The Modern Town 1947-1979

The Devonshire Collegiate building became an elementary school.

The original Garry Theatre was built by Rothstein Theatres Ltd.

A 40,000-bushel wooden grain elevator was built by Manitoba Pool Elevators.

A new Selkirk Co-operative owned grain elevator was opened.

Memorial Hall was built and the Selkirk Arena was rebuilt after collapsing.

Fifteen people were employed at the new Coca-Cola bottling plant.

There was widespread flooding in April and May due to heavy snowfall in the winter and 2 x the normal rainfall in the spring.

Daerwood school was built to replace South-Ward School.  The school division turned to its pupils to pick a name for the new school. The winning essay came from 10-year-old Barry Gordon, son of mayor W. E. Gordon.

The Manitoba Rolling Mills began a $1,000,000 expansion that created work for another 100 people.

6,218 people resided in Selkirk.

First Nations people were granted the right to vote in Manitoba provincial elections.

Bethel Church began construction. 

The Garry Theatre suffered from a major fire in January. A new theatre was built and opened in April.

The Agriculture Fair was “revitalized” after the war and in 1954, it boasted the largest dairy cattle exhibition in the entire west and the participation of more than 400 4-H clubs.

Approximately 5,000 people attended the opening of the new hospital.

Ruth Hooker School was built. The school was named after the Chair of the Selkirk School Board.

The present sanctuary of the Selkirk United Church was built.

A new school was built and was named after Robert Smith. He was Manager at the Rolling Mills, first Vice-President of the Selkirk General Hospital Board and a past Mayor of Selkirk.

300 workers were laid off at the Rolling Mills due to fierce competition in the steel industry.  Negotiations with the Untied Steelworkers of America Local 5442, threatened to strike if a new contract was not in place by August.  The layoff of 120 more workers at the Rolling Mills triggered a 92-day strike.

First Nations people gained the right federally to vote without having to give up their status and treaty rights.

The previously mentioned Steelworkers strike ends when most of the men were rehired to provide steel for the Manitoba Power Commissions hydro-electric project at Grand Rapids.

A new water tower was built replacing the old one built in 1909.

8,576 people resided in Selkirk.

The Selkirk Curling Club opened a new facility.

A multi-million dollar modernization of the steel plant commenced but resulted in few new jobs as the work was of an automated nature.

Notre Dame Catholic Church opened a new building on Jemima Avenue.