Opportunity Shines Blog

February 2026 Economic Development Update: Since inception, Sunrise Corner has been committed to supporting community clubs with practical, hands-on assistance that helps reduce volunteer burnout and strengthens long-term sustainability.

January 2026 Economic Development Update: As we welcome a new year, many of us feel inspired to set intentions that bring more joy, health, and connection into our lives. One of the easiest—and most enjoyable—ways to turn resolutions into reality is by embracing the winter magic right here in Sunrise Corner.

December 2025 Economic Development Update:
From supporting local businesses and welcoming new entrepreneurs, to promoting our beautiful landscapes and strengthening community programs, this past year was filled with meaningful steps forward.

November 2025 Economic Development Update: Retaining the incredible businesses we have here in Sunrise Corner is important to the quality of life of residents. Equally important is ensuring retiring business owners are able to claim the hard-earned value of their business to help fund their retirement. How can both those scenarios take place in our region? That’s where Sunrise Corner can help.

October 2025 Economic Development Update: Sunrise Corner strongly believes in the value of partnering with our local chamber of commerce to help drive growth and prosperity in our region.

September 2025 Economic Development Update: When planning a memorable family gathering, hosting at home might seem convenient. But have you considered renting a small-town hall instead? Nearly every community in Sunrise Corner has a hall with unique amenities available to rent.

August 2025 Economic Development Update: Whether it’s a brand-new venture, a new owner stepping in to continue a legacy business, or an existing business owner offering new products or services, entrepreneurs bring jobs, energy, and stability to our region.

July 2025 Economic Development Update: Sunrise Corner is home to summer community events we all love. These events don’t just happen on their own, though. A team of dedicated volunteers helps bring the fun to life. Why not join them?

June 2025 Economic Development Update: In Sunrise Corner, we continue to see growing opportunities to leverage our cost-competitive location and warm quality of life, Manitoba’s carbon-neutral electricity, and the increasing flexibility in corporate work arrangements to attract new residents.

Youth Entrepreneur Challenge Showcases Future Business Leaders: The Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce (PRCC) is proud to announce the success of its first-ever Youth Entrepreneur Challenge, held on May 15, 2025.

May 2025 Economic Development Update: With Sunrise Corner’s natural resources, entrepreneurial spirit, and positive business climate, there are significant opportunities within the Craft Food & Beverage sector for investment, business growth and diversification.

April 2025 Economic Development Update: With Sunrise Corner’s abundant natural resources and positive business climate, there are significant opportunities within the Value-Added Manufacturing sector for investment, business growth and diversification.

March 2025 Economic Development Update: With Sunrise Corner’s abundant natural resources and positive business climate, there are significant opportunities within the Agriculture & Resource Development sector for investment, business growth and diversification.

February 2025 Economic Development Update: With Sunrise Corner’s diverse prairies, forests and wetlands, there are significant opportunities within the Outdoor Recreation & Tourism sector for investment, business growth and program development.

January 2025 Economic Development Update: With Sunrise Corner’s growing population, positive business climate, and incredible quality of life, there are significant opportunities within our Residential Development sector for investment, business growth and diversification.

December 2024 Economic Development Update: With our strategic location, competitive costs, supportive business environment and diverse economic opportunities, coupled with strong community spirit and incredible quality of life, Sunrise Corner has a compelling case for business investment and growth.

November 2024 Economic Development Update: Sunrise Corner is emerging as a prime destination for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to set up shop or expand. With its unique blend of natural beauty, supportive community, and economic opportunities, this region offers a compelling case for business investment.

October 2024 Economic Development Update: Beautification is more than just a trend; it’s an investment in the appeal and cohesion of our communities. A well-maintained landscape and thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces enhance not only individual properties but also the overall livability of neighborhoods.

September 2024 Economic Development Update: September is a good time for businesses to assess how to achieve their goals by the end of the year. Why not start with making sure potential customers know how to reach you when they need your products or services?

August 2024 Economic Development Update: When planning a memorable family gathering, the venue can make all the difference. While hosting at home might seem convenient, renting a small-town hall offers advantages that can elevate your event.

July 2024 Economic Development Update: Writing a grant application can be a daunting task, but with careful planning and attention to detail, you can greatly increase your chances of securing funds for your project.

June 2024 Economic Development Update: With those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer nearly upon us, it’s time to plan some fun weekends. Sunrise Corner Tourism would like to challenge everyone to attend a local event you’ve never been to before.

