Morden | |
|---|---|
| City of Morden | |
 Seal | |
| Motto: City of Discovery | |
 City boundaries | |
  Morden Location of Morden | |
| Coordinates:49°11′31″N98°06′02″W / 49.19194°N 98.10056°W /49.19194; -98.10056 | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Manitoba |
| Region | Pembina Valley |
| Rural Municipality | Stanley |
| Established | 1882 |
| Incorporated | 1895 (village) 1903 (town) 2012 (city) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Nancy Penner |
| • Governing Body | MordenCity Council |
| • MP (Portage—Lisgar) | Branden Leslie |
| • MLA (Morden-Winkler) | Carrie Hiebert |
| Area | |
• Total | 12.44 km2 (4.80 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 11,100[1] |
| • Density | 401/km2 (1,040/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Forward sortation area | |
| Website | www |
Morden is a city located in thePembina Valley region of southernManitoba, Canada near the United States border. It is about 11 km (6.8 mi) west of the neighbouring city ofWinkler and they are often referred to as Manitoba's Twin Cities.[3] Morden, which is surrounded by theRural Municipality of Stanley, is the eighth largest and fastest-growing city in Manitoba. According toStatistics 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.[4]
Morden was founded in 1882, when theCanadian Pacific Railway built a railway line crossing the Dead Horse Creek (calledLe Cheval Mort by the French fur traders)[5][6] at a place then known asCheval. 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 amunicipality on January 1, 1882.[7] The Manitoba government granted Morden town status in 1903 and later city status in 2012.[8][9]
Morden has ahumid continental climate (Köppen climate classificationDfb, USDAPlant Hardiness Zone 3a[10]) 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 theGovernment of Canada.[11] The average high in January is −10.0 °C (14.0 °F) and the average low is −19.1 °C (−2.4 °F).[11] The highest temperature ever recorded in Morden was 111 °F (43.9 °C) on 11 July 1936.[11] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −42.0 °C (−43.6 °F) on 16 January 1993.[11]
| 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) |
| Averageprecipitation 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 monthlysunshine 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 |
| Percentagepossible 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[11][12][13] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 1,522 | — |
| 1911 | 1,130 | −25.8% |
| 1921 | 1,268 | +12.2% |
| 1931 | 1,416 | +11.7% |
| 1941 | 1,427 | +0.8% |
| 1951 | 1,862 | +30.5% |
| 1961 | 2,793 | +50.0% |
| 1996 | 5,689 | +103.7% |
| 2001 | 6,159 | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 6,571 | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 7,812 | +18.9% |
| 2016 | 8,668 | +11.0% |
| 2021 | 9,929 | +14.5% |
| [14][15][16][17] | ||
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Morden had a population of 9,929 living in 3,995 of its 4,162 total private dwellings, a change of14.5% from its 2016 population of 8,668. With a land area of 16.29 km2 (6.29 sq mi), it had a population density of609.5/km2 (1,578.6/sq mi) in 2021.[17]
| Panethnic group | 2021[18] | 2016[19] | 2011[20] | 2006[21] | 2001[22] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||||||||||
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Morden is home to the largest collection of marine reptile fossils in Canada, located at theCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre.[23] Their collection includes a 13-metre-long, 80 million year oldmosasaur; it is a Guinness Record holder as the largest mosasaur on public display.[24]
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[25] 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]
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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.[26] Notable entertainers at past festivals includePrairie Oyster,Colin James,Dr. Hook,Randy Bachman,The Trews,[27]Chad Brownlee,[28] andRick Mercer.[29]
Morden's quaint and historic downtown was featured in the 2020 TV seriesTales from the Loop byAmazon Prime Video[30][31] and the 2022Hallmark Channel TV filmPumpkin Everything.[32] In 2023Still Standing, aCanadian Broadcasting Corporation TV show about "towns that are against the ropes but still hanging in there", featured the city of Morden.[33]
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 theCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre.[34]
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Morden is home to various ice hockey teams, including the Morden Bombers of theSouth Eastern Manitoba Hockey League, Morden Thunder of the Manitoba High School Hockey League, and the Pembina Valley Hawks of theManitoba Female Hockey League. The2017 Esso Cup, Canada's national female midget hockey championship, was hosted by the Hawks in Morden.[35]
The Morden Mud Hens are the men's senior baseball team that plays in the Border Baseball League[36] and captured a provincial title in 2018.
Morden has been the host of theManitoba Games in its summer[37] and winter[38] editions in 1996 and 2014 respectively.
| Year | Liberal | Conservative | New Democratic | Green | PPC | Others | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10% | 469 | 51% | 2,342 | 19% | 886 | 0% | 0 | 18% | 816 | 1% | 48 | |
| 2019 | 10% | 445 | 67% | 2,891 | 9% | 388 | 8% | 351 | 4% | 157 | 2% | 65 | |
| Year | PC | New Democratic | Liberal | Green | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 71% | 2,287 | 8% | 245 | 5% | 173 | 16% | 501 | |
| 2016 | 77% | 2,098 | 5% | 137 | 5% | 150 | 13% | 355 | |
Morden is governed by a mayor and sixcouncilors who are elected by residents. The current mayor of Morden is Nancy Penner, who won the 2020 Municipal By-Election with 1,567 votes. Councilor Doug Frost currently serves as Deputy Mayor. Also serving on the City of Morden Council are Councilor Gord Maddock, Councilor Garry Hieber, Councilor Brenda Klassen, Councilor Tracey Krause, and Councilor Sheldon Friesen. The City of Morden City Manager has been Nicole Reidle since the spring of 2020.
Morden is represented in theLegislative Assembly of Manitoba (as part of theMorden-Winkler riding) byProgressive ConservativeMLACarrie Hiebert and in theHouse of Commons of Canada (as part of thePortage—Lisgar riding) byConservativeMPBranden Leslie.
Roadways in Morden include: Provincial Road 432,Manitoba Provincial Highway 3,Manitoba Highway 14, andManitoba 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.[41] Morden is bisected by the Canadian Pacific Railway, running east-west. TheBoundary Trail Railway interlinks with the Canadian Pacific in Morden.[42]
Morden public schools are part of the Western School Division, which consists of three elementary schools - Maple Leaf Elementary School, Minnewasta Elementary School and École Discovery Trails, one middle school, École Morden Middle School, one high school, Morden Collegiate Institute and a Adult Education centre.[43]
Morden is also home to a branch of Campus Manitoba, providing post-secondary courses fromRed River College.[44]
Morden's local newspaper isThe 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.
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