CBC Manitoba - Features - Urban Myths

Situated on the banks of the Red River, the city of Selkirk is located 44 kilometres from Winnipeg International Airport and 15 minutes from St. Andrews airport. The community boasts a major seaplane base for northern destinations and is the home base of the last lake barges and the Gimli study. In years gone by, Selkirk's Downtown Waterfront was a main focus for the town and a service centre for eastern and northern Manitoba. The total population according to the 2001 Census was 9,752, down slightly from 9,880 in 1996.

For many years, Selkirk has served as the last harbour on the Red River system before Lake Winnipeg. Early settlers arrived by York boat in the late 1800s from eastern Canada and from far away as Europe. They brought with them a rich cultural heritage that can be seen today in local festivals like the Manitoba Highland Gathering and Games.

Earl of Selkirk's great experiment

Thomas, Earl of Selkirk, wanted to relocate hundreds of Scottish and Irish peasants to the shores of the Red River and create for them a new life in a new land. His plan failed in the short term: he did not create the great settlement he had dreamed of, nor did he launch a new life for many settlers. However, he did open up a new frontier and he did surround his name with such an aura of genius and determination that the name Selkirk was chosen when the town of Selkirk was formally incorporated in 1882.

Selkirk's forefathers were hard workers. Until 1970, employment was labour-intensive. The local steel industry has sustained the area for the past 100 years and kept the people in town. Gerdeau MRM Steel Mill is one of the larger metal-recycling facilities on the Prairies and employs 450 people.

Economic development

Selkirk's recent and massive business development was spurred by Wal-Mart, which opened in June of 2005. Other stores and restaurants opened: Boston Pizza, Payless Shoes, Mark's Work Warehouse and Warehouse One. The new business district is located on Manitoba Avenue west of downtown.

Selkirk's big-box growth is putting demand on other services. The Selkirk Learning Centre expanded its programming and now offers several correspondence courses.

The Selkirk Public Library, in its current location, was built 1985. However, it has become too small to serve its patrons, which included residents in the neighbouring municipalities of St. Andrews and St. Clements. Plans are underway to create a modern library to serve its growing clientele.

Due to its history with the Selkirk Mental and the Psyche Nurse Training Centre, the city embraces people with special needs. A good infrastructure (ARC Industries, Crisis Stabilization Unit, etc) and greater tolerance end up attracting people with special needs. The Selkirk Mental Health Centre is a major employer in the city. The centre's buildings are architecturally significant and are undergoing a large upgrade worth $23 million.

The Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School is one of the largest high schools in the province with 1,100 students. Its catchement area includes Grand Marais, Victoria Beach and St. Andrews. It offers a massive vocational program and is a sporting powerhouse. The Selkirk community pool is attached to the school.

The Red River divides the City of Selkirk into east and west. The Red River provides a multiplicity of recreation and sporting activities. Fertile fields of grain and oilseeds surround the city on all sides.

Selkirk is known locally as the "catfish capital" of North America. Many people try their luck at landing the "big one" -- a Red River Catfish. Some have even caught catfish weighing more than 50 pounds. Anglers from the southern States and around the world come to compete in organized derbies and to fish recreationally. "Chuck" the catfish has become a local mascot, and it greets visitors at the south end of Main Street.

Selkirk is also described often as "hockey crazy." It has two arenas: the Selkirk Recreation Complex, the city's "new" arena, was built in the 1980s. It is the third-largest arena in Manitoba after the MTS Centre in Winnipeg and the Keystone Centre in Brandon. It is home to The Selkirk Steelers, the local Junior Hockey League team.

Local attractions

Well-known tourism attractions in or near Selkirk include the Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site, Manitoba Marine Museum and Oak Hammock Marsh, the latter being one of the premiere bird-watching areas in North America.

The Marine Museum of Manitoba opened in 1974 and is adjacent to Selkirk Park. The museum is dedicated to preserving the river heritage that led to the settlement of Selkirk. Among the exhibits are a number of nautical artifacts and a number of restored ships, including the S.S. Keenora, Manitoba's oldest steamship that was built in 1897.

Selkirk Park, located on the banks of The Red River, offers recreational activities and access to the river for fishing and boating. There are camping facilities, picnic areas, swimming, and a marshland bird sanctuary supported by Ducks Unlimited Canada. Selkirk Park is also the home to the annual Triple S rodeo.