Arrive in Selkirk and it’s hard to miss the 36-foot fiberglass catfish on Main Street. The giant statue proclaims the city to be the Catfish Capital of North America. But, despite its riverside location, Selkirk isn’t just about the fish. The city has deep historical roots, including a maritime heritage, and is home to two crowd-pulling summer festivals.
Sitting on the banks of the Red River, which is known for its catfish and walleye, Selkirk is a mecca for anglers. The river is known for producing large-sized fish and attracts fishermen in search of a record catch. The catfish season runs from May through September, while the walleye run is in late September and October. Several fishing guides operate out of Selkirk. Cat Daddy runs full or half-day catfishing trips, while Black Water Cats and Whiskers and Walleye have trips to find catfish and walleye.
Named after Scotland’s Lord Selkirk, who sent the first settlers to the Red River in the early 1800s, the city is dotted with historic architecture. Buildings of architectural interest include a Gothic Revival church, an early 1900s post office and a former general store. The city’s standout engineering feature is the bright blue lift bridge across the Red River, built in the 1930s, which can be raised to allow large boats to pass. Follow the self-guided tour drawn up by the Manitoba Historical Society to visit these sites. Those of architectural interest are also included in the Selkirk Regional Heritage Group’s self-guided driving tour of the area.
As Manitoba’s largest inland port, Selkirk has an important place in the province’s nautical history. The Maritime Museum of Manitoba is home to six historic ships with storied histories. Among them is the ice-breaker CGS Bradbury, which was built in Selkirk and battled through thick ice to take doctors and medication to a northern settlement struck by a flu epidemic in 1917. The museum also has hundreds of marine artifacts on display. Visitors are encouraged to be hands-on and to try turning the ship wheels and ringing the bells.
Selkirk’s Scottish and agricultural heritages are celebrated at the city’s two big summer events. Don a kilt and get ready to toss a caber at the Manitoba Highland Gathering held each June at Selkirk Park. Locals and visitors, with or without Scottish ancestry, gather to watch events including bagpipe, Highland dance and sheep-shearing competitions and to enjoy traditional food and drink at a Scottish pub. The festivities continue in mid-July with the three-day Triple S Fair and Rodeo, which attracts almost 10,000 people. Along with the rodeo events, there’s chuck wagon, chariot and barrel racing, competitions for baking and crafts, as well as a demolition derby and fairground rides.
