City in Manitoba, Canada
North America > Canada > Prairies > Manitoba > Interlake > Selkirk (Manitoba)

Selkirk is a city of over 10,000 people (2016) in the Interlake region of Manitoba, about a quarter of whom are of Indigenous origin. The mainstays of the local economy are tourism, a steel mill, and a major psychiatric hospital. A vertical lift bridge over the Red River connects Selkirk with the smaller town of East Selkirk.

Understand edit

 
Downtown Selkirk.

The city was named in honour of Scotsman Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk, who obtained the grant to establish a colony in the Red River area in 1813.

Climate edit

Due to Selkirk's position on the edge of the Canadian Prairies, there is a moderate 510.4 mm (20.1 inches) of precipitation annually. Selkirk has a climate with four very distinct seasons. A general year will include warm (sometimes hot) summers, cold winters, and a comfortable spring and autumn. Selkirk has 21 days with snowfall per year, from about November (sometimes as early as September or October) to around April (sometimes as late as May).

Get in edit

Selkirk is 38 km northeast of Winnipeg on Highway 9. There is no longer a bus to Winnipeg (Jan 2018).

Get around edit

  • Selkirk Transit. M-F 6AM-6PM, Sa 8AM-6PM. Operates a single loop through the city every hour. Single fare is $2, no concessionary rates.

See edit

 
The Keenora in the Manitoba Marine Museum.
 
Chuck The Channel Cat
  • Selkirk Steelers, Selkirk Recreation Complex, +1 204-482-7020, toll-free: +1-855-890-8171. Manitoba Junior Hockey League team. Adults $12, seniors $10, youth $8, children $5.
  • Chuck the Channel Cat, On southbound Main Street next to McDonald's. Nothing says "Catfish Capital of North America" more than this 11-metre town mascot.
  • Selkirk Lift Bridge, At the intersection of Eveline St. and Eaton Ave.. This Depression Era make-work project is one of the few remaining mechanisms of its kind.    
  • 1 Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site of Canada, # 5925 Highway 9 (7 km SW of Selkirk), +1 204-785-6050, toll-free: +1-888-773-8888, . History will unfold before your eyes at this restored 19th-century fort and fur trading post where costumed staff recreate the 1850s in the Red River Valley. Adult $11.90, senior $10.20, youth free.    

Do edit

 
Selkirk Park
  • 1 Oak Hammock Marsh, 1 Snow Goose Bay on Hwy 220 (20 min north of Winnipeg), +1 204-467-3300, toll-free: +1-888-506-2774, fax: +1 204-467-3311, . 36-km² Wildlife Management Area featuring guided tours of the restored prairie marsh, nature trails, wildlife, canoeing, snowshoe walks and interactive exhibits.    

Buy edit

  • 1 Selkirk Crossing Shopping Centre, 1014 Manitoba Ave. 28 stores including Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart.

Eat edit

  • Roxi's Uptown Cafe, 219 Manitoba Ave, +1 204-482-1903. M-F 7AM-10PM, Sa Su 8AM-10PM. Wide-ranging menu, including gluten-free.
  • Ubuntu Cafe and Bakery, 806B Manitoba Avenue (in the Gaynor Family Regional Library), +1 204-785-2398. Tu-F 10:30AM-5:30PM, Sa noon-4:30PM. All goods baked in-house. Their coffee is locally roasted and sourced through fair trade practices and the beans are organically grown in a sustainable environment.

Drink edit

Sleep edit

  • Canalta Hotel, 1061 Manitoba Avenue, +1-204-482-7474. Pet friendly (fee), steam room, mini mart, in room Keurig coffee, kitchenettes, guest laundry, fitness centre, business centre, free breakfast, free high speed Wi-Fi, hot tub, heated indoor pool. From $145.
  • Selkirk Inn & Conference Centre. A/C, fridge, Queen or King sized beds, kitchenettes, couch & table, free coffee, free high speed internet access, cable and two commercial-free movie channels, and a high speed computer work station. Restaurant and bar on site
  • Lord Selkirk Hotel, 420 Main St, +1 204-785-8669.

Connect edit

Selkirk has three community newspapers:

Go next edit

Routes through Selkirk
Gimli ← Winnipeg Beach ←  N   S  WinnipegEND
END  W   E  → Jct N   SBeausejourFalcon Lake


This city travel guide to Selkirk is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.