Oak Lake, Manitoba
Town of Oak Lake, Manitoba | |
|---|---|
| File:Oak Lake, Manitoba Location.png | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Manitoba |
| Region | Westman Region |
| Rural Municipality | R.M. of Sifton |
| Established, | 1882 |
| Incorporated | July 15, 1907 (Town of Oak Lake) |
| Government | |
| • Governing Body | Oak Lake Town Council |
| • MP | Merv Tweed - Conservative |
| • MLA | Larry Maguire - PC |
| Population | |
• Total | 359 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central (CDT)) |
| Postal code | |
| Area code | 204 |
Oak Lake, Manitoba is a community in the south-western "Westman region" of Manitoba, Canada. It is located 52km (32 miles) west of Brandon along the Trans-Canada Highway.
History
During the late 1800s the area around Oak Lake was a popular stopping point for fur traders and settlers due to the large number of big oak trees (revered for their strength) located around the lake that could be used to repair their wagons.
In the fall of 1881, work crews on the trans-continental Canadian Pacific Railway had reached Flat Creek to the east of the current townsite. In the spring they moved the camp west and built a siding and station (now long gone) where the town's flags and flower garden are now located.
Geography and Climate
The area around Oak Lake is dominated by the Assiniboine river, the nearby lake by the same name, areas of flat farm land, and to the north, large, rolling hills left by receeding glaciers.
Oak Lake's location in the middle of the Canadian prairies means that Oak Lake experiences an extreme continental climate. The area is known for its long, cold winters owing to it's northerly location. The is often much snowfall during the winter, with the possibility for blizzards that can drop in excess of 1.5m (~5 feet) of snow at once. The town can be cut off for a day or more while snow is cleared from the highways.
Temperatures during the coldest winter months of December, January and February can reach -35° C (-31° F), though colder temperatures occasionally occur. Windchills during the winter can reach as cold as -50° C (-58° F), making outdoor activity difficult on those days. Average winter temperatures are around a more moderate -20°C (-4° F). Winters are often characterized by extreme shifts in temperature with near 0° C (32° F) changing to frigid temperatures within the span of a few days.
Summers are often very warm with the possibility of temperatures in excess of 35° C (95° F), though the average summer temperature is around 20° C (68° F).
Year round Oak Lake has an abundance of clear, sunny skys.
Economy
Employment
The economy of the Oak Lake area is dominated by farming, although nearby Virden has a booming oil economy. The municipality and town share an office and employ a handful of people to manage the running of public services.
Other employers include the town's gas station, Co-op grocery store, Golden Embers restaurant, Dandy's confectionary, Yate's Garage, Lewis Cattle Oilers, Kreutzer Garage and several smaller, personal businesses.
Shopping
Basic groceries and household items can be purchased from the Co-op and the gas station. Other locations for shopping are Virden, 15 minutes away, Brandon, 30 minutes away, and for rare items, Winnipeg 2½ hours away.
Dining
Oak Lake has the seasonal Dandy's Drive In and Golden Embers. Virden and Brandon host an number of casual and fine dining restaurants as well.
Demographics
Oak Lake's population is mostly caucasian with few visible minorities besides a small but significant aboriginal group. The nearby Sioux Valley Dakota Nation is home to a large community of First Nations people, as well as the Canupawakpa Dakota Nation on the eastern side of the lake.
Education
Oak Lake Community School is the only school located in Oak Lake. It is part of the Fort La Bosse School Division and has grades K-8.
Students in their senior years (grades 9-12) take a daily 15 minute bus ride to nearby Virden Collegiate Institute in Virden.
The closest post secondary educational facilities are located in Brandon. They are:
- Brandon University (BU)
- Assiniboine Community College (ACC)
Transportation
The main method of transportation in Oak Lake is by car. For people that live and work in town, walking or biking are common when the weather permits.
Greyhound Canada has a scheduled stop in Oak Lake at the local gas station.
The nearest domestic airport is Virden Airport, while the nearest one with scheduled service is Brandon Airport. The closest international airport is the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, although Regina International Airport in Regina, Saskatchewan is only marginally further away.