May 2024 Economic Development Update: At last month’s Green Career Symposium, we asked students if they had started thinking about a summer job. Here are five elements to think about when contemplating the benefits and outcomes of a summer job.

April 2024 Economic Development Update: Employment opportunities are a key consideration for youth to remain in Sunrise Corner and for working adults to thrive here and move from other areas to enjoy our incredible quality of life. The upcoming Green Career Symposium will provide options to help make that dream a reality.

March 2024 Economic Development Update: In a region as large and sparsely populated as Sunrise Corner, with the RMs of Piney and Stuartburn home to about 3600 residents over 3600 sq km, we benefit from strategic, regional partnerships to create opportunities that individual municipalities alone could not normally achieve.

February 2024 Economic Development Update: With 3,600 square kilometers of quaint communities and pristine natural areas, Sunrise Corner offers an endless list of recreational pursuits for those who love the peaceful solitude of a crisp winter day to enjoy our forests and fields.

January 2024 Economic Development Update: Sunrise Corner has a rate of entrepreneurship that is more than double the provincial rate. That’s why one of our main areas of focus since day one has been helping small business grow and new businesses launch.

December 2023 Economic Development Update: The season of holiday giving is right around the corner and many of us are looking for unique gift ideas. Rather than doing another online purchase from a big, faceless corporation, why not consider some of these incredible local options instead.

November 2023 Economic Development Update: Sunrise Corner is the partnership of the RMs of Piney and Stuartburn promoting the southeast corner of Manitoba, Canada as an incredible place to live, work, play, visit, invest and explore. One of the ways we do that is to partner with other organizations that provide business owners with resources […]

October 2023 Economic Development Update: Fall is often considered a time of new beginnings with the start of the school year. It is also the final stretch towards the end of the year. However you look at this time of year, there’s no better time to commit to lending more support to local events, businesses […]

September 2023 Economic Development Update: Pretty much everyone has friends or family that live in large cities. Some locals don’t invite their friends to visit because they feel like there’s nothing to do. No dance or sports clubs, no theatres, no fancy restaurants. Keep in mind, people who live in big cities already have access […]

August 2023 Economic Development Update: With summer in full swing, Sunrise Corner wants to remind everyone that supporting local means more than just shopping locally. It also means moral support. Here are some no-cost, online ways to support our local businesses.

July 2023 Economic Development Update: After three years of consultation and planning, we are thrilled to officially announce the Shared Legacy Partnership. Our goal is to help advance understanding of the wonder of Manitoba’s Tall Grass Prairie Natural Area, its relationship with agriculture, and the natural heritage that benefits all residents.

June 2023 Economic Development Update: In April 2023, Sunrise Corner Economic Development hosted an in-person focus group workshop at Piney Community Hall. We invited a targeted list of residents representing business, industries and community groups to share their ideas as it relates to growth and economic development in the region. This workshop complemented a survey […]

May 2023 Economic Development Update: There are some rural businesses that operate exclusively by word of mouth. Their new customers or employees come through referrals from customers, friends and neighbours. That approach works…to a point. If businesses want to be more strategic in finding ideal customers or qualified employees, they might consider casting their net […]

Sunrise Corner is the tourism and economic development partnership of the Rural Municipalities of Piney and Stuartburn. We are now accepting applications for a Tourism Marketing Coordinator position that could tentatively run from May to August 2023 (pending receipt of the Canada Summer Jobs Grant). We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with a passion […]

April 2023 Economic Development Update: According to Travel Manitoba: “Tourism in Manitoba is a $1.47 billion industry, representing 2.5% of the province’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and some 10.5 million visitors to Manitoba (2015 figures).” With the incredible natural assets and friendly people in Sunrise Corner, we have significant untapped tourism potential. Tourism is an […]

March 2023 Economic Development Update: Sunrise Corner is working on an investment readiness assessment and business attraction strategy. What’s that? It’s an in-depth plan and comprehensive toolkit to promote Sunrise Corner as an incredible place to live, work, play, visit, invest and explore, known for sustainable economic development balancing exceptional rural quality of life.

Sunrise Corner is seeking qualified vendors to provide a quote on a suite of high-quality photographic and video assets. Deadline for submissions is Monday, February 13, 2023. Please see Request for Proposal for complete details.

