Swan River, Manitoba

[http://swanrivermanitoba.ca/ Swan River] is a community in Manitoba, Canada. It is in the regional municipality of Swan River and in the Swan River Valley. Swan River acts as the hub to the surrounding communities of Minitonas, Benito, Bowsman, Birch River, and the other communities in the valley. As of 2006, Swan River is Manitoba's 13th largest in population. The population of the town according to [http://www.statcan.ca/start.html Statistics Canada] in 2005 was 4,032, with an additional 2,923 people living in the surrounding rural municipality of Swan River.

History

Located in a valley between the Duck Mountains and the Porcupine Mountains, the town of Swan River is close to the Saskatchewan boundary in west-central Manitoba.

The town is situated along the river from which it takes its name. The name is believed to have come from the Trumpeter Swans that used to frequent Swan Lake, into which the Swan River flows. The first permanent settlement dates back to 1770 when fur traders from both the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company bought and sold goods by way of birch bark canoes.

Henry Kelsey became the first European explorer to visit the area in 1690.

In 1876, the musical band of the North-West Mounted Police, the forerunner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, made its debut in what was later to become Swan River. The instruments used in the band were purchased by the 20 officers in the band and shipped from Winnipeg by dog sled.

The first pioneers arrived in the Swan Valley through the Duck Mountains in 1897 and quickly developed the farming potential of the area. The proposed construction of a line of the Canadian Northern Railway was announced in 1898 and the town was founded in 1900 though it was little more than a post office at the time. Swan River was officially incorporated as a town in 1908.

Economy

The economic base of the town lies in agriculture and forestry along with support industries for same. Almost fifty percent of the surrounding area is under cultivation, most of which is seeded to cereal grain, oilseeds, and other specialty crops. There are also many mixed farms producing cattle, pigs, and farm-raised wild animals. Other major industries of the town are health care, retail services, manufacturing, and tourism.

Transportation

Highways

The town is served by provincial highways 10, 10A, 83, and 83A. Until recently, Provincial Highway 83 started near Swan River's southwest corner. The completion of a new bypass changed the highway to start on the east side of Swan River. The highway continues south to the American border near Westhope, ND. It then continues south as U.S. Route 83 to the Mexican border near Brownsville, TX.

Airport

Prior to 2005, the Swan River Airport had air service to Winnipeg and Dauphin. The airport is still in use by charter services and private pilots.

Sports

Swan River is home to the Swan Valley Stampeders ice hockey team, who play in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. They play their games in the Swan River Centennial Arena.

Events

Swan River hosts the annual Northwest Round-up and Exhibition on the last weekend of July. The Northwest Round-up and Exhibition, which is hosted by the Agricultural Society, includes a parade, chariot and chuck wagon races, heavy and light horse shows, talent stages, concerts, dances, home living and school work exhibits, a midway, and the rodeo, which features events like the heavy horse pull, barrel racing, calf roping, and bull riding.

Centennial

Swan River began its year-long centennial celebration on January 1, 2008. The main highlight of the celebration was a homecoming held on the first weekend of August, 2008.

Local Awards and Distinctions

* Designated as 'Forest Capital of Canada 1998'.
* In 2004, members of the Swan River Curling Club won the Safeway Select provincial curling finals and competed in the 2004 Nokia Brier in Saskatoon, SK.
* The current mayor, Glen McKenzie, was in CBC's "Test the Nation" on March 11, 2007 and was the only mayor from Manitoba.
* The Swan Valley Envirothon team represented Manitoba at the 2007 Canon Envirothon competition in Geneva, New York and placed 8th overall, and first in Canada.

ources

* [http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Curling/2004Brier/2004/03/03/368817.html Article about the 2004 Curling Club]

External links

* [http://www.town.swanriver.mb.ca Town of Swan River Homepage]