Index  1870    1880   1890    1900    1910    1920    1930    1940   1950     1960    1970     1980      1990   Timeline... 1870 - 1879 The World 1876:  Battle of Little Bighorn, June 25 and 26. A combined Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho force, overwhelms the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States. 1876: Alexander Graham Bell successfully transmits the first bi-directional transmission of clear speech. An improved design for the “telephone” was patented the next year. Canada 1874: The newly created Northwest Mounted Police march west from Dufferin, Manitoba, on passing the Turtle Mountains they have a brief glimpse of some of the Minnesota Sioux and their white captives. Manitoba 1874: July 31 - First Russian Mennonites arrive at Winnipeg on the steamer International. 1878: December 4 - First freight by rail reached St. Boniface. Two days later, the first freight for export was shipped by rail from St. Boniface via steamer. First grain elevator built in Manitoba at Niverville. Rivers and the R.M. of Daly 1874 Survey of region that would become Daly R.M. completed. 1878 Rapid City (originally known as Farmer’s Crossing) established. A Land Office was located there. Daly pioneers registered their claims at that office. 1879 Steamboats service established on the Assiniboine as far as Fort Ellice. T. Cousins among the first to settle in Daly – constructed a cabin.   Timeline... 1880 - 1889 The World 1882: Thomas Edison builds the first power plant in New York. 1885: Karl Benz patents his first automobile. 1889: The Eiffel Tower opens in Paris. Canada In 1885, after long-standing grievances remain unaddressed, Louise Riel and Gabriel Dumont lead an uprising of Metis in the Saskatchewan River Valley communities in the Prince Albert - Battleford regions. Subsequent actions by native groups lead by Big Bear and Poundmaker create concern in Manitoba communities but relations between settlers and native people remain peaceful. Manitoba 1881: March 2 - Manitoba Boundaries Act passed in Parliament, providing for an extension of the province’s borders. The town of Brandon is created in May of 1881 when the site is selected over Grand Valley as a crossing and divisional point on the C.P.R. Within a month it is a busy centre. The Assiniboine Rivers floods, putting much of the Assiniboine Valley under water, much as it was in 2011. 1883: An act of the legislature set up 4 municipalities within the County of Souris River, including Arthur. Arthur included Ranges 27,28 & 29; townships 1,2, and 3. Powers given allowed municipalities to bonus industries and railways by cash donation and by tax exemptions for a number of years. 1884 : In 1884 the Province was divided and organized into separate Municipalities.   Homestead Regulations eased to attract more settlers. Three options existed: 1. Three year’s cultivation and residence – with the settler not absent for more than six months in any one year. 2. Taking up residence for two years and nine months within two miles of the homestead and then afterwards residing in a habitabgle house on homestead for three months at any time prior to applying for the patent. With 10 acres to be broken ion the first year, 15 in the second, and 15 in the third. 3. A five year system that allowed the settler to live anywhere for the first two years as long as he began to cultivate the land within six months and build a habitable house. 1885: The end of steamboat service on the upper Assiniboine. Rivers and the R.M. of Daly 1880 Zachary Baily homesteaded in 1880. First settlers in the Tarbolton area. Charles Stewart homesteaded 14-11-20 1881 Brandon founded Assiniboine floods C.P.R/ lands in the Tarbolton area selling for $2.50 an acre. 1882 Lothair Post Office Opened Sept. 1, 1882 on 22-12-22. James Pettit represents the Daly region on the Brandon County Council the current form of local government. 