Geography

Census Division No.6 is located in western Manitoba 275 kilometres west of the City of Winnipeg (the Provincial Capital), and approximately 50 kilometres west of the City of Brandon (2^nd largest urban centre in Manitoba). The Province of Saskatchewan serves as a western border to the area. The Trans Canada Highway is a major east-west route with Provincial Trunk Highway serving as a north-south route connecting the area to the U.S.A. border to the South.

The 1996 population of this Census Division was 10,505. The Census Division area is made up of the Towns of Oak Lake and Virden, the Village of Elkhorn, and the Rural Municipalities of Pipestone, Sifton, Wallace and Woodworth.

The major urban service centre in the area is the Town of Virden.

Economic Base

Much of the area is actively involved in farming and agriculture. The area's economy is mainly built on the many mixed farms and livestock operations. Cereal grains and oilseeds are the main crops, but small amounts of specialty crops are grown. The beautiful scenery, events and activities around the region also support a thriving tourism and service industry.

The other major contributor to area's economy is the oil industry in Virden. The first producing oil well in Manitoba was drilled just west of Virden in 1956. Since then, the town has become known as the "oil capital of Manitoba". Since the first discovery, over one thousand wells have been drilled and the industry has experienced over two billion dollars in sales in its history. The oil industry is has become one of the biggest employers in the area, with jobs in production, transportation, and many aspects of manufacturing and maintenance.

Major Private Employers in Area

• Virden groceries and farm supplies
• Chevron Canada Resources (Virden) - oil production
• Tutthill Construction (Elkhorn) - concrete, sand, and gravel
• Heartland Livestock Services (Wallace) - auction mart
• Central Hotel Virden - hotel, restaurant, and bar
• Chevron Canada Resources (Wallace) - oil production
• Heartland Livestock Services (Virden) - livestock marketing and auctioning
• Rowan Enterprises (Elkhorn) - road construction
• Interprovincial Pipelines Inc. (Virden) - petroleum pipeline
• Penner TL Management Ltd. (Wallace) - general contractors
• Bill Murray Motors Ltd. (Virden) - GM dealership and service
• Bruce's IGA Foods (Virden)
• Kola Feed Service (Wallace) - livestock feeds

Major Public Sector Employers

• Fort la Bosse School Division
• Virden and District Hospital
• Manitoba Department of Highways and Transportation
• Pipestone Hospital
• Manitoba Hydro
• Municipal Government
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Manitoba Department of Health and Family Services
• Birdtail School Division

Major Attractions

Some of the many attractions in the area include:

• Plenty of Campgrounds, Bed & Breakfasts, Lakes, Golf Courses
• Plenty of curling rinks, ice skating & hockey rinks
• Pioneer Days in Elkhorn July 1
• Oak Lake Island Resort
• Western Rodeo Days in Virden second weekend in August
• Buffalo and Elk Ranches
• Pipestone Albert Agricultural Fair
• Virden Farmer's Market
• Virden Indoor Rodeo and Wild West Daze last weekend in August
• Virden Music and Arts Festival - April