Stonewall is a town in the Canadian province of Manitoba with a population of 5,046 as of the 2021 census.[5] The town is situated approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) north of Winnipeg on PTH 67. It is known for its limestone quarries. The local festival is the Quarry Days which is usually held over three days in August on Main Street. The town is surrounded by the R.M. of Rockwood.

Stonewall
Town
Official logo of Stonewall
Motto: 
A Great Place to Call Home
Town boundaries
Town boundaries
Stonewall is located in Manitoba
Stonewall
Stonewall
Location of Stonewall in Manitoba
Coordinates: 50°08′04″N 97°19′34″W / 50.13444°N 97.32611°W / 50.13444; -97.32611
CountryCanada
ProvinceManitoba
RegionsInterlake
Winnipeg Metro
Established1878[1]
Incorporated (Village)1906[2]
Incorporated (Town)1908[2]
Government
 • MayorSandra Smith
 • MLATrevor King (politician)
Area
 • Total5.96 km2 (2.30 sq mi)
Population
 • Total5,046
 • Density846.64/km2 (2,192.8/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Postal Code
R0C 2Z0
Area code(s)Area codes 204 and 431
Websitewww.stonewall.ca

History

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When the last ice age retreated, as well as the prairies, escarpments such as Riding Mountain were left behind. In addition to these, smaller elevations were left behind such as Stony Mountain and Stonewall. It is believed that these escarpments were used as look-outs by early hunters approximately 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. These formations were later used as buffalo jumps by the indigenous populations.[6]

Stonewall was founded by Samuel Jacob Jackson in 1878, after he acquired the land the town is built upon in 1875. However, Jackson did not move to Stonewall himself until 1881.[1]

In the early 1880s, the quarry opened with the focus of their operation being the production of quicklime.[7] During the peak times of the quarry, large amounts of dynamite was used for blasting the rock. The dynamite was kept in the powder magazine which has since been rebuilt near the entrance to Stonewall Quarry Park.[8]

On June 30, 1880, the CPR railway line between Winnipeg and Victoria Junction, 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Stonewall, was completed. The construction of the line continued west passing through Stonewall, Hanlan and Meadow Lea before turning south-west towards Portage la Prairie during the summer of 1880. The transcontinental line was originally planned to pass through Selkirk, but was actually built through Winnipeg following heavy lobbying from the city. The line west of Stonewall was therefore rebuilt through Rosser. The line north-west from Stonewall was subsequently extended through Teulon, Komarno before eventually reaching Arborg in 1910.[9] In 2008, the RM of Rockwood decided that the line was obsolete. With the city of Winnipeg's help the line was taken out.[citation needed]

The present town hall was built in 1912 using local limestone.[10]

Following the closure of the quarry, Kinsmen Lake was developed on the site and opened to the public on August 10, 1956. The lake has become a popular location for locals and visitors to the town.[11] In 1983, the town council initiated a project to develop the former quarry site around Kinsmen Lake into a historical site and natural area.[6]

As of 2022, one of the 3 famous Kilns in Stonewall Quarry Park were demolished due to safety reasons. Stonewall Town Council contributed $1,000,000 for the restoration.[12]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1901589—    
19111,005+70.6%
19211,112+10.6%
19311,031−7.3%
19411,020−1.1%
19511,040+2.0%
19611,420+36.5%
19963,689+159.8%
20014,012+8.8%
20064,376+9.1%
20114,536+3.7%
20164,809+6.0%
20215,046+4.9%
[13][14][15][3][16]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Stonewall had a population of 5,046 living in 2,051 of its 2,127 total private dwellings, a change of 4.9% from its 2016 population of 4,809. With a land area of 5.96 km2 (2.30 sq mi), it had a population density of 846.6/km2 (2,192.8/sq mi) in 2021.[16]

