Ste. Agathe, Manitoba
Encyclopedia
Ste. Agathe is a primarily francophone community in the Canadian
province of Manitoba
. It is located along the Red River
in the Rural Municipality of Ritchot
.
The village was founded in the mid-19th century on one of the Red River Trails
by settlers from Quebec
named Grouette, who built a homestead on the west bank of the Red River and farmed grain in the rich soil of the valley. A dock allowed other settlers to reach the east side of the river via ferry with their grain-laden Red River carts; a community, originally called Pointe-à-Grouette, formed around the docking point at some time before 1871.
The first mention of the name "Ste. Agathe" was some decades earlier, when the Roman Catholic Church
organized the Red River colonies between St. Norbert
and the United States
border into the Parish of Sainte-Agathe. As that parish grew and split into numerous more manageable parishes, the parish containing Pointe-à-Grouette was renamed the Parish of Sainte-Agathe by Archbishop Alexandre-Antonin Taché
in 1873; the town adopted the name at some time after that date. A church, a school, and eventually a convent were built at the townsite.
Ste. Agathe is located in the flood plain of the Red River and as such has always been prone to flood damage, but none was so severe or as notable as that experienced during the 1997 Red River Flood. The ring dike surrounding the town gave out in late April, causing the town to be inundated with over two metres of water. The village has recovered; a new dike has been built and an interpretive centre has been created on the west side of the community.
Ste. Agathe is in the provincial riding of Morris
and the federal riding of Provencher
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. It is located along the Red River
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
in the Rural Municipality of Ritchot
Ritchot, Manitoba
Ritchot is a rural municipality lying adjacent to the south side of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is part of the Winnipeg Capital Region and had a population of 4,958 as of the 2001 census. The separately administered town of Niverville lies adjacent to its southeastern part, between it and the...
.
The village was founded in the mid-19th century on one of the Red River Trails
Red River Trails
The Red River Trails were a network of ox cart routes connecting the Red River Colony and Fort Garry in British North America with the head of navigation on the Mississippi River in the United States...
by settlers from Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
named Grouette, who built a homestead on the west bank of the Red River and farmed grain in the rich soil of the valley. A dock allowed other settlers to reach the east side of the river via ferry with their grain-laden Red River carts; a community, originally called Pointe-à-Grouette, formed around the docking point at some time before 1871.
The first mention of the name "Ste. Agathe" was some decades earlier, when the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
organized the Red River colonies between St. Norbert
St. Norbert, Manitoba
St. Norbert is a bilingual neighbourhood in the southernmost part of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. While outside the Perimeter Highway, , it is still part of the city. The population is just over 5,000. Each summer, the community is home to the St...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
border into the Parish of Sainte-Agathe. As that parish grew and split into numerous more manageable parishes, the parish containing Pointe-à-Grouette was renamed the Parish of Sainte-Agathe by Archbishop Alexandre-Antonin Taché
Alexandre-Antonin Taché
Alexandre-Antonin Taché was a Roman Catholic priest, missionary of the Oblate order, author and the first Archbishop of Saint Boniface in the Canadian province of Manitoba.In late 1844 Taché entered the Oblate novitiate...
in 1873; the town adopted the name at some time after that date. A church, a school, and eventually a convent were built at the townsite.
Ste. Agathe is located in the flood plain of the Red River and as such has always been prone to flood damage, but none was so severe or as notable as that experienced during the 1997 Red River Flood. The ring dike surrounding the town gave out in late April, causing the town to be inundated with over two metres of water. The village has recovered; a new dike has been built and an interpretive centre has been created on the west side of the community.
Ste. Agathe is in the provincial riding of Morris
Morris (electoral district)
Morris is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created by redistribution in 1879, and has existed continuously since that time. The constituency is named after Alexander Morris, who served as Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba from 1872 to 1877.Morris is a...
and the federal riding of Provencher
Provencher (electoral district)
Provencher is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1871. It is largely a rural district, the largest community being the city of Steinbach, Manitoba.-Demographics:-History:...
.