1883 Tarbolton School was built in 1883 on NE 20-11-22 First accidental death by gunshot. William Pierson shot himself in the upper arm. The doctor from Brandon saw the need for amputation and by the time he returned three days later gangrene had set in. (KB) James Pettit elected first Reeve of Daly. 1884 Daly Union School established in 1884. Bradwardine Post office est 1884 in the home of John Parr a few miles west of the present village of Bradwardine in the R.M. of Woodworth. Roseville Mission Hall, the first church in the R.M., was built in 1884 on NE 28-11-20. In 1884 the Province was divided and organized into separate Municipalities. At the house of William Creighton, Sec.  11-21,in the Municipality of Daly, on January 8th, 1884, the first meeting of the Council took place with James Pettit as Reeve. In 1884 a bridge was being built across the Little Saskatchewan at the original Pendennis Post office,  Section 14 -12- 21 1885 Ancrum School was built in the hamlet of Ancrum Dec. 16th – first marriage in Roseville Mission Church – Councillor J.W. Stewart of Brandon and Miss Emily Wheatley of Roseville. Wheatland School District formed in the R.M. of Blanchard, several km north of the current location of the village. The name was later borrowed for the new village located in Daly with the arrival of the rail line. 1886 The Liberal Party held a meeting in the Ancrum schoolhouse in May. Mayor Smart of Brandon attended. 1887 Roden Post Office established in the log house of Thomas Seens W 22-11-22 Poplar Hill School on SE 1-11-20 was established in 1887 Harrow School was built in 1887 SW 22-11-20 1888 Tarbolton Presbyterian  built in 1888 Spring Valley School was built ca. 1888 by John Moore on 12-11-22 1889 Hunter School was built in 1889 on NW 5-11-20   Timeline... 1890 - 1899 The World World’s Columbia Exposition (World Fair) opens in Chicago in 1893 – to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the new world (1492). Featured prominently are exhibits highlighting the possibilities of electricity. Canada 1891: The end of the John A. McDonald era. 1896: Gold discovered in the Klondike. Manitoba Manitoba School’s Question divides the nation as governments decide on the future of French Language instruction in schools. The Manitoba Government authorizes the formation of local Farmer’s Institutes and provides some grants. The goal is to improve farming practices. The Farmer’s Institute Act - 1890 – offers support to local farm groups. Rivers and the R.M. of Daly 1892 Lothair School built in 1892 on NE 26-12-22 Bridge counstructed over the Assiniboine north of Alexander. 1893 Forrester’s Lodge Hall built at Ancrum 1894 First Kirkham’s Bridge built 1897 Washed out Kirkham’s Bridge rebuilt ¼ mile downstream at current site – last wooden bridge to be built in Mb. 1898 Pendennis  School was built on 7-21-20 in 1898 John Howie of Bradwardine leads a cattle drive to the Yukon gold fields. (See Bradwardine History)   Timeline... 1900 - 1910 The World 1901: Queen Victoria dies, Jan. 22. Edward the VII reigns. 1901: Marconi sends the first radio signal across the Atlantic. 1903: Ford Motor Co. established to manufacture automobiles Canada May 15, 1909: an Earthquake is felt across the prairies. Manitoba 1901: Manitoba’s first Hydro-electric plant opens on the Little Saskatchewan River northwest of Brandon.   1906: Manitoba farmers organize the “Grain Growers’ Grain Company” with shares available at $25. For any farmer wanting to join. 1908: Manitoba Government Telephones takes over the telephone service. Rivers and the R.M. of Daly 1900 Proposed route for the Great Northwest Central Railway was to allow for a station at Ancrum. A dispute about land price causes the railway to choose the Bradwardiine location. 1903 The Grand Trunk established a subsidiary, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, to build a line from Winnipeg to the Pacific 1905 Construction began on the Canadian Prairies in 1905, the year that the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were established with the first sod turned near Carberry, Manitoba on August 29. 1906 North American Lumber Co. founded in Rivers . Kirkham’s Bridge rebuilt of steel. Hank Koester who also built the Pendennis Bridge 1907 Construction proceeded west to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1907 1907 GTP line as far  the river – town 1 mile west to be named after Sir Charles Rivers-Wilson Much building material shipped on CPR to Wheatland or Pettapiece 1907 Telephone service begins in Kirkham’s Bridge District 1907 R.S. MacKenzie opens first General Store in Rivers 1908 W. Buggey – first GTP Agent. Sept 21 – first GTP passenger service. - a tri-weekly timetable in each direction. Mail for the first time brought from Winnipeg by GTP on Oct. 5. Now had service from Winnipeg and Wheatland (CPR) The new rail line brought politicians. Clifford Sifton and T.C. Norris,  of Laurier's Liberal gov't took full credit, with Sifton claiming that the Consrvatived had opposed building the line. Conservative candidate T.Mayne Daly came claiming a Conservatibe government would be committed to the GTP. P6 Exce. Charles Melville Hays and F.W. Morse also visted. 