Community Profile

Geography & Demographics
The Municipality of Shoal Lake, which includes the community of Oakburn, are situated in southwestern Manitoba, Canada, 300 km northwest of the capital city of Winnipeg and 110 km northwest of Brandon. Shoal Lake is located around the north end of Shoal Lake itself. The lake is nine kilometers long, making it ideal for boating and water-skiing as well as fishing.

Agriculture

Agriculture and tourism are the driving force of the economy in these communities. The soil is rich and fertile, and a variety of cereal crops and oilseeds are grown productively in the region. Several family and commercial livestock operation run in the area supplying generic and purebred animals to producers and processors locally and abroad. A number of agri-businesses in the area accommodate the needs of the agricultural community including five implement dealers, bulk fuel, chemical suppliers, livestock feed processor and others.

Agriculture makes up close to one third of the area's economy. The Shoal Lake Agriculture District encompasses the municipalities of Birtle, Shoal Lake, Strathclair, and Park South. This district includes 228,579 hectares of which 66% is cultivated. The remainder is pasture, woodland, and water.

The topography and soil type vary from the rolling clay hills of Park, to the fertile Newdale clay loam soils in the Shoal Lake, Strathclair and Birtle areas, to the sandy loam soils found in the Wattsview Plains area. In areas where soil structure or topography limit annual crop production, forages are grown for cattle or as a cash crop.

The entire district lies within the Assiniboine River System watershed. Most of the surface drainage is local in nature, with run-off water from knolls and ridges accumulating in sloughs and depressions. Final surface is then provided by a series of rivers and creeks such as the Minnedosa River and Oak River, which all eventually drain into the Assiniboine River.

Mixed farming is the norm, with many cow-calf operations. Both commercial and purebred livestock are produced. The major crops in the area are:

- Cereals, including spring wheat, durum wheat, a small amount of winter wheat, barley, and oats
- Canola
- Flax
- Peas and lentils

Farms under 1000 acres have decreased over the entire district and the average age of farmers is also on the decline. As farmers in the 50-60 years of age range retire, their land is being picked up by farmers in the 30-40 years of age range, resulting in fewer farmers with larger farm units.

Shoal Lake has become a major centre for agribusiness. It is home to five implement dealerships which has led to Shoal Lake being known as "Westman's Machinery Capital".

Grain is shipped through the new Agricore United high throughput terminal that opened in the spring of 2000. Agricore United also recently completed construction of a major fertilizer distribution centre for Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Other supporting businesses include two fertilizer and chemical dealers, two seed cleaners, and a bulk fuel dealers. Shoal Lake is also home to the district offices of the Department of Agriculture and Manitoba Agricultural Credit Corporation.

A recent community workshop identified developing diversified and value-added agriculture as a priority for the future. This includes attracting manufacturing and processing, exploring organic production, specialty crops, and a wider variety of livestock, and developing local agri-tourism. Have an idea? Contact our Economic Development Officer.

Shoal Lake Kids Club Inc. - Licensed Childcare Facility & Nursery School 101 The Drive Tel: 204-759-3438

Caring & Crayons – Oakburn Nursery School

Shoal Lake School
110 Station Rd. Tel: 204-759-2311 Fax: 204-759-2697

Post-Secondary Education is available at Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College in Brandon. The University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, , and Red River Community College are in Winnipeg.

Shoal Lake offers all the amenities of a larger center, but in a more relaxed and friendly environment. As a member of our community we want to insure your family is healthy and safe.  Shoal Lake is proud to offer many health services, an RCMP detachment and a Volunteer Fire Department.

Library
Shoal Lake Community Library  438 Station Rd.  Tel: 204-759-2242

Health Centre

Acute Care
Diagnostic Services
Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance)
Public Health Services
Mental Health Services
Home Care Services

Personal Care Home

40 Personal Care Home Beds
Community Bath Program

Other Services

Physicians Clinic
Regional Palliative Care Program
Regional Occupational & Physiotherapy Services
Regional Dietitian Services
Meals on Wheels

Elderly Person’s Housing:

Lakeshore Lodge EPH 9 Units
Morley House EPH 18 Units

The Assiniboine Regional Health Authority would like to advise the public to contact facilities directly for Emergency Room status due to potential service disruptions that are not tracked on the website.

