Morden, Manitoba
Encyclopedia
Morden is a small town
with a population of 6571 (2006) located in the Pembina Valley region of southern Manitoba
, Canada
. Morden is less than ten minutes (car drive) west of neighbouring Winkler
, and a relatively short distance (by car) to Pembina Valley Provincial Park
. It lies within the Rural Municipality of Stanley
.
built a railroad through the very spot where Morden now exists. The Mort Cheval Creek intersected the railway at what was called Cheval. This spot became a popular resting place as it was ideal to provide water for drinking and locomotives. The spot was renamed to Morden and incorporated as a municipality
on January 1, 1882.
is accessible from Morden via PTH 3
. Residents can cross the Canada-U.S. border via PTH 75
or through PTH 32
via Winkler. A 4-lane divided highway connects Morden and the other major city of the region, Winkler.
Morden is served by a small rural airport, Morden Regional Aerodrome, not serviced by major airlines. The airport has two parallel 1212m asphalt runways and a 914-meter grass strip runway.
The town has one taxi
service, Boundary Trails Taxi. It is also served by Greyhound Lines
, which operates a daily bus service to and from Winnipeg during the week. Many Winnipeg courier services also serve Morden during weekdays.
Morden is bisected by a Canadian Pacific railway south of Stephen Street, running East-West. The Boundary Trail Railway
interlines with the Canadian Pacific in Morden.
and six councillor
s who are elected by residents. The current mayor of Morden is Ken Wiebe. The current councillors of Morden are Maurice Butler, Heather Francis, Doug Frost, Hank Hildebrand, Brian Minaker, and Irvin Wiebe.
Morden is represented in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
(as part of the Pembina riding) by Progressive Conservative
MLA
Peter George Dyck
and in the Canadian House of Commons
(as part of the Portage—Lisgar
riding) by Conservative
MP
Candice Hoeppner
.
Red River Technical Vocational Area has partnered with Western School Division to provide further opportunities to its Secondary-level students. The Campus Manitoba program also provides assistance to students in Morden and area who desire to obtain Post-Secondary education.
In December 2005, philanthropist John Buhler donated $5 million to the Western school division for the purpose of building a large performing arts centre. This was to be the largest ever private gift to a Canadian public school. However, accusations of cost overruns and opposition to the gift from many people in the town led to the school division abandoning the project in 2008, to Buhler's dismay. The $1.25 million that had already been handed over was not refunded, and was used by the school for other purposes. Purportedly, many residents said they did not want the performing arts centre, and still others demanded he use the money to build the town a pool instead.
and Winnipeg Sun
are available daily.
Nearby Winkler is home to two radio stations of its own, both of which are owned and operated by Altona
-based Golden West Broadcasting
. CKMW
, a country music
station, was established in 1980 and broadcasts at 1570 kHz on the AM dial. CJEL
, an adult contemporary music
station branded as The Eagle 93.5, launched in 2000 and is the only FM radio station in the Pembina Valley.
Though they are not based in Winkler, several other radio stations are notable around the Morden-Winkler area. The signal from Golden West's easy listening
radio station in Altona, CFAM
950 AM, reaches the Winkler area. Two North Dakota
stations near the Canada/U.S. border also reach Winkler: KAOC 105.1 FM (Maverick 105), a country music station in Cavalier
and KYTZ
106.7 FM (Z-106.7, Today's Best Hits), an adult contemporary music station in Walhalla
. The former station sells advertisements targeting the Pembina Valley region and maintains an advertising sales office in Morden. Radio stations from Winnipeg and Grand Forks, North Dakota
can also be received sometimes.
and apple cider
, among other activities.
. Their collection includes an 11-metre-long mosasaur
, approximately 80 million years old.
The town also houses the Pembina Hills Art Gallery. A non-profit community organization, the art gallery aims to facilitate the growth and diversity of the arts in the Pembina Valley region.
Morden received this award based on the town's emphasis on art and culture in the community. This includes hosting various festivals such as the Back Forty Festival, which highlights aboriginal influences in the community. The award also takes into account proposed projects, that the community has undertaken, in an effort to place art and culture in high esteem among its townspeople.
