Vita has received a $10,000 provincial tourism grant to hold a winter festival. The grants are intended to help communities improve the experience of visitors which will in turn contribute to the tourism industry.

Jerry Lubiansky is a councillor in the RM of Stuartburn and sits on the board of the Vita Community Recreation Centre. He says they will use the money to stage a winter carnival in mid-January in the hopes of generating more interest in their recreation centre.

"It's a fundraiser for our rec centre because we are in dire straights right now. It's close to closing time if we don't get things going here pretty soon. So it's a promotion of the area and the centre itself."

Lubianski says the challenge facing their recreation centre, which includes an arena and a curling club, is common in many small communities.

"Especially in rural areas, we just don't have the people anymore and the volunteers."

He says the board of the recreation centre is hoping that a winter festival, geared towards families, will kindle renewed interest in the facility to help sustain it in the future.

Lubiansky says the Vita and Area Winter Festival will feature dog sled races and a number of family-friendly outdoor activities. It will take place January 14th and 15th.