Headingley, Manitoba

1,426 miles

Feb 11 – As an exurb of Winnipeg, Headingley has always struggled to maintain its own identity.  In the early part of the 20th century, an interurban train, operated by the Suburban Rapid Transit Company, served the Headingley area, but this line was discontinued in the 1930s.  

From 1972 until 1993, Headingley was part of the City of Winnipeg.  After many complaints that the local needs of the mostly rural community were not being met as part of a large urban city, Headingley seceded from Winnipeg in 1993.  

Today, with a population of 3,215 people at the (questionable) 2011 census, Headingley could be considered a town, but it is officially a “rural municipality”.  The exurb’s current website describes its relationship with its rural & urban neighbors: “Because of its proximity to Winnipeg, Headingley boasts big city amenities and services, yet provides residents with a slower paced, intimate community life.  Hospitals, large shopping centers, and a wide range of professional services are a quick drive from Headingley.”

A lot of recreational opportunities are offered here.  In winter, you can hang out with the cool snowman at the garden nursery.

Or you can go snow tubing down a groomed hill at Adrenaline Adventures.  “Price includes tow lift pass & snow tubes.    Helmet Rentals (optional) – $2”  Optional?  Am I being too regulatory to think a helmet should not be optional?

Headingley website:  http://www.rmofheadingley.ca/main.asp?cat_ID=2&fxoid=menu,7

cool snowman at Shelmerdine Garden Center: https://www.shelmerdine.com/

snow tubing at Adrenaline Adventures:  https://adrenalinemb.com/winter-prices/

Elie, Manitoba

Elie station/house

1,413 miles

Feb 10 – According to the Canadian Railway Station Guide, published in 1998, this was a Canadian Northern station, design '3rd class', built in 1919.  After it was decommissioned in the mid-20^th century, the station was converted into a private home for a family with 9 children.  Today it is still used as a private residence.

In 2007, Elie experienced the only EF-5 tornado (winds in excess of 320 km/h) ever recorded in Canada.  Few buildings were left standing.  But the station-house survived!

train station/house image & info:  http://blog.traingeek.ca/2010/08/elies-station.html

tornado image:  http://suburbanweather.blogspot.com/2014/05/severe-weather-awareness-watch-vs.html

Oakville, Manitoba

1,400 miles 

Feb 9 – The location now known as Oakville originally had poor land, few trees, & little available drinking water.   Legend says that an Aboriginal tribe once set up camp here and named it “Kawende”, meaning “no good”, and soon abandoned it.  White people created a village here, but, knowing that new settlers would not want to live in a “no good” town, they changed the name from Kawende to Oakville.  This was meant to invoke an image of the great number of oak trees that once covered the region.  In 1891, the name was changed back to Kawende to avoid confusion with Oakville, Ontario.  Then in 1939, the name was officially changed back to Oakville.

The town is proud of its spectacular canola fields, which grow well in poor soil.

info:  http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history/59/prairiemonuments.shtml

image:  http://flickriver-lb-1710691658.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com/photos/btitaro/sets/72157616982304214/

canola field image:  http://www.oakville-mb.ca/in-the-community/business-directory/

Portage la Prairie, Manitoba

detail of The Portage, by Robert Griffing

1,387 miles

Feb 8 - This area was inhabited by Assiniboine people, French, and Metis fur traders.  In 1738, a fur trading post, Fort La Reine, was built to provide a base, from which adventurers could explore farther into Western Canada.

Portage is a French word which means to carry a canoe overland between waterways.  In this case, the "portage" was between the Assiniboine River and Lake Manitoba, over the prairie.  

The full name of the town is a bit much for modern tongues, so it is often called just “Portage” or “P. la P.”.

Crescent Lake & Assiniboine River management

In 1851, ambitious settlers began to buy land in the area from the local Assiniboine people.  A new town grew around the oxbow-shaped slough that used to be part of the wandering Assiniboine River (now cleaned up & called Crescent Lake).  As settlers moved in from the east, a school was built, followed by a church and numerous new businesses.  Settlers discovered the fertile soil of the frequently-flooded area, and started growing crops and gardens on their new land.   Freight and supplies were transported by ox-cart and steamboat until the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1881.   Portage la Prairie serves as a regional hub for agriculture, retail, manufacturing, and transportation.

