Getting the Wheels Rolling The potential for Selkirk to have affordable and accessible transportation was first articulated as something to consider by mayoral candidate David Bell during the 2002 municipal election all-candidates forum. Bell was elected mayor that year, but no discussion or effort was undertaken by the city to explore the idea following the…
Library and Reading Room A citizens group called the Selkirk Literary Association was established around 1879, primarily to bring speakers to the town and to host debates. One topic in August 1879 was ‘…be it resolved that Canada is a better field for immigrants than the United States.’. The society is mentioned sporadically through the…
After a few false starts, Selkirk established its curling club in 1893. On Christmas Eve 1893, the Manitoba Chapter of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club (the registry body for curling clubs in the province) met to discuss the creation of a curling club in Selkirk. They announced that; “D. Fromer, secretary of the Selkirk Curling…
Curling’s popularity continued to grow after the Second World War, and several new rinks were built in the region including Winnipeg Beach in 1952 and Gimli in 1953. Selkirk also wanted to replace its ageing building but would have to wait a few more years. The Selkirk Curling Club formed a building committee on March…
212 Manitoba Ave Abraham Rifkin immigrated from Shadrinsk, Russia to New York, USA. His wife and children, Louis, Izzy, Benny, Sarah, Harry, and Gordon slowly followed, one or two at a time. When Harry immigrated in 1908, he was 14 years old. The family settled in Galancy, a Jewish borough of New York. Abraham and…
241 Manitoba Ave Ethel’s Flower shop was opened by Ken and Ethel Crowder on February 11th, 1963 at 241 Manitoba Avenue. They ran the shop before selling to Lena Van Blaricom in 1966. Ethel’s Flower Shop, Date Unknown, Selkirk Heritage Advisory Committee Building Inventory Lena was very community driven, being active with the Selkirk Nursing…
301 Queen Avenue Murray Sinclair Park was one of a pair of playgrounds built by the Kinsmen Club of Selkirk in the mid-1950s. It was part of a national Kinsmen program to provide improved play opportunities for the new wave of children born immediately after the war. Kinsmen South Playground on Main Street at Dorchester…
163 Edstan Place As its name suggests, this park was once part of a 37-acre farm with a storied history created by A. A. Gilroy. Gilroy came to Manitoba from Ontario in 1905 as a senior executive with the T. Eaton Company. At the time he started the farm, he was also president of the…
Recent Years 1980-Present
The Modern Town 1947-1979