Altona, Manitoba
Altona | |
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Town of Altona | |
CDT) | |
Website | www |
Altona is a town in southern Manitoba, Canada, about 100 km south-west of Winnipeg and 158 km north of Grand Forks, North Dakota. The population at the 2021 Census was 4,390 residents. Old Altona was founded in 1880 by Plautdietsch-speaking Mennonites from the Russian Empire.[2] It is surrounded by the Municipality of Rhineland. Much of the surrounding area is devoted to farming and agriculture-based business.[3]
History
On November 17, 1990, Altona was the site of the Altona murder.[7] The murder occurred in the evening, when Earl Giesbrecht, a local boy known for being a bully, knocked on the home of 14-year-old Tyler Pelke, brandishing a handgun. Giesbrecht tortured Pelke and his friend, 15-year-old Curtis Klassen, before setting the house on fire, killing Klassen. Pelke survived and Giesbrecht was arrested and sentenced to life in prison. A documentary about the event premiered in 2023 at the Whistler Film Festival, winning Best Documentary.[8]
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Altona had a population of 4,390 living in 1,700 of its 1,760 total private dwellings, a change of 1.3% from its 2016 population of 4,212. With a land area of 9.35 km2 (3.61 sq mi), it had a population density of 456.4/km2 (1,182.0/sq mi) in 2021.[9]
Economy
Altona was the site of the Rhineland Consumers Co-operative (founded 1931[5]: 166, 167 ), the Altona Co-op Service (founded 1937[5]: 170 ), the Altona Credit Union (founded 1939[5]: 171 ) and Co-op Vegetable Oils (CVO) (founded 1943[5]: 208 ). These co-operative enterprises were a highly effective local response to the devastating impact of the Great Depression on local farmers' incomes. Jake (J.J.) Siemens played an important role in their development, and the growth of the co-operative movement in southern Manitoba.[10]
Altona is also home to
The first Mennonite Central Committee self-help centre (now Gift and Thrift Store) in Canada was founded in Altona in 1972.[5]: 348 Staffed by volunteers, MCC Thrift stores now contribute about $4M annually to MCC projects. The store has been expanded numerous times, and is still completely volunteer-run. The proceeds raised all go to MCC charitable projects.
Arts and culture
Altona, Manitoba is known as "The Sunflower Capital of Canada", and is host to the annual Sunflower Festival, which began in 1965.[5]: 352–354 The Sunflower Festival has a Sunflower festival pageant where they crown a queen every year, who wins a trip to Australia. The festival also includes a small midway, quilt show, baseball tournament, stage show, and street dance to name a few. In 2008, the Town of Altona opened an Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden, displaying many different styles of artwork.
Altona's sister city is Emerald, Queensland, Australia. Every year a Sunflower Festival is held in which a young woman in the community is crowned the Sunflower Queen and gets a flight to Emerald for free to participate in the Sunflower Festival held there.
Attractions
The community is home to the largest replica of a famous painting by Vincent van Gogh. It was named 'The largest painting on an easel by The Guinness Book of World Records in 1998. It was the first of three works in the Big Easel Project by local artist Cameron Cross, based on the painting Sunflowers. The base (easel) stands at 76'6" and the canvas was made by laminating together 24 sheets of 3/4" plywood and splattering it with 17 gallons of paint to create the picture. Altona is also home to the Gallery in the Park, a heritage home turned fine art gallery and outdoor sculpture garden.
The Trans Canada Trail goes through Altona, heading south to Gretna and west to Rosengart through Buffalo Creek Nature Park.
Oakview Golf & Country Club is located 9.5 km (5.9 mi) south of Altona.
Infrastructure
Altona Municipal Airport is about 2.8 km southeast of the town.
Manitoba Highway 30 is the main north–south route. It begins in Gretna, and passes on the east border of Altona to Rosenfeld. Manitoba Provincial Road 201 is the main east–west route.
In the late 1990s the town, in partnership with various businesses and volunteers, embarked on an ambitious plan to improve recreation facilities. In 2000, the Altona Aquatic Centre opened to rave reviews, a trails system was started, and in 2003 the Millennium Exhibition Centre opened. This 75,000 square-foot facility features an ice arena, curling arena, banquet hall, meeting rooms, running track, concessions, kitchens and community spaces. Since then, other recreation facilities have been added such as a triples tennis court, a large playground, and most recently in 2013 a $250,000 skate park, and a second full size baseball diamond set to open in 2014 – to be known as Access Field.
Education
Altona is located in, and home to the head office of, the Border Land School District. W.C. Miller Collegiate is the high school in the town.
