AI Northern Lights Tracker Among Manitoba Projects to See Funds

Churchill, Manitoba is receiving $250,000 in federal funding to create an AI-powered northern lights tracker and enhance tourism marketing to the destination. (TRAVEL MANITOBA)

Nine local Manitoba projects are sharing in $1.85 million in federal funding to strengthen tourism and cultural experiences.

The funding was announced Friday by PrairiesCan, which includes $250,000 to create an AI-powered northern lights tracker and enhance marketing in Churchill, Manitoba.

“By providing notifications on the visibility and intensity of the Aurora Borealis from real-time ground imagery, we plan to increase visitor satisfaction while also building a deeper understanding of aurora viewing statistics — paving the way for future growth in northern Manitoba tourism,” said Brendan McEwan, president of the Churchill Chamber of Commerce

Other recipients include the Assiniboine Park Conservancy, which is receiving $250,000 to develop and implement a winter activation program at Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg.

“We were thrilled to host our first annual We Are Winter celebration in January and will build on what we already offer to make Assiniboine Park a thriving and welcoming hub for winter recreation where visitors can enjoy exciting new experiences along with traditional activities like cross-country skiing, sledding, skating, and snowshoeing,” said Ray Karasevich, president and CEO of Assiniboine Park Conservancy Inc.

Other projects to share in the funding include:

• 10144585 Manitoba Inc. (o/a Rosé Beach House) – $350,000 to expand a retro-chic boutique hotel and increase tourism offerings in Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba.
• Exchange District Business Improvement Zone – $150,000 to expand the Lights on The Exchange / Allumez le Quartier public art festival in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
• Falcon Trails Resort Inc. – $99,999 to enhance a recreational alpine and Nordic ski facility in southeastern Manitoba.
• MASS Investments Inc. – $152,875 to create a glamping accommodation experience to increase tourism in Pinawa, Manitoba.
• National Indigenous Residential School Museum – $350,000 to expand and enhance the National Indigenous Residential School Museum in Manitoba.
• Pinawa Unplugged Ltd. – $118,685 to develop multi-day active tourism offerings and improve accommodations in Pinawa, Manitoba.
• Tourism Industry Association of Manitoba – $125,000 to support export readiness activities for tourism operators in Manitoba.