by LORRAINE HOUSTON

George Bryson and Jennie Corvino were searching for a place to call home, when they discovered a small village in southwestern Manitoba. According to George and Jennie, they not only found a home, they have discovered a family when they moved to Dunrea earlier this year.

“Everyone here has been so nice,” said Jennie. “The people are so helpful – lend a hand. Coming here is like living with one big family.”

Dunrea, located in the R.M. of Riverside on Highway #23, has a population of approximately 70 people. The hotel and restaurant closed its doors in the fall of 2007, leaving the community without a local coffee shop and “watering hole”.

The young couple, Jennie turning 23 this week and George 31, purchased the Dunrea Hotel in January. The business included a beverage room, restaurant, guest rooms and a residence. After several months of renovating the doors re-opened on May 23 to the community …. and the community came.

“We have been extremely busy,” said George. “We already are famous for our burgers.”

Their menu features seven burger varieties with titles like the Dunrea Burger, the Italian Stallion and for the hungry lumberjack, the Ultimate Hammmburger.

The Sportsman Inn, still undergoing a facelift, has added a 15 foot TV screen, popular this past week with Stanley Cup playoff fans. There are plans for a weekly movie night, Karaoke night and Wii Wednesday (a body movement computer game).

The four guest rooms have also been redone with new carpets, new beds and bathrooms refinished.

Jennie, raised in Winnipeg, and George, raised in Northern Ontario, were both working for the Conservation as Fish and Wildlife Technicians in Manitoba and were wanting to purchase a house. While travelling in Manitoba about eight months ago, they saw a hotel listed for sale at St Leon. They liked the countryside of the area and thought it would be a great place to live, but by the time they inquired about purchasing the business at St. Leon it was already sold. From there the couple looked at properties in Saskatchewan and Manitoba when they discovered the Dunrea Hotel.

“We wanted a place to be comfortable, be happy and make friends,” said George.

For Jennie, living in Dunrea has been a new delightful experience. “I have never lived in a small town like this before,” she explained.

“This is a community,” adds George.

As for future plans, George and Jennie are game to try just about anything.

“We are here for the community. Whatever they want,” said George.

With the strong backing they have received from the people of Dunrea, the new entrepreneurs are making plans to return the support by working with charities helping to improve the village. They would like to see projects that will fix up the playground and ball diamond. One specific goal is to see a real Dunrea sign at Highway 23, George added with a smile.

“There is a lot of potential to bring people back to this community,” boasted George.