Following World War II, a booming interest in curling pushed Selkirk to replace its aging Fox Avenue facility with an ambitious new project. Discover how the community rallied to build the Jemima Street Rink—from selling “curling certificates” and hosting volunteer “work bees” to its grand 1962 opening, featuring a ceremonial first rock thrown by Mayor Ben Massey.
Established on Christmas Eve in 1893 after a few false starts, the Selkirk Curling Club quickly grew from a single-sheet rink on Eveline Street into a competitive powerhouse. Explore the club’s early triumphs—including a near-legendary 19世纪95年 trip to a Wisconsin bonspiel—the 1911 debut of the Ladies Curling Club, and the historical mystery behind who truly served as its very first president.
Rising 40 metres above the community, the Selkirk Water Tower is much more than a piece of municipal infrastructure—it is a landmark rich with history. From the town’s first pressurized waterworks system in 1906 and a “bilious green” 1960s Watersphere, to an award-winning modern redesign and a vibrant 2025 heritage mural, explore the evolution of Selkirk’s most visible civic icon.
For over a century, the house at 202 Christie Avenue witnessed the dramatic evolution of its downtown neighborhood. From its 1915 origins as a family home tucked amidst bustling industrial docks and civic buildings, to its late-life transformation into a vital community homeless shelter, explore the remarkable history, changing surroundings, and ultimate legacy of the Barnard family home.
From a bustling 1950s neighborhood playground built by local volunteers to a permanent symbol of reconciliation, this park holds a deeply inspiring story. This exhibit highlights the site’s evolution from the old Kinsmen North Playground into a space dedicated to the lasting legacy of the Honorable Murray Sinclair, celebrating his historic path from local resident to national leader.
From a premier 1910s poultry ranch to a wartime military barracks, Red Feather Farm holds a fascinating place in Selkirk’s history. This exhibit uncovers how its massive chicken barns were transformed into quarters for the 108th Battalion—affectionately nicknamed “The Roosters”—before they deployed to the front lines of the First World War.
Enter a modern era of transformation and renewal. From 1980 to 2010, Selkirk navigated shifting economic tides, witnessing major shifts in local industry, the evolution of community infrastructure, and key cultural milestones that redefined the city’s identity heading into the 21st century.
The Modern Town 1947-1979
Resilience in the face of hardship defined Selkirk during the turbulent years of 1929 to 1946. This chapter of the timeline explores how the community navigated the economic devastation of the Great Depression, steadily acquired vital new town assets, and rallied together through the heavy sacrifices of the Second World War.
Step into a transformative era of modernization and grit. Between 1911 and 1928, Selkirk charged into a new industrial age, reshaping its infrastructure with the arrival of electricity, a brand-new sewage system, and expanding manufacturing sectors that would power the community through the early 20th century.