Note: As of January 1, 2003, The Village of Garson has been amalgamated with, and is now part of the Rural Municipality of Brokenhead.
Geography
The Rural Municipality of Brokenhead is located just 44 kilometres east of Winnipeg, the capital city of Manitoba. The municipality is situated east along Provincial Trunk Highway(PTH)44, or south along PTH 12. The municipality is named for the Brokenhead River that passes through the entire municipality. Brokenhead is compromised of eight townships which surround the municipality's largest town, Beausejour. Other villages in the municipality include the village of Garson, and the unicorporated village of Tyndall. Situated in the rich eastern agricultural lands of Manitoba, the economy of Brokenhead is predominantly agriculturally based, yet the municipality is home to two trucking firms. The municipality has a population of 3,495, with the majority being found in the town of Beausejour.
History
Brokenhead was incorporated as a municipality in July of 1900. Brokenhead is comprised of eight townships, which encircle Beausejour. Much of the settlement in the area was due to the early settlers finding the fertile agriculure lands of the municipality suitable to settle on. Future development in the town of Beausejour and the quarries in Garson in 1896, persuaded more people to move into the region. Presently, Brokenhead is a thriving municipality with the town of re
Economic Base
Brokenhead has a strong agricultural backbone, with most residents employed in the agricultural businesses and services. Agricore (fertilizer), Agritel (seed plant) and Ag-Pro (fertilizers and agricultural chemnicals) are only some of these agricultural businesses that sustain the local economy. In the Town of Beausejour, a number of retail shops and services support the town's economy. Beausejour is a major retail and shopping centre for much of eastern Manitoba. Many agricultural services can also be found in Beausejour. Grain,seed, fertilizer and crop advice can be found in the town, as well as, all the normal amenities and services of a small town. Tourism is becoming more prominent to the local economy of Brokenhead, since the municipality is just a few kilometres from the vacation lakes of Whiteshell Provincial Park. Beasejour is a great spot for vacationers to stock up on groceries and supplies before hitting the lakes or returning to Winnipeg.
Major Attractions
There are many interesting sites to see while in Brokenhead. Garson is famous for its fossil-filled limestone. Garson limestone has been used in many prominent buildings such as Canada's Parliament Buildings and the Manitoba Legislative Building. The quarries were established around the turn of the century and are still in operation today.
The Manitoba Glass Works Historic Site is located on the outskirts of Beausejour. The site is the first glass container factory in Western Canada, and used to create bottles and jars for use in Western Canada. When it operated from 1906 to 1914, it employed over 350 local residents at its peak. Remnants of the original factory can still be seen. A self guiding tour will take you through the site that is open from May to October. The Broken Beau Pioneer Village Museum displays the lifestyle and artifacts of Brokenhead's forefathers as they pioneered the country. The museum also contains a number of buildings that have been moved, including a log house, a school, a railway station, and a church.
While in Beausejour, visit the beautiful St.Michael's Bell Tower, which was constructed in 1926. The bell tower is all that remains on the site of the former St.Michael's Greek Catholic Church. The original church was designed by was constructed by Walter Prychun in 1916.
Facilities - Recreation, Parks, Culture
A community, rich in recreational and cultural life is shared by residents of Brokenhead. Beausejour is home to state of the art recreation complexes, with an ice arena, curling rink, and a swimming pool.
A large 900 seat banquet hall meets the needs for all social functions of the town and community. Hiking trails and ski trails are prominent throughout the municipality. The beautiful new seven-acre Tyndall Centenial Park is a tourist attraction that is sure to stop passers by for a longer stay. The park consists of a baseball diamond, a regulation soccer field, swings, slides and picnic tables for a nice afternoon picnic.
The Tyndall Curling Club hosts bonspiels during the winter, as well as, other social functions. Brokenhead has a very strong community life with organizations like the Fraternal Order of Eagles active in Tyndall, holding functions to raise money to support various organizations.
For all winter sports buffs, Brokenhead is the proud host of the Canadian Power Toboggan Races held annually in Beausejour in the first week of March. Brokenhead is also features many other snowmobile and watercraft races througout the year around Beausejour. The Raceplex venue in Beausejour is also used for numerous events and outdoor concerts during summer and fall. The Double B Rodeo and the annual Agricultural Fair are two more of the many annual events that draw residents and visitors out into the community.