There is no commuter rail service to Oak Lake, although Via Rail has a stop in Brandon.
Sports
Hockey
Hockey is the biggest sport in the community, with an active minor league program.
The local arena and hockey program has greatly benefited from the installation of an ice plant. Ice rentals by teams from Brandon are common.
Oxen Cart Bandits is the moniker used by teams in younger age groups. The Oak Lake Icemen participate in the Manitoba North Central Hockey League senior level.
There are also junior hockey programs available in Virden and Souris.
Virden Collegiate has a guys high school hockey program.
The closest major hockey franchise is the Brandon Wheat Kings who play in the Western Hockey League.
Since the demise of the Winnipeg Jets, the nearest Canadian NHL action is the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers, although the Minnesota Wild are geographically closer.
Baseball
Oak Lake formerly had a vibrant baseball program, but it has seen decline in recent years. The closest active baseball program can be found in Virden.
Virden Collegiate has guys and girls high school baseball programs.
The Winnipeg Goldeyes are the biggest baseball franchise in the province.
Soccer
Brandon's city soccer league is the only viable choice for soccer in the area.
Football
Brandon has a youth football team, while Virden Collegiate Institute's Golden Bears football team participates in the Rural Manitoba Football League.
There is a vibrant summer and city league in Winnipeg.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are the closest CFL franchise.
Curling
There are several regional curling competitions in Oak Lake and surrounding towns.
Virden Collegiate also fields a curling team for high school competition.
Volleyball
Volleyball is a school sport at both Oak Lake Community School (whose team name is the Oak Lake Raptors) and at Virden Collegiate. There is also a regional league for guys and girls.
Basketball
Basketball is a school sport at both Oak Lake Community School and Virden Collegiate.
Other Sports
Most other sports have some representation in either community leagues or at the high school level.
Recreation
Oak Lake Golf Course is 9 holes long with cart and club rentals available.
Camping is available in town at the Lion's Campground. D & G Campground can be found west along the Trans-Canada highway.
Oak Lake Beach (Four Season's Island Resort) is a short drive from town and offers cabins (both for rental and lease), camping, a beach, minigolf and other cottage attractions.
During the winter, there are plenty of opportunities for snowmobiling, skating (including figure skating), skiing and ice fishing.
Entertainment and Media
Television
Oak Lake is serviced by Persona Communications cable television, which offers almost 30 channels. Reception of satellite TV is excellent owing to the flat landscape devoid of large obstructions. Over the air reception is also possible for stations from Winnipeg (repeated by towers in Brandon) and for CKX-TV from Brandon.
Over the Air
- Channel 2 - CKND-2 - Global, a repeater of Global Winnipeg. Local commercials inserted by CKX
- Channel 4 - CKYB - CTV, a repeater of CKY-TV Winnipeg. Local commercials inserted by CKX
- Channel 5 - CKX - CHUM/CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation affiliate)
- Channel 21 - CBWFT - Societé Radio-Canada, a repeater of CBWFT Winnipeg.
Radio
- 91.5 CIWM - NCI - Native Communications Inc. (Community/Aboriginal)
- 92.7 CBWS - CBC Radio Two - Classical music
- 94.7 CKLF - Star FM - Adult Contemporary
- 96.1 CKX-FM - KX96 - Active Rock
- 97.9 CBWV - CBC Radio One - News/Information
- 99.5 CKSB-8 - La Première Chaîne - French News/Information
- 101.1 CKXA - 101 The Farm - Country
- 106.5 CJJJ - CJ106 - Assiniboine Community College College Radio
- 880 - CKLQ, country, official sportscast of the Brandon Wheat Kings
Newspapers
The Oak Lake Town and Country News is the town's current paper detailing local happenings.
The Brandon Sun is the only home delivered regional, national and international newspaper in the area, while a variety of papers from Winnipeg can be found at the gas station.
Theatres
Virden's Aud theatre is the closest live performance theatre. Brandon also has a large number of theatres.
Movie theatres can be found in Virden (Derrick Theare) and in Brandon (Capitol Theatre).
Places adjacent to Oak Lake, Manitoba | |
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