Panethnic groups in the Town of Stonewall (2001−2021)
Panethnic group 2021[17] 2016[18] 2011[19] 2006[20] 2001[21]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[a] 4,085 81.78% 3,900 85.06% 3,825 85.57% 3,905 90.6% 3,640 92.15%
Indigenous 825 16.52% 630 13.74% 580 12.98% 380 8.82% 295 7.47%
South Asian 30 0.6% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.23% 0 0%
Southeast Asian[b] 25 0.5% 25 0.55% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
African 20 0.4% 10 0.22% 0 0% 10 0.23% 0 0%
East Asian[c] 0 0% 0 0% 40 0.89% 0 0% 10 0.25%
Latin American 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.25%
Middle Eastern[d] 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Other/multiracial[e] 0 0% 20 0.44% 20 0.45% 0 0% 0 0%
Total responses 4,995 98.99% 4,585 95.34% 4,470 98.54% 4,310 98.49% 3,950 98.45%
Total population 5,046 100% 4,809 100% 4,536 100% 4,376 100% 4,012 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Education

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Stonewall is situated in the Interlake school division and is served by four schools:

  • École R. W. Bobby Bend School offers a dual-track (French Immersion and English) kindergarten to grade 4 students;
  • École Stonewall Centennial School offers a dual-track program for grade 5 to 8 students;
  • Collège Stonewall Collegiate offers classes for grades 9-12; and
  • OneSchool Global offers classes for grades 3-12.

Government

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Municipal

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Stonewall is represented by a Head of Council (Mayor), a Deputy Mayor and three councilors. The current incumbents of the positions are:

  • Mayor: Sandra Smith[22]
  • Deputy Mayor: Peter Bullivant[23]
  • Council: Walter Badger, Ron Maryniuk, Kimberly Newman[22]

Provincial

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Stonewall is located in the Riding of Lakeside of Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and is currently represented by Trevor King of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.

Federal

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Stonewall is located in the Selkirk—Interlake electoral district which returns one Member of Parliament who currently is James Bezan of the Conservative Party of Canada.

The Winnipeg-Interlake division of the Senate is represented by Janis Johnson who was appointed by Brian Mulroney and who is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Climate

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Stonewall experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb[24]) with warm to hot summers and cold winters

Climate data for Stonewall
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 6
(43)
6.7
(44.1)
18.3
(64.9)
35.5
(95.9)
38.5
(101.3)
37.2
(99.0)
37.8
(100.0)
38.5
(101.3)
39
(102)
28.9
(84.0)
24.4
(75.9)
8.9
(48.0)
39
(102)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −13.1
(8.4)
−9
(16)
−1.6
(29.1)
10.3
(50.5)
19.7
(67.5)
23.6
(74.5)
26
(79)
24.9
(76.8)
18.7
(65.7)
10.8
(51.4)
−0.9
(30.4)
−10.3
(13.5)
8.3
(46.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −18.4
(−1.1)
−14.4
(6.1)
−6.8
(19.8)
4.1
(39.4)
12.5
(54.5)
16.9
(62.4)
19.3
(66.7)
18.1
(64.6)
12.3
(54.1)
5.2
(41.4)
−5.2
(22.6)
−15.3
(4.5)
2.4
(36.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −23.5
(−10.3)
−19.9
(−3.8)
−12
(10)
−2.2
(28.0)
5.2
(41.4)
10.3
(50.5)
12.6
(54.7)
11.2
(52.2)
5.9
(42.6)
−0.4
(31.3)
−9.5
(14.9)
−20.4
(−4.7)
−3.6
(25.5)
Record low °C (°F) −41.7
(−43.1)
−42.8
(−45.0)
−41.1
(−42.0)
−26.3
(−15.3)
−13.3
(8.1)
−2.5
(27.5)
2.2
(36.0)
−2.8
(27.0)
−7.8
(18.0)
−20
(−4)
−37.5
(−35.5)
−38
(−36)
−42.8
(−45.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 24
(0.9)
17.6
(0.69)
24.3
(0.96)
32
(1.3)
55.3
(2.18)
93.7
(3.69)
67.9
(2.67)
64.8
(2.55)
55.1
(2.17)
41.7
(1.64)
24.2
(0.95)
18.9
(0.74)
519.6
(20.46)
Source: Environment Canada[25]

Sports

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Stonewall is home to the Stonewall Jets of the MMJHL and the Stonewall Rams of the WHSHL.

