region, the Asessippi Ski Club is working against the clock to repair buildings damaged by floodwater and high winds before snow arrives. The club, which operates separately from the Asessippi Ski Area & Resort but uses its hill, saw its warmup shack and outdoor deck damaged during the flooding. The resort itself, situated at the bottom of the region’s floodplain, also lost its pumphouse, which is used to make snow for the hill.
Club head coach Nigel Simms said the shack — used by athletes, parents and officials during training and races, including the club’s annual provincial alpine and freestyle skiing competitions — was nearly swept away, and was only saved by a buried timing cable. Simms said he was prepared to demolish what remained of the structure, but club members chose instead to rebuild it in time for the season opener. The club has launched a fundraising campaign for building materials, which had raised $450 toward its $4,500 goal as of Monday afternoon.
Simms said the damage to the club’s facilities is minor compared with the losses faced by residents and businesses that lost homes or livelihoods altogether, but described the destruction as difficult to witness nonetheless.
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