Our Community

When you see the Elevator in the distance as you, you know Warren's not far away.
Located approximately 45 kilometers north of Winnipeg on Hwy. #6, is the village ofWarren, a community of approximately 150 residences. All ages of people from all walks of life as well as people whose ancestors were original inhabitants enjoy the friendlinessof this rural community. It is a safe community to raise children, safe for our seniors, and  safe for the population in between. Residents quietly look out for one another and help is there when needed. Warren is the largest center in the Rural Municipality of Woodlands.

Warren is a growing community with new housing built every year. Two new residential developments have created regular growth in the village over the last number of years, and additional development is underway. Also, an attractive trailer park is located in the community to accommodate new residents.

The village has a post office, grocery store and liquor commission, cafes, hair dressing salons, insurance agent, tire and auto repairs, video rentals, Grey Goose Bus stop, florist, transfer, and gas stations, as well as other small businesses.  A beautiful new Heritage Park is under development.

A Fire Hall-Multi Purpose Facility is the newest structural addition to the community, which allows for storage of equipment and training of the many volunteers whom the community values greatly. The Multi-Purpose Facility includes a large meeting room that can be divided into two to accommodate smaller meetings. The Offices of the LUD of Warren and RM Economic Development Officer are located in this building.

The LUD of Warren Committee look after the management of the village, from zoning to water services street repair to business development. Warren has sewer and water utility service, cable TV, and is destined to have natural gas by the millenium. Recycling and garbage pick-up is available weekly. The Free Press is delivered to the community and information locally can be found in the Stonewall Argus and Teulon Times. A correspondent submits information weekly to this paper to keep everyone up to date on what's happening.

An Elementary School (grades K-8) and a Collegiate (S1-S4) are located in the village. Students are bused to Warren from surrounding residences and Marquette community for elementary school. The Collegiate includes these students with the inclusion of Rosser, Grosse Isle and Woodlands students. Enrolments at the Elementary school average 250 students with the Collegiate at 230.
A dedicated staff provides quality education to our students. Strong sport and art programs offer athletic and creative study to balance off the academic program, making learning an enjoyable experience. In our schools children achieve a sense of self-pride and confidence in behavior and abilities through their scholastic endeavors.
Along with our Principal's and Teaching staff, the professional abilities of a Guidance Instructor and Resource Teachers, as well as the support of Teaching Assistants and Library Clerks enhance the system. The secretarial staff, custodians and bus drivers also play a key role in the successful operation of the schools.
The graduates who leave Warren Collegiate are considered to be very well educated students by the secondary institutions in the province. It is the aim of all our schools to provide literate individuals who are able to do well in the secondary institutions and in the job sector.
The schools in the R.M. are open to the community after school hours. The Continuing Education Program offers classes in the schools, and various clubs and organizations utilize the space as well. The outdoor play centre is open to all children for the development of motor and social skills. The baseball diamonds on the grounds are well used in the summer and a track field is also available for use.
Changes to the Elementary school grounds were made recently. A Fitness Trail, outdoor stage and landscaped grounds are a wonderful enhancement to the community providing further recreational enjoyment for the students and community at large.

There are many recreational activities in Warren. An Arena at the Recreation grounds has artificial ice with hockey for boys and girls, ringette, powerskating, canskate, and CFSA programs. Located next door is a curling rink with artificial ice and an active curling program for seniors, mixed, men, women, and juniors. Baseball diamonds are located in the grounds with additional use at the Schools for the many teams that play during the summer. Tournaments & Bonspiel in the various sports take place regularly during the season. Warren is faced with facilities and is addressing future accommodations.

To meet the needs of present and future growth, movement is underway to develop a Multi-Complex for our current recreational interests and to look into new activities for the community.  The new arena will be 'open for business' in September 2006. This is an exciting time as we look to create facilities that work hand in hand with the growth of the community and its ideals and beliefs.

The South Interlake Golf & Country Club "Mb.'s best kept secret" has a great course and pleasant clubhouse. Ladies, Men's' & Junior Leagues are run, and a Golf Pro is available to help everyone. Many tournaments take place over the beautiful summers and the season ends with an Awards Night. Trailer rental space is available at the Golf Course and Lawn Bowling has been offered.