The town receives special funding as recognition for this award. For its category, Morden may receive up to $500,000 in funding. The money has been designated to go towards a new performing arts centre, as well as four murals for the community.
The festival is held in the centre of town, along main street, as it symbolizes "the heart of the community". Every year visitors come from all over Canada to participate in the festivities. Visitors can expect delicious food, free corn and apple cider, as well as the borscht donated by a nearby Hutterite
colony, which, in recent years, has become a staple in the festival. Also featured is live entertainment, craft shows, and more. The festival also boasts the largest parade in Manitoba.
Noteworthy appearances at past festivals include; Kenny Byrka, Lou Gramm, Prairie Oyster, Colin James, Dr. Hook, Randy Bachman, The Wilkinsons and Dear Screaming.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
with a population of 6571 (2006) located in the Pembina Valley region of southern Manitoba
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...
. Morden is less than ten minutes (car drive) west of neighbouring Winkler
Winkler, Manitoba
Winkler is a small city with a population of about 9,900 located in southern Manitoba, Canada in the Rural Municipality of Stanley...
, and a relatively short distance (by car) to Pembina Valley Provincial Park
Pembina Valley Provincial Park
is a provincial park in southern Manitoba, Canada. It is located 47 kilometres south-west of Morden, Manitoba, Canada on Highway 3, Highway 31, and Highway 201, and covers approximately 440 acres . The park was officially opened on October 5, 2001 by Premier Gary Doer and James Richardson,...
. It lies within the Rural Municipality of Stanley
Stanley, Manitoba
Stanley is a rural municipality in the province of Manitoba in Western Canada. It is located in the southern part of the province, along its border with the state of North Dakota in the United States. The municipality had a 2006 Census population of 6,367, a 24.3% increase from the 5,122 reported...
.
History
Originally called Cheval, Morden can be considered to have been born in 1882, when the Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
built a railroad through the very spot where Morden now exists. The Mort Cheval Creek intersected the railway at what was called Cheval. This spot became a popular resting place as it was ideal to provide water for drinking and locomotives. The spot was renamed to Morden and incorporated as a municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
on January 1, 1882.
Transport
Morden's chief transport connection to other communities is the highway system. WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
is accessible from Morden via PTH 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...
. Residents can cross the Canada-U.S. border via PTH 75
Manitoba Provincial Highway 75
Provincial Trunk Highway 75 is a main route from Winnipeg, Manitoba to the U.S. border, where it abuts U.S. Route 75 near the community of Emerson, Manitoba...
or through PTH 32
Manitoba Provincial Highway 32
Provincial Trunk Highway 32 is a provincial highway in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It runs from PTH 14 in Winkler to the U.S. border ....
via Winkler. A 4-lane divided highway connects Morden and the other major city of the region, Winkler.
Morden is served by a small rural airport, Morden Regional Aerodrome, not serviced by major airlines. The airport has two parallel 1212m asphalt runways and a 914-meter grass strip runway.
The town has one taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
service, Boundary Trails Taxi. It is also served by Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
, which operates a daily bus service to and from Winnipeg during the week. Many Winnipeg courier services also serve Morden during weekdays.
Morden is bisected by a Canadian Pacific railway south of Stephen Street, running East-West. The Boundary Trail Railway
Boundary Trail Railway
The Boundary Trail Railway Company is a Canadian short line railway company operating in southern Manitoba. In 2009 the railway purchased 23 miles of operational railway linking Morden, Manitoba to the Binney Siding as well as 55 miles of abandoned railway from Binney Siding to the Pembina...
interlines with the Canadian Pacific in Morden.
Government and politics
Morden is governed by a mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and six councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
s who are elected by residents. The current mayor of Morden is Ken Wiebe. The current councillors of Morden are Maurice Butler, Heather Francis, Doug Frost, Hank Hildebrand, Brian Minaker, and Irvin Wiebe.
