View From the Legislature

Happy 150th Birthday Canada

  • Kelvin Goertzen, Author
  • Member of the Legislative Assembly, Steinbach

This year our country celebrates its 150th birthday and it is incredible how much Steinbach and its surrounding area has changed during that time.

Canada Day has always been a time to celebrate and reflect and I thought it would be interesting to share some facts about Manitoba 150 years ago, to see how different things were in those early days.

On July 1, 1867, the four founding provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick officially became the Dominion of Canada. Manitoba wasn’t yet a province in 1867, still three years before our very first Premier of Manitoba Alfred Boyd began our first legislative assembly.

This also predated Steinbach by seven years, which wouldn’t be founded until 1874 by German-speaking Mennonite settlers with the very first 20 homesteads laid out on the northeast side of present-day Main Street along the Steinbach Creek.

There were just over 3,463,000 people recorded living in Canada at the time, approximately ten times less than its population today, with several currencies considered legal tender. The pound currency Sterling, Gold Eagle of the United States, and British silver coins, with Canadian dollars being worth 1/4 of a pound.

Today Canada’s democracy and economy are the envy of most nations. That growth and development has been mirrored in our local communities, which have moved beyond primarily farm and subsistence living. Canadians from 150 years ago would hardly recognize the landscape, but would see the same dedication to hard work, family and neighbors reflected in the values of today’s residents. As we celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday, we can do so knowing that we are part of the continuing story of Canada.

This is a special birthday for Canada and therefore a special one for Canadians. Take time to remember our great fortune to live in this amazing country and the many people past and present, which have made it the greatest country in the world.

Canada is an exceptional place for us to live, work and raise our families, just as it has been for the last 150 years. Fields that were once full of crops now play host to schools, community centers, homes and businesses, with many of the original founding farm families still residing in our community.

Steinbach’s rich history continues to grow, with residents choosing to make their home here because of the character of the community and its residents. Much has changed in the past 150 years and there is much to be proud of. Most importantly there is much to look forward to. The story of Canada has just started to be written.