Leaf Rapids, Manitoba
| Town of Leaf Rapids | |
|---|---|
 Leaf Rapids
|
|
| Coordinates: 56°28′0″N 99°44′59″W / 56.46667°N 99.74972°WCoordinates: 56°28′0″N 99°44′59″W / 56.46667°N 99.74972°W | |
| Country |
Canada
|
| Province |
Manitoba
|
| Region | Northern Manitoba |
| Incorporated | 1969 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Leslie Baker |
| • MLA Thompson | Steve Ashton (NDP) |
| • MP Churchill | Niki Ashton (NDP) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,272.87 km2 (491.46 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 453 |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | Central (CDT) (UTC-5) |
| Postal code | R0B 1W0 |
| Area code(s) | 204 |
| Website | www.townofleafrapids.ca |
Leaf Rapids is a town in north west Manitoba, Canada. The town was developed as an experimental model; a model that other northern communities could replicate as they strove for modern convenience and luxury in a northern environment. The community is located approximately 1,000 km north of Winnipeg along the Churchill River. The original (urban) community of Leaf Rapids is located at 56°27′52″N 100°00′13″W / 56.46444°N 100.00361°W on Manitoba Provincial Road 391, although most of the large official Town created later lies east of this community. This town is as large as a typical Rural Municipality in the more southern parts of Manitoba.
An all-weather road connects the community to Thompson, Lynn Lake, and South Indian Lake. Since the establishment of the community, Leaf Rapids has witnessed a number of significant changes directly related to mining operations. Population declines, service provision declines, and a changing employment have all occurred since the mine's closure in 2002. The community have invested considerable time and effort examining possible transitions.
In 1969, Sherritt Gordon Mines discovered a vast copper and zinc ore body at Ruttan Lake. As a result of this substantial discovery, there was an urgent demand for a community to provide support services for the mine and its workers. The first residents of Leaf Rapids arrived in 1971 and the community's infrastructure was completed in the fall of 1976. During this same year, the community's population exceeded 2,000 residents. Leaf Rapids is sometimes described as the "instant town" due to the fast construction time and the large population that gathered during the short time period.
...
Wikipedia