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 Minnedosa
and Riding National Park
by Jerry W. Bird
Minn- e - do-sa! Speaking
of meaningful, musical place names, "Minnedosa"
combines the Sioux word for water (minne) and rapid
water (duza). Its river is a tributary of the
Assiniboine, which connects to the Forks at
Winnipeg. Known as Manitoba's Valley Paradise,
Minnedosa was recently voted the Province's most
beautiful town, so take time to look around, smell
the flowers and stretch your imagination. Steeped
in early Canadian history, this bustling community
was a stopping place in the 1880s for Red River
carts heading west along on the Edmonton Trail.
Choose your level or type of activity - be it
sports fishing, horseback riding or hiking -- there
is something here for visitors of all ages. As a
tribute to the First Nations and Manitoba's
provincial symbol, the main recreation area is
Bison Park. Many travelers use Minnedosa on the
Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway, as home base for
day trips or overnight excursions to Riding
Mountain, one of Western Canada's most outstanding
playground areas.
Riding Mountain National
Park. The Park is an "island of the prairies,"
where buffalo roam and 500 species of wildlife
thrive. You can enjoy lectures, even take
wolf-howling lessons here, but the Plains Indians'
relationship with the buffalo is the top item on
the agenda. Bathers will enjoy Clear Lake's sandy
beach, while those afoot and on horseback, can rove
the meadows, aspen groves and evergreen forests
using the park's network of wilderness
trails.
Shoal Lake
Back in the rough and ready
days of redcoat justice, native treaties and the
fur trade, Shoal Lake's tiny settlement stood on
the far western boundary of Manitoba, then a new
member of the Dominion. With the Royal Northwest
Mounted Police post being located on the neck of
Shoal Lake (its narrowest point) local Mounties
could observe traffic en route to the territories.
As more settlers made their way west, the main
community took root several miles away. As a
result, Shoal Lake now boasts two authentic RCMP
posts. With such a colorful history, Shoal Lake and
the RM of Shoal Lake have created a Cultural
Heritage Village Museum, to include Elliott House,
an original school house from 1907 and an extensive
collection of wagons and horse drawn vehicles and
farm equipment.
The RM of Harrison
Sandy Lake and Newdale are
the main population centres to visit in the Rural
Municipality of Harrison. Conditions here are ideal
for livestock and growing rye, wheat, oats, barley,
canola and alfalfa. Many come to retire here in one
of the friendliest, laid back areas on the Trans
Canada Yellowhead Highway.
More to come
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