February 2023 Economic Development Update: The phrase “location, location, location” is often heard when it comes to retail businesses. A high-profile location certainly can help increase the chances of your business success. But what about in a rural area like Sunrise Corner which has about 3,600 people across 17 small communities spread over 3,600 sq […]

January 2023 Economic Development Update: Since creating a formal, staffed economic development partnership in 2019, the RMs of Piney and Stuartburn have consistently heard from residents that they know development is needed in the region, but they don’t want the negative impacts that can come with development. That’s why the focus of Sunrise Corner Economic […]

December 2022 Economic Development Update: December has always been a month of giving and gratitude. Volunteering is a gift of time you give to causes and organizations you care about. Whether it’s doing park improvements at the community club, driving seniors to appointments, coaching a kids’ sports team, or sharing our culture and history at […]

November 2022 Economic Development Update: Sunrise Corner is excited to announce we have published our first ever Community Profile. A community profile is a snapshot of a community at any point in time. These profiles are used primarily to attract investment and to develop a strategy for future developments in a community.

October 2022 Economic Development Update: Shopping locally supports business sustainability, creates jobs and is more environmentally friendly. To support the “shop local” philosophy, Sunrise Corner created a new online directory that promotes businesses and organizations that are physically located the RMs of Piney and Stuartburn.

September 2022 Economic Development Update: The reasons for starting a business are as varied as the entrepreneurs who start those businesses. Maybe you want to be your own boss and in control of your earning power. Perhaps you have a new product to introduce to the world. It could be you have a vision to […]

August 2022 Economic Development Update: Every business needs a name and there are many things to consider when choosing a name. It should be memorable and easy to spell and pronounce. Quirky spelling might be unique but can make it difficult for a customer to find your business online. The name should be representative of […]

July 2022 Economic Development Update: You’re starting a business and you’ve followed the five steps so far: came up with your big idea, conducted research, determined your business structure, wrote a business plan and worked through your financials. Now it’s time to implement the marketing plan section of your business plan. The “4 Ps of […]

June 2022 Economic Development Update: People start businesses for all kinds of reasons, but bottom-line, the business needs to make a profit to be sustainable. Whether it’s a solopreneur’s full-time livelihood or starting a business with employees, the owner must understand the financial aspects of their business. It’s time to create a financial plan.

May 2022 Economic Development Update: Writing a business plan is the process that gets all those business-related thoughts running through your head down on paper. It helps set you up for success by outlining all aspects of your business before you’ve invested a significant amount of time and money.

April 2022 Economic Development Update: Determining the legal structure is an important part of starting a business. There are a number of options from simple to more complex. Whether it’s a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation or co-operative, the structure determines personal, tax and legal liabilities, so it’s critical to understand the pros and cons for […]

Sunrise Corner is the tourism and economic development partnership of the Rural Municipalities of Piney and Stuartburn. We are now accepting applications for a Tourism Marketing Coordinator position that could start as early as May and run through to August 2022 (pending approval of the Canada Summer Jobs Grant).

March 2022 Economic Development Update: So, you want to start your own business. You’ve done some soul-searching and determined a big idea for your start-up. It’s something you’re good at and something you enjoy. Great. What’s next? “Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.” Zora Neale Hurston, American Anthropologist

February 1, 2022 (Vassar/Vita, Manitoba) – The year-end accounting of residential building permits is in and the numbers confirm that the Rural Municipalities of Piney and Stuartburn have experienced another year of positive building growth in 2021.

February 2022 Economic Development Update: If 2022 was the year for something new, what would that look like for you? Perhaps your “something new” is starting a business and becoming your own boss. If so, Sunrise Corner is here to provide you with resources and guidance to point you in the best direction to meet […]

January 2022 Economic Development Update: It’s a new year and we’ve got exciting news – our online directory is now live on the Sunrise Corner website. We are proud to help raise awareness about all the businesses, non-profits and organizations in our region that add so much to our communities. And by doing so, we […]

December 2021 Economic Development Update: With the holiday season upon us, Sunrise Corner wants to remind everyone that supporting local means more than just shopping locally. It also means moral support. Inspired by a recent Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce social media post, here are some no-cost, online ways to support our local businesses.

There are so many great small businesses in our region and Sunrise Corner Economic Development is proud to promote and help grow these businesses that add so much to our communities. We’ve got two initiatives coming up that will provide online platforms for local businesses based in the RMs of Piney and Stuartburn to reach […]

November 2021 Economic Development Update: Sunrise Corner is focused on developing our region to present new opportunities to residents in a sustainable way that preserves the rural quality of life we all love. Here are a few of the initiatives we’ve been working on.

