Leaf Rapids, Manitoba
Encyclopedia
Leaf Rapids is a town in north west Manitoba
, Canada
. The town was developed as an experimental model; a model that other northern communities could replicate as they strove for modern convenience and luxury in a northern environment. The community is located approximately 1,000 km north of Winnipeg
along the Churchill River
.
An all-weather road connects the community to Thompson
, Lynn Lake, and South Indian Lake. Since the establishment of the community, Leaf Rapids has witnessed a number of significant changes directly related to mining operations. Population declines, service provision declines, and a changing employment have all occurred since the mine's closure in 2002. The community have invested considerable time and effort examining possible transitions.
and zinc
ore
body at Ruttan Lake. As a result of this substantial discovery, there was an urgent demand for a community to provide support services for the mine
and its workers. The first residents of Leaf Rapids arrived in 1971 and the community's infrastructure was completed in the fall of 1976. During this same year, the community's population exceeded 2,000 residents. Leaf Rapids is sometimes described as the "instant town" due to the fast construction time and the large population that gathered during the short time period.
decided that the past mistakes in the planning of northern resource communities should not be repeated and participated directly in the planning of the community. An entirely new approach to building was conceived. In July 1970, the Leaf Rapids Development Corporation Ltd. (a Manitoba provincial crown corporation) was charged with the responsibility of building the Town of Leaf Rapids – 25 kilometres away from Ruttan Lake. The town was constructed with a deep respect for the wilderness
that is incorporated into every aspect of the community, from construction to infrastructure to recreation. In June 1971, the construction of Leaf Rapids began, ensuring that much of the natural vegetation
would be saved. Even in present day Leaf Rapids, a permit must be obtained before cutting down any trees within the town limits. As a result it is a functional, appealing community that blends in well with its environment. From the outset, Leaf Rapids has been able to provide a solid inventory of social, cultural and educational facilities, programs and experiences – beautifully merged with the pristine environment of northern Manitoba.
The Town Centre Complex contains the following:
Award for Urban Excellence in 1975. The Town Centre Complex was built of a material that was supposed to turn bright blue as it reacted over time to air pollution; however, in this remote part of the world, there is no air pollution, causing the Town Centre Complex to remain rust colored. During the first four years of its life, architects and town planners from across Canada and around the world – some as far away as Japan
– visited Leaf Rapids to view its unique design and infrastructure
. Over the years, other towns followed suit and today Leaf Rapids is not alone in offering modern urban convenience in the midst of a commanding wilderness
– but Leaf Rapids was the first.
The Ruttan Mine was closed down in the summer of 2002 - ending one chapter in the town’s history. Leaf Rapids achieved another first in March 2007 when it became the first municipality in Canada to ban the use of plastic shopping bag
s.
, Lynn Lake, the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation
, Granville Lake, and South Indian Lake. Six kilometres north of Leaf Rapids is the Leaf Rapids Airport
. As of 2007, there was no regular commercial air service at the airport. A number of small local companies provide charter passenger and cargo services. Calm Air
used to fly regular passenger flights from Leaf Rapids to Thompson, however these flights have ceased since the Ruttan Mine closed. Leaf Rapids is also served by Grey Goose bus service. Bus service connects Leaf Rapids to Thompson
and Lynn Lake. There have been attempts by Grey Goose to reduce the frequency of passenger bus service. In 2007 the community again made headlines by proposing the use of golf carts for local transport. Golf carts were offered as an incentive to new buyers of homes in the community.
. In 2005/2006, the Leaf Rapids Education Centre had a student population of 163 .
. The Health Centre provides a range of services to community residents. The Health Centre is staffed with a full time physician, registered nurses, a lab and x-ray technologist, and other support staff. The community is also served by a volunteer ambulance service.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The town was developed as an experimental model; a model that other northern communities could replicate as they strove for modern convenience and luxury in a northern environment. The community is located approximately 1,000 km north of Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
along the Churchill River
Churchill River (Hudson Bay)
The Churchill River is a major river in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada. From the head of the Churchill Lake it is 1,609 km long. It was named after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and governor of the Hudson's Bay Company from 1685 to 1691...
.
An all-weather road connects the community to Thompson
Thompson, Manitoba
Thompson is a city in northern Manitoba. As the "Hub of the North" it serves as the regional trade and service centre of northern Manitoba. Thompson is located north of the Canada – United States border, north of the provincial capital of Winnipeg, and is northeast of Flin Flon...
, Lynn Lake, and South Indian Lake. Since the establishment of the community, Leaf Rapids has witnessed a number of significant changes directly related to mining operations. Population declines, service provision declines, and a changing employment have all occurred since the mine's closure in 2002. The community have invested considerable time and effort examining possible transitions.
Origins
In 1969, Sherritt Gordon Mines discovered a vast copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
and zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
body at Ruttan Lake. As a result of this substantial discovery, there was an urgent demand for a community to provide support services for the mine
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
and its workers. The first residents of Leaf Rapids arrived in 1971 and the community's infrastructure was completed in the fall of 1976. During this same year, the community's population exceeded 2,000 residents. Leaf Rapids is sometimes described as the "instant town" due to the fast construction time and the large population that gathered during the short time period.
