Geography

Census Division No. 8 is located in the Central Plains Region of Manitoba. The area is approximately 125 kilometres west of the capital city, Winnipeg, and 75 kilometres east of City of Brandon (2^nd largest urban centre in Manitoba). The area has an extensive network of east - west routes including a four-lane Trans-Canada Highway, Yellowhead Route 16 and Provincial Trunk Highway 2 in the south. There are also a number of municipal and provincial roads connecting the north-south traffic. The region is blessed with Lake Manitoba in the north east, as well as, in the south part of the area Spruce Woods Provincial Park and the rolling lands of the Tiger Hills and the winding Assiniboine River create a picturesque background for the many activities and attractions of the area.

The 1996 population of this Census Division was 14,895. The Census Division area is made up of the Town of Gladstone, the Villages of MacGregor and Treherne, and the Rural Municipalities of Glenella, Lakeview, Lansdowne, North Norfolk, South Norfolk, Victoria and Westbourne.

Economic Base

Agriculture is the major industry in the area. Farmers grow a wide range of crops ranging from spring wheat, winter wheat, rye, oats, barley, canola, flax, corn, peas, sunflowers and potatoes. Livestock production is also prominent in the region with farmers specializing in hog production, beef and cattle production, and also PMU operations. Commercial fishing on Lake Manitoba in the north-east part of the region is an important part of the economy as well.

The towns and villages within the area function as service centres that provide essential supplies and services to the many area farmers, as well as, meeting the retail and convenience shopping needs of residents of the surrounding communities.

The beautiful scenery, events and activities around region also supports a thriving tourism and service industry.

• GDT Transport (Notre Dame de Lourdes) - trucking
• Country Lane Candles (North Norfolk) - candle manufacturer, wholesale supplies
• Better Air (North Norfolk) - ventilation equipment manufacturer
• Third Crossing Manor (Gladstone) - senior care
• Mac's Rentals (North Norfolk) - excavating
• Metcalfe's (Treherne) - Ford and CASE dealership
• Timmerman Enterprises (Treherne) - concrete, farm supplies, gravel,landscaping
• Neepawa Gladstone CO-OP (Gladstone) - groceries and hardware
• Rea's Welding Ltd. (South Norfolk) - welding products
• Collet Transport Inc. (Notre Dame de Lourdes)
• MJ Gowryluk (Victoria) - potato growers
• Cypress River Potato Growers (Victoria)
• Munro Farm Supplies (Westbourne) - bulk fertilizer and chemicals
• Nunn's Equipment (Treherne) - John Deere dealership
• Porchene (Notre Dame de Lourdes) - hogs

• Pine Creek School Division
• Notre Dame Hospital
• Tiger Hills Health Centre
• Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine
• Sevion Regions Health Centre
• Notre Dame Clinic
• La Garderie Arc-En-Ciel
• Turtle River School Division
• MacGregor and District Health Centre
• Municipal Government

Major Attractions

Some of the many attractions in the area include:

• Golf Courses
• Beaches, Campgrounds and Cottages along the shores of Lake Manitoba
• Lynch Point Campground
• Plenty of curling rinks, ice skating & hockey rinks
• Spruce Wood Provincial Park
• Spruce Woods Snowmobile Trails
• Cypress River Agriculture Fair Grounds
• Cypress River Town Park
• Glenella Municipal Park
• Holland Fairgrounds
• Lansdowne Park
• Pinkerton Lakes Wildlife Refuge
• Treherne Museum
• Notre Dame Park
• William's Park
• See Major Events & Festivals section under Quality of Life in Profile