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Our area was first settled in the
1880's. The act to incorporate the R.M. of Shell River came into
force
December 22, 1883.
Many bustling, thriving districts and villages were once located in Shell River,
such as Cromarty,
Deepdale, Makaroff, Riverbend, Sunny Slope, Silverwood, Tummel,
Zelena and Boggy Creek.
With population decline and the closing of rural schools, most of
these communities have faded
away. In some areas nothing is left except for their
place names. Some buildings have survived
though, and area residents still have a strong sense of community. Events are
still held in the
Makaroff and Cromarty Halls, and the Tummel Church.
As of January 1, 2007 the RM of Park North
became a part of Shell River. This is something that
had been discussed for many
years, and we were very pleased to make the annexation a reality.
With the
addition our population has increased from 991 to 1219. The "new"
municipality covers an area of approximately 2 ranges
and 6 townships. We now look after the administration of the village of San
Clara. This is a vibrant community with a lot of pride in their rich heritage.
Early settlers to the area were mainly Metis and through the years, this group
has continued to
celebrate their culture and heritage. The village has a busy Metis Centre and curling rink which the San Clara Recreation Co-op uses for its
many activities and events.
Our three main industries are
agriculture, forestry and
tourism.
Area benefits in our municipality
include ideal soil conditions,
availability of natural gas, no road
or business tax, and a high
quality
work force. We are centrally
located on a major rail
line and
intersected by International
Highway #83 and Provincial
Highway #5.
In 1995, a municipal
airport with a 3510 x 75 foot paved landing strip was
constructed. It brings Roblin within an hour's traveling time from
Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba, Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan, and Minot,
North Dakota, further enhancing its potential as a distribution hub.
Photo courtesy of Lucille McKinney
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