Morden, Manitoba

Coordinates: 49°11′31″N 98°06′02″W / 49.19194°N 98.10056°W / 49.19194; -98.10056
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Morden
City of Morden
Official logo of Morden
Motto: 
City of Discovery
City boundaries
City boundaries
Morden is located in Manitoba
Morden
Morden
Location of Morden
Coordinates: 49°11′31″N 98°06′02″W / 49.19194°N 98.10056°W / 49.19194; -98.10056
CountryCanada
ProvinceManitoba
RegionPembina Valley
Rural MunicipalityStanley
Established1882
Incorporated1895 (village)
1903 (town)
2012 (city)
Government
 • MayorBrandon A. Burley
 • Governing BodyMorden City Council
 • MP (Portage—Lisgar)Branden Leslie
 • MLA (Morden-Winkler)Carrie Hiebert
Area
 • Total12.44 km2 (4.80 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total9,929 (8th)
 • Density401/km2 (1,040/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Forward sortation area
Websitewww.mymorden.ca

Morden is a city located in the Pembina Valley region of southern Manitoba, Canada near the United States border. It is about 11 km (6.8 mi) west of the neighbouring city of Winkler; together Morden and Winkler are often referred to as Manitoba's Twin Cities.[2] Morden, which is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Stanley, is the eighth largest and fastest-growing city in Manitoba. According to Statistics Canada, the city had a population of 9,929 in 2021, an increase of 14.5% from 2016, making it Manitoba's fastest growing city.[3]

History[edit]

A school house from before 1923.

Morden was founded in 1882, when the Canadian Pacific Railway built a railway line crossing the Dead Horse Creek (called Le Cheval Mort by the French fur traders)[4][5] at a place then known as Cheval. This spot became a popular resting place as it was ideal to provide water for drinking and locomotives. The settlement was renamed "Morden", after Alvey Morden, on whose family's land the community was established. Morden was incorporated as a municipality on January 1, 1882.[6] The Manitoba government granted Morden town status in 1903 and later city status in 2012.[7][8]

Geography[edit]

Climate[edit]

Morden has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 3a[9]) with hot summers and cold winters. The average high in July is 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) and the average low is 14.3 °C (57.7 °F). Since the Morden area experiences some of the warmest temperatures in Manitoba, it has become a centre for agricultural and horticultural research. Since 1915, the city has been home to the Morden Research and Development Centre, which is operated by the Government of Canada.[10] The average high in January is −10.0 °C (14.0 °F) and the average low is −19.1 °C (−2.4 °F).[10] The highest temperature ever recorded in Morden was 111 °F (43.9 °C) on 11 July 1936.[10] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −42.0 °C (−43.6 °F) on 16 January 1993.[10]

