A Place in the Heart
While it is indisputable that Keewatin as a municipal entity was dissolved in 2000 and amalgamated into the City of Kenora, it is also indisputable that Keewatin as a community continues to thrive.
A community develops when a group of people have something in common. Often, that commonality is simply a matter of geography. But sometimes, a community develops beyond that and residents share more than space. They share memories and experiences. They share a sense of civic pride based on what they themselves as well as their forefathers have built. And they share a sense of responsibility for their own future and their eventual legacy.
Keewatin has a history of habitation, transportation, trading, manufacturing and tourism that dates back, in varying stages, at least 7,000 years. This area is important both for aboriginal peoples and later arriving Europeans.
By the late 19th century, Keewatin had become a settlement. Early industrialists capitalized on the economic potential offered by the combination of water power, timber and proximity to the railway and built the first businesses. These included a saw mill which supplied the CPR with trestles and ties and the flour mill which shipped its product nationally and overseas.
In 1908, Keewatin officially became a town and the community developed a rapidly growing commercial and retail sector. Residents built cultural and sports facilities and families thrived. First Nations peoples continued to both live in Keewatin and travel and camp on traditional spots along the Winnipeg River. Cottagers arrived weekly on special trains at our station.
As time went on, the economic base of the town changed, but the people remained. Today, Keewatin has a vibrant and diverse economy, an attractive quality of life and a community spirit worthy of celebration.
So come home to Keewatin this year. Join your friends and neighbours for the annual events that continue our proud tradition of community gatherings. Take in special events including parades, photographic displays and a street party guaranteed to evoke memories for year-round and summer residents alike. Reacquaint yourself with our community’s beauty with a walk through the Mink Bay Wetlands and with our history through a visit to Mather-Walls house.
Enjoy the spirit of the community that we have built together. Rediscover Keewatin, a place in the heart.