Other Health Services available in Shoal Lake:

- Community Bath Program
- Diabetes Education
- Elderly Persons Housing
- Meals on Wheels
- Occupational & Physiotherapy Services
- Pharmacy

Police
Detachments at Shoal Lake, Minnedosa, Hamiota, Elphinstone, and Wasagaming and one highway patrol have recently been amalgamated into the Yellowhead Detachment based out of Shoal Lake. A Staff Sergeant will be taking over command of the detachment later this year. The detachment includes 20 officers, 15 cruisers, four administrative staff, two snowmobiles, and one boat

Fire
The Shoal Lake area has two volunteer fire departments. The Town of Shoal Lake has 19 firefighters, 2 pumpers, 1 tanker, 1 rescue unit, 1 quick response/grass fire truck, 1 Zodiak, 1 snowmobile with rescue sled, and the Jaws of Life. Oakburn has six firefighters and an additional pumper. As well, Shoal Lake has entered into a mutual aid agreement with surrounding communities whereby Strathclair and Birtle would assist at any fire in Shoal Lake at the fire department’s request and their neighbouring communities would cover their areas while absent. A new firehall opened in 2003.

Ambulance
Shoal Lake has 24-hour a day ambulance service with two units which are operated by the Assiniboine Regional Health Authority based out of Souris and Shoal Lake.

The Shoal Lake Communiplex is a modern arena complex with regulation size artificial skating ice and four sheets of artificial curling ice.  It is home to the Shoal Lake Curling Club, Shoal Lake Figure Skating Club, Shoal Lake Minor Sports, Yellowhead Chiefs AAA Midget Hockey Team, Eagles Senior Hockey Team, and the Balding Eagles "Old Timers" Recreational Hockey Team.  It is located on Hwy 42 at the west end of The Drive. 

Phone numbers are:

Skating Arena - (204) 759-2094
Curling Club - (204) 759-2731

Ice may be booked by contacting the icemaker at (204) 759-2094.  It is available from the beginning of September to the end of March.  April ice may be available if sufficient bookings are made.

Curling Schedule

Monday nights - Men
Tuesday nights - Ladies
Wednesday afternoons - Mixed

Bonspiels:

Seniors Mixed Bonspiel - Nov. 28th and 29th
Men's & Ladies' Bonspiel - TBA
Bonspiel Banquet & Dance - TBA

Curling ice may be booked by contact Trevor at (204) 759-3094

The facilities are available for rent during the off season.  Bookings are made through Leisure Services at (204) 759-2629 or email.  All Lessee's must sign a Facility Rental Agreement.  A deposit of $100 is required to reserve the date, which will be refunded the week following the event if there is no damage to the facility or its contents.  The entire rental fee is required when picking up the key for the event.

The Shoal Lake Community Hall offers 8400 sq ft of space for meetings, weddings, auctions, banquets, socials, and entertainment.  It contains a large main hall for up to 600 persons, a conference room with 83 person capacity, and a full kitchen.  The interior of the main hall has recently undergone major renovations including insulating the walls and ceiling, upgrading the wiring, finishing the walls, installing sconce lighting, and installing a new sound system.  All lighting in the building has been retrofitted or replaced, the wiring has been upgraded in the conference room, a new air makeup unit and a fire suppression system installed for the kitchen at a cost of approximately $54,000.  These costs have partially been offset by grants of $20,000 from Manitoba Community Places and $9,000 from Manitoba Community Services Council Inc.  If you would like to donate towards these or future improvements, please check out the Hall's brochure .

Events are booked through Leisure Services.  Please call (204) 759-2629 or email.
All events booked in the main hall must have a facility rental agreement signed.  A $100 damage deposit is required to reserve the date and will be returned the week following the event provided no damage was sustained to the facility or its contents.  The entire rental fee is due upon picking up the key prior to the event.

If you are looking to rent wine glasses for your function contact Tracy Myhill at Junction 16 (204) 759-2215.

Shoal Lake Leisure Services

Shoal Lake Leisure Services was formed by the Town and Rural Municipal Councils in August, 2008 by amalgamating the Community Hall Board, Joint Community Centre Board (Communiplex) and the Parks Board.  A Community Events Coordinator was hired and the Leisure Services Office opened in the R.M. Office at the end of September. In November of 2010 the office was relocated to the Old Town Office.

