People travelling through Manitoba on the Number 6 now have a place to go number 1 and 2. New porta-potties popped up last week at two rest stops along Highway 6 — a vital north-south corridor that stretches roughly 750 kilometres across Manitoba, from Winnipeg to Thompson. The new temporary washrooms are part of a provincial government pilot project to reduce waste and address safety concerns, the province said in a May 14 news release.
The temporary washrooms were installed just before the May long weekend, with two porta-potties at the Devils Lake rest stop area, about 320 kilometres north of Winnipeg, and two others about 260 kilometres further north on the highway, at a rest stop near William River. "It's going to be really appreciated by anybody who is travelling on the highway," said Heidi Cook, chief of Misipawistik Cree Nation, which is on Highway 6 and about 300 kilometres south of Thompson. "You know, sometimes nature calls and you can't wait for two hours.
" Misipawistik Cree Nation Chief Heidi Cook says travellers on the highway will appreciate the new rest stops. (Submitted by Heidi Cook) Previously, options for bathroom breaks on the highway were limited. Ponton Junction, north of William River, was a popular spot for travellers to stop, before a fire in 2018 destroyed the gas station and restaurant stop there.
The incident was described as a "huge loss to the community" at the time, but no replacement was built. That's meant for travellers on the highway over.
