Minitonas
Minitonas | |
---|---|
Town | |
Town of Minitonas | |
Country | Canada |
Province | Manitoba |
Incorporated | 1898 |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 522 |
2011 Statistics Canada profile | |
Website | Town of Minitonas |
Minitonas is a small town in Manitoba. It is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Minitonas and the Swan Valley and it is located 15 km east of Swan River. The town is close to the Duck Mountain Provincial Park. According to the 2011 census, the town had a population of 522. The town was founded in 1898.
History
In 1897, the Cowan Trail was blazed from Dauphin to Minitonas. The trail still exists today. A campsite of tents was established on the West Favel River, southwest of the present townsite in 1898. In 1899, the town was moved to its present site along the railway. A carin marks the original location of tent town. The earliest settlers came from the British Isles, Eastern Canada, and the US. In the late 1920s, there was a wave of Czechoslovak, Ukrainian, German, and Polish immigrants. Immigration continued during World War II, and into the 1950s. The Rural Municipality of Minitonas was incorporated in 1901. The Village of Minitonas was incorporated in 1948, and gained town status in 1996.
Economy
Forestry and Agriculture are the two main industries. In 1996, Louisiana Pacific opened an OSB mill in the RM of Minitonas, creating many new jobs. The Mill is located three miles east of the town on PTH 10. Despite Minitonas' close proximity to the much larger town of Swan River, it offers many services. There are two schools, a community store (which includes a Home Hardware store and Swan Valley Credit Union agency), a library, post office, bus depot, liquor outlet, hotel, and a restaurant.
Transportation
The town is located just south of PTH 10 on PR 366. Minitonas is sometimes known as the Northern Gateway to the Duck Mountains, because PR 366 leads directly to Duck Mountain Provincial Park. A CN rail line runs through town also, terminating at the Louisiana Pacific mill.
Education
Schools in Minitonas are governed by the Swan Valley School Division #35.
- Minitonas Early Years School (Kindergarten to Grade 4, ~85 Students)
- Minitonas Middle Years School (Grade 5 to Grade 9, ~107 Students)
Minitonas Middle Years School is the only school outside of the SVRSS in the Swan Valley School Division that has Grade 9 Students. It has been nominated in the past as one of Canada's best schools.
Recreation
In the town itself there is an arena with artificial ice, and a three sheet curling rink. Between the two schools, four baseball diamonds, three soccer fields, and two playgrounds are found. A sportsground is located at the northern edge of town. It includes four more baseball diamonds, a concession, and non modern washrooms. A hiking trail follows the East Favel River. Numerous parks and benches are scattered through the town as well.
In the municipality, groomed snowmobile trails can be found. Duck Mountain Provincial Park is 29 kilometers south of Minitonas. Hunting and Fishing are big attractions of the area. A mile west of town is Centennial Park, a picnic area at the original location of Tent Town.