Shoal Lake Leisure Services exists to:

- Attract and create events and activities to use our facilities
- Manage and maintain facilities at the Communiplex, Community Hall and Lakeview Park
- Offer recreational and leisure programming to all citizens of the Municipality of Shoal Lake, including Oakburn

Community Events & Facilities Coordinator - Shannon Madsen
Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, closed over lunch.
438 Station Road, PO Box 14, Shoal Lake, MB R0J 1Z0
Phone: 204-759-2629
Cell: 204-365-0017
Fax: 204-759-2690
Email: slleisure@inetlink.ca
Website:  www.shoallake.ca/leisure

Worship

Shoal Lake Baptist Church – 326 Station Rd.
Tel: 204-759-2544 Fax: 204-759-3221

St. Paul's Anglican Church - Shoal Lake   Regular Worship at 2:00 p.m. on Sundays with Rev. Nigel Packwood presiding.               

To be added

Community Organizations
To be added

Playgrounds & Parks

Marshall Chambers Park
The Marshall Chambers Park is located at the south end of Shoal Lake, 6 km south of town on highway #21 and 1.5 km west on Provincial Road 477.  It has 13 serviced and several unserviced campsites, washrooms, a beach area and boat launch.   For reservations contact 759-2376 or 764-0814 (mobile). 

Lakeview Park
The Lakeview Park includes a campground, beach area, marina, and the Mounted Police Museum (Manitoba's museum dedicated to the Northwest Mounted Police).  The campground includes 21 sites serviced with water and 30 amp electrical, including two pull through, and 5 unserviced sites.

2011 Camping Rates.pdf  For reservations call (204) 759-2629.

Lakeview Park Campground Rules (pdf document)

Lakeview Park Seasonal Camper Rules (pdf document)

Lakeview Park Map (pdf document)

Senior Services

Senior Services of Prairie Parkland Inc.
Box 543 Shoal Lake, MB R0J 1Z0
Phone: 759-2195    Fax: 759-3399 Email: sspp1@mts.net

Community Resource Councils in each area are unique, but some of the similar programs/services offered include:

- Escorted transportation
- Yard and home maintenance referrals
- Information about accessing community or government services
- Referrals to various agencies
- Congregate Meal Programs
- Services for Caregivers

Escorted Transportation:

Alt the Community Resource Councils provide escorted transportation for seniors in their community areas. The escorted transportation allows seniors to get to their medical appointments, to the bank, to the store, to adult day programs etc. These programs require advanced notice in order to arrange for transportation.

Yard and Home Maintenance:

Some of the community resource councils maintain a registry of fee-for-service workers who can provide housekeeping, meal preparation, yardwork, snow removal, minor electrical and plumbing etc. Seniors can call the community resource councils and obtain the names and numbers of these service providers and make arrangements for the services.

Information and Referral:

Community Resource Councils act as a source for accessing community and government services such as pension information, mobility aids, adult day programs, senior centres, grocery delivery services, etc.

Service for Caregivers:

Rupert’s Land Caregiver Services provides information, services and support to caregivers in Winnipeg such as caregiver telephone support, information/referral and respite services.

We would like to welcome you to your new community! 

We welcome you to use this website as your first link to our community.  Here you can find a wide assortment of information that you may be looking for.  If you can’t find it on here please contact the Shoal Lake Regional Community Development Corporation at 204-759-3343 so we can point you in the right direction.

Shoal Lake & Area Rental Information: files/Municipality of Shoal Lake rental properties registry.2011.doc

Air
The Shoal Lake Regional Airport was constructed in 1992 and has a 1000 metre paved and lighted runway, 10/28. It is licensed for day and night operation. Fuel and oil are available, as are aircraft tiedowns with electricity.

Rides to and from the airport are available from the following community members:

Commercial passenger air service is available at Brandon & Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Rail

Freight and grain are transferred through Shoal Lake on a Canadian Pacific Railways main line.

Ground

Shoal Lake has an average annual daily traffic flow of 2500 vehicles on Highway #16 alone, plus 1200 on Highway #21, and 510 on Highway #42. These numbers steadily increase each time the Department of Highways records statistics. Greyhound provides bus service out of Shoal Lake and Grey Goose runs out of Oakburn. Purolator Courier picks up and delivers to Shoal Lake twice a day. Various transfer and custom trucking outfits operate out of the area, offering pick-up and delivery of a wide range of commodities. The community owns a Handi-Van, a 12-passenger handicap accessible van which can be rented by individuals or community groups.

Handi Van

Shoal Lake and area Handi-Van Costs $5.00 per stop plus .50 cents per kilometre when going out of Shoal Lake. There is no fee for waiting time when out of town. Escorts ride for free.  Service is available to ALL RESIDENTS in the communities of Shoal Lake and Oakburn. For friendly courteous service, phone 204-759-3209 to book your trip.

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