October 2021 Economic Development Update: When I started a marketing agency years ago with two partners, the first thing our lawyer asked: What’s your exit strategy? We laughed because we hadn’t even opened our business yet but were being asked how it would end. But it’s no laughing matter.

September 2021 Economic Development Update: All business owners should have an exit strategy, a plan for the owner to exit their business while the business continues to operate for the benefit of employees, customers, suppliers and the community.

August 2021 Economic Development Update: One of the great things about doing business in small communities is that business owners and customers are often on a first-name basis – they are friends, family and neighbours. But that friendly small-town way of doing business shouldn’t mean that basic customer service is ignored.

July 2021 Economic Development Update: As Manitoba hits its first vaccination target and we hear about the US border potentially opening on July 5 to those who are fully vaccinated, many businesses, especially those who rely on tourists, are looking forward to sunnier days ahead. Here are three resources to help those businesses put their […]

June 2021 Economic Development Update: Sunrise Corner recognizes the volunteers who work tirelessly to fundraise and maintain their community buildings. These community halls and related facilities like skating rinks, pools, tennis courts and curling arenas are truly the social heart of each community.

May 2021 Economic Development Update: So many small businesses in Sunrise Corner – makers, bakers, artisans, authors and tradespeople like carpenters, plumbers and electricians – are operated from home. If you’re one of these entrepreneurs without a bricks-and-mortar storefront or huge advertising budget, how can you get the word out about your products or services?

Sunrise Corner has launched a new website and to get you familiar with all the great resources, we’re hosting a scavenger hunt contest where all the answers to the questions can be found on the website. It’s just nine easy steps to winning gift cards to local businesses.

April 2021 Economic Development Update: Sunrise Corner is the partnership of the RMs of Piney and Stuartburn promoting the southeast corner of Manitoba as an incredible place to live, work, play, visit, invest and explore. And what better way to do that than with this new and improved website.

While the Nature Conservancy of Canada has long been a private landowner in the RM of Stuartburn, working on conservation in and around the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve, residents of Sunrise Corner may have been hearing more about them lately.

March 2021 Economic Development Update: The Piney Stuartburn Economic Development Board, the guiding force behind Sunrise Corner, has completed their strategic planning process.

Sunrise Corner is seeking a Tourism Marketing Coordinator for a seasonal employment opportunity.

RMs of Piney and Stuartburn enjoyed increased development in 2020

Sunrise Corner’s 2020 strategic planning process identified a goal of creating five new tourism products over the next five years.

So many Sunrise Corner businesses have stepped up during the pandemic to ensure we have local access to the products and services we need and want. With the holiday season just around the corner, now’s a great time for us to show our appreciation.

On this #ThankYouThursday, Sunrise Corner would like to extend our appreciation to the essential retailers that have really gone above and beyond in recent months. The pandemic has clearly shown how important small-town grocery and drug stores are to the fabric of our community. Both residents and tourists are reminded to support local as often […]

Staying home does not mean you can’t shop – and shopping local is the best way to support your neighbours and community. Sunrise Corner is home to countless unique and locally based vendors that you can order from online or by just giving them a call. Here are five featured local businesses and a profile […]

Sunrise Corner is seeking qualified vendors to provide a project quote on the Seasons of Sunrise Corner video series. Deadline for submissions is Monday, January 6, 2020. Please see Request for Proposal for complete details.

See below for the newly developed position, presented by the RMs of Piney and Stuartburn, in partnership with Sunrise Corner.

There are endless ways to make quilting become art. Stitched Art is a rarity you won’t find anywhere else.

It’s a sunny afternoon in mid-May when I decided to visit Prevost Perennials in South Junction, MB. I’m greeted by the songs of birds, creeping vines, exotic fruits and potted flowers spilling out of every corner.

To kick off the summer, Sunrise Corner held a launch for our new marketing plan Friday, April 26.

Sunrise Corner now has two, portable, roadside signs for local advertising.

Cheery vendors and a taste of community awaits you at the Southeast Farmer’s Market in South Junction.

Click here to view the Summer Employment Opportunity Notice!

Join us Saturday November 5th, from 9-11AM as we reveal the new logo and tourism plan for Sunrise Corner!