Altona, Manitoba

Plautdietsch-speaking Mennonites from Russia began settling in Manitoba from 1874 through 1880 after signing a Privilegium with the Canadian government.[4][5] The settlers initially were located in the Mennonite Reserve (largely now the Rural Municipality of Hanover). This area, east of the Red River and south of the Seine River, became known as the East Reserve when another block of land west of the Red River, known as the West Reserve was granted for Mennonite settlement in 1876, which included the land to become Altona. The first settlement at Altona was made in 1880, by Bergthal Mennonites from the East Reserve nearby.[6] A southern spur of the Canadian Pacific Railway went through the Altona village area in 1882. A separate town-site, also named Altona, had its start in the 1895 when the Canadian Pacific Railroad was extended to that point, with the village area later known as Old Altona.[6]^:53 While Altona had a population large enough to support incorporation by the late 1920s, it took until 1946 for the community to be incorporated as a village.[6]^:253 [7] Its population at that time was 1065 residents. In 1956, population growth to 1698 residents prompted the village council to apply to the provincial government to change the status to town. This change became official on 24 October 1956.[6]^:238,239

The 2011 Canadian Census reported that Altona had a population of 4,088, a 10.2 per cent increase since 2006.[9] Not surprisingly given the town's Mennonite founders, of 3,990 respondents, 1,415 listed their mother tongue as German, though this may also include Plautdietsch. The median age of the population reported was 39.2 years.

Altona was the site of the Rhineland Consumers Co-operative (founded 1931[6]^:166,167 ), the Altona Co-op Service (founded 1937[6]^:170), the Altona Credit Union (founded 1939[6]^:171) and Co-op Vegetable Oils (CVO) (founded 1943[6]^:208). These co-operative enterprises were a highly effective local response to the devastating impact of the Great Depression on local farmers' incomes. Jake (J.J.) Siemens played an important role in their development, and the growth of the co-operative movement in southern Manitoba.[10]

Bunge Limited now operates the oil-seed crushing plant in Altona, after buying the assets from Canamera Foods.[11]

Altona is also home to Friesens Corporation, which started off as a small confectionery store opened by David W. Friesen in 1907[6]^:64 and now employs hundreds of people. It is the primary printer of yearbooks in North America, as well as printing in commercial consumer books, specializing in full colour art and educational books. The town is also the headquarters for Golden West Broadcasting.

The first Mennonite Central Committee self-help centre (now Gift and Thrift Store) in Canada was founded in Altona in 1972.[6]^:348 Staffed by volunteers, MCC Thrift stores now contribute about $4M annually to MCC projects. The store has been expanded numerous times, and is still completely volunteer-run. The proceeds raised all go to MCC charitable projects.

The Red River Valley's climate allows Manitoba to be Canada's largest producer of sunflowers.[12]

Altona, Manitoba is known as "The Sunflower Capital of Canada", and is host to the annual Sunflower Festival, which began in 1965.[6]^:352–354 The Sunflower Festival has a Sunflower festival pageant where they crown a queen every year, who wins a trip to Australia. The festival also includes a small midway, quilt show, baseball tournament, stage show, and street dance to name a few. In 2008, the Town of Altona opened an Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden, displaying many different styles of artwork.

Altona's sister city is Emerald, Queensland, Australia. Every year a Sunflower Festival is held in which a young woman in the community is crowned the Sunflower Queen and gets a flight to Emerald for free to participate in the Sunflower Festival held there.

The giant replica of Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh

The community is home to the largest replica of a famous painting by Vincent van Gogh. It was named 'The largest painting on an easel by The Guinness Book of World Records in 1998. It was the first of three works in the Big Easel Project by local artist Cameron Cross, based on the painting Sunflowers. The base (easel) stands at 76'6" and the canvas was made by laminating together 24 sheets of 3/4" plywood and splattering it with 17 gallons of paint to create the picture. Altona is also home to the Gallery in the Park, a heritage home turned fine art gallery and outdoor sculpture garden.

The Trans Canada Trail goes through Altona, heading south to Gretna and west to Rosengart through Buffalo Creek Nature Park.

Oakview Golf & Country Club is located 9.5 km (5.9 mi) south of Altona.

Altona Municipal Airport is about 2.8 km southeast of the town.

Manitoba Highway 30 is the main north-south route. It begins in Gretna, and passes on the east border of Altona to Rosenfeld. Manitoba Provincial Road 201 is the main east-west route.

In the late 1990s the town, in partnership with various businesses and volunteers, embarked on an ambitious plan to improve recreation facilities. In 2000, the Altona Aquatic Centre opened to rave reviews, a trails system was started, and in 2003 the Millennium Exhibition Centre opened. This 75,000 square-foot facility features an ice arena, curling arena, banquet hall, meeting rooms, running track, concessions, kitchens and community spaces. Since then, other recreation facilities have been added such as a triples tennis court, a large playground, and most recently in 2013 a $250,000 skate park, and a second full size baseball diamond set to open in 2014 - to be known as Access Field.

Altona is the located in, and home to the head office of, the Border Land School District. W.C. Miller Collegiate is the high school in the town.

Other schools within Altona are École Elmwood School (grades K-3), École West Park School (grades 4-6), and École Parkside School (grades 7-8).

The town was serviced by the Red River Valley Echo newspaper, part of the Postmedia Network. It ceased operation mid 2020.

Radio station CFAM (AM 950) is part of the Golden West Broadcasting group.

• Lois Braun, writer
• Johann Funk, bishop
• Paul Hiebert, writer
• Elmer Hildebrand, broadcaster
• A. James Reimer, theologian
• Jake Siemens, politician
• Cornelius Wiebe, physician and politician
• Armin Wiebe, writer

• Town of Altona
• Town of Altona Community Profile
• Manitoba Historical Society: Town of Altona