Morden is represented in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
(as part of the Pembina riding) by Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
Peter George Dyck
Peter George Dyck
Peter George Dyck is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He is currently a member of the Manitoba legislature.Before entering provincial politics, Dyck was a public school music teacher...
and in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
(as part of the Portage—Lisgar
Portage—Lisgar
Portage—Lisgar is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997.-Demographics:-Geography:...
riding) by Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Candice Hoeppner
Candice Hoeppner
Candice Hoeppner is a Canadian politician, who was elected to represent the electoral district of Portage—Lisgar in the 2008 and 2011 federal elections. She is a member of the Conservative Party.-Background:...
.
Education
Morden's public school system is the Western School Division, which consists of two elementary schools - Maple Leaf Elementary School and Minnewasta Elementary School, one middle school, École Morden Middle School, one high school, Morden Collegiate Institute and an Adult Education center. There are no private schools operating within the town.Red River Technical Vocational Area has partnered with Western School Division to provide further opportunities to its Secondary-level students. The Campus Manitoba program also provides assistance to students in Morden and area who desire to obtain Post-Secondary education.
In December 2005, philanthropist John Buhler donated $5 million to the Western school division for the purpose of building a large performing arts centre. This was to be the largest ever private gift to a Canadian public school. However, accusations of cost overruns and opposition to the gift from many people in the town led to the school division abandoning the project in 2008, to Buhler's dismay. The $1.25 million that had already been handed over was not refunded, and was used by the school for other purposes. Purportedly, many residents said they did not want the performing arts centre, and still others demanded he use the money to build the town a pool instead.
Local media
Morden's local newspapers include The Morden Times, published weekly and distributed by carrier to Morden area households, and The Winkler-Morden Voice, also published weekly and distributed by mail to households in both Winkler and Morden and many surrounding smaller communities. The Winnipeg Free PressWinnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
and Winnipeg Sun
Winnipeg Sun
The Winnipeg Sun is a daily tabloid-sized newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.It is owned by Sun Media, a subsidiary of Quebecor Media, and shares many characteristics typical of Sun Media tabloids, including an emphasis on local news stories, extensive sports coverage, a Canadian conservatism...
are available daily.
Nearby Winkler is home to two radio stations of its own, both of which are owned and operated by Altona
Altona, Manitoba
Altona is a predominantly Mennonite town in southern Manitoba about 100 km south-west of Winnipeg and 133 km north of Grand Forks, North Dakota. It is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Rhineland. Much of the surrounding area is devoted to farming and agriculture-based business. Its...
-based Golden West Broadcasting
Golden West Broadcasting
Golden West Broadcasting is a Canadian radio broadcasting company based in Altona, Manitoba, Canada. It currently owns and operates a number of radio stations in the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba....
. CKMW
CKMW (AM)
CKMW is a Canadian radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Morden, Manitoba, it serves the Pembina Valley region of Manitoba...
, a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
station, was established in 1980 and broadcasts at 1570 kHz on the AM dial. CJEL
CJEL-FM
CJEL-FM is a radio station broadcasting a soft adult contemporary music format. Licensed to Winkler, Manitoba, it serves the Pembina Valley region of Manitoba.-History:On October 19, 1999, Golden West Broadcasting Ltd...
, an adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
station branded as The Eagle 93.5, launched in 2000 and is the only FM radio station in the Pembina Valley.
Though they are not based in Winkler, several other radio stations are notable around the Morden-Winkler area. The signal from Golden West's easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
radio station in Altona, CFAM
CFAM (AM)
CFAM is a radio station broadcasting a community-oriented full service format of classical music, talk radio with a community focus, agricultural and financial reports and inspirational/religious programming...
950 AM, reaches the Winkler area. Two North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
stations near the Canada/U.S. border also reach Winkler: KAOC 105.1 FM (Maverick 105), a country music station in Cavalier
Cavalier, North Dakota
Cavalier is a city in Pembina County, North Dakota in the United States. It is the county seat of Pembina County. The population was 1,302 at the 2010 census. Cavalier was founded in 1877 and became the county seat in 1911....
and KYTZ
KYTZ
KYTZ is a radio station broadcasting a Hot AC format. Licensed to Walhalla, North Dakota, it serves Langdon, North Dakota and Morden, Manitoba. The station is currently owned by Simmons Broadcasting. All four Simmons Broadcasting stations share studios at 1403 Third Street in Langdon, ND...
