Selkirk, a city nestled in the western Canadian province of Manitoba, is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Located on the Red River, approximately 22 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, the provincial capital, Selkirk is home to a population of 10,504 as per the 2021 census. The city's economy thrives on tourism, a steel mill, and a psychiatric hospital. A vertical lift bridge over the Red River connects Selkirk with the smaller town of East Selkirk. The city is conveniently connected to Winnipeg via Highway 9 and is served by the Canadian Pacific Railway.
The city of Selkirk is steeped in history. It was named in honour of the Scotsman Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk, who obtained the grant to establish a colony in the Red River area in 1813. The present-day city is near the centre of the 160,000-square-mile area purchased by the Earl of Selkirk from the Hudson's Bay Company. The first settlers of the Red River Colony arrived in 1813. Despite the commercial rivalry between the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company leading to violent confrontations, the town was incorporated in 1882, in recognition of the Earl's importance in bringing settlers to the region.
Selkirk is located in the Interlake Region of Manitoba, surrounded by fields of wheat and canola. The city mostly borders the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews, except to the east, where it borders the Rural Municipality of St. Clements across the Red River. The terrain is extremely flat, offering a unique landscape for visitors to explore.
Selkirk experiences a moderate 510.4 mm of precipitation annually due to its position on the edge of the Canadian Prairies. The city has a climate with four very distinct seasons, including warm summers, cold winters, and comfortable spring and autumn. The city has recorded temperatures as high as 38.5 °C in June 1995 and as low as −45.6 °C in February 1966.
The City of Selkirk sources its water from four carbonate aquifer wells in the City and two in the R.M. of St. Andrews. The water is then cleaned at the Selkirk Water Treatment Plant before being distributed. The Selkirk Water Tower, a prominent feature of the area, was constructed in 1961 and has a maximum storage capacity of 946,000 litres.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Selkirk had a population of 10,504 living in 4,417 of its 4,643 total private dwellings. With a land area of 24.47 km2, it had a population density of 429.3/km2 in 2021. The median household income in 2005 for Selkirk was $42,502, which is below the Manitoba provincial average of $47,875.
Selkirk is home to several places of interest, including the Selkirk—Red River former federal electoral district, Selkirk Water Aerodrome, Selkirk Airport, Red River Trails, Fort Gibraltar fur-trading post, Fort Maurepas (Canada) fur trading post, Selkirk Lift Bridge, and Lower Fort Garry national historic site. These attractions offer a glimpse into the city's rich history and natural beauty, making Selkirk a must-visit destination in Manitoba.
