The Sunshine Highway in Manitoba

The Sunshine Highway is first mentioned in the in the Manitoba press in 1919, It was a bold plan proposed at just the right time. Automobiles began making their appearance in western Manitoba in the early 1900, but it was in the 1920’s when their popularity really took off.  What it really took to ignite car culture was roads. Governments at all levels were under pressure to provide them. Tourism via car travel was about to become a big thing.

So when a group of business and community leaders proposed an International route connecting the US and Canada the timing was right and the idea was right. A cost sharing plan for membership was created. In Manitoba the “Good Roads” initiative was just beginning and that fit right in.

An international committee was struck. Towns bought in to the plan to boost tourism. It was well worth the small annual fee. Municipalities were motivated to improve roads.

For Manitoba it was the beginning of the transition from railway to cars as the preferred option.

This historic route starts right in Manitoba at Brandon, wends its way south through Wawanesa, Glenboro, Baldur, Glenora, Rock Lake to Crystal City and then to the U.S./Canada border, to Sarles then through other little towns, south to Devil’s Lake and ends 700 miles later at Sioux City, Iowa.

The Sunshine Highway was officially opened at c eremony in Crystal City on July 23, 1921. Mayor Dinsdale of Brandon, plus the mayor of Woonsocket, South Dakota, Mayor Dalton, who was also the President of the Sunshine Highway, accompanied by 75 officials of the Highway, took part in the ceremony at Crystal City. They were on the road to Brandon by 10 a.m., although some stayed a little longer at Avery’s “our famous summer resort” at Rock Lake to enjoy the “inviting waters of the lake”. 























July 13, 1922, The Baldur Gazette