106.7 FM (Z-106.7, Today's Best Hits), an adult contemporary music station in Walhalla
Walhalla, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,057 people, 452 households, and 271 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,004.4 people per square mile . There were 556 housing units at an average density of 528.3 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 89.78% White, 5.96%...
. The former station sells advertisements targeting the Pembina Valley region and maintains an advertising sales office in Morden. Radio stations from Winnipeg and Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
can also be received sometimes.
Culture and tourism
Every year on the last weekend of August, Morden holds the Corn and Apple Festival where those who attend can enjoy free cornMaize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and apple cider
Apple cider
Apple cider is the name used in the United States and parts of Canada for an unfiltered, unsweetened, non-alcoholic beverage made from apples...
, among other activities.
Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre
Morden is home to the largest collection of marine reptile fossils in Canada, located at the Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre
The Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre, formerly known as the Morden and District Museum, is located in Morden, Manitoba in the lower level of the Morden Recreational Complex. The museum currently houses the largest collection of marine reptile fossils in Canada...
. Their collection includes an 11-metre-long mosasaur
Mosasaur
Mosasaurs are large extinct marine lizards. The first fossil remains were discovered in a limestone quarry at Maastricht on the Meuse in 1764...
, approximately 80 million years old.
The town also houses the Pembina Hills Art Gallery. A non-profit community organization, the art gallery aims to facilitate the growth and diversity of the arts in the Pembina Valley region.
Morden designated a "Cultural Capital of Canada for 2008"
Morden was designated a Cultural Capital, in the under 50,000 category, for 2008. This honour was bestowed upon the town by Beverly J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, as well as Brian Pallister who is a member of parliament.Morden received this award based on the town's emphasis on art and culture in the community. This includes hosting various festivals such as the Back Forty Festival, which highlights aboriginal influences in the community. The award also takes into account proposed projects, that the community has undertaken, in an effort to place art and culture in high esteem among its townspeople.
The town receives special funding as recognition for this award. For its category, Morden may receive up to $500,000 in funding. The money has been designated to go towards a new performing arts centre, as well as four murals for the community.
Corn and Apple Festival
The very first Corn and Apple Festival, held in 1967, was intended to celebrate Canada's centennial. The festival name was coined after the prairies long growing season, especially when it came to corn and apples. The festival has continued on since 1967 and is now recognized as the town's annual festival.The festival is held in the centre of town, along main street, as it symbolizes "the heart of the community". Every year visitors come from all over Canada to participate in the festivities. Visitors can expect delicious food, free corn and apple cider, as well as the borscht donated by a nearby Hutterite
Hutterite
Hutterites are a communal branch of Anabaptists who, like the Amish and Mennonites, trace their roots to the Radical Reformation of the 16th century. Since the death of their founder Jakob Hutter in 1536, the beliefs of the Hutterites, especially living in a community of goods and absolute...
colony, which, in recent years, has become a staple in the festival. Also featured is live entertainment, craft shows, and more. The festival also boasts the largest parade in Manitoba.
Noteworthy appearances at past festivals include; Kenny Byrka, Lou Gramm, Prairie Oyster, Colin James, Dr. Hook, Randy Bachman, The Wilkinsons and Dear Screaming.
Notable residents
The following people of note were born in Morden or consider it their hometown:- Henry FriesenHenry FriesenHenry George Friesen, is a Canadian endocrinologist, a distinguished professor emeritus of the University of Manitoba and the discoverer of prolactin, a hormone which stimulates lactation in mammary glands....
, an endocrinologist - John MacAulayJohn MacAulayJohn Alexander MacAulay, CC was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, and a volunteer worker in the Canadian Red Cross Society....
, a lawyer, businessman and volunteer worker - Loreena McKennittLoreena McKennittLoreena Isabel Irene McKennitt, CM, OM, is a Canadian singer, composer, harpist, accordionist and pianist who writes, records and performs world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes. McKennitt is known for her refined, clear soprano vocals...
, a singer