22 yr old Samuel White had one leg severed by a locomotive and later died. The throttle had been defective according to a coroner's which also noted that no ashpit was provided in the Rivers yard for the safety of those who cleaned out locomotive ashpans.. The railway company was found guilty of gross negligence. Grand Trunk Pacific Staton completed in Rivers. 1908 GTP Trestle Bridge completed in Rivers The mile-long trestle bridge , the longest of its kind in wetsern Canada, completed. 2-story depot with Company offices. Roundhouse and shops – terminal yards. Rail traffic began July 30, 1908. 1909 GTP land needed for school and cemetery Through passenger service established – 12 ¾ hr schedule between Winnipeg and Melville – no stopover needed at Rivers. Visit by Sir Charles Rivers-Wilson – chairman of directors  (Former Minister of Finance in Egypt. Last official visit – before retirement. Extension to car shops in Rivers considered  - He and wife and System general manager Charles M. Hays and other dignitaries. - toured the town GTP reaches Edmonton, Alberta in 1909 May 15, 1909 – Earthquake – felt across the prairies. Rivers (Mile 142) - R.P.O. service established to Winnipeg in 1909   Timeline... 1910 - 1920 The World 1912: Titanic sinks after hitting an iceberg on its first voyage. 1914: WW 1 – 1914 – 18 1917: Russian Revolution and the beginning of Communist rule. Canada Conscription Crisis Manitoba Widespread drought Winnipeg General Strike Rivers and the R.M. of Daly 1910 Free GT transportation to men and trees (from Ontario) to beautify the town Rumours of branch lines for the GT – to Brandon to connect with the Great Northern. To Kamsak and to Regina – crossing the CP at around Elkhorn. 1911 Railway strike. GTP crosses the Continental Divide in 1910-1911 1912 −    visit of Duke and Duchess of Connaught – youngest son of Queen Victoria – initial Royal train to pass over Grand Trunk Pacific lines. −    −    the building of shack-shelters near the railroad shops for men who had been living in tents, the start of construction on a G.T.P. Freight shed, completion of the comapny's new coal dock −    Rivers man – Robert McIntyre – slipped beneath wheels of moving train – lost both legs. −    Engineer Hartnett accidentally killed at Edson GTP President Charles M.  Hays died on the RMS Titanic, 14 April, 14, 1912 1913 Yard engine and two cars crashed over the end of the coal dock after the locomotive throttle refused to function, causing serious injuries to brakeman George Hile and forcing engineer Joe Rymal and D.J.D. Ellis to jump for safety. 1914 GTP completed to Prince Rupert, British Columbia in 1914. 1915 W. Files engineer died when his freight train ran into a gap which – prior to a cyclone had been the 115 ft. high Miinewaska bridge. GTP trains routed oved CPR lines via Minnedosa. 1917 GTP Station station burns down on March 4 and a new station was started in July and finished by September. The new station features a restaurant called  “The Beanery” 1919  In 1919 the Grand Trunk Pacific station (later bought by CN) discussed the possibilities with ( the new and growing) Town of Rivers provision of electricity from its generator. The discussions culminated with Town of Rivers Bylaws 120 and 121 proclaiming a $9,000.00 debenture to fund the electrical distribution to the town. This was the railway leading the way for the community with some vision for growth. The Rivers Gazette, July 10, 1919 proclaimed Bylaw 120  & 121 for the funding of an electrical distribution system off the generator at Grand Trunk Pacific and I have attached the following articles related to same. This is how Rivers received its first electricity.   Timeline... 1920 - 1929 The World The conditions imposed upon Germany after WW1 help trigger an economic collapse and political turmoil that results leads to the rise of Adolph Hitler and his Nazi Party. 