How some Manitoba communities are selling small-town living [Video]

Amid a struggle to attract new growth to rural Manitoba, some communities are finding creative ways to sell Manitobans on small-town living.

When Hal Lavery got a job in Vita, Manitoba about a decade ago, he had never heard of the southern community of just 500 people before.

His first experience was a real rural welcome – driving into town and being welcomed by a cow and two sheep running down the road.

“Which was a unique experience for me, because growing up in the city I wasn’t used to drag racing livestock,” he said.

Hal Lavery is selling his home in Winnipeg and moving to Vita, Man. (Source: Danton Unger/CTV News Winnipeg)

However, Vita’s small-town charm quickly won Lavery over. Now working as the vice-principal at the community’s school, Lavery is selling his house in Winnipeg and moving to Vita full-time.

A map shows the location of Vita, Manitoba. …