Selkirk has been and still is home to some extraordinary people over the years. Some gave their lives for a better tomorrow, others traveled the world, created recreation, and gave transportation. Learn how these great individuals shaped our beautiful city into what it is today.
From chaotic horse-drawn wagon races and dropping pamphlets from airplanes to battling winter blazes with open-air trucks, the Selkirk Fire Department has seen it all. Discover the fascinating history of our local volunteer heroes and how “Maggie” and “Jiggs” helped pave the way for modern firefighting
Founded in 1967 to secure equal rights and opportunities for all people, the Selkirk Friendship Centre has served as a vital community pillar for decades. From its modest beginnings in a former plumbing shop to the opening of its dedicated Eveline Street facility in 1975 and the 2.3-million-dollar Tyro Housing project in 1990, the Centre—propelled by its passionate volunteers—continues to deliver essential recreational, cultural, and social programming.
From its 1901 origins as a cozy reading room funded by local benefactors to the grand opening of its beautiful Carnegie-funded building in 1909, Selkirk’s library served as a vital community hub for decades. Explore the fascinating history of this historic landmark, its post-war demolition in 1959, and how its legacy was preserved in the bricks and timbers of the town’s parks.
Junior hockey in Selkirk dates to at least 1918, when the Manitoba Junior Hockey League was first founded.
From a grassroots idea sparked during a 2002 election to an award-winning regional success story, the journey of Selkirk Transit is a masterclass in community determination. Explore how years of dedicated task force planning, local surveys, and crucial provincial partnerships finally got the wheels rolling in 2011—providing affordable, accessible, and green transportation for over 350,000 riders.
Sigurjon “Siggi” Goodbrandson (1920–2003) was a Manitoba-born Second World War veteran who served overseas with the Royal Canadian Artillery. After returning home, he enjoyed a long career as a machinist at the Manitoba Rolling Mills (MRM) and was an active, lifelong member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 42 in Selkirk.
Stefan Victor Arni Stefanson (1919–1980) was a Selkirk-born Second World War veteran who enlisted in the Canadian Army with the Irish Fusiliers Regiment, serving on the Canadian west coast and in Jamaica. Following his military service, he remained active in his community, notably playing for the Selkirk Legion intermediate hockey team.
Discover the inspiring life of Thomas Podruchny—a dedicated Selkirk educator, passionate local photographer, and elite marathon runner who completed a remarkable 355 marathons across the globe.
From captaining Red River boat brigades to navigating the intense political waters of the Red River Resistance, Thomas Sinclair Jr. was a beloved pillar of early Manitoba. Discover the remarkable life of this former magistrate and early Selkirk Mayor, whose sudden passing cast a profound gloom over a community that considered him a friend to all
Thomas “Tom” Albert Norquay (1925–1979) was a Selkirk-born Second World War veteran who enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Following his military service, he graduated from the University of Toronto as an optometrist and opened the very first optometry practice in Selkirk.