1927: Charles Lindberg flies solo from New York to Paris. Canada Post-War adjustments are difficult. The “Roaring Twenties” though fondly remembered most correctly apply to the latter part of the decade. Manitoba 1920:The Manitoba Grain Growers’ Association becomes “The United Farmers of Manitoba.” It turned its attention to progressive farm legislation Rivers and the R.M. of Daly 1920 On July 12, 1920 the GTPR was placed under the management of Crown corporation Canadian National Railways (CNR) 1923 The Grand Trunk Pacific was completely absorbed into the CNR. Timeline... 1930 - 1939 The World The depression set off by the stock market collapse in late 1929 is felt across North America and Europe. Sept.1, 1939 Germany invades Poland, setting off World War 2 Canada The effect of the world-wide economic depression is compounded in Western Canada by an extended drought. In 1936 the Federal Government cancelled debt for feed and wrote off many advances to to the drought areas. Manitoba The effects of the drought on the prairies are felt most acutely in the southwest corner of the province. The Farmer’s Creditors Arrangement Act – aims to reduce farm debt loads. Rivers and the R.M. of Daly 1930 Rivers Airfield opened Feb. 17, 1930 - operation of  mail planes began one week later 1932 March 31, 1932 – Canada’s airmail service ends. Deliveries had been made at Rivers Airfield. 1937 Dominion airway engineers selected a nearby site of 40 acres in connection with a prospective cross Canada air service.. Contract let for grading surfacing and fencing of Rivers Intermediate Aerodrome. 1939 Train carrying King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stops very briefly in Rivers on its way east. The King appeared in his dressing gown to wave a short greeting as the train as the train started moving.   Timeline... 1940 - 1949 The World December, 1941 the United States enters the war after the  Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour 1945 – WW2 ends.. Canada Aug. 19: Nearly 1000 Canadians die and 2000 are taken prisoner in the failed raid on Dieppe. Manitoba Rationing and consumer goods shortages become a way of life. Manitoba Power Commission decides to extend  service to more rural areas. Rivers and the R.M. of Daly 1940 Construction begins on buildings to be used by the Royal Canadian Air Force training program. Announcement that 700 novice pilots from Trenton ON will be transferred to Rivers. First family to arrive was that of Flt. Lieut. J.Hone. Housing becomes scarce. Town council encouraged conversion of all available space into apartments. War Services Committee organized. Hall on Second Street renamed the “Tailspin Inn” 1941 First Navigation School tradgedy – five Canadian die as a plane crashed on takeoff 1942 The Air Navigation School renamed in May 1942 under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) as No.1 Air Navigation School (No.1 ANS) In 1942, No.1 ANS merged with No.2 ANS from Pennfeld Ridge (New Brunswick) to form No.1 Central Navigation School (No.1 CNS) 1943 The Town of Rivers launched Aid to Russia, Milk for Britain, Chinese and Greek WarRelief Funds A troop train and a general passenger train collided  at St. Lazare and planes from the No.1 CNS were used to tranposrt injured to the air station hospital The first army parachutists to jump in Canada flew from Rivers in June 1943 in a Lodestar aircraft to "drop" at Camp Shilo. They had been trained in England and the United States. 1944 The six ton bomb that destroyed the German battleship Tipitz was released by Rivers-born F/O Walter Daniel. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross 1945 A trade group arranges a V-E Day Celebration, and launches a twelve-member Rehabilitation Committee. 1 Week after V-J Day , No1. CNS, the largest training centre of its kind on the North American continent, closed (temporarily) . The event was marked by Air Force Day – an event that drew about 12000 people – the greatest crowd to ever assemble in the region. In five years No. 1 CNS saw 126 classes graduate. Personnel at its peak totaled 3000. In October 1945 a plan for Army/ Air activities in Canada resulted in the formation of No. 1 Airborne Research and Development Centre located at Camp Shilo. By April 1947 sufficient progress had been made to permit the unit to be called the Joint Air School and it was moved to Rivers. 