Virden is located at the junction of the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 83, the "Palms to Pines" route. Highway 83, the longest stretch of highway in North America, will allow you to travel as far south as Mexico and as far north as Swan River, Manitoba. The Town of Virden and the Rural Municipality of Wallace are situated in the southwestern region of the Province of Manitoba, midway between the major Canadian cities of Winnipeg and Regina.
The Town of Virden is located 77 kilometers west of Brandon, Manitoba's second largest city, and 105 kilometers north of the Canada-U.S. Border. The Town of Virden covers an area of 3 kilometers (a little over one square mile), and is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Wallace. Together, the two are known as the Virden-Wallace Community, a strong and dynamic team striving towards greater economic development and prosperity.
History
In 1882, the first settlement in the area was established just east of the present community at Gopher Creek. One year later, the railway was built through the area and the town moved to its present site to be closer to the tacks. In the same year, a post office was established and the town's name was officially registered. Soon after the railroad arrived, new settlers began arriving in numbers.
Virden quickly gained the reputation of "Little Town of the West". Virden quickly established a foothold on the prairie and emerged as a strong service centre for agriculture and trade. A field stone railway station built in 1900 is a fine example of the enterprising citizens of the early days, and the unique building still stands today. Virden was also the home of Western Manitoba's first opera house.
Built in 1911, the Auditorium Theatre or "the Aud" as known to locals, was a magnificent piece of architecture and rivaled theatres in Toronto, Montreal, and many U.S. cities. The theatre sat 500 people in its floor level, balcony and box seats. The Aud was home to a thriving amateur dramatic society and housed many famous travelling productions. The theatre also doubled as a movie house for nearly 70 years. The Town undertook a major renovation and the theatre has been reopened with much of its former splendor.
Economic Base
Like many Manitoba communities, agriculture plays an important role in the economic life of the town. Many residents in the surrounding area are farm families. Virden's agricultural service sector includes machine shops and fabricators, equipment dealers and service, full service grain elevators and grain processors.
The other major contributor to Virden's economy is the oil industry. 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 in the surrounding area with the local industry experiencing over two billion dollars in sales over its history. The oil industry is Virden's biggest employer. Jobs in the industry include production, transportation, and maintenance.
Major Attractions
In the year 2000, Virden played host to one of the provinces biggest sporting events as over 1600 athletes converged on the town for the Manitoba Games. The event showcased all that Virden has to offer, but you don't need to be a competitive athlete to enjoy Virden's many attractions.
Several attractions and facilities make Virden fun and exciting for all ages. Children young and old alike will have a splashing good time in the town's outdoor pool and waterslide park. Tennis courts, an indoor arena, curling rink and campground are also available for use for organised competition or recreational fun.
The Aud Theatre headlines the cultural venues in town, and plays host to several performances and events throughout the year. The Terry McLean Art gallery, CP Station & Farmer's Market and the Pioneer Home Museum all house displays of local art work and historical artifacts.
Many celebrations, agricultural fairs and exhibitions carry on throughout the summer, with summer festivities wrapping up in August with the popular Wild West Daze and indoor rodeo.Virden has become known as "Cowboy Capital of Manitoba" by wining the Manitoba Rodeo Cowboy Association "Rodeo of the Year" award three consecutive times. In 2003 Virden hosted the MRCA Rodeo Finals.
Virden is home to a number of famous people. The inventor of the jukebox, Dave Rockola was born and raised in Virden before moving to the United States to start his company. The Rock-Ola jukebox was a staple in cafes and clubs from the fifties until the advent of the modern compact disc.
Before going on to create a famous line of specialty pet foods, Dr. Ballard had a thriving veterinary practice in Virden.
While Lila Acheson may not be a well-known name, her publications are well known. Acheson conceived a publication that skimmed the "cream" from many published works and printed condensed versions of only the best works. Her creation, "Readers Digest" is now published in dozens of different languages on every continent in the world. It is recognised as one of the most popular and most successful magazines ever published.
Another town resident, Terry McLean is known in art circles for his wildlife paintings. He has traveled North America and much of the world displaying his works, including his most popular creations, a series of decorative plates depicting Canada's provincial birds.
