A new two-storey commercial space is taking shape in the heart of Niverville. The building at 106 Main Street will offer a range of office suites in a project could help to further dispel any lingering perception that Niverville is a bedroom community.

Joined the west-facing side of the existing building, the nearly 2,500-square-foot addition is expected to welcome its first tenants in February 2026.

The first occupant and catalyst of the second phase’s development, The Joy Smith Foundation, is a nationally recognized organization whose mission is to stop human trafficking. The foundation, which is moving its operations from downtown Winnipeg, is part of a trend of out-of-town professionals commuting to Niverville instead of the other way around.

The building’s owner, Garry Stratychuk, says he is committed to welcoming professionals whose work supports wellness, community, and philanthropy. Stratychuk’s business, ITI Financial, currently occupies the second floor of the existing building, which sees about six people commute from Winnipeg to Niverville each day.

“When this growth started, many would live here and work in the city, but now it’s exciting to have people coming here to work from Winnipeg rather than the other way around,” says Stratychuk. “The traffic coming here in the morning is easy, and easy on the way home in the evening. My staff loves it. Leaving here at 5:00 p.m., there is no traffic heading back to Winnipeg. With the Joy Smith Foundation joining us here, it means that roughly 15 more professionals will be regularly making the trip into Niverville.”

The building’s first phase, home to Niverville Family Chiropractic and Stratychuk’s ITI Financial, also accommodates Niverville’s local food bank, Helping Hands, which serves Niverville, New Bothwell, Otterburne, and Ste. Agathe.

The second phase is designed to be aesthetically identical to that first phase, which was completed in 2017. Work is being overseen by the same builder, Precision Homes. The only changes being made are material upgrades, including improved soundproofing.

“We knew that eventually Niverville would reach a population where services would move here from the city. They’re now moving here,” says Stratychuk. “When my wife Denise and I moved to town, our morning commute to drop our kids off at school went from two hours a day to five minutes. It’s a far better quality of life for a family.”

Recognizing that Niverville’s progress hasn’t always been straightforward, Stratychuk reflects on the challenges that shaped the town’s growth.

“This was birthed with a lot of pain. There were people who didn’t make it in town since the building first went up, because of all of these different factors involving the town’s economy, but Niverville somehow just kept growing on its own, and I think that’s because of the community.”

Stratychuk says that while the second floor is called for, he looks forward to seeing which professionals take up business on the main floor.

“I love watching people come to our town, build stuff, and create things that weren’t there before.”