Manitoba Avenue has been home to some of Selkirk’s longest standing businesses – and it still is. Take a stroll, bike, or drive along this historic street, and learn about some of the best remembered businesses from days past.
B. Kovitz (Benjamin Kovitz) was a Lithuanian-born entrepreneur who fled Jewish persecution to build a nearly 40-year retail legacy in Selkirk. After opening a modest tailor shop in 1930, his business expanded into Kovitz Dry Goods and the popular Janis Lynn women’s apparel store, leaving a lasting mark on Manitoba Avenue and the town’s commercial history.
Step back in time to Selkirk’s favourite mid-century gathering spot. Discover the history, the memories, and the community legacy of the iconic Dinette.
Opened on February 11, 1963, by Ken and Ethel Crowder at 241 Manitoba Avenue, Ethel’s Flower Shop was a cherished community fixture for over half a century. Later owned and operated by Lena Van Blaricom and subsequently Ethel Keith as a passionate family affair, this bustling downtown shop brought comfort and joy to Selkirk residents by supplying fresh floral arrangements for generations of weddings, holidays, and milestones until its closure in 2014.
Opened in 1948, Selkirk’s historic Garry Theatre survived a major fire, heralded the golden age of cinema for locals, and stood as a community pillar for over 70 years before its next act began.
Established in 1897 by Walter “Harry” Gibbs, Gibbs’ Drug Store served as a beloved multi-generational cornerstone of daily life in Selkirk for over a century. From filling crucial after-hours prescriptions to providing postcards and souvenirs for tourists traveling aboard the S.S. Keenora, this historic downtown fixture faithfully served the community for 110 years before closing its doors in 2005.
Established in 1906, the North American Lumber and Supply Company expanded across the prairies to become a cornerstone of Western Canada’s building industry. After acquiring Captain William Robinson’s Selkirk interests in 1926, the Manitoba Avenue branch grew into the company’s largest rural hub, later introducing the region’s first Chieftain Hardware store and serving generations of local builders and homeowners.
Built in 1907 at 250 Manitoba Avenue despite a heated local debate over its location, the Dominion Post Office and Customs Building served as a bustling civic hub for fifty years. Explore its journey from a vital mail and wartime government office to its dark era of 1970s abandonment, and discover how a dedicated 1984 grassroots restoration saved the historic landmark to create the thriving Selkirk Community Arts Centre.
For generations, Pauley’s Barbershop served as far more than just a place to get a haircut—it was a cherished cornerstone of Selkirk’s social and community life. Known for its welcoming atmosphere, friendly conversations, and familiar faces, this historic local establishment remains fondly remembered as a true neighborhood hub where community bonds were forged and strengthened over the decades.
Established on Main Street in 1927 by Russian immigrant Harry Rifkin and his wife Freda with just $200, Rifkin’s evolved from a modest, seven-day-a-week general store—complete with a taxi service and hot dog stand—into a beloved downtown fashion staple. Moving to its final location at 212 Manitoba Avenue in 1945, the business was later transformed by their son Max and his style-savvy wife Lucy into a modern ladies’ clothing boutique, elegantly serving generations of local shoppers for 61 years until its closure in 1988.
Discover how the Selkirk Community Arts Centre has championed local creativity since 1985. Housed in the historic post office building on Manitoba Avenue, explore how this vibrant hub—run by the Gwen Fox Gallery—provides regional artists with a space to showcase their work, offers community art classes, and preserves Selkirk’s cultural heritage.