Charleswood, Winnipeg

The origin of the name "Charleswood" is unclear, as it has at least two possibilities: it may have been named for Charles Kelly, who served on the first municipal council; or it is a combination of the Parish name "St. Charles" and the dense woodland that encompassed the area.[6][1] Charleswood was briefly named Kelheau after Kelly.[7]

Indigenous peoples have inhabited the region that is now Charleswood for at least 3,000 years.[8] The area is home to a natural ford known as "the Passage". This was a part of the Assiniboine River that was shallow enough for people and animals to cross safely.[1] The ford was used by bison for thousands of years. By the 19th century, it had become the main crossing for Indigenous and Métis traders, Red River Settlers travelling to Pembina, and independent traders looking to bypass the Hudson's Bay Company at the Forks.[1] This attracted Métis and later Red River Settlers, and was the site of Kuypers’ farm[8]

When the Hudson's Bay Company ceded Rupert's Land to the Dominion of Canada in 1869, the regions south of the Assiniboine River were incorporated for further European settlement as the Rural Municipality of Assiniboia.[9] This new R.M. combined the Parishes of Headingley, St. Charles, St. James and a portion of St. Boniface.[1] In 1899, a highway, now Roblin Boulevard, was surveyed along the south side of the Assiniboine River[1]

Patrick H. Kelly (1847–1940) is widely regarded as the founder of what is now Charleswood. He was a farmer and municipal official who moved from Perth County, Ontario, in 1906 and settled in the then-Rural Municipality of Assiniboia, taking over 500 acres (2.0 km²) of land. He built a general store in 1907; was key in establishing the community's first post office; and was instrumental in developing the community's school. He also convinced the Winnipeg Electric Railway Company to extend the street railway so that the community had a connection with the City of Winnipeg.[6]

Kelly eventually came to persuade residents of the community to apply for the creation of Charleswood as a separate municipality.[6] Kelly was successful and the Rural Municipality of Charleswood was incorporated on 15 February 1913.[2][10] The municipality was formed from parts of the R.M. of Assiniboia and Parishes of Headingley and St. Charles, while excluding territories held by the Town of Tuxedo and the City of Winnipeg.[2] The first four meetings of the new municipal council were held in a room in his store.[6]

During the 1910s, the area was marketed as "Rydal", a prospective residential locale by the developers of Tuxedo.[2] There was little housing in Charleswood before 1920 and only limited growth between 1920 and 1946. The local economy at the time was chiefly agricultural with dairy and poultry farms, market gardens, and mink ranchers.[10] Following World War II, it became popular with European immigrants who wanted to avoid living too close to the centre of Winnipeg. Development of the area increased, and new houses were constructed in the Roblin Park, Marlton, and Varsity View neighbourhoods. A ferry service was in operation in the region as late as 1958, and a trail leading to the ford was visible until fairly recently. The area experienced particularly strong growth in the 1970s, with at least 7,500 homes built during that decade.

In 1972, the Rural Municipality of Charleswood was among several municipalities that amalgamated into the City of Winnipeg. With Headingley seceding in 1992, the former municipalities on the north and south sides of the Assiniboine River—Charleswood and St. James-Assiniboia, respectively—were reunited as the Assiniboia Community. In 1995, the Charleswood Bridge opened over the Assiniboine River, physically connecting the two communities.[10]

The Assiniboine Forest is a 700 acre forest in Charleswood and hosts 18 km of walking paths, which connect to Assiniboine Park and to the Harte Trail.[11] The Harte Trail is a 6.5 km multi-use trail that follows an old railway, and forms a part of the Trans Canada Trail [11]

There are two designated historical structures in Charleswood. Located in Caron Park, Caron House is one of the last remaining original farmhouses in Charleswood.[12][13] Odd Fellows Home is a building originally built as a home for elderly members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and their spouses, as well as orphanage for children of deceased members.[14] Charleswood's former Municipal Hall has also been converted to the Charleswood Community Museum.[15]

Charleswood is home to the Charleswood Hawks hockey team playing out of the MMJHL. It is also home to the Charleswood Curling Club, home club of 6 time provincial, 2 times national, and 1996 world curling champion Jeff Stoughton.

Charleswood is served by Ward 1 of the Pembina Trails School Division.

It has 9 elementary schools: Pacific Junction School, Royal School, École Charleswood School, École Dieppe, Beaumont School, Beaverlodge School, Westdale School, Westgrove School and River West Park School. It has one secondary school, École secondaire Oak Park High School.[16]

Charleswood is host to the Canadian Mennonite University main campus, which includes the former Manitoba School for the Deaf.

Charleswood is served by the 98, 95, 78, 67, 66, 65 and 18 Winnipeg Transit buses.

Charleswood has very low crime rates. The table below shows the crime rates of various crimes in each of the Charleswood neighbourhoods. The crime data spans 5 years from the year 2017 to the year 2021. The rates are crimes per 100,000 residents per year.

• Brian Bowman, Winnipeg Mayor 2014 - 2022

William (Bill) Ralph Clement (June 3, 1948 - May 3, 2010), Winnipeg City Council 1983 - 2010, Winnipeg Deputy Mayor 1993

• List of rural municipalities in Manitoba