Planning
The government of ManitobaManitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
decided that the past mistakes in the planning of northern resource communities should not be repeated and participated directly in the planning of the community. An entirely new approach to building was conceived. In July 1970, the Leaf Rapids Development Corporation Ltd. (a Manitoba provincial crown corporation) was charged with the responsibility of building the Town of Leaf Rapids – 25 kilometres away from Ruttan Lake. The town was constructed with a deep respect for the wilderness
Wilderness
Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
that is incorporated into every aspect of the community, from construction to infrastructure to recreation. In June 1971, the construction of Leaf Rapids began, ensuring that much of the natural vegetation
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
would be saved. Even in present day Leaf Rapids, a permit must be obtained before cutting down any trees within the town limits. As a result it is a functional, appealing community that blends in well with its environment. From the outset, Leaf Rapids has been able to provide a solid inventory of social, cultural and educational facilities, programs and experiences – beautifully merged with the pristine environment of northern Manitoba.
The Town Centre Complex contains the following:
- Leaf Rapids Education Centre
- Leaf Rapids Town Offices
- Leaf Rapids Consumer Cooperative
- Library
- Art Gallery
- Restaurant - Currently closed. (Sept, 2009.)
- Hotel
- Gymnasium
- Hockey arena - Currently closed. (Sept, 2009.)
- Curling club (4 sheets of ice) - Currently closed. (Sept, 2009.)
- Health Centre
Awards
Built in a semicircle of residential bays around the Town Centre Complex, Leaf Rapids won the coveted Vincent MasseyVincent Massey
Charles Vincent Massey was a Canadian lawyer and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 18th since Canadian Confederation....
Award for Urban Excellence in 1975. The Town Centre Complex was built of a material that was supposed to turn bright blue as it reacted over time to air pollution; however, in this remote part of the world, there is no air pollution, causing the Town Centre Complex to remain rust colored. During the first four years of its life, architects and town planners from across Canada and around the world – some as far away as Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
– visited Leaf Rapids to view its unique design and infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
. Over the years, other towns followed suit and today Leaf Rapids is not alone in offering modern urban convenience in the midst of a commanding wilderness
Wilderness
Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
– but Leaf Rapids was the first.
The Ruttan Mine was closed down in the summer of 2002 - ending one chapter in the town’s history. Leaf Rapids achieved another first in March 2007 when it became the first municipality in Canada to ban the use of plastic shopping bag
Plastic shopping bag
Plastic shopping bags, carrier bags or plastic grocery bags are a type of shopping bag made from various kinds of plastic, and are common worldwide. These bags are sometimes called single-use bags, referring to carrying items from a store to a home...
s.
Transportation
Leaf Rapids is located adjacent to provincial highway 391. Highway 391 connects the communities of ThompsonThompson, Manitoba
Thompson is a city in northern Manitoba. As the "Hub of the North" it serves as the regional trade and service centre of northern Manitoba. Thompson is located north of the Canada – United States border, north of the provincial capital of Winnipeg, and is northeast of Flin Flon...
, Lynn Lake, the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation
The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation is a Cree-speaking community of about 4,200 Cree centered in Nelson House, Manitoba, Canada. Nelson House is located about 80 km west of Thompson and is accessible via the mixed paved and gravel Provincial Road 391...
, Granville Lake, and South Indian Lake. Six kilometres north of Leaf Rapids is the Leaf Rapids Airport
Leaf Rapids Airport
Leaf Rapids Airport, , is located north of Leaf Rapids, Manitoba, Canada....
. As of 2007, there was no regular commercial air service at the airport. A number of small local companies provide charter passenger and cargo services. Calm Air
Calm Air
Calm Air International LP. is an airline based in Thompson, Manitoba, Canada and is presently owned by the Exchange Income Corporation. It operates services in northern Manitoba and the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. Charter and freight services are also undertaken. Its main base is Thompson Airport.-...
used to fly regular passenger flights from Leaf Rapids to Thompson, however these flights have ceased since the Ruttan Mine closed. Leaf Rapids is also served by Grey Goose bus service. Bus service connects Leaf Rapids to Thompson
Thompson, Manitoba
Thompson is a city in northern Manitoba. As the "Hub of the North" it serves as the regional trade and service centre of northern Manitoba. Thompson is located north of the Canada – United States border, north of the provincial capital of Winnipeg, and is northeast of Flin Flon...
and Lynn Lake. There have been attempts by Grey Goose to reduce the frequency of passenger bus service. In 2007 the community again made headlines by proposing the use of golf carts for local transport. Golf carts were offered as an incentive to new buyers of homes in the community.
Education
Leaf Rapids is home to the Leaf Rapids Education Centre. The centre provides kindergarten to grade 12 services. The school is part of the Frontier School DivisionFrontier School Division
Frontier School Division is the largest geographical school division in Manitoba, Canada, covering most schools in northern Manitoba. With 41 schools operating across Manitoba, the Frontier School Division provides educational services to a larger geographical area than any other school division in...
. In 2005/2006, the Leaf Rapids Education Centre had a student population of 163 .
Health care
The Leaf Rapids Health Centre is part of the Burntwood Regional Health AuthorityBurntwood Regional Health Authority
The Burntwood Regional Health Authority is the service provide for healthcare in a large geographical area of northern Manitoba, Canada. The Burntwood RHA is a member of the Regional Health Authorities of Manitoba...
. The Health Centre provides a range of services to community residents. The Health Centre is staffed with a full time physician, registered nurses, a lab and x-ray technologist, and other support staff. The community is also served by a volunteer ambulance service.