Other schools within Altona are École Elmwood School (grades K-3), École West Park School (grades 4–6), and École Parkside School (grades 7–8).
Media
The town was serviced by the Red River Valley Echo newspaper, owned by Postmedia Network.[13] It ceased operation mid 2020. The town is now served by the Altona Rhineland Voice, which commenced operation in March 2022.
The town is served by the AM radio station CFAM; it is owned by Golden West Broadcasting, whose CEO Elmer Hildebrand is an Altona native. The company's head office is also located in the town.[14]
Geography
Climate
Climate data for Altona (1981-2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 6.7 (44.1) |
14 (57) |
22.2 (72.0) |
35.6 (96.1) |
36.7 (98.1) |
38 (100) |
38.9 (102.0) |
40 (104) |
39 (102) |
33.5 (92.3) |
25 (77) |
14.4 (57.9) |
40 (104) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −10.1 (13.8) |
−6.8 (19.8) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
11.1 (52.0) |
19.2 (66.6) |
23.7 (74.7) |
26.3 (79.3) |
26.0 (78.8) |
19.8 (67.6) |
11.0 (51.8) |
0.1 (32.2) |
−7.6 (18.3) |
9.4 (48.9) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −15.0 (5.0) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
5.1 (41.2) |
12.6 (54.7) |
17.9 (64.2) |
20.3 (68.5) |
19.5 (67.1) |
13.5 (56.3) |
5.6 (42.1) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
−11.9 (10.6) |
3.9 (39.0) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −19.9 (−3.8) |
−16.8 (1.8) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
5.9 (42.6) |
12.0 (53.6) |
14.3 (57.7) |
12.9 (55.2) |
7.2 (45.0) |
0.2 (32.4) |
−8.1 (17.4) |
−16.1 (3.0) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
Record low °C (°F) | −40 (−40) |
−40.6 (−41.1) |
−33.5 (−28.3) |
−23.9 (−11.0) |
−13.9 (7.0) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
2.8 (37.0) |
0 (32) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−30 (−22) |
−35 (−31) |
−37.2 (−35.0) |
−40.6 (−41.1) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 28.4 (1.12) |
20.6 (0.81) |
29.6 (1.17) |
27.8 (1.09) |
70.6 (2.78) |
101.5 (4.00) |
75.0 (2.95) |
67.9 (2.67) |
45.0 (1.77) |
40.2 (1.58) |
29.4 (1.16) |
29.7 (1.17) |
565.8 (22.28) |
Source: Environment Canada[15]
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Notable people
- Lois Braun, writer
- Peter Engbrecht, soldier
- Curwin Friesen, businessman
- Johann Funk, bishop
- Paul Hiebert, writer
- Elmer Hildebrand, broadcaster
- Harold Neufeld, politician
- Grace Nickel, artist
- Jack Penner, politician
- A. James Reimer, theologian
- Vic Schroeder, politician
- Jake Siemens, politician
- Armin Wiebe, writer
- Cornelius Wiebe, physician and politician
- Mackenzie Zacharias and Emily Zacharias, 2020 World Junior Curling Champions
References
- ^ "Altona Census Profile". Stats Canada. February 8, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ a b Francis, E.K. (1955). In Search of Utopia. D.W. Friesens and Sons.
- ^ Town of Altona website
- ^ Braun, Ernest N. and Glen R. Klassen (2015). Historical Atlas of the East Reserve. Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society.
- ^ ISBN 0-88925-417-6. Archived from the originalon September 26, 2007. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
- ^ "Altona". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- ^ Pauls, Karen. "'I don't hold this anymore': Survivor finds freedom in forgiveness for Altona killer". CBC. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ Shebahkeget, Ozten. "Manitoba town's grief in wake of teen's brutal murder over 30 years ago shown in new docufilm". CBC. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Manitoba". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ISBN 0-88925-524-5.
- ^ Dawson, Allan (April 9, 2009). "Nexera Growing at Bunge Altona". Manitoba Co-operator. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ Honey, Janet; Oleson, Brian (September 10, 2006). "A Century of Agriculture in Manitoba" (PDF). University of Manitoba. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2008. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
- ^ "Home | Winnipeg Sun Home Page | Winnipeg Sun".
- ^ "Altona mall has many tales to tell". Winnipeg Free Press. November 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ Environment Canada – Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000—[1], accessed 24 July 2017
Further reading
- Penner, Vic, ed. (1990). Altona: A Pictorial History. Altona: DW Friesen. ISBN 1-55056-079-4.