Stonewall has two Hockey rinks: the Stonewall Arena (Ice Palace) and the Veterans Memorial Sports Complex. The only curling rink is the Sunova Credit Union Curling Rink.

Stonewall has a senior baseball team named the Stonewall Blue Jays.

Stonewall has one Soccer field: The Cooke Soccer Field.

Attractions

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Stonewall Quarry Park

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Old Quarry Park Interpretive Centre (as seen 3 months before it burned down). A new one was opened on the fourth anniversary of the fire

The Stonewall Quarry Park has been maintained as a natural area on the edge of town and provides picnic facilities, walking & biking trails for visitors and residents alike. The nine baseball diamonds are available for hire and have been used for the Blue Jays Cups in 1997 and 1998, the Pan Am Games in 1999 and the Western Canada Summer Games in 2003. There is also a campsite and swimming available in Kinsmen Lake. The Kinsmen Lake Splash Pad was opened in 2021 to the public. Stonewall Quarry Park also displays the many aspects of limestone production, one aspect includes The Kilns which were used for producing calcium oxide and quicklime in the late 1800's to mid 1900's. There was a museum and visitor centre, however these were destroyed by fire in the early hours of November 11, 2007. The new interpretive centre was opened in fall 2011.[26][27]

Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre

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Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre is a 36 km2 (14 sq mi) restored prairie marsh featuring artesian springs, aspen-oak bluff, waterfowl lure crop, tall-grass prairie and 30 kilometres (19 mi) of trails. The marsh is home to mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and invertebrates. During the migration season, the number of waterfowl using the marsh can exceed 400,000 a day.[28]

The Stonewall Post Office

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The Stonewall Post Office is an example of the prairie style of architecture which was popular between late 19th and early 20th century. It was built in 1914 using local limestone and used as a post office until 1979.[29] The Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association was founded at the previous Stonewall post office in 1902.[30]

Notable people

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  3. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  4. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  5. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

References

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  1. ^ a b Town of Stonewall (2004). "Town Founder". stonewall.ca. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
  2. ^ a b Rural Municipality of Rockwood. "History of Rockwood". rockwood.ca. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
  3. ^ a b "Census Profile". 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Census Profile". 2021 Census. Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022.
  5. ^ "2021 Stonewall Census Data Table". Statistics Canada. Feb 9, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Robert Coutts (1985). "The Quarry Park at Stonewall, Manitoba". Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  7. ^ Town of Stonewall (2004). "The Quarries". stonewall.ca. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  8. ^ Town of Stonewall (2004). "The Powder Magazine". stonewall.ca. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  9. ^ Town of Stonewall (2004). "The Railroad". stonewall.ca. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  10. ^ Town of Stonewall (2004). "The Town Hall". stonewall.ca. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  11. ^ Town of Stonewall (2004). "Kinsmen Lake". stonewall.ca. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  12. ^ "Stonewall contributing $1M to save historic kilns". Winnipeg. 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  13. ^ Canada, Statistics (March 31, 2008). "Canada Year Book (CYB) Historical Collection" (PDF). www66.statcan.gc.ca.
  14. ^ Canada, Statistics (March 31, 2008). "Canada Year Book (CYB) Historical Collection" (PDF). www66.statcan.gc.ca.
  15. ^ Canada, Statistics (March 31, 2008). "Canada Year Book (CYB) Historical Collection" (PDF). www66.statcan.gc.ca.
  16. ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Manitoba". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  17. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  18. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  19. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  20. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  21. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  22. ^ a b "2022 Manitoba Municipal Elections". mbvotes.ca. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  23. ^ "Municipal Council".
  24. ^ "Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification" (PDF). University of Melbourne. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  25. ^ Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 3 June 2010
  26. ^ "Fire destroys Stonewall landmark, artifacts". CBC. November 12, 2007. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
  27. ^ "Kinsmen Splash Pad Info". Stonewall Quarry Park.
  28. ^ Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre (2007). "About Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre". oakhammockmarsh.ca. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  29. ^ Travel Manitoba (2007). "Stonewall Post Office (PHS)". travelmanitoba.com. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  30. ^ "About us". CPAA. Archived from the original on 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
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