1947 Jan. 15-  RCAF Guards took charge of Rivers Airport. In 1947 the Canadian Parachute Training Centre, established at Camp Shilo in 1942, merged with the Airborne School of the Canadian Joint Air Training Centre and moved to RCAF Station Rivers, making the station Canada’s main para-training centre. Joint Air School and it was moved from Camp Shilo to Rivers under the command of G/C M. G. Doyle. Its function was to meet all the requirements of training and development for the Canadian forces in tactical support of land and airborne operations. May 3 – first group of 300 trainees were traqnsferred from Camp Shilo. Carol Yvonne Schmitz was the first “air school child” born in Madden Nursing Home. Also in 1947, the Army Aviation Tactical Training School was established at Rivers to provide pilot training to Army aviators, as well as helicopter instructor training for the Army, RCN and RCAF 444 Air Observation Post Squadron was formed on October 1st 1947, but disbanded on April 1st 1949. 1948 Royal Canadian Navy personnel were added to the Joint Air Training school in August 1948. In 1948, the Joint Air Photo Interpretation School opened at Rivers. The school closed in 1960 and its personnel merged with the Air Photo Interpretation Centre at RCAF Station Rockcliffe (Ontario) who became fully responsible for training photo-interpreters. Contracts were let for the building of 100 housing units for the base followed by contracts for a further 375 dwellings. 150 of them were to be built in Rivers. 1949 A change in organization in March 1949 created the Joint Air Training Centre out of the elements of the Joint Air School. The station was divided into Air Training, Technical, Administrative and Land/Air Warfare Wings. 444 Air Observation Post Squadron was disbanded on April 1st 1949. Prime Minsiter Louis St. Laurent visits Rivers and the base Renovations to the roundhouse and the station - for the first time in 40 years  “Continental” passengers were afforded a quarter hour stop at Rivers for lunch.   Timeline... 1950 - 1959 The World The Korean War – June 1950 – July 1953. 1954: Elvis Presley records “That’s All Right” at Sun Studios in Memphis Tennessee with Scott Moore and Bill Black. Canada 1957: Lester Pearson wins the Nobel Peace Prize for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. 1957: John Diefenbaker becomes the only Conservative Party Leader between 1930 and 1979 to win a National Election. He governed until 1963. Manitoba 1951: Manitoba Hospital Districts formed. Ivan Scultz, Minister of Health made the expansion of hospital services a priority. Rivers and the R.M. of Daly 1950 Korean War begins. 1951 - locomotives were being converted from coal to diesel. Liquid fueld tanks were installed in the roundhouse. - at this time 28 crews, 140 men, were employed on the line between Winnipeg and Melville. - 25 year old James White lost both legs to a train accident. 1953 The Basic Helicopter Training Unit (BHTU) was established at Rivers in August 1953, initially to train RCAF pilots. It became the first tri-service flying training unit in Canada. The base later became the country's main para-training centre for army, navy and air force personnel. By mid February Diesel power reduced the running time of trains from Winnipeg   to Edmonton by by several hours – the time was soom cut by almost a day.. The company pile of steam coal was removed. Freight were checked and on their way in 15 minutes. In late September a diesel hauled passenger train made a test run from Montreal to Vancouver. By the end of the year the local day yard was shut down. 1954 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visit CJATC Rivers in autumn of 1954 Base Commanding Officer G/C J.A. Sproule, DFC and HRH Prince Philip Rob Sproule Collection In Mid May 23 men – four roundhouse and 18 car-department employees were terminated.. An old engine well known in the regionNo. 7398, now refitted with a diesel engine passed through with passengers  who had been prevented from boarding a fog-bound TCA Airliner in Winnipeg. The Edmonton Eskimos Grey Cup Special stopped in Rivers both going to and coming from their victory. Local gained souvenirs including a piece of a goal post presented to the mayor, Mr. Stratford. Highway 25 opened to traffic, and the first car accident injury on tha road occurred. 