Killarney, Manitoba
Encyclopedia
Killarney is a town in Southwestern Manitoba
, Canada
, at the corner of Manitoba Provincial Trunk Highways 3
& 18. , its population was approximately 2300. The incorporated town is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Turtle Mountain
. It is well known for its lake, situated within the town proper. The town of Killarney is located in a rural area, dependent primarily on agriculture
and agribusiness
. The town is approximately 20 kilometres from the US border, 100 kilometres south of Brandon
and 250 kilometres southwest of the provincial capital, Winnipeg.
area is rich in history and tradition. In the late 1800s, the Boundary Commission Trail ran through the southern part of the municipality. North-West Mounted Police used the trail, as they travelled west to the Rockies
in an effort to tame the prairies
. Prior to this time, the area was home to many Aboriginal people
, as well as hunters and trappers taking part in the fur trade. The RM of Turtle Mountain was incorporated in 1882.
The Town of Killarney was officially incorporated in 1906. An Irish land surveyor named John Sidney O'Brien, named Killarney Lake(before that, it was called Oak lake by the aboriginal people) after the Lakes of Killarney
, in Ireland
. Legend has it that as he sat on the shore of the lake, homesick for his native home, he took a bottle of "Good Irish
" from his pack and pouring it into the lake christened it Killarney. The "Irish"-ness of the town is often used as a tourist attraction with things such as green fire engines, Erin and Kerry Parks, Little Irish Downs, and many other good Irish-themed attractions used to play up this theme. Killarney, Manitoba does not have any actual connection with the town of Killarney
, Ireland. Most of the people who originally settled the region were from the Scottish Highlands
, the English
or were Mennonites or Hutterites of Central European extraction.
The local landscape of the area is common to the Westman area and much of the southern province. The land is mainly flat with gently rolling hills breaking the horizon. Numerous tree lined rivers and streams cross the landscape breaking up vast farm fields. The area is rich in agriculture with many local residents actively farming.
is a large part of Turtle Mountain
's economy. The Town of Killarney boasts a variety of sales and specialized services that help complement the strong agricultural vase of the community. In addition, to agriculture, tourism also plays a role in the economy. The municipality attracts as many as 1,500 people each summer to its cottages and playgrounds. Killarney Lake makes up the majority of Killarney's tourism and is the focus of many activities.
Killarney has been voted the best retirement town in Canada by Canadian Living Magazine. The town works hard to maintain this reputation and the business community in Killarney provides most all essential goods and services to local residents, ensuring a comfortable and amenable living environment.
The mayoral by-election came about after Former Mayor Brian Moore of the Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain tendered his resignation during a town-hall meeting in April, 2007 over plans for a 9.5 million multi-purpose new facility featuring a skating rink, curling rink, bowling alley, fitness centre, and banquet hall. Presently the new facility is under construction and is expected to be completed by Spring 2008. Current councillor and Deputy Mayor Gwen Trip was Acting Mayor for the Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain between the resignation of Brian Moore and the mayoral by-election.
The amalgamated Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain (joining of the now defunct Town of Killarney and Rural Municipality of Turtle Mountain), has 2 wards with 3 councillors coming from each. The divide between these 2 wards uses the same divide as the defunct Town of Killarney and Rural Municipality of Turtle Mountain.
The urban ward is represented by councillors Gwen Tripp (also Deputy Mayor), Peter Heide, and Lorne Whitelock. The rural ward is represented by councillors Randy Hodge, Dwight King
, and Gerry Blixhavn.
Provincially, the Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain, falls under the provincial riding of Turtle Mountain
. Turtle Mountain
is represented by Progressive Conservative M.L.A. Cliff Cullen
.
Federally, the Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain, falls under the federal riding of Brandon-Souris. Brandon-Souris is represented by Conservative M.P. Merv Tweed
.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, at the corner of Manitoba Provincial Trunk Highways 3
Manitoba Provincial Highway 3
Provincial Trunk Highway 3 is a provincial highway in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It runs from the Saskatchewan boundary to the west limit of the city of Winnipeg...
& 18. , its population was approximately 2300. The incorporated town is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Turtle Mountain
Turtle Mountain, Manitoba
Turtle Mountain is a regional municipality located in the Westman Region of Manitoba, Canada. It is located on the border with the state of North Dakota in the United States. It had a population of 1,100 according to the Canada 2006 Census. It surrounds the Town of Killarney.-Geography:According to...
. It is well known for its lake, situated within the town proper. The town of Killarney is located in a rural area, dependent primarily on agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and agribusiness
Agribusiness
In agriculture, agribusiness is a generic term for the various businesses involved in food production, including farming and contract farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing, marketing, and retail sales....
. The town is approximately 20 kilometres from the US border, 100 kilometres south of Brandon
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
and 250 kilometres southwest of the provincial capital, Winnipeg.
History
The Rural Municipality of Turtle MountainTurtle Mountain, Manitoba
Turtle Mountain is a regional municipality located in the Westman Region of Manitoba, Canada. It is located on the border with the state of North Dakota in the United States. It had a population of 1,100 according to the Canada 2006 Census. It surrounds the Town of Killarney.-Geography:According to...
area is rich in history and tradition. In the late 1800s, the Boundary Commission Trail ran through the southern part of the municipality. North-West Mounted Police used the trail, as they travelled west to the Rockies
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
in an effort to tame the prairies
Canadian Prairies
The Canadian Prairies is a region of Canada, specifically in western Canada, which may correspond to several different definitions, natural or political. Notably, the Prairie provinces or simply the Prairies comprise the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, as they are largely covered...
