The Pas, Manitoba
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The Pas is a town in Manitoba, Canada, located at in the Norman Region, some 630 kilometres northwest of the provincial capital, Winnipeg, near the border of Saskatchewan.
Known as the "Gateway to the North," The Pas is a multi-industry northern Manitoba town serving a district population of over 15,000 (including the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN), a Swampy Cree Reservation). The main components of the region's economy are agriculture, forestry, commercial fishing, tourism, transportation, and services (especially health and education). The main employer is a paper and lumber mill called Tolko. The Pas contains one of the two main campuses of the University College of the North.
History
The area's original inhabitants were the Cree, who are thought to have migrated from the southeastern prairies 5,000 years ago. "The Pas" is a derivative of the Cree word "pasquia" meaning "wooded narrows". It may also originate from the French words "le pas" - "the step".
The first European was Henry Kelsey, an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company who travelled through the area on his way to the Canadian prairies sometime between 1690 - 1692.
The Town of The Pas was incorporated in 1912. The area today is composed of three distinct communities: The Town of The Pas, the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, and the Rural Municipality of Kelsey.
Government and politics
The Pas is governed by a mayor and six councillors who are elected by residents. The mayor is Gary Hopper. The town councillors are Grant Buchanan, Ken Gurba, Bert Lagimodiere, Gladys Thorne and Ron Skokun. John St. Godard was elected with the current slate of councillors but resigned.
The Pas is represented in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba (as part of The Pas riding) by New Democratic MLA Oscar Lathlin and in the Canadian House of Commons (as part of the Churchill riding) by Liberal MP Tina Keeper.
Sports
The Pas and the Opaskwayak Cree Nation share an ice hockey team called the OCN Blizzard, who compete in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The Pas is also home to the Huskies minor hockey league, and the MBCI Spartans who compete in Zone 11 of the MHSAA.
Education
The Pas' public school system is the Kelsey School Division, which consists of two elementary schools (Kelsey Elementary and Mary Duncan Elementary), two middle schools (Opasquia Middle School and Scott Bateman Middle School) and one high school (Margaret Barbour Collegiate Institute).
The town hosts one of the two main campuses of the University College of the North.
Local Media
- CJAR 1240 - adult contemporary radio
- Opasquia Times
See also
External links
- [Local & online clothing shop website]
- [Town of The Pas website]
- [The Pas & District Chamber of Commerce]
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| Manitoba |
|---|---|
| Regions | Winnipeg Capital Region - Central Plains - Eastman - Interlake - Northern - Parkland - Pembina Valley - Westman |
| Cities | Brandon - Dauphin - Flin Flon - Portage la Prairie - Selkirk - Steinbach - Thompson - Winkler - Winnipeg |
| List of communities in Manitoba - List of rural municipalities in Manitoba |
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