The arrival of a major restaurant franchise is the latest sign of continued growth in La Broquerie.  

Reeve Ivan Normandeau says Subway’s opening along Highway 52 at the town’s edge shows the community is attracting new investment as both the village and surrounding rural municipality continue to develop. 

He adds that the restaurant’s location along a busy transportation corridor makes it a natural fit for the area.  

“There’s always development going on in Marchand. So the traffic on the highway, I think everybody can confirm that on 52, is abundant.”   

Normandeau says he is pleased that residents and commuters now have more choices for dining and expects Subway to succeed in La Broquerie.  

“It's nice for our local residents and the municipality as a whole to have other options for food. And I think Subway will do very well here in our nice, beautiful municipality.”   

Family-friendly choice  

The town’s expanding schools and active recreation programs complement local businesses like Subway, bringing families regularly into the community notes Normandeau.  

“I think it's a popular destination for students. We also have a great rec program here in La Broquerie. Hockey, baseball, figure skating, softball, and soccer. It continues to grow. And I think Subway is probably one of the easiest options for parents.”  

Normandeau says the municipality hopes to attract more commercial and industrial development to create local jobs and keep workers in town.  

“I know that we have a great workforce that unfortunately have to go either to Steinbach or to Winnipeg to fill those needs,” notes Normandeau.  

He emphasizes that the community’s quality amenities, French and English schools, and strong recreation programs make it an attractive place for businesses to set up. 

Managing a growing community  

While commercial growth like the new restaurant is welcome, much of the municipality’s recent expansion has been residential.   

Normandeau says housing development within the village is currently limited by available building lots, though nearby areas are continuing to attract new residents.  

“Near the golf course, there's a fifty-five plus development that continues to grow. When the fifty-five plus expands, that brings in new residents, and then people who are going to these fifty-five plus have to sell their house, and obviously it's a domino effect.”  

At the same time, many newcomers are choosing rural properties outside the village centre.  

“Some people don’t want to live in town. People like to have the residential rural lots. They have five acres. They can have a hobby farm if they would like.”   

According to Normandeau, the area has “a good mixture of both.”  

While Normandeau acknowledges that expansion brings challenges, the town is working to manage them while reaping the rewards of a growing community.  

“Growth is always good, but like everything else, growth comes with some challenges. You have to maintain your infrastructure, your roads, gravel. And vandalism does go up... it's one of those things that go hand in hand with growth but we're trying to focus on it to keep everybody happy.”  

Municipal officials are expected to outline future priorities once the municipality finalizes its upcoming budget. Normandeau says residents can expect major announcements in the coming months. 

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