Geography

Census Division No. 17 is located within the Parkland region of Manitoba, and is located approximately 130 kilometres northwest of the City of Brandon (2nd largest urban centre in Manitoba). The north side of the area borders onto Lake Winnipegosis, while the east side borders Lake Manitoba, and the southwest borders Riding Mountain National Park. The area's rolling terrain, along with Dauphin Lake contribute to the wonderful natural surroundings. Provincial Trunk Highways 5, 19, 50 & 68 serve as major east-west transportation routes, while Provincial Trunk Highways 5 & 10 serves as major north-south routes. The 1996 population of this Census Division was 23,980. The Census Division area is made up of the City of Dauphin, the Towns of Grandview and Ste. Rose Du Lac, the Villages of Ethelbert, Gilbert Plains, McCreary, and Winnipegosis, and the Rural Municipalities of Alonsa, Dauphin, Ethelbert, Gilbert Plains, Grandview, Lawrence, McCreary, Mossey River, Ochre River, and Ste. Rose.

Economic Base

The City of Dauphin serves as an agricultural service centre for much of the surrounding area. Much of the economy is agriculturally driven, with producers growing almost every thing from grains, oilseeds and livestock, to honey bees and industrial hemp.

Dauphin's trading area of over 40,000 persons also supports a strong retail and wholesale industry. The Dauphin area also has a strong manufacturing and processing industry that supplies products locally, nationally, and internationally. Tourism also plays a significant role in the economy. Riding Mountain National Park and the Duck Mountain Provincial Park are some of Western Manitoba's most popular recreational facilities that draw thousands of tourists and visitors to the area each year.

Major Private Employers in Area

• WalMart (Dauphin) - Retail-Department Store
• Canada Safeway (Dauphin) - Retail-Groceries
• Dr. Gendreau Memorial Personal Care Home (Ste. Rose du Lac)
• Grandview Personal Care Home
• Dean Cooley GM (Dauphin) - Retail & Service-Automotive
• Forman Ford (Dauphin) - Retail & Service-Automotive
• Dauphin Medical Clinic
• Stirling Enterprises (Grandview) - sand, gravel, asphalt, and road construction
• Ste. Rose Auction Mart - auction mart for cattle
• Sterling Enterprises (Grandview) - construction
• Ste. Rose IGA - grocery store
• Agricore Agricentre (Grandview) - fertilizer and chemicals
• Ste. Rose IGA - groceries
• Gilbert Plains Consumer CO-OP - farm supplies and service station
• Canadian Tire (Dauphin) - Retail & Service-Automotive

Major Public Sector Employers

• Ste. Rose General Hospital
• Winnipegosis General Hospital
• Grandview Personal Care Home
• Gilbert Plains Health Centre
• Duck Mountain School Division
• Grandview District Hospital Grandview
• Addictions Foundation of Manitoba
• RCMP
• Intermountain School Division
• Municipal Government
• Parkland Regional Health Authority

Major Attractions

Some of the many attractions in the area include:

• Canada's National Ukrainian Festival - end of July
• Riding Mountain National Park
• Duck Mountain Provincial Park
• Manipogo Provincial Park Provincial
• Roadside Park
• Rainbow Beach Provincial Park
• Centennial Beach
• Margaret Bruce Beach
• Portia Marsh
• Sifton Beach
• Stoney Point Beach
• Winnipegosis Beach
• Winnipegosis Beach Campground
• Garland Blueberry Festival - third weekend in August
• Gilbert Plains-Grandview Agricultural Society Fair & Rodeo - 3rd weekend in July
• McCreary Golf and Country Club
• Ice Fishing Derby on Dauphin Lake - December
• For more information on major attractions, festivals and events in the area go directly to the Quality of Life section of this profile.