. Prior to this time, the area was home to many Aboriginal people
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
, as well as hunters and trappers taking part in the fur trade. The RM of Turtle Mountain was incorporated in 1882.
The Town of Killarney was officially incorporated in 1906. An Irish land surveyor named John Sidney O'Brien, named Killarney Lake(before that, it was called Oak lake by the aboriginal people) after the Lakes of Killarney
Lakes of Killarney
The Lakes of Killarney are a renowned scenic attraction located near Killarney, County Kerry, in Ireland. They consist of three lakes - Lough Leane, Muckross Lake and Upper Lake.Lough Leane is the largest of the three lakes...
, in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Legend has it that as he sat on the shore of the lake, homesick for his native home, he took a bottle of "Good Irish
Irish whiskey
Irish whiskey is whiskey made in Ireland.Key regulations defining Irish whiskey and its production are established by the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980, and are relatively simple...
" from his pack and pouring it into the lake christened it Killarney. The "Irish"-ness of the town is often used as a tourist attraction with things such as green fire engines, Erin and Kerry Parks, Little Irish Downs, and many other good Irish-themed attractions used to play up this theme. Killarney, Manitoba does not have any actual connection with the town of Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
, Ireland. Most of the people who originally settled the region were from the Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
, the English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
or were Mennonites or Hutterites of Central European extraction.
The local landscape of the area is common to the Westman area and much of the southern province. The land is mainly flat with gently rolling hills breaking the horizon. Numerous tree lined rivers and streams cross the landscape breaking up vast farm fields. The area is rich in agriculture with many local residents actively farming.
Economy
AgricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
is a large part of Turtle Mountain
Turtle Mountain, Manitoba
Turtle Mountain is a regional municipality located in the Westman Region of Manitoba, Canada. It is located on the border with the state of North Dakota in the United States. It had a population of 1,100 according to the Canada 2006 Census. It surrounds the Town of Killarney.-Geography:According to...
's economy. The Town of Killarney boasts a variety of sales and specialized services that help complement the strong agricultural vase of the community. In addition, to agriculture, tourism also plays a role in the economy. The municipality attracts as many as 1,500 people each summer to its cottages and playgrounds. Killarney Lake makes up the majority of Killarney's tourism and is the focus of many activities.
Killarney has been voted the best retirement town in Canada by Canadian Living Magazine. The town works hard to maintain this reputation and the business community in Killarney provides most all essential goods and services to local residents, ensuring a comfortable and amenable living environment.
Politics
, the Mayor of the Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain is Rick Pauls. Rick Pauls, who was a former Councillor for the pre-amalgamated Town of Killarney between 2002 and 2005, won against Sandra Warnez, a former Councillor of the pre-amalgamated Town of Killarney from 1995 and 1998, and Mayor of the pre-amalgamated Town of Killarney from 1998 to 2002, in a mayoral by-election on Wednesday June 13th, 2007.The mayoral by-election came about after Former Mayor Brian Moore of the Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain tendered his resignation during a town-hall meeting in April, 2007 over plans for a 9.5 million multi-purpose new facility featuring a skating rink, curling rink, bowling alley, fitness centre, and banquet hall. Presently the new facility is under construction and is expected to be completed by Spring 2008. Current councillor and Deputy Mayor Gwen Trip was Acting Mayor for the Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain between the resignation of Brian Moore and the mayoral by-election.
The amalgamated Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain (joining of the now defunct Town of Killarney and Rural Municipality of Turtle Mountain), has 2 wards with 3 councillors coming from each. The divide between these 2 wards uses the same divide as the defunct Town of Killarney and Rural Municipality of Turtle Mountain.
The urban ward is represented by councillors Gwen Tripp (also Deputy Mayor), Peter Heide, and Lorne Whitelock. The rural ward is represented by councillors Randy Hodge, Dwight King
Dwight King
Dwight King is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:King was drafted 109th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings...
, and Gerry Blixhavn.
Provincially, the Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain, falls under the provincial riding of Turtle Mountain
Turtle Mountain (electoral district)
Turtle Mountain is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created with the westward expansion of the province's borders in 1881, eliminated by redistribution in 1968, and re-established in 1979, formally returned to the electoral map with the provincial...
. Turtle Mountain
Turtle Mountain (electoral district)
Turtle Mountain is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created with the westward expansion of the province's borders in 1881, eliminated by redistribution in 1968, and re-established in 1979, formally returned to the electoral map with the provincial...
is represented by Progressive Conservative M.L.A. Cliff Cullen
Cliff Cullen
Cliff Cullen is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in a by-election, held in the summer of 2004....
.
Federally, the Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain, falls under the federal riding of Brandon-Souris. Brandon-Souris is represented by Conservative M.P. Merv Tweed
Merv Tweed
Mervin C. Tweed, MP is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He currently sits as the Member of Parliament for Brandon—Souris. Prior to that he was a member of the Manitoba Legislature from 1995 to 2004, representing the constituency of Turtle Mountain.Tweed was born in Medora, Manitoba, and was...
.