Selkirk is a city on the rise as it marks milestone year

From downtown revitalization and housing growth to a month-long civic celebration and major policy shifts at the provincial level, 2025 proved to be another milestone year for the City of Selkirk.

The year was marked by steady commercial and residential development, infrastructure upgrades, expansion of the active transportation network, new municipal services such as windrow clearing, and the launch of the city’s first-ever Selkirk Day celebrations.

Selkirk, which was incorporated on June 15, 1882, officially recognized its 143rd anniversary in 2025 by designating June 15 as Selkirk Day. Rather than limiting the milestone to a single date, the city celebrated throughout the month with a variety of community events and activities.

“One day just didn’t seem like enough,” Mayor Larry Johannson said.

“It’s an important day in our history and I think whether people have lived here all their lives or are new to Selkirk, they take pride in celebrating their home. It’s also an excellent time to educate people about our past. It was great to work with community partners and make some noise about our civic pride.”

Adding to the sense of identity, mayor and council formally adopted the city’s flag in 2025, making it available for residents and businesses to display throughout the community.

DOWNTOWN MOMENTUM

Much of Selkirk’s growth in 2025 was concentrated in the downtown core. The most recent residential addition came with the opening of the Manitoba Métis Federation’s mixed-use building on Eveline Street in April. The six-storey development includes 49 residential units overlooking the Red River, with office and commercial space on the main floor. It is the second mixed-use project to open downtown in recent years.

City officials have pointed to Selkirk’s $7.2-million investment in the reconstruction of Eveline Street, along with its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as key factors in attracting the Manitoba Métis Federation to the site.

When the project was first announced in 2022, MMF President David Chartrand praised the city’s approach to sustainable urban development.

“We are excited about investing in the City of Selkirk, a government that shares our government’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and with its Downtown Renewal Strategy has demonstrated its dedication to reducing urban sprawl and creating safe and livable communities for all,” Chartrand said at the time.

Smaller-scale improvements also played a role in reshaping the downtown. Three businesses accessed the city’s Facade and Site Improvement Program in 2025, which offers grants covering up to 25 per cent of eligible improvements, to a maximum of $5,000.

Julie Neisner, owner of N-Joy Café, said the program helped move planned upgrades forward after city staff mentioned the grant during a casual visit.

“That’s one of the things that actually pushed me to look further into the ideas that we had of what to do to the building,” Neisner said.

She said new, larger windows have made the café more visible and helped draw in new customers.

“We still have people that come in every day not knowing that we have been around for three years now, so this is nice,” she said.

The revitalized core has also attracted new businesses, including Nobüz Market, which focuses on non-alcoholic beverages to meet growing demand for alcohol-free alternatives.

THE GARRY’S RETURN

Perhaps the most anticipated downtown project remains the re-opening of the historic Garry Theatre. The city purchased the theatre in 2025, renovations are underway, a call for board members has been issued and branded merchandise is already available online.

To support long-term sustainability, the city established an endowment fund for the non-profit theatre. The Rotary Club of Selkirk also committed $87,500 over five years in exchange for stage naming rights, contributing $17,500 annually.

Rotary member David Thorne said support for the project was strong across the club, whose members come from Selkirk and surrounding rural municipalities.

“The community made it abundantly clear that The Garry was a priority and our Rotary Club wanted to make sure that that goal of bringing back The Garry Theatre was achieved,” Thorne said.

GROWTH, TRANSIT

AND GOVERNANCE

Beyond the downtown, Selkirk continued to see residential growth, issuing permits for 66 new dwelling units in 2025. The city also invited development proposals for a parcel of up to 20 acres in the West End, south of Vaughan Avenue and west of Annie Street, marking the first project under the West End Concept Plan.

On the governance front, Selkirk received provincial approval in November to withdraw from the Capital Planning Region, also known as the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region. The city had opposed Bill 37, introduced by the previous provincial government, which required Selkirk and other municipalities to join the region without consultation.

After the Kinew government introduced Bill 4, allowing municipalities to exit the region, council welcomed the decision.

“We are grateful to Premier Wab Kinew and Minister Simard for removing Selkirk from the Capital Planning Region,” Johannson said. “These are very positive steps in the right direction.”

Public transit also saw meaningful changes in 2025. In March, the federal government committed $57,000 per year for the next 12 years to Selkirk Transit for capital investments. CAO Duane Nicol said the predictable funding will support long-term planning, including the transition to low- or no-emission buses.

“It’s a really meaningful contribution that will allow us to invest in better buses and make smarter long-term decisions,” Nicol said.

Service improvements followed in May, when weekday transit hours were extended until 10 p.m., up from 6 p.m., and an additional stop was added at Canadian Tire. Selkirk Transit began operating in 2011 with just over 13,500 annual rides. By 2024, ridership had climbed to 35,642.

“It’s the biggest request people have,” said Charlene Dunning, manager of transportation services, noting the extended hours were introduced in response to public demand.

» Winnipeg Sun