Oak Bluff, Manitoba, is a charming incorporated community nestled in the Rural Municipality of Macdonald, Canada. Located just seven kilometres southwest of the bustling City of Winnipeg, Oak Bluff is conveniently situated between Manitoba Highway (PTH) 3's intersections with PTH 2 and PTH 100 (the Perimeter Highway). With a population of 1,442 as per the 2021 Canadian census, Oak Bluff is a thriving community that overlaps the Central Plains and Winnipeg Metro Regions.
The history of Oak Bluff, Manitoba, dates back to the 1870s when British and Scottish settlers first established the area. The arrival of rail service in 1901 and the subsequent establishment of a grain elevator marked the community's growth as a primarily agricultural area.
The construction of the Perimeter Highway in the 1950s on the east side of the community led to a significant increase in traffic through the area. From 1960 to 1972, Oak Bluff was part of a region controlled by the City of Winnipeg under the Metropolitan Winnipeg Act, which spurred commercial and industrial development in the area.
The community has seen remarkable growth in recent years. Between 2011 and 2016, the population of Oak Bluff increased from 581 to 1,051, marking the second-largest percentage increase (80.9%) of any community in Manitoba. The population further increased by 37% to 1,442 persons between 2016 and 2021.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Oak Bluff, Manitoba, had a population of 1,442 living in 475 of its 481 total private dwellings. This marked a change of 37.2% from its 2016 population of 1,051. With a land area of 2.52 km2 (0.97 sq mi), Oak Bluff had a population density of 572.2/km2 (1,482.0/sq mi) in 2021.
Oak Bluff, Manitoba, boasts an indoor arena, one of five that serve the municipality. While the community does not have its own youth ice hockey teams, it actively participates in the municipality's unified minor hockey program. The recreation grounds in Oak Bluff also feature baseball diamonds and soccer pitches.
Located between Oak Bluff and Winnipeg is The Rink Training Centre (TRTC), a privately-owned arena and training complex. TRTC houses the Rink Hockey Academy and a high-performance ice hockey clinic. It is also home to the Winnipeg Blues of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. A 4,000-seat arena, adjacent to TRTC, is currently under development and will be the future home to the Winnipeg Ice of the Western Hockey League.