Climate data for Morden CDA, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1904–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.9
(57.0)
14.4
(57.9)
28.3
(82.9)
36.5
(97.7)
42.2
(108.0)
40.6
(105.1)
43.9
(111.0)
40.6
(105.1)
40.0
(104.0)
33.5
(92.3)
24.4
(75.9)
17.8
(64.0)
43.9
(111.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −10.0
(14.0)
−6.3
(20.7)
−0.3
(31.5)
10.6
(51.1)
19.3
(66.7)
23.4
(74.1)
25.6
(78.1)
25.6
(78.1)
19.2
(66.6)
10.9
(51.6)
−0.8
(30.6)
−8.3
(17.1)
9.1
(48.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −14.6
(5.7)
−10.7
(12.7)
−4.3
(24.3)
4.9
(40.8)
12.7
(54.9)
17.6
(63.7)
20.0
(68.0)
19.5
(67.1)
13.4
(56.1)
6.0
(42.8)
−4.6
(23.7)
−12.3
(9.9)
4.0
(39.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −19.1
(−2.4)
−15.1
(4.8)
−8.3
(17.1)
−0.9
(30.4)
6.0
(42.8)
11.8
(53.2)
14.3
(57.7)
13.2
(55.8)
7.7
(45.9)
1.0
(33.8)
−8.3
(17.1)
−16.2
(2.8)
−1.2
(29.8)
Record low °C (°F) −42.0
(−43.6)
−41.7
(−43.1)
−37.8
(−36.0)
−22.2
(−8.0)
−15.0
(5.0)
−2.7
(27.1)
−0.6
(30.9)
−1.1
(30.0)
−12.2
(10.0)
−20.5
(−4.9)
−34.0
(−29.2)
−37.8
(−36.0)
−42.0
(−43.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 18.8
(0.74)
18.9
(0.74)
22.5
(0.89)
34.6
(1.36)
58.4
(2.30)
92.9
(3.66)
79.4
(3.13)
70.8
(2.79)
44.5
(1.75)
49.9
(1.96)
29.9
(1.18)
20.2
(0.80)
540.8
(21.29)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.4
(0.02)
2.4
(0.09)
8.6
(0.34)
21.7
(0.85)
56.4
(2.22)
92.9
(3.66)
79.4
(3.13)
70.8
(2.79)
44.1
(1.74)
42.9
(1.69)
4.7
(0.19)
2.2
(0.09)
426.5
(16.79)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 19.0
(7.5)
16.5
(6.5)
13.9
(5.5)
13.1
(5.2)
2.0
(0.8)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.4
(0.2)
7.0
(2.8)
25.6
(10.1)
18.0
(7.1)
115.6
(45.5)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 10.9 8.9 9.2 7.1 10.6 14.2 12.4 10.2 9.1 9.7 8.7 10.8 121.8
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 0.78 1.1 3.3 5.1 10.3 14.2 12.4 10.2 9.1 8.0 2.3 0.65 77.4
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 10.5 8.2 6.7 3.0 0.33 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.17 2.3 7.1 10.2 48.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 108.5 129.2 161.3 226.9 266.6 270.8 300.7 285.4 192.7 150.4 92.4 93.0 2,277.8
Percent possible sunshine 40.2 45.3 43.8 55.2 56.2 55.9 61.5 64.0 50.8 44.8 33.5 36.2 49.0
Source: Environment Canada[10][11][12]

Demographics[edit]

Post office circa 1914
Historical population
YearPop.±%
19011,522—    
19111,130−25.8%
19211,268+12.2%
19311,416+11.7%
19411,427+0.8%
19511,862+30.5%
19612,793+50.0%
19965,689+103.7%
20016,159+8.3%
20066,571+6.7%
20117,812+18.9%
20168,668+11.0%
20219,929+14.5%
[13][14][15][16]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Morden had a population of 9,929 living in 3,995 of its 4,162 total private dwellings, a change of 14.5% from its 2016 population of 8,668. With a land area of 16.29 km2 (6.29 sq mi), it had a population density of 609.5/km2 (1,578.6/sq mi) in 2021.[16]

Panethnic groups in the City of Morden (2001−2021)
Panethnic group 2021[17] 2016[18] 2011[19] 2006[20] 2001[21]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[a] 8,320 85.73% 7,900 93% 7,195 93.87% 6,100 93.92% 5,810 96.03%
Southeast Asian[b] 485 5% 45 0.53% 0 0% 25 0.38% 50 0.83%
Indigenous 480 4.95% 335 3.94% 315 4.11% 265 4.08% 130 2.15%
Latin American 135 1.39% 35 0.41% 15 0.2% 0 0% 0 0%
South Asian 105 1.08% 25 0.29% 40 0.52% 0 0% 0 0%
African 85 0.88% 95 1.12% 25 0.33% 25 0.38% 10 0.17%
East Asian[c] 30 0.31% 35 0.41% 0 0% 50 0.77% 20 0.33%
Middle Eastern[d] 30 0.31% 30 0.35% 30 0.39% 40 0.62% 30 0.5%
Other/multiracial[e] 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Total responses 9,705 97.74% 8,495 98% 7,665 98.12% 6,495 98.84% 6,050 98.23%
Total population 9,929 100% 8,668 100% 7,812 100% 6,571 100% 6,159 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Arts and culture[edit]

Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Morden is home to the largest collection of marine reptile fossils in Canada, located at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre.[22] Their collection includes a 13-metre-long, 80 million year old mosasaur; it is a Guinness Record holder as the largest mosasaur on public display.[23]

Pembina Hills Art Gallery is located in Morden.[citation needed]

In 2008, Morden was designated a "Cultural Capital" by the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women in 2008[24] for its emphasis on art and culture. This includes hosting various festivals such as the Back Forty Festival, which highlights aboriginal influences in the community. Award money was spent on a new performing arts centre, and four murals.[citation needed]

Corn and Apple Festival[edit]

Morden Corn and Apple Festival

Morden holds the Corn and Apple Festival each August. Founded in 1967, the festival includes free corn and apple cider, and celebrates a fruit and vegetable that thrive in Morden's long growing season.[25] Notable entertainers at past festivals include Prairie Oyster, Colin James, Dr. Hook, Randy Bachman, The Trews,[26] Chad Brownlee,[27] and Rick Mercer.[28]

Morden's quaint and historic downtown was featured in the 2020 TV series Tales from the Loop by Amazon Prime Video[29] [30] and the 2022 Hallmark Channel TV film Pumpkin Everything.[31] In 2023 Still Standing, a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation TV show about "towns that are against the ropes but still hanging in there", featured the city of Morden.[32]

Attractions[edit]

The community's recreation hub is the Access Event Centre. The multi-purpose facility houses two indoor arenas, a 1,000-seat community hall, the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as banquet and conference rooms. The lower level of the facility is home to the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre.[33]

The beach in Morden.

Sports[edit]

Morden is home to various ice hockey teams, including the Morden Bombers of the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League, Morden Thunder of the Manitoba High School Hockey League, and the Pembina Valley Hawks of the Manitoba Female Hockey League. The 2017 Esso Cup, Canada's national female midget hockey championship, was hosted by the Hawks in Morden.[34]

The Morden Mud Hens are the men's senior baseball team that plays in the Border Baseball League [35] and captured a provincial title in 2018.

Morden has been the host of the Manitoba Games in its summer[36] and winter[37] editions in 1996 and 2014 respectively.

Government[edit]

Morden federal election results[38]
Year Liberal Conservative New Democratic Green
2021 10% 469 51% 2,342 19% 886 0% 0
2019 10% 445 67% 2,891 9% 388 8% 351
Morden provincial election results[39]
Year PC New Democratic Liberal
2019 71% 2,287 8% 245 5% 173
2016 77% 2,098 5% 137 5% 150

Morden is governed by a mayor and six councilors who are elected by residents. The current Mayor of Morden is Brandon Burley, who won the 2018 Municipal Election with 1,334 votes (49.17%). Councilor Doug Frost currently serves as Deputy Mayor. Also serving on City of Morden Council are Councilor Gord Maddock, Councilor Garry Hiebert as Corporate Chair-Person, Councilor Hank Hildebrand, Councilor Jim Hunt, and Councilor Nancy Penner as Operations Chair-Person. The City of Morden City Manager has been Nicole Reidle since spring of 2020.

Morden is represented in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba (as part of the Morden-Winkler riding) by Progressive Conservative MLA Carrie Hiebert and in the House of Commons of Canada (as part of the Portage—Lisgar riding) by Conservative MP Branden Leslie.

Infrastructure[edit]

Transportation[edit]

Roadways in Morden include: Provincial Road 432, Manitoba Provincial Highway 3, Manitoba Highway 14, and Manitoba Highway 75.

Morden is located 21.5 km (13.4 mi) north of the United States border.

