Fraserwood, Manitoba

Fraserwood is a village with a population of less than 100 located in the Interlake region of Manitoba, Canada, approximately 50 miles north of Winnipeg. Originally named Kreuzburg, the hamlet was renamed due to anti-German sentiments during World War I. Its name is derived from the surname of the postmaster at the time, Wood, and his wife's maiden name Fraser.

History

Fraserwood and the surrounding area was settled by immigrants from western Ukraine at the start of the 20th century. Amongst the original settlers were Michael Pomaransky and Stefan Humeny who settled section 14-19-2E, approximately ten miles west of the community of Gimli. A sizeable community developed as these settlers were joined in the year 1900 by other individuals from the village of Kopychentsi Ukraine, including John Charnetski, Theodore Rychyba, Maksym Sorochka, Danylo Palamar, Fred Shmata, Paul and Micheal Gretchen, Stephan Rosalowich, and Stefan Bezkorowayny. Fact|date=February 2007 These settlers formed the core of what was to become the community of Kreuzberg (Fraserwood).

The Rural Municipality of Kreuzberg was established in 1913. Incorporating much of the marginal farmland on the western edge of the Rural Municipality of Gimli, this area saw a number of schools built along the railway line that was constructed three years earlier. These were located in the hamlets of Malonton, Meleb, Rembrandt, and Kreuzberg (Fraserwood).

An event of great significance occurred on September 21,1936. The Governor General of Canada, Lord Tweedsmuir, paid a visit to the small community. When the school term opened, teacher Olga Uhryniuk received an official notice from the government that the Governor General was making a Canada-wide tour and that he planned to meet with the citizens of the hamlet of Fraserwood. It was a memorable day, as Lord Tweedsmuir visited the school and made an address to the students and numerous community members.

James Michel, President of the African nation of Seychelles, was born in Fraserwood, Manitoba on August 18, 1944.

Sources

Spruce, Swamp and Stone; a History of the Pioneer Ukrainian Settlements in the Gimli Area by Michael Ewanchuk
Publisher: Michael Ewanchuk, Winnipeg Date Published: 1977 ISBN-13: 9780969076834 ISBN: 0969076835