After only 2 decades the Selkirk General Hospital was already at capacity. In 1929 the hospital underwent an expansion which nearly doubled its capacity of 30 beds to 55. The expansion also included a spacious operating room, a large maternity ward, increased nursing accommodations, and an automatic elevator.
Many of Selkirk’s buildings and places are named after people, but not everyone knows why. Learn about several important figures in Selkirk’s history and why they’re still honored today
Richard “Dick” Johnstone (1901–1993) was a Scottish-born Second World War veteran who served with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. A long-time Selkirk resident, he worked as a greenskeeper at the Selkirk Golf Course and later as a local handyman, while actively contributing to his community as a founding member and Grand Chieftain of the Manitoba Highland Gathering.
Follow the life of Jack C. Laye, a Second World War veteran who served in the Canadian Army alongside his brother James as part of Selkirk’s historic Dufferin Gang. After returning home, he earned his Red Seal in carpentry, dedicating his post-war career to North American Lumber, Government Services, and the Selkirk Mental Health Centre.
Follow the selfless life of Harold Henrikson, who stepped away from school in the 1930s to support his family at the Selkirk Foundry. After marrying in Ontario and enlisting with the Lord Strathcona’s Armoured Horse Tank Corps, this proud member of the Dufferin Gang fought in the Liberation of the Netherlands and Belgium before returning home to raise his family, work at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre, and serve as a dedicated Mason and Legion member.
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.
In 1906 the idea of a cottage hospital in Selkirk began to develop. Cottage hospitals were small, rural hospitals popular in England at the time. A hospital in Selkirk was advocated for by various people in local newspapers.
For almost 50 years Bjarni Dalman was an important member of the Icelandic community in Selkirk.
From serving as a 13-year-old canteen boy on the S.S. Keenora to commanding naval warships and becoming the Mayor of Selkirk, Bill Shead’s life is a masterclass in leadership. Discover his incredible journey as a proud Cree naval officer, his royal appointments, and his decades of trailblazing volunteer service dedicated to Indigenous education and veterans.