Island Park at Crescent Lake

I discovered another travel blog about a Chinese traveler’s experiences here, simply called “Manitoba Trip”.  I enjoyed the fresh perspective s/he brought to seeing this town, comparing parts to Chinese towns and parts to Disneyland.  Also a pic & a comment on the town’s giant Coke can made from an old water tower.  (Again, the Canadians keep building giant replicas of ordinary things, in hopes of drawing tourists.  Nutty.) 

image: detail of “The Portage”, by Robert Griffing:  www.kalamazooshow.com

map image: Google Earth View

Manitoba Trip blog:  http://manitobatripruikaiwismer.blogspot.com/

Bagot, Manitoba

North Half-Way Tree (willow)

1,374 miles

Feb 7 – Before the provincial highway system was built, trails across the prairie were not marked by signs, so natural features such as large trees were useful landmarks.  A tree beside the Trans-Canada Highway has been used by generations of travelers between Winnipeg and Brandon to mark the half-way point along their journey.  The Half-Way Tree has become a cherished local feature, and plans to cut it down in the interest of highway safety have been protested vigorously.

But which tree is the true Half-Way Tree?  Local opinions differ.

One tree is a 40-ft willow that stands along the north side of the Trans-Canada Highway closer to Portage la Prairie.  This is an official Manitoba Heritage Tree and is listed in Heritage Trees of Manitoba, a publication of the Manitoba Forestry Association.  It’s now called the North Half-Way Tree, since it’s on the north side of the superhighway.

South Half-Way Tree (cottonwood)

The other tree (the South Half-Way Tree) is a cottonwood on the south side of the east-bound highway lane in the Municipality of North Norfolk (including Sidney, MacGregor, & Bagot).  It is a local favorite, and is mentioned on the Manitoba Historical Society website, but is not officially recognized with heritage status.  This Half-Way Tree is periodically decorated with a few Christmas ornaments, ribbons, shoes and assorted stuff.  This could be the traffic safety issue that highway officials worry about, if people keep stopping on the highway to visit the tree.   Perhaps the highway could use a couple of roadside picnic areas to allow people to visit these trees safely.

Neither of these trees is exactly halfway between Brandon & Winnipeg now.  In fact, they are about 9 km (5 miles) apart.  It seems that the building of highways and a bypass has changed the actual mileage since the olden days. 

The South Half-Way cottonwood tree has been nominated for official Heritage status and legal protection.  The Manitoba Forestry Association looks for trees which are:

·        - historic or culturally significant – associated with an important historic event or have considerable cultural importance;

·        - record –  the largest, broadest, or oldest of their species in Manitoba or an example of a species that is extremely rare in Manitoba;  or

·        - notable – found in a unique location, have unique characteristics or features, or have attracted public or scientific recognition as an example of its species.

http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/halfwaytree.shtml

https://readreidread.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/the-halfway-trees/

http://www.thinktrees.org/Heritage_Trees_Manitoba_Heritage_Trees_Program.aspx

MacGregor, Manitoba

1,361 miles

Feb 6 – MacGregor lost its town status last year when it became part of the Municipality of North Norfolk (no longer designated a rural municipality).  It is a farming community.




image by Jo-Anne Douglas: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jojodouglas/6456960081

Sidney, Manitoba

1,348 miles

Sidney General Store

Feb 5 – The Sidney General Store is also labeled “The Red & White Store” on the little awning roof.  There were several Red & White stores in Canada in the 20^th century, and red & white seem very appropriate for a Canadian company.  But in 1925, an American company took the name and operated a chain of independently owned and operated food stores.  It’s not clear whether the Canadian stores were part of this chain, or whether the name became a source of contention.

This store looks like a center of community life in Sidney.  It appears that the owners live upstairs (note window boxes with flowers).  Outside a variety of things are for sale that one might want when the store is closed: propane, ice, cola, newspapers.  There is a window for selling icy treats in summer and a bench for sitting.  On the side is a patio with a pretty pergola over a picnic table and potted plants.  This would be a delightful place to sit in good weather! 

image:  Google Street Views