Morden is served by a small rural airport, Morden Regional Aerodrome. The city has a taxi service. Greyhound provides a courier service to Morden; passenger service was discontinued.[40] Morden is bisected by the Canadian Pacific railway, running east–west. The Boundary Trail Railway interlines with the Canadian Pacific in Morden.[41]

refer to caption
Maple Leaf School, pre 1912

Education[edit]

Morden public schools are part of the Western School Division, which consists of two elementary schools - Maple Leaf Elementary School and Minnewasta Elementary School, one middle school, École Morden Middle School, one high school, Morden Collegiate Institute and an Adult Education centre.[42]

Morden is also home to a branch of Campus Manitoba, providing post-secondary courses from Red River College.[43]

Media[edit]

Morden's local newspaper is The Winkler-Morden Voice, also published weekly and distributed by mail to households in both Winkler and Morden and many surrounding smaller communities. A previous paper, The Morden Times, closed in 2020.

Notable people[edit]

Notes[edit]

  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[edit]

  1. ^ Mayor & Council | City of Morden
  2. ^ "Morden and Winkler and Manitoba's very own twin cities". Winnipeg Free Press. 18 November 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  3. ^ Rosen, Kayla. "Editorial Producer". CTV News. CTV News Winnipeg.
  4. ^ Hambley, George H. (1956). Trails of the Pioneers. Altona, MB, Canada: D.W. Friesen & Sons Ltd. p. 48.
  5. ^ Morden, Mort Cheval, Pinancewaywinning, Lake Agassiz. Morden Centennial Committee. Morden, Man. : Morden Centennial Committee (1981). ISBN 0-88925-142-8.
  6. ^ "Morden History - The Railway". Archived from the original on 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  7. ^ Building a Community. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  8. ^ "Morden becomes Manitoba's newest city". Winnipeg Free Press. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Lawn and Garden: Morden, MB". The Weather Network. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Morden CDA". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. 25 September 2013. Climate ID: 5021848. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Morden". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  12. ^ "Morden CDA CS". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  13. ^ http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1932-eng.aspx?opt=/eng/1932/193201410103_p.%20103.pdf , Censuses 1871-1931
  14. ^ http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1955-eng.aspx?opt=/eng/1955/195501710145_p.%20145.pdf , Census 1941-1951
  15. ^ http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1967-eng.aspx?opt=/eng/1967/196702210189_p.%20189.pdf , Census 1961
  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 2023-06-10.
  18. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  19. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  20. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  21. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  22. ^ "Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre". Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  23. ^ "Manitoba dig uncovers 80-million-year-old sea creature". CBC News. 2008-08-27. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  24. ^ "Morden Designated a Cultural Capital of Canada for 2008". 27 June 2007.
  25. ^ Morden Corn & Apple Festival. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  26. ^ http://www.pembinatoday.ca/2016/05/25/the-trews-to-headline-at-corn-and-apple , The Morden Times May 25, 2016
  27. ^ http://www.pembinatoday.ca/2016/08/31/sitting-down-with-chad-brownlee , The Morden Times Aug 31 2016
  28. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY_5-G_ymyg , Rick at the Corn and Apple Festival Youtube Video
  29. ^ "Tales from the Loop". IMDb. IMDb.
  30. ^ Ra, Moon. "Where was Tales From the Loop filmed? Filming Locations Guide". Atlas of Wonders. Atlas of Wonders.
  31. ^ "Pumpkin Everything (TV Movie)". IMDb. IMDb.
  32. ^ "STILL STANDING Morden, MB".
  33. ^ Welcome to The City of Discovery!
  34. ^ "Morden Officially Wins 2017 Esso Cup Bid". Pembina Valley Online. July 21, 2015.
  35. ^ "Border Baseball League". Ballcharts.com. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  36. ^ "MORDEN TO HOST 1996 MANITOBA SUMMER GAMES". Manitoba Government.
  37. ^ "Morden, Winkler, Stanley to host 2014 Power Smart games". Winnipeg Free Press.
  38. ^ "Official Voting Results Raw Data (poll by poll results in Morden)". Elections Canada. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  39. ^ "Official Voting Results by polling station (poll by poll results in Morden)". Elections Manitoba. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  40. ^ Greyhound Package Express. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  41. ^ Boundary Trail Railway Company. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  42. ^ Western School Division. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  43. ^ Red River College. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

External links[edit]