If we all should strive to learn something new every day, here’s today’s lesson, in the form of a Jeopardy question:
What historical event occurred on June 15, 1882?
The answer? It’s the day Selkirk was incorporated and from this year forth, June 15 will be recognized and celebrated as Selkirk Day in the city.
An entire month of activities
In fact, the city will celebrate Selkirk Day with an entire month worth of events and activities, and Mayor Larry Johannson says it’s fitting that the party goes all month long.
“We’re proud to recognize June 15 as Selkirk Day and we’re confident that citizens of the city, new and long-time citizens, will join us in celebrating this fine city we all call home,” Johannson said.
“One day just doesn’t seem like enough, so we’re working with community partners and planning things for the entire month of June and since it’s our first time acknowledging this day in this public way, we’ve got events planned that are firsts and we hope everyone will take the time and enjoy. I think Selkirkians are known for their civic pride and this provides us all another avenue to express that.”
City of Selkirk flags on sale for the first time ever
One of the firsts is the city will be selling City of Selkirk flags so people can show their Selkirk pride.
“The city has never sold flags before and we hope that every day we’ll see Selkirk flags flying everywhere,” said Ellie Longbottom, the city’s Culture Coordinator.
Selkirk CAO, Duane Nicol said that in fact, it appears as though the City of Selkirk has never formally adopted the flag through by-law or resolution of council, a matter that today’s Council seeks to correct.
“The design was approved by standing committee of council in 1988, but a review of the council minutes from that time show that no formal resolution or by-law was passed. As part of our 2025 Selkirk Day celebrations, Council has directed administration to draft a by-law for their consideration to formally adopt the flag, and has directed us to make the flag available for citizens to purchase so that people can fly the Selkirk flag at home or at their business,” said Nicol.
The flag will be available online at shop.myselkirk.ca. There will be deals on city merchandise all month long as part of the Selkirk Day celebration.
Elementary school kids will get to learn about their city with lessons created specifically to celebrate their community of Selkirk. Fun activity packages will be sent to grades 3-6 in Selkirk to learn more about their community. The goal is to help kids feel proud of where they live and see how they belong. Whether they’re learning about local places, community or what makes Selkirk unique, the activities are all about building connection.
Celebrating Selkirk through art
The celebration kicked off on June3 with a month-long members show at the Gwen Fox Gallery with all the artwork inspired by Selkirk. There are 26 artists displaying more than 50 pieces, so you’ll need time to take it all in.
“In the June art show at Gwen Fox Gallery, entitled ‘Celebrate Selkirk’ there are 26 members’ artworks entered. Included are pieces done in stone sculpture, pastels, clay, beadwork, pen and ink, photography, oils, acrylics, watercolour and other exciting media,” says Brenda Hedberg, a member of the Gallery’s Operations Committee.
“Come visit the show from June 2 to 28 in the beautiful heritage building in the downtown of Selkirk, on the corner of Main Street and Manitoba Avenue.” The Gallery is open Tuesday – Saturday 11 am – 4 pm.
Sail into Selkirk’s history at the Marine Museum of Manitoba
On Selkirk Day, June 15, the Marine Museum of Manitoba will be giving free admission to allow people to learn all about Selkirk’s nautical history. It’s Father’s Day, and a day at the Marine Museum with dad is a great idea. The museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to explore Selkirk, there are a couple of great options that let you learn as you go. Two self-guided walking tours are available online, on mobile devices, and now through the Driftscape app. The Selkirk Murals Tour features over 30 colourful murals around the city, each one telling a story about the people and culture of Selkirk. The Streets of Selkirk Tour shares the stories behind local street names and the people who helped shape the community. The tours are free and simple to follow. Driftscape also shows nearby stops and points of interest, making it easy to explore at your own pace. A link to these tours is available on MySelkirk.ca/SelkirkDay
The Gaynor Family Regional Library will be highlighting its Selkirk section for the month as well. Books by local authors and books about Selkirk will be front and centre.
There’s no better time to get involved and celebrate what makes Selkirk special. Take a walk, pick up a local book, join an activity, or simply share what you love about your community. However you choose to take part, you’ll be helping build a stronger, more connected Selkirk for everyone.
