Winnipeg Free Press

Nominated by: Charles Thompson

Why Lord Selkirk should be a Great Manitoban:

Claim to fame: Colonizer, author

Manitoba dosage: 2

Fast Facts: Selkirk is widely credited with helping to settle Winnipeg and the surrounding area by bringing in poor Scottish farmers and giving them land...His actions had the effect of introducing modern agriculture to the area...His actions also precipitated a conflict between rival fur trading companies and the Metis.

14 Comments

• I am voting for Lord Selkirk since without him bringing the Scotish settlers to this area there would be no Winnipeg and ,as they say,"The rest of history".

  Posted by: Margaret Calrow | 2008-06-22 13:01:49

• I vote for Lord Selkirk. From the offspring of the Scottish settlers he brought to Fort Garry there have been outstanding Winnipeggers and Canadians.

  Posted by: Margaret Morris | 2008-06-27 12:09:02

• I vote for Lord Selkirk. My ancestors came to Red River thanks to his efforts. We have a city here now thanks to the efforts of those early settlers.

  Posted by: Cathie Morgan | 2008-06-27 15:04:26

• I vote for Lord Selkirk. Because of him my family were all born in Kildonan on the Red River.

  Posted by: Alison Campbell Hermon | 2008-06-27 16:42:55

• I vote for Lord Selkirk because of my families connection to him and the Red River Settlement

  Posted by: Roy A.Mc leod | 2008-06-28 15:18:44

• By helping displaced Scottish Highland crofters settle in what is now Canada, the Earl of Selkirk planted the seeds of an agrarian settlement that became Winnipeg.

  Posted by: Andrew Campbell | 2008-06-28 18:22:18

• I vote for Lord Selkirk because he was trying to help the poor.

  Posted by: Roger Lee | 2008-06-29 12:07:43

• I nominated Lord Selkirk because if he had not founded a settlement here it is doubtful that one would have been developed here by anyone else, and I doubt that there would be a Manitoba or a Canada.

  Posted by: Charles Thompson | 2008-07-07 12:49:15

• Why don't we ask where those settlers came from, instead? The lords (or tribal leaders) of the clans of highland Scotland found it more profitable to boot their people off their lands and raise sheep instead. The "charitable" ones like Lord Selkirk actually helped pay their passage to somewhere instead of letting them starve in the cities. The story I heard was that he only did it because Lady Selkirk threatened him if he didn't take care of his displaced tribesmen. It makes Lord Black look almost (almost) human by comparison.

  Posted by: MD | 2008-07-08 06:59:54

• Actually, Lord Selkirk had three such attempted colonies! Red River being the most sucessful (despite all the hardships). He was an idealist who spent most of his fortune on the settlement (i don`t think lady selkirk faorced him on that one. In fact she oftened complained about his whims). People were looking to start over after the Highland clearances and Selkirk gave them a place to go. It wasn`t easy and they weren`t properly provided for... actually Selkirk planted them right into the middle of a fur-trade war... but that`s besides the point. Descendants of the Selkirk Settlers are still here today and were part of the regional make-up long before there even was a manitoba. The only thing I would contest is that Selkirk was never a Manitoban. He came out here... once? He wasn`t even really a Canadian! And when he did live in Canada for a couple of years... he resided in Quebec!

  Posted by: Janet L. | 2008-07-08 10:59:08

• He is the true father of Manitoba because he brought in permanent settlers in large numbers, especially people from Scotland and Poland. The inclusion particularly of the latter group, in the early 1800s, laid the groundwork for the model multicultural society that Manitoba has now become. Canadian multiculturalism, and thus the distinct identity of our nation, started with this man. His influence on Canada and, consequently, much of the rest of the world is greatly underestimated. Now is a chance to honour his legacy.

  Posted by: Richard Osicki | 2008-07-09 07:08:42

• I nominated Selkirk knowing that he will not win because he is not liked by the French, Indians or Metis. Plus, there is still an anti-English sentiment in this community.

  Posted by: charles duncan thompson | 2008-07-20 10:59:20

• I voted for Lord Selkirk because he's three times the man that Louis Riel was.

  Posted by: Owen Finn | 2008-07-20 15:53:57

• My ancestors came here through Lord Selkirk's clearing. Many of them rest in graveyards dotted along number 9 highway, etc. If it was not for him, there wouldn't be a Winnipeg, or a Selkirk, MB. An extremely deserving nominee, indeed.

  Posted by: Jennifer | 2008-08-21 14:04:43

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