Today marks the one-year mark since the first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 was reported in Manitoba.

During this time, the pandemic has affected so much, from seeing family to wearing masks and everyday leisure as we know it. But how did Portage la Prairie fare?

In total, there were 240 cases recorded in the City of Portage and five deaths, while rural Portage was left with 112 total cases and seven dead. Portage la Prairie Mayor Irvine Ferris says despite everything that has happened, there have been positives.

"The fact that we came through this as a community far better than a lot of other communities, and better than some other provinces is due in large part to how serious our citizens here took it," says Ferris. "The vast majority took steps, and showed they cared about their fellow citizens. I think it paid some big dividends, so we see that in our numbers for Portage."

Ferris knows that we've also faced hardships with residents dying, incomes becoming tighter in an already tight economy, and small businesses being pushed to the brink of closing. He says there have been some silver linings.

"Our citizens are making use of every outdoor recreation space they can. We saw a large number of rinks on Crescent Lake being maintained, cleared off and used regularly," says Ferris. "I know times when I've been out running into people, a lot of people said, 'you know, this saved our mental health and ability to live in a community that's walkable.'"

Portage la Prairie residents have been doing their due diligence when it comes to the pandemic. Ferris notes no anti-mask protests or councillors were speaking out against the orders, which he says is in Portagers' blood.

"It goes back partly to Portagers having a long history of neighbours helping neighbours. This is about when I follow the public health orders, I'm showing care and concern for my fellow citizen(s)," says Ferris. "I think the vast majority of our folks did that, and I think we enjoyed some good results from that."

He says it's promising that we're on the cusp of getting vaccinated and being able to resume a normal life but warns there is worry about some of the variants going around.

"There is a concern in some corners about a third wave by the variant. We do have a variant in our province, and we're not sure of the exact numbers because testing is often delayed," says Ferris. "I urge people to continue to show the kind of caution that they've shown for the past year and be a little more patient until we get the vaccine rollout."

Ferris refers to the U.K variant known as B.1.1.7, which studies say is 30 to 70 per cent more deadly than the original strain. He acknowledges all the hard work of the area's citizens for doing their part.

"Just a big thank you to our frontline health care workers,  and a big thank you to the citizens of Portage for taking this so seriously. Being conscientious about how they approached it's noted, and it's much appreciated."