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

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

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

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

Get around

• 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. (updated Jan 2018)

See

The Keenora in the Manitoba Marine Museum.

• Marine Museum of Manitoba, Queen Avenue and Eveline Street, ☏ +1 204-482-7761, marinemuseum@mts.net. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su and holidays 10AM-6PM. One of Manitoba's Star Attractions, the Marine Museum of Manitoba contains six historic ships at the entrance to Selkirk Park. Adults $6.50, seniors (65+) $5.00, children (6-16) $3.50, family (2 adults, 2 kids) $18.00, children 5 & under free. 
• Old Kildonan Presbyterian Church (PHS) and Cemetery, 2373 Main Street, ☏ +1 204-334-1591, fax: +1 204-339-0993, kpcinfo@mts.net. One of the oldest cemeteries in Manitoba, with markers dating back to 1854. 
• Triple S Selkirk Fair and Rodeo, Selkirk Park, ☏ +1 204-485-4854. Fair held since 1883, to celebrate the area's agricultural history, now held annually in mid-July. Day ticket: adults $10, children $5; weekend ticket: $20/$10. (updated Jan 2018)

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. (updated Jan 2018)
• 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. (updated Jan 2018)
• 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. (updated Jan 2018)
• 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, lfg.info@pc.gc.ca. 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. (updated May 2020)

Do

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, ohmic@ducks.ca. 36-km² Wildlife Management Area featuring guided tours of the restored prairie marsh, nature trails, wildlife, canoeing, snowshoe walks and interactive exhibits.  

Buy

• 1 Selkirk Crossing Shopping Centre, 1014 Manitoba Ave. 28 stores including Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart. (updated Jan 2018)

Eat

• 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. (updated Jan 2018)
• 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. (updated Jan 2018)

Sleep

• 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. (updated Jan 2018)
• 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 (updated Jan 2018)
• Lord Selkirk Hotel, 420 Main St, ☏ +1 204-785-8669. (updated Jan 2018)

Connect

Selkirk has three community newspapers:

• The Selkirk Record
• The Selkirk Journal

Go next

Routes through Selkirk

Gimli ← Winnipeg Beach ←	N  S	→ Winnipeg → END
END ←	W  E	→ Jct N S → Beausejour → Falcon Lake