The Portage Community Revitalization says no shortage of successes, along with a few challenges over the past year. That's from PCRC Executive Director Val Garlick, following her presentation of the annual report to Council this week. Garlick's been in the executive director's chair for about eight months, and the organization has seen all new staff coming in over the past year. She credits the work of those previously at the organization, including former executive director Elicia Funk, for ensuring the success of the new staff.

"We had a complete turnover of staff at PCRC. We were really fortunate that all of us who were new came into an organization that's incredibly well-organized and structured. It was just a matter of kind of picking up those pieces and moving on with them."

Garlick says there were many highlights in their 2015-16 year, with a number of returning, and new events taking place throughout the city. She says some of the exciting events included the Winterfest at North Memorial School in partnership with Recreation Opportunity for Kids, Newcomers Welcome Centre and PRED, and the Breakfast on Ice in February, which was held in conjunction with PRED and the United Way. Garlick says while the organization holds new and returning organizations, one thing that remains steady is the importance of their work alongside community organizations.

"I think it's essential. Nobody can do it alone. Everything is more successful if we work together. If we can bring together our ideas and our resources. It just makes an event, right off the bat, more successful, and it also makes it a lot more fun."

While ongoing programs such as the Revitalize Portage Grants and Home Beautification Grants were highlighted, Garlick says the graffiti program is also making a major improvement to the city's appearance. She notes that program's been in place for about four years, and each year their crews are kept busy covering the work of vandals.

"It makes a big difference. This summer along they've taken care of over 60 incidents of graffiti. Some of them have been really major ones, like the Tupper Street Bridge, they've managed to take care of most of that under the bridge this year."

Garlick says they're looking at a great year ahead, ranging from the new Portage the Prairie Dirt Dash in September, to work to gather community feedback to help direct the organization into the future.