Selkirk Information
Selkirk, Manitoba is located along the Red River, 22km northeast of Winnipeg, the provincial capital city. A bridge over the Red River connects Selkirk with the smaller town of East Selkirk.
The City of Selkirk was named in honour of Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk who obtained the grant to first establish a colony in the Red River area.
Selkirk is known as the “Catfish Capital of the World” due to the large amount of catfish in the Red River and is home to Chuck the Channel Cat, a 25 foot fiberglass channel catfish. The name Chuck was chosen to honour local sport fisherman, Chuck Norquay, who drowned while fishing in the Red River.
Selkirk is also home to the Marine Museum of Manitoba which houses a collection of historical marine artifacts of the Red River area and Lake Winnipeg.
Geography
The Red River divides the City of Selkirk into east and west and lends itself to many recreation and sporting activities. Fertile fields of grain and oilseeds surround the city on all sides. A few kilometers to the north is Lake Winnipeg, one of the largest fresh water bodies in North America and the world. There are many cottage communities that line the southern shores of the lake and provide a summer get away to thousands of Manitobans.
Thomas Douglas, fifth Earl of Selkirk, purchased over 160,000 square miles of land from the Hudson Bay Company for the purpose of establishing a Red River Settlement. The City of Selkirk was first settled by people of Indian ancestry and was the site of the St. Peter's Indian Reserve and a Metis settlement. The first group of Selkirk settlers came from Scotland, some from Ireland, the Orkney and Shetland Islands, as well as some of the Outer Hebrides.
The City of Selkirk owes its origin to speculation over the transcontinental railway during the 1870's as the riverbanks south of St. Peter, Dynevor Church were quite high, making them suitable for a railway bridge which would not be threatened by flood or ice.
In 1874 the late Hon. Alexander MacKenzie, then Premier of Canada, announced that the Dominion Government would build a railroad through to the West. The survey for this line when completed designated Selkirk as the location where the railway would cross the Red River. This created a real estate boom and the town became commonly known as "The Crossing".
Selkirk wanted to become a trading center where farmers could sell their cream, butter and grain and purchase cloth, harness and machinery. The river was an obstacle to the people from the east side in this regard as there were only makeshift ferries and the ferryman charged a toll for both passengers and teams. The proposed railway crossing created a boom town in the autumn of 1879, completed with frenzied building. Unfortunately the crossing was wrestled from Selkirk by political maneuverings of Winnipeg speculators. This devastated the town and in August 1881 the Inter-Ocean ceased publishing and the town was almost deserted.
Talk of incorporation began and a petition was circulated to the remaining residents. James Colcleugh and his colleagues started negotiating with the Manitoba and South Western Colonization Railway and were surprised when they agreed to build a branch down the west side of the Red. With the continuous influx of people, Selkirk was incorporated as a town at the first meeting of the Municipal Council on July 24, 1882 and the first elected mayor was James Colcleugh.
In 1883 Selkirk was still a raw frontier community with a population of 400. The river became the starting point for the administrative divisions of the town, which were sliced into 3 wards beginning at the river and running westward. The middle ward took in the business district which included several blocks on either side of Eveline and Manitoba. The other two wards were almost rural in nature.
On August 16, 1883 a trainload of 800 people arrived from Winnipeg for the ceremony of the last spike which was driven by the Mayor's wife. The town bustled with prosperity with the train bringing in gangs of young men looking for work. The dusty corner of Eveline and Manitoba was the heart of the business district. No longer did local merchants have to rely on creaking Red River carts that took a whole day to bring supplies from the city, nor did the small steamers which might take hours to negotiate the rapids of St. Andrews. The train could carry more freight and passengers in a one-way trip under an hour! Another newspaper was started - the Selkirk Herald.
In the late summer of 1884 work was started on the provincial asylum for the insane, really needed in the Province. Up to this time the people were either sent out of Province or to jail! It was completed in 1886 but, by the late 1800's serious concerns were expressed about the crowded conditions and a small extension added in 1901. Today the Selkirk Mental Health Centre is one of the largest employers in the area and a fully accredited treatment and teaching hospital with a School of Psychiatric Nursing.
Selkirk was truly the head of inland navigation in the west and to its docks came all the natural resources and trade of Lake Winnipeg and its tributaries, which meant profits for businessmen and work for hundreds of prairie sailors.
In 1890 five businessmen incorporated the Selkirk Electric Company and within a year had installed all the poles, wires and lamps. At first they supplied only street lighting at six intersections but the system was not dependable. An electric railway line between Selkirk and Winnipeg offered to supply electricity for the town at half the current price and arrangements were made.
In 1911 the railway line had greatly enhanced Selkirk as a resort town for wealthy Winnipeggers. The inexpensive electrical service brightened industrial prospects and this, coupled with offers of tax exemptions and free industrial sites, made Selkirk appealing to manufacturers.
By 1912 more men than ever were engaged in the fishing industry in Selkirk and plans were made for a railway dry dock to ensure boat repair work continued to be done in the town. Also, no other place along the river could afford boats or the security of winter shelter that was available at the famous West Slough.
The hockey history of Selkirk dates back to the early 1900's with two boys from Selkirk, who were working in the gold mines at Dawson City, being chosen to be members of the "Klondikers". During the first World War an army team named the 61st Battalion won the Allen Cup in 1916, with all members but one being from Selkirk. Many of Selkirk's hockey players played in the Western Canada Hockey League or the Pacific Coast Hockey League, both formed in 1920. Selkirk has had many good local teams over the years as well as teams that have won the Centennial Cup and some Manitoba championships.
