Carberry, a quaint town nestled in southwestern Manitoba, Canada, is a hidden gem with a rich history and a vibrant community. Located just 3 kilometres south of the Trans-Canada Highway on Highway 5, Carberry is part of the Municipality of North Cypress – Langford. With a population of 1,818 people, this town offers a unique blend of history, culture, and community services.
In the late 1760s, a small fur trading post known as Pine Fort was established by independent fur traders from Montreal. This post was located south of Carberry's present site, in what is now Spruce Woods Provincial Park along the Assiniboine River. The area was a hub for a diverse group of Native peoples, including the Sioux, Cree, Assiniboine, Saulteaux, Ottawa, and various Ojibwa bands, who were trading or hunting in the area. Pine Fort was later taken over by the North West Company and was eventually abandoned in 1811.
Native peoples continued to reside in the Carberry area until the late 1870s when European settlement began to transform the landscape and game resources. The Native population in the area was eventually settled onto reserves according to treaty provisions with the Federal Government of Canada.
Carberry was founded in 1882, primarily by settlers from Eastern Canada of British origin. The town was named after the Carberry Tower located near Musselburgh, Scotland. In 1905, Carberry was incorporated as a town, marking a significant milestone in its history.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Carberry had a population of 1,818 living in 794 of its 847 total private dwellings. This represented a change of 4.6% from its 2016 population of 1,738. With a land area of 4.8 km2, Carberry had a population density of 378.8/km2 in 2021.
Carberry boasts a wide range of community services, including the Carberry & District Health Center, Carberry Hospital, and Carberry Health Clinic. The town also offers a variety of recreational facilities such as the Carberry Plains Community Centre, a bowling alley, hockey rink, figure skating rink, curling rink, tennis courts, and a swimming pool. Education is provided by the R.J. Waugh Elementary School and Carberry Collegiate Institute. The town is also home to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Carberry Detachment, Carberry/ North Cypress Fire Department, and the Manitoba Conservation Carberry District Office.
Carberry is conveniently located 3 kilometres south of the Trans Canada Highway on Highway 5, 50 kilometres east of Brandon, and 150 kilometres west of the provincial capital, Winnipeg. The nearest 24-hour Canada-U.S.A. land border crossing is located 120 kilometres southwest of Carberry at Boissevain on Highway 10.
The town is situated 20 kilometres north of Spruce Woods Provincial Park, which is also located on Highway 5, designated in Manitoba as the Parks Route. The Brandon Municipal Airport is located 48 kilometres west of Carberry. The Brandon Air Shuttle provides passenger service on request between Carberry and the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.
Both the Canadian Pacific Railway main line route and a Canadian National Railway branch line route run directly through Carberry. Via Rail passenger service is not offered in Carberry, however trains on the Toronto to Vancouver "The Canadian" Line can be accessed at the Rivers railway station located approximately 80 kilometres northwest of the community, while the Winnipeg – Churchill train as well as The Canadian can be accessed at the Portage la Prairie railway station located approximately 80 kilometres east of the community.
