Oakbank is an unincorporated community in Manitoba, Canada located about 15 km east of the provincial capital Winnipeg, in the Rural Municipality of Springfield. It has a population of about 5,000, making it the largest unincorporated community in the province of Manitoba. Starting off as a small, largely

rural community In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry typically are describ ...

, Oakbank is now a dormitory town, or bedroom community, for Winnipeg, as a majority of the residents work in that city. Its rapid population growth is representative of small towns in the Winnipeg Capital Region, with two new housing developments being expanded in the town.

History

In 1899, a post office was established in the present location of Oakbank and the village grew around it. In 1901, a Presbyterian church was moved to the community and a Baptist church built in 1908. In 1906, the

Canadian Pacific Railway The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...

built a track that passed through the village; by 1927 the line was double-tracked. A train station existed until 1968. Electricity was supplied by the

Winnipeg Electric Company Winnipeg Transit is the public transit agency, and the bus-service provider, of the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Established years ago, it is owned by the city government and currently employs nearly 1,600 people—including approximately 1,1 ...

starting in 1930. Rural electrification did not reach the surrounding area until 1949. In 1887, a telephone was installed in the home of the municipal secretary treasurer. Various private telephone companies, often with only a dozen subscribers, operated until they were all absorbed by

Manitoba Telephone System Bell MTS Inc. (formerly Manitoba Telecom Services) is a subsidiary of BCE Inc. that operates telecommunications services in Manitoba. Originally established as Manitoba Government Telephones after the Government of Manitoba purchased the Manito ...

in 1950. In 1964, local school divisions were consolidated and Oakbank became the local center for elementary, junior high and high school students, against many people's wishes. A local manual telephone exchange was in operation until 1966 when an automatic exchange was installed. A credit union was founded in the village in 1945. Oakbank continues rapid growth as a bedroom community with many residents commuting to Winnipeg for work.

Demographics

Notable people

Drew Bagnall Drew Bagnall (born October 26, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played briefly with the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League (NHL). Playing career Bagnall played four seasons for St. Lawrence University ...

, former National Hockey League player * Matt Bailey, professional ice hockey player *

Dean Haglund Dean Haglund (born July 29, 1965) is a Canadian actor, known for the role of Richard "Ringo" Langly, one of The Lone Gunmen on ''The X-Files''. Haglund is also a stand-up comedian, specializing in improvisational comedy, including work with the ...

, actor *

Brett Howden Brett Howden (born March 29, 1998) is a Canadian ice hockey centre for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Howden was drafted 27th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Playing career Junior ...

, National Hockey League player ( Vegas Golden Knights) *

Quinton Howden Quinton Howden (born January 21, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He last played for Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He was drafted by the Florida Panthers in t ...

, professional ice hockey player, formerly in the National Hockey League

References

External links

Oakbank community profile

Springfield Collegiate Institute

RCMP Detachment
{{MBDivision12 Unincorporated communities in Eastman Region, Manitoba