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Our area was first settled in the
1880's. The act to incorporate the R.M. of Shell River
came into force
December 22, 1883.
Many bustling, thriving districts and villages were once located in Shell River,
such as Cromarty, Deepdale, Makaroff, Riverbend, Sunny Slope, Silverwood, Tummel,
Zelena
and Boggy Creek. With population decline and the closing of rural schools, most of
these communities have faded away. In some areas nothing is left except for their
place names. Some buildings have survived though, and area residents still have a strong
sense of community. Events are
still held in the Makaroff and Cromarty Halls, and the Tummel Church.
As of January 1, 2007 the RM of Park North
became a part of Shell River. This is
something that had been discussed for many
years, and we were very pleased to make
the annexation a reality. With the
addition our population has increased from 991 to
1219. The "new"
municipality covers an area of approximately 2 ranges
and 6
townships. We now look after the administration of the village of San
Clara. This is a
vibrant community with a lot of pride in their rich heritage.
Early settlers to the area were mainly Metis and through the years, this group
has continued to celebrate their culture
and heritage. The village has a busy Metis Centre and curling rink which the San Clara Recreation Co-op uses for its
many activities and events.
 Our three main industries
are agriculture, forestry
and
tourism. Area
benefits in our municipality include
ideal soil conditions, availability of
natural gas, no road
or business tax, and a
high
quality work force.
We are centrally located
on a major rail
line and intersected by International Highway
#83 and Provincial
Highway #5.
In 1995, a municipal airport with a 3510 x 75 foot paved landing strip was
constructed. It brings Roblin within an hour's traveling time from
Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba, Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan, and Minot,
North Dakota, further enhancing its potential as a distribution hub.
Photo courtesy of Lucille McKinney
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