In June of 1913 the Selkirk Development Corporation Limited was formed, specifically interested in bringing Manitoba Rolling Mills to town since it had outgrown its St. Boniface site. Construction began in October and was completed by February. This rapid progress created a serious housing shortage.
In 1931 construction of a bridge over the Red River connecting Selkirk and East Selkirk became a distinct possibility, but because of the depression, funds were not available. By 1934 the Government had decided the bridge would be built as a relief project and the location at Eaton Avenue was chosen as the most practical. The work took the most of the next two years to complete.
When the Red River overflowed its banks in 1950 causing the worst flood in living memory, the townspeople pitched in to assist their neighbours to the south by helping build dikes, sandbagging, providing temporary accommodation, food and clothing.
This city of 10,000 people has all the attractions of any major center including manufacturing firms both large and small. The multi-national Gerdeau AmeriSteel Mill (known as MRM or “The Manitoba Rolling Mills”) employs 450 people and is one of the larger steel mills on the prairies. Selkirk is also home to many smaller metal fabricating and manufacturing firms. Selkirk businesses offer many other products and services to the surrounding area.
Selkirk has a thriving tourism industry because of the proximity to the Red River which has some of the best catfish fishing in North America. Anglers come from the United States and around the world to fish recreationally and to compete in organized fishing derbies.
The Selkirk Mental Health Centre, the largest mental health facility in the province, is a major employer in the city. The Centre's surroundings are a park-like campus on the outskirts of the city, providing a safe and pleasant atmosphere for a caring, hopeful, empowering facility that assures recovery for patients.
Selkirk is part of the Lord Selkirk School Division and offers a wide variety of school options for students both young and old. Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School houses students from Selkirk and surrounding areas in many academic and vocational high school programs. Elementary and middle school students are housed in a number of schools, and nursery and day care facilities are available. French Immersion schools are also available for those that are interested. There is also the Lord Selkirk Learning Centre – Adult Education option that offers high school courses for adults.
With Selkirk being known worldwide for the incredible Catfish fishing, many visitors to Selkirk try their luck at catching the “big one” as the Red River is known for producing some catfish that weigh more than fifty pounds.
Selkirk Park offers many outdoor recreational activities such as camping, team sports facilities, a swimming pool and public beach area in the summer, and cross country ski trails in the winter. The park is located on the river bank of the Red River and provides easy access to the river for boaters and fisherman. Selkirk Park is also home to the Triple S Fair and Rodeo, attracting competitors and guests from across Canada during the month of July.
Located next to the Selkirk Park is the Selkirk Marine Museum. 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 that visitors can explore.
Much of old Downtown Selkirk is lined with historic buildings, dating back to the turn of the century and beyond.
Selkirk is home to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Selkirk Steelers hockey team. Also the Selkirk Fishermen Junior B hockey team who play in the Keystone Junior Hockey League call Selkirk home. The Selkirk Rivermen Hockey Club plays in the SIHL. As well, the Selkirk Royals high school hockey team. My son Myles Sasley plays goal for the team.
Selkirk Park, on the banks of The Red River offers a host of recreational activities with something for everyone. The park offers easy access to the river for fishing and boating as well as camping facilities complete with public washrooms and showers, picnic areas, swimming, and a marshland bird sanctuary.
The Selkirk Recreation Complex includes indoor ice surface, a banquet hall (500 capacity), outdoor soccer fields, baseball diamonds & ruby fields.
The Selkirk Golf and Country Club offers a challenging 18-hole course sure to satisfy all golfers of every skill level. There is a practice fairway and putting green, as well as a restaurant and lounge for post-game refreshments.
The Selkirk Community pool, attached to the Regional Comprehensive School is open evenings throughout the school year for public use. Lessons and programs are available for all ages, and there are regularly scheduled public swims.
Selkirk is located along highway(s) 9 and is approximately 34 kilometres north of Manitoba's capital city (Winnipeg) and is 145 kilometres to a 24 hour U.S. border crossing at Emerson.
Selkirk is only a short drive from Winnipeg's International Airport and only 15 minutes from St. Andrews airport. The community boosts a major seaplane base.
While there is no public transit in the City of Selkirk, Beaver Bus Lines provides charter bus service to and from Winnipeg, numerous times a day.
Driving Distances to Major Centres from Selkirk, Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba 34 kms / 21 miles
Emerson, Manitoba 145 kms / 90 miles
Grand Forks, North Dakota 272 kms / 169 miles
Minneapolis, Minnesota 718 kms / 446 miles
Calgary, Alberta 1356 kms / 843 miles
Toronto, Ontario 1909 kms / 1186 miles
Home Services
Electric Power Manitoba Hydro
Natural Gas Centra Gas
Internet Shaw (Cable)
MTS (DSL and Dial-up)
Television Cable Shaw
Telecommunications MTS
Local Media
Weekly Newspaper Selkirk Journal
Daily Newspaper Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Sun
Radio Standard stations
Emergency Services / Hospitals
Police services are provided by the local detachment of the RCMP. The City has a volunteer fire department, backed up with modern fire fighting and rescue equipment.
The Selkirk and District General Hospital is the major healthcare facility in Selkirk. The facility is equipped to provide care for all patients including those requiring chemotherapy, kidney dialysis, physiotherapy, x-rays and much more.
Also located in Selkirk is the Selkirk Mental Health Centre. This is a 252-bed facility that provides long-term mental health inpatient treatment and rehabilitation services to residents of Manitoba whose needs cannot be met elsewhere in the provincial health care system. SMHC also provides short-term inpatient mental health services to Manitoba residents living in regions without locally available acute in-patient mental health facilities.
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