From her happy childhood on North Main Street to her dedicated service as a church deaconess and school board member, Ruth Hooker’s life was defined by community impact. Discover how she triumphed over personal health battles to foster 37 children worldwide and leave a lasting legacy that still lives on at the Selkirk school bearing her name.
From 1952 to 1962, Selkirk moviegoers packed the Roxy and Garry theatres for “Foto-Nite”—a wildly popular weekday promotion with massive cash prizes. Discover the clever loophole used to bypass anti-gambling laws, and the legendary local stories of massive jackpots and overwhelmed winners
Built as a vital Great Depression relief project, the Selkirk Lift Bridge quickly became the center of a dramatic standoff. Discover the historic “War of Selkirk Bridge,” when local citizens took matters into their own hands to open the span after governments refused to claim ownership.
From military training grounds to record-breaking fish hatcheries, Selkirk’s green spaces hold a deep history of bravery and community innovation. Discover the storied past behind Red Feather Farm, Veterans Memorial Gardens, and Murray Sinclair Park.
The 1929 Wall Street crash initially went unnoticed in Selkirk, but by mid-1930, the gloom of the Great Depression took hold. Discover how the community navigated severe layoffs, created vital “make-work” projects like the historic Selkirk Bridge, and ultimately found a path back to prosperity
In 1939, 31 close-knit neighbors from Selkirk’s Dufferin Avenue enlisted together to fight in World War II. Discover the remarkable story of “The Dufferin Gang”—a lifelong bond of childhood friends turned wartime heroes whose legacy deeply shaped our community.
Shifting away from fishing fleets in 1911, Selkirk entered a rapid era of industrialization. From retail shifts driven by the Eaton’s Catalogue to the historic rise of the Manitoba Rolling Mills, discover how local leaders and working-class heroes navigated wartime sacrifice and economic change to build a modern industrial hub.
“How many times have I travelled? I wish I knew… I have in the past gone to Hawaii, the Yosemite… to Alaska three times, up the Saskatchewan 1000 miles… I am a born nomad.” — Emma Shaw Colcleugh
Between 1884 and 1910, Selkirk exploded from a mere dot on a map into a thriving riverside hub. Discover the boom era of local hatcheries, new social clubs, and the mysterious disappearance of the town’s founder.
Have you ever wondered who Selkirk’s streets are named after? Lace up your walking shoes and take a virtual tour to discover the famous—and infamous—historic figures behind local names like Morris Avenue and Schultz Avenue.