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RM of Rockwood RM of Rosser Town of Stonewall RM of St. Clements RM of East St. Paul RM of St. Francois Xavier RM of Springfield City of Selkirk Town of Tache RM of Headingley City of Winnipeg RM of St. Andrews RM of West St. Paul RM of Ritchot RM of MacDonald RM of Cartier
St. Francois Xavier

St. Francois Xavier

The Rural Municipality of St. François Xavier is located in south central Manitoba, approximately 8 kilometres west of Manitoba’s capital city, Winnipeg. Hugging the north bank of the scenic Assiniboine River, it contains some of the best soils in Manitoba, and is the home of extensive cereal, berry and garden farms. The Assiniboine River itself is heavy forested and home to great diversity of wildlife. The municipality’s largest centre is the village of St. François Xavier, only a short 15-minute drive from Winnipeg, The village is located along Provincial Trunk Highway 26 (also known as the Assiniboine Trail), and is only 3 kilometres north of the Trans Canada Highway.

History

St. François Xavier was incorporated as a municipality in 1880. However, originally founded in 1823 it is the second-oldest settlement in what is now Manitoba, pre-dated only by the Red River Settlement. St. François Xavier is steeped in rich native folklore and legends. The region is known locally as “White Hore Plain:, a name derived from a native legend. The area around St. François Xavier was home to famous first nations such as the Cree and Sioux.

The lands around St. Francois provided for a rich harvest of buffalo and other animals, used for food and furs for these tribes. Metis inhabitants had a prominent role in the history of the municipality. Cuthbert Grant, was an influential political and military leader of the Metis population, in the early 1800's. Grant led the Metis in the battle of "Seven Oaks", and was the founder of St. Francois Xavier (originally known as "Grantown") Other prominent Metis included Pierre Falcon, a most famous Metis songwriter, and Pascal Breland, an influential political leader, landowner and negotiator.

Immigrant settlers moving west from Winnipeg found the land around St. Francois agreeable for homesteading, and in 1850, Sr. Lagrave and Sr. Lafrance founded a convent in the area. The two sisters had previously founded the Grey Nuns convent in St. Boniface, and were the first sisters in St. Francois Xavier. The convent also served as a school for local Metis and native children, housing approximately 25 students in its early days. The old convent burnt down in 1915, and a new wood and brick structure was built in its place. This new convent still forms a major focal point for the community. By 1968, the "Nunnery" was in disrepair, causing the Grey Nuns to move back to St. Boniface. This move had ended over 118 years of the Grey Nuns presence in St. Francois, and was a great loss for the community. The historic "Nunnery" has since been repaired.

Economc Base

The rural economic situation in St. Francois Xavier focuses around agriculture, with farmers operating a variety of different grain, seed and livestock operations. The village and surrounding area has a wide range of services such as a grocery store, liquor outlet, deli, bakery, a Credit Union, veterinary clinic, hardware, cabinetmakers, tree nurseries and a chiropractic & massage therapy clinic. Local contractors provide services in the areas of construction, electrical, plumbing, heating, refrigeration, mechanical repairs, roofing, landscaping and yard maintenance. Home based businesses offer trophies & engraving, crafts & hobbies, financial and estate planning, clerical services, carpet cleaning & janitorial and hairdressing. Industries include auto parts recycling at Direct Auto Parts, pellet fuel manufacturing at Elf Industries and Westward Industries, manufacturers of GO-4 vehicles.

Major Attractions

Visit the statue of the White Horse when entering the village along Highway 26. Steeped in local folklore, the prominent horse is a strong symbol of the rich cultural history of the municipality. The White Horse Emporium is Manitoba’s biggest gift shop and offers a wide variety of gifts and collectibles. The Welcome Stop on the Trans Canada Highway in St. Francois Xavier offers gas station and convenience store services, as well as an RV/campground with a splendid view of the Assiniboine River. Visitors to the berry farms Blue Diamond Farms, Assiniboine Trail Berry Farm, Nott’s Berry Farm and organic vegetables & U-pick at Blue Lagoon Florascape are provided with a full day of sightseeing and delicious, locally grown berries and vegetables. The St. Francois Xavier Airport, located just west of the village, has a landing strip that is available for small aircraft.

Facilities - Recreation, Parks, Culture

The St. François Xavier Community Club provides recreation and community resources to the municipality. There are two municipal parks located in the village. The St. Francois Xavier Park has a ball diamond, children’s playground and a picnic shelter. The Medicine Rock Park displays replicas of the Red River Cart and a historical log cabin called The Breland House. The annual mouthwatering pig roast in July at the Belcourt Community Centre is a must attend for all hungry visitors and residents. Cuthbert Grant Days takes place every September at the St. Francois Xavier Community Centre and includes a slow pitch baseball tournament, family fun events, food venues and a beer garden. Other information: The folklore behind the White Horse is a story of courage, love and rivalry, and is one of the most famous stories in the history of Manitoba. A young Cree warrior, wanting the hand of an Assiniboine Chief’s daughter, offered the chief a beautiful and powerful white horse. Strong rivalries between the Assiniboine and Cree tribes jeopardized the marriage. The young Cree warrior and his love fled on the white horse. Another expectant suitor of the bride, and other Sioux warriors overtook the couple on the plains and killed them with arrows. Legend has it, that the spirit of the maiden passed into the white horse which couldn’t be caught and that it roamed the prairies free and wild. Because of this, the area has come to be known as the White Horse Plain, by Aboriginal communities and European settlers alike.

Visit community website: www.rm-stfrancois.mb.ca