1955 Rivers, the first place on a main line in Canada to have known coal-burning locomotives, was the last place to see their use.   P147 The meeting of the east-and west-bound Continental trains came to an end with a new CN Cross-Country Passenger service. – the Super Continental. Twelve hours running time was cut from a montreal – Vancouver trip. 1956 By 1956, Army helicopters pilots were also training at Rivers. After the closure of the helicopter school at RCN Air Station HMCS Shearwater, the Royal Canadian Navy began sending trainees to Rivers as well, making the BHTU the first tri-service flying training unit in Canada. 1957 Rivers beca,e the central receiving station for messages from Caye to Uno, with the installation of telephone-teletype facilities here d station dispatchers. - continental passengers service was reduced to “local” status. A ski hill operated just south of the base in the valley of the Little Saskatchewan. Gerry Logan Collection   Timeline... 1960 - 1969 The World Canada Manitoba Rivers and the R.M. of Daly 1960 Joint Air Photo Interpretation School closed in 1960 and its personnel merged with the Air Photo Interpretation Centre at RCAF Station Rockcliffe (Ontario) who became fully responsible for training photo-interpreters. The railway icehouses was demolished. The final steam locomotived passed thorugh the yeards. - beginning of two-way radio radio communication between train crews 1962 As a practical example of service integration, the Canadian Joint Air Training Centre at Rivers, Manitoba, is living proof that the colour of the uniform a man wears is really immaterial when it comes to getting the job done. Permanent strength of 800 servicemen at CJATC is about one-half RCAF and one-half Army. Except for two months each summer when naval jet squadrons come to Rivers for tactical exercises, RCN strength is only a token force — but "blue jobs" and "brown jobs" - CN Coal Dock demolished, rails that once served the car department and other services were lifted. - roundhouse sold to Rivers Structural Fabricators - with the closing of the Saskatoon Flying School – personnel were transferred to Rivers. 1963 In December 1963, No.1 Transport Helicopter Platoon (No.1 THP), a unit of the Royal Canadian Army Services Corps, was established at Rivers, along with their fleet of CH-113A Voyageur transport helicopters and on CH-112 Nomad. The platoon’s function was to support the Army on field exercises 1964 408 Tactical Fighter Squadron, whose primary functions were reconnaissance and weapons delivery, moved to Rivers in 1964 from RCAF Station Rockcliffe (Ontario) and remained until disbanded on April 1st 1970. 1966 No.1 THP moved to RCAF St.Hubert in 1966 and also established a detachment at RCAF Station Namao (Alberta). 1968 The Canadian Forces were unified and an era of budget cuts begins. Rivers was declared surplus to defence needs, as were several other bases across the country   Timeline... 1970 - 1979 The World Canada Manitoba Rivers and the R.M. of Daly 1970 408 Tactical Fighter Squadron, disbanded on April 1st 1970. 1971 As a result of the Unification, RCAF Station Rivers was re-named CFB Rivers. CFB Rivers closed in September 1971 1972 September 1972 the land was turned over to the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development for use as an industrial training centre for Manitoba Indians. The training centre was known as the Oo-Za-We-Kwun Centre. 1974 The Rivers Gliding School, a summer Air Cadet glider camp opened at the former base in 1974, remaining until 1984, when it re-located to Gimli. Timeline... 1980 - 1989 The World Canada Manitoba Rivers and the R.M. of Daly 1980 In 1980 the Oo-Za-We-Kwun Centre closed and the land was sold by the Federal Government.  1988 The site was  purchased by Larry Friesen who opened Hangar Farms Ltd., a hog farm operation. Timeline... 1990 - 1999 The World Canada Manitoba Rivers and the R.M. of Daly 1990's In the mid 1990’s, the RCAF reutrned to the former RCAF Station Rivers, with the help of some movie magic, in the movie “For The Moment”, a film about an Austrailian pilot who comes to Manitoba to train under the BCATP, starring Russel Crowe. While most of the movie was filmed at the Brandon Airport, scenes of the actors standing outside their barracks were filmed at Rivers, requiring a fresh coat of green paint to be applied to the old buildings   Back to the Top