2020 ended up being a banner year for construction in the Rural Municipality of Ritchot.

When comparing numbers from 2019 and 2020, one could argue, there is no comparison. In 2019, Ritchot issued 134 permits worth $21.6 million. In 2020, the municipality issued 190 permits worth $41.3 million.

'It was by far one of our more successful years,' says Mayor Chris Ewen.

Some of the most noticeable increases in 2020 compared to 2019 were in the number of decks built (30 compared to 21), pools put in (eight compared to two) and new housing starts (68 compared to 31).

'Grande Pointe is by far the fastest growing and consistently growing area,' notes Ewen.

In 2020, there were 40 new housing starts in Grande Pointe, 23 in St. Adolphe, two in Ile des Chenes and then one in each of Howden, La Barriere and the rural area.

According to Ewen, it is the proximity to Winnipeg that has people interested in building their home in Grande Pointe.

'It's eight minutes to the large chain grocery stores that people customarily shop at,' he says. 'When you can jump on the highway and get inside the Perimeter in under eight minutes, that's a pretty big opportunity for anyone working.'

Similar to what some other municipalities have been saying, Ewen says he believes that one reason why construction activity was so strong during a pandemic year is because people used their spare time to complete some smaller projects.

'But also we've had a few developments in the works and with the Council that we have currently, they are very adamant about bringing a sustainable growth to Ritchot and I think that has a lot to do with it,' says Ewen.

Meanwhile, Ewen says Ritchot just pulled the 5,000th permit in the history of their municipality. He notes that is a pretty big number and quite an accomplishment for Ritchot.