The Rural Municipality of Alexander is situated in eastern Manitoba, and is located on the southwest basin of Lake Winnipeg, the largest lake in Manitoba. The municpality is approximately 100 kilometres north east of Winnipeg, and can be accessed from the south by Provincial Trunk Highway(PTH) 59, PTH 12, or from the east by Provincial Road 317. Pine Falls and Powerview are the municipality's largest communities with Great Falls, St Georges and Stead, being other significant communities. Alexander boasts having some of the world's greatest beaches along Lake Winnipeg. Albert Beach and Hillside Beach are just two of the largest beaches along its western boundaries. The municipality ranges from the rugged characteristics of the Winnipeg River corridor to agricultural lands in the south to pristine beaches in the west.
History
Alexander was incorporated in 1945, yet its rich history extends back as far as the mid 1700's. The sons of the famous explorer La Verendrye, established Fort Maurepas near the mouth of the Winnipeg River as early as 1760. Early settlements were scattered along the Winnipeg River as early as 1737, with Europeans (mostly French Canadians) and local natives partaking in the lucrative fur trade. The North West Company built a trading post in the mid 1760's. The Hudson's Bay Company was soon to follow by creating a trading post at Fort Alexander in 1818. When the companies amalgamated, Hudson's Bay took over all of North West's posts, establishing trading posts along the Winnipeg River. French Catholic and Anglican missionaries formed missions around early forts, making them more permanent. In the early 1900's, attention was focused on the potential wealth of forest and hydroelectric resources in the area. Construction of a newsprint mill in Pine Falls and the construction of massive hydro dams at Point du Bois, Great Falls, and Powerview demanded a large workforce, which was mostly immigrants. Temporary settlements like "Tin Town"(Powerview), soon gave way to more permanent villages. The area still has a strong close connection with its past with many residents employed in the Pine Falls paper mill and at the hydroelectric dams.
Economic Base
The municipality has a varied economic base, with its most prominent employers being the Pine Falls Paper Company and Manitoba Hydro. The paper company employs approximately 500 residents, while Manitoba Hydro has many employees situated at its various hydro dams and properties throughout the municipality. With its economic centres focusing around Pine Falls, Powerview and St. George, the area is made very accessible to Winnipeg, by modern highways and the Canadian National Railway, allowing easy access to and from Alexander. Alexander also has the added advantage of providing future businesses with an abundance of inexpensive and readily-available hydro power.
Besides its paper and hydroelectric employers, agriculture also plays a large role in Alexander. The village of Stead is known as the "sod capital" of Manitoba. Stead ships and distributes, sod and peat moss to farmers as far south as Texas. Because of its varied geographic reigions, Alexander also boasts having a thriving wild rice industry.
Lake Winnipeg provides commercial fishing activity, while mining also occurs just to the north of the Bird River area at Bernic Lake. Because all of its rich resources, and varied industries, Alexander offers much to visitors and future businesses.
Major Attractions
The warm residents of Alexander welcome you to visit their beautiful community. Community events from dinners to the "4P" festival in Powerview in September long weekend keep residents and visitors busy. Take time out of your schedule to visit the St. Georges Historical Museum when in the village of St. George. The museum displays many historical artifacts from the local area. Tours are also typically available of many hydroelectric sites in the municipality.
Facilities - Recreation, Parks, Culture
The rich sands of nearby Grand Beach, Victoria Beach Albert and Hillside beaches call all tourists, campers and cottagers during the summer months. Known as some of the world's greatest beaches, summer activities include boating, water-skiing and sunbathing. Miles of hiking trails, cross country skiing and ski-doo trails excite all wild sport enthusiasts. Wildlife such as moose, deer, foxes, wolves, coyotes, bears and both snowy and grey owls are in abundance in the region's lush, green forests while species of birds and fish are too many to mention. Alexander also boasts some of the best pickerel fishing in Manitoba around several of its power dams.
