Neighbourhoods

Selkirk

A riverside Interlake city, the self-styled "Catfish Capital," just up Highway 9.

Selkirk is a small city on the Red River in Manitoba’s Interlake region, roughly 22 km northeast of Winnipeg. With a 2021 census population of about 10,504 (up 2.2% from 2016), it is one of the larger communities in the Capital Region’s commuter belt and functions as a genuine town in its own right rather than a bedroom suburb. It has a working, mixed economy anchored by the Gerdau steel mill, the Selkirk Mental Health Centre, regional health care and retail, and a steady tourism trade tied to the river. Downtown along Manitoba Avenue and Eveline Street has older heritage character, while newer commercial and residential growth has spread outward and across the river into East Selkirk.

The vibe is practical, blue-collar and family-oriented, with deep agricultural and river-trade roots and a strong local identity (the town leans hard into its "Catfish Capital" branding, complete with Chuck the Channel Cat). Residents are a mix of long-time locals, working families, retirees and a growing number of Winnipeg commuters drawn by lower-density living and an easy drive to the city. It is a community with its own schools, hospital, arena and parks, so day-to-day life does not require a trip into Winnipeg.

Highlights

Selkirk Park on the Red River: a large municipal park and campground with a beach, boat launch, pool and splash pad, plus one of the largest skate parks in rural Manitoba.
The Marine Museum of Manitoba, a collection of historic Lake Winnipeg vessels centred on the 1897 steamship S.S. Keenora.
Lord Selkirk School Division, a 15-school division covering Selkirk and surrounding communities (Lockport, St. Andrews, Clandeboye and others), including French immersion options.
The Selkirk Recreation Complex ("The Rec"), a ~1,400-seat arena that has hosted national-level hockey alongside year-round minor hockey, ringette and skating.
Community events including the Selkirk Fair and Rodeo and Holiday Alley, a winter light-and-arts festival in the old downtown.

Sources

Best for

Families and working buyers who want a full-service small city with its own schools, hospital and recreation rather than a pure suburb; commuters comfortable with a 30–40 minute drive to Winnipeg; and downsizers or retirees, supported by newer seniors-oriented and rental housing. Anglers, boaters and river-recreation enthusiasts are especially well served.

Housing

Housing is varied: an older core of modest post-war and early-20th-century homes near downtown and the river, mixed with infill and newer single- and multi-family construction added over the past decade-plus. Newer subdivisions and larger acreage-style lots are concentrated on the city’s edges and across the river in East Selkirk and St. Andrews, where two-acre rural lots and recent estate developments are available. There is also a stock of apartments and a growing supply of seniors and adaptive rental housing — more space and lower density than central Winnipeg while still feeling like a town.

Getting around

Selkirk sits about 22 km northeast of downtown Winnipeg via Highway 9 (Main Street corridor), a typical 30–40 minute drive; some use Highway 8 or River Road as alternatives. The city itself is car-oriented and easy to drive, with most services clustered along Manitoba Avenue and Main Street. It is a realistic daily commute to north Winnipeg, though far enough out that you are committing to a highway drive rather than a city trip.

Neighbourhood descriptions are general and for orientation only; boundaries, amenities, and prices change. Verify school catchments and current listings before making decisions.

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