Nestled in the Pembina Valley Region, the Rural Municipality of Pembina is rich in heritage, recreation, opportunity and quality of life.
The R.M. of Pembina is situated on the U.S.A. boundary in the south central part of the province. Manitou, Darlingford and LaRiviere are the larger centres in the municipality along with other communities such, as Kingsley, Snowflake, Kaleida, Mowbray and Windygates. The Pembina River Valley, with its beauty and contrast, affords a rather unique landmark for the R.M. of Pembina as it crosses from northwest to southeast.
History
Sometime in the late 1500's, long after the Wisconsinan glacier had receded, the first inhabitants of the area were the Assiniboine tribe. Many artifacts discovered in recent years have documented their habitation. Between 1873 and 1875, the Boundary Commission marked the International boundary. The trail they made was followed by a trickle of settlers coming west from Ontario, who were looking for good land, good water and good wood.
Economic Base
Farming is a major contributor to the economy of the R.M. of Pembina. Most of the dollars brought into the area through the sale of agricultural products are spent locally on purchases of farm equipment, supplies, labour and services, plus farm family living expenses. Tourism is a growing industry in the Manitou area, largely because of the scenery and location. Manitou is an important service centre for the grain producing farms in the surrounding area. Nestled in the Pembina Valley Region, the R.M. of Pembina is rich in heritage, recreation, opportunity and quality of life.
Major Attractions
Much of the R.M.'s heritage has been preserved. The Darlingford War Museum is a unique site, and includes the three Spruce trees that Ferris Bolton planted, to remember his three sons who died in World War One. The Memorial contains a gun case and guns, and a cabinet with various helmets, and items from both wars. The Archibald Historical Museum features Nellie McClung - teacher, writer, lecturer, and advocate of women's rights and legislator. The F.A. Twilley Museum dedicated to the late Fred Twilley who was a pioneer from the Swan River Valley, displays memorabilia of an enthusiastic collector, particularly of Indian artifacts.
Calf Mountain - Tete De Bouef (Buffalo Head, Calf Mountain) was built by natives as a ritual meeting place, and was used to bury great men of their time. Indications are that their rituals were based on proximity to the highly advanced Mayan and Aztec culture of Mexico. St. Mary's Church, a little church in Kaleida was built in 1892 in memory of the Hon. William Winram. Built of natural fieldstone (red, black and gray in colour) with stone buttresses at each corner, it looks like a small country church that would fit into the rural countryside of England. Mowbray is a ghost town that takes you back to the times when Canada and the United States were just beginning. A breathtaking panoramic view of the countryside awaits those who venture into its past. Star Mound is a Native Burial Ground where the one-room Star Mound School now stands as a museum depicting our past.
