Minitonas

In 1897, the Cowan Trail was blazed from Dauphin to Minitonas. The trail still exists today. A campsite of tents was established on the West Favel River, southwest of the present townsite in 1898. In 1899, the community was moved to its present site along the railway. A cairn marks the original location of the tent town. The earliest settlers came from the British Isles, Eastern Canada, and the US. In the late 1920s, there was a wave of Czechoslovak, Ukrainian, German, and Polish immigrants. Immigration continued during World War II, and into the 1950s. The Rural Municipality of Minitonas was incorporated in 1901. The Village of Minitonas was incorporated in 1948, and gained town status in 1996.

Forestry and Agriculture are the two main industries. In 1996, Louisiana Pacific opened an OSB mill in the RM of Minitonas, creating many new jobs. The Mill is located three miles east of the community on PTH 10. Despite Minitonas' close proximity to the much larger town of Swan River, it offers many services. There are two schools, a community store (which includes a Home Hardware store and Swan Valley Credit Union agency), a library, post office, bus depot, liquor outlet, hotel, and a restaurant.

The community is located just south of PTH 10 on PR 366. Minitonas is sometimes known as the Northern Gateway to the Duck Mountains, because PR 366 leads directly to Duck Mountain Provincial Park. A CN rail line runs through the community also, terminating at the Louisiana Pacific mill.

Schools in Minitonas are governed by the Swan Valley School Division #35.

• Minitonas Early Years School (Kindergarten to Grade 4, ~85 Students)
• Minitonas Middle Years School (Grade 5 to Grade 9, ~107 Students)

Minitonas Middle Years School is the only school outside the SVRSS in the Swan Valley School Division that has Grade 9 Students. It has been nominated in the past as one of Canada's best schools.

In the community itself there is an arena with artificial ice. Between the one school, four baseball diamonds, three soccer fields, and two playgrounds are found. A sportsground is located at the northern edge of the community. It includes four more baseball diamonds, a concession, and non modern washrooms. A hiking trail follows the East Favel River. Numerous parks and benches are scattered through the community as well.

In the municipality, groomed snowmobile trails can be found. Duck Mountain Provincial Park is 29 kilometers south of Minitonas. Hunting and Fishing are big attractions of the area. A mile west of community is Centennial Park, a picnic area at the original location of the tent town.

• Former Town of Minitonas Website