History Archives

Elsie Bear

PeopleBy City of Selkirk Staff and Contributors August 15, 2023

Born into a Métis family in Grand Marais in 1921, Elsie Bear became a monumental figure of advocacy, community service, and cultural pride in Selkirk. A founding force behind the Selkirk Friendship Centre in 1967, she dedicated her life to empowering women, children, and Indigenous peoples, while personally fostering around 40 children and launching a massive annual community Christmas dinner. Her decades of selfless giving earned her Manitoba’s prestigious Order of the Buffalo Hunt and the MMF’s Order of the Shawl.

Mel Bedard

PeopleBy City of Selkirk Staff and Contributors August 8, 2023

Born in Selkirk in 1929, Melvin “Mel” Joseph Clifford Bedard was a legendary Métis fiddler who dedicated his life to preserving Indigenous and regional musical heritage. A master of the Red River Jig style who counted Don Messer and Andy de Jarlis as close friends, Bedard won over 80 competition awards, recorded acclaimed albums, and mentored generations of performers before his induction into the Fiddlers Hall of Fame in 2013.

The Catfish Cookoff, Selkirk vs Emerson

Heritage Highlights, NewsBy Emily Karklin July 28, 2023

In 1989, a fierce but friendly culinary battle erupted between Selkirk and Emerson to claim the undisputed title of “Catfish Capital of Manitoba.” The high-stakes rivalry culminated in a televised cookoff on CBC’s The Journal, where a blind taste test by local judges ultimate crowned Selkirk’s pan-fried preparation over Emerson’s deep-fried entry, cementing Selkirk’s legendary status on the map.

Selkirk Fair and Rodeo

EventsBy City of Selkirk Staff and Contributors July 14, 2023

Established in 1884 by the St. Andrews Agricultural Society, the Selkirk Fair and Rodeo stands as one of Manitoba’s oldest agricultural fairs. Evolving over 145 years from a traditional autumn showcase for livestock, baking, and plowing matches into the action-packed “Triple S” semi-pro rodeo and community festival at Selkirk Park, this beloved annual tradition continues to bring together residents from St. Andrews, St. Clements, and Selkirk.

Catching Catfish on the Big Screen

Heritage Highlights, NewsBy Emily Karklin July 14, 2023

In 1985, local fisherman Chuck Norquay wrote to Babe Winkelman, host of the American television show Good Fishing, hoping to showcase Selkirk as the “Catfish Capital of North America.” His letter caught Winkelman’s eye, leading to a filming session along the Red River where the crew caught nearly 200 pounds of catfish in a single day—a massive success that launched Norquay’s successful new career as a local fishing guide for eager tourists.

Selkirk Friendship Centre

OrganizationsBy City of Selkirk Staff and Contributors July 1, 2023

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.

Princess Anne and the Dinner Debacle

Heritage Highlights, NewsBy Emily Karklin June 16, 2023

During Selkirk’s 1982 Centennial, a royal luncheon for Princess Anne aboard the MS Lord Selkirk turned into an unexpected kitchen comedy. When the head chef got so nervous he overindulged in the cooking wine and turned the kitchen upside down, a local health inspector and a doctor had to step in, completely from scratch, to save the day—culminating in a last-minute menu swap from Goldeye to Pickerel.

C.G.S. Bradbury

PlacesBy Katrina Eeles May 30, 2023

Assembled along the Selkirk Slough in 1915, the steel-hulled C.G.S. Bradbury served a storied career navigating Lake Winnipeg as a fisheries patrol vessel, lighthouse tender, and vital winter icebreaker. From transporting doctors through thick ice during a 1917 flu epidemic to being saved from the scrap heap by community donations in 1974, this historic ship remains a legendary fixture of Manitoba’s marine history at the Marine Museum of Manitoba.

Gibbs’ Drug Store

Manitoba AvenueBy City of Selkirk Staff and Contributors May 23, 2023

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.

Gilbart Funeral Home

Historic HousesBy City of Selkirk Staff and Contributors May 19, 2023

From its 1920s beginnings equipped with borrowed tools to a striking appearance in an Oscar-winning Hollywood film, Gilbart Funeral Home is one of Selkirk’s most enduring landmarks. Discover the fascinating four-generation legacy of this local institution, the trailblazing businesswoman who blossomed the family trade, and the grand Queen Anne Revival heritage home that holds it all together.

Tag Archives: History