Many Organizations and Clubs abound in Warren. For the youth of the community there is Beavers, Cubs, Brownies, Guides, and 4-H. There is a Tiny Tots program for the little ones and a very active Seniors Group for the elderly, which allows for socialization activities for all ages. Piano, Art, and Dance classes are offered. Warren participates and hosts the Rockwood Festival of the Arts where local residents are able to perform and are judged. Strong men's and women's Lion's Clubs meet regularly and "serve" the community well hosting Blood Donor Clinics, Talent Radio Shows & Dinner Theatres, weekly Bingo's, Welcoming Committee and much more. Members of the Lions participate locally, regionally and nationally, taking Warren spirit to new people and locations.

A very busy Warren & Area District Chamber of Commerce work hard to promote the area and its many businesses as well as to encourage future business development. A number of commercial development options can be easily incorporated, and new development is underway. There are many home-based businesses in the village and surrounding community. The environment is suitable for these businesses with a market of opportunity. Many of the residents commute to Winnipeg to work, which is less than thirty minutes away. Warren, as part of the RM of Woodlands, is also a member of the Super Six Community Futures Development Corporation. Super Six offers a large range of business plan services and information to the community. An Economic Development Officer is also available to help with business projects. The Chamber hosts a Christmas Light Contest, Trade Fair, a Huge Community Garage Sale, and School Scholarship each year as well as supporting Junior Achievement and other activities.

The Interlake Trading Co. was established most recently through the Chamber of Commerce to prepare for the arrival of the Prairie Dog Central vintage locomotive train during the summer months. A Farmer's Market, Craft and Bake Sale are open each Sat., Sun. afternoon at the train stop. Vendors of many types with something for everyone are set up to market their wares and special event weekends are in the planning stages. The Economic Development Officer, as well Super Six Community Futures Corporation, also assists the Interlake Trading Co.

Warren has one church, The United Church of Canada, which has an active congregation. Junior Church (also known as Sunday school) classes are held in conjunction with regular services at 11:00 a.m. each Sunday. A "small but mighty" UCW host many functions and provide a great support to the church, and a dedicated choir sing every Sunday morning.  One of the biggest fundraisers in the community has been the Annual Fall Supper, which was put on by the UCW in September. The congregation has taken on the responsibility for organizing this annual event held on the 3rd Sunday evening in September.

Warren has a Community Hall for such things as Socials, Teas, Wedding receptions, Funeral lunches, public meetings, showers, and meeting space for organizations. Bingo is held weekly by the Lions Club with good crowds attending.

The elevator has been a functional focal destination point to the community for many years. The elevator is now owned by Agricore, but was formerly owned by Pool. The elevator is slated for closure in the near future and a Historic Designation Committee has been struck to have the elevator declared a heritage building. We value the history that the elevator has for the community and believe the heritage surrounding it must be saved. It is representative of the fact that Warren's development grew as a farming community with the elevator and rail line being an integral part of its activities in the early 1900's.

Farming is an important part of the community as it grows to become more diversified. Farming takes place on the property surrounding the village. Many farmers are grain farmers, livestock or combined farming. Grain, produce, poultry and livestock are sold by the farmers to local customers or delivered to neighboring markets for sale.

Our prairie sunrises and sunsets are something to behold. One can enjoy these special natural occurrences as well as the habitat that exists in the area. Native flowers, migration of geese, and other wildlife are part of the enjoyment of the relaxing environment that surrounds the community. One can "get back to nature" and rejuvenate their spirit in this community, without being too far from the work and activities that they must attend to.

Historical Tid-Bits
Early settlers made their living from the land, coming to the area as early as 1873. Ridges were broken to grow grain, sloughs provided fodder for livestock. Land was productive, records show that farmers entered fairs, and won prizes in wheat and butter in early 1900.

Warren did not appear by name until 1904 with the laying of the Canadian Northern Railway from Winnipeg to Oak Point. The name was adapted from a railway official, A.E. Warren, who later became Vice-President of the CNR founded in 1921.

A rail line was laid in 1880, "Air Line " which was later expropriated, and is now McDonald Ave. which runs through the centre of the village.

In 1911 the Ogilvie Elevator was built and later was purchased by Federal Grain Co. in 1928. Federal Grain built a new elevator across from the CN station and the Olgilvie was later torn down. In 1949 a new elevator was opened. MB Pool bought the elevator in 1972 and the former Federal elevator was tore down in 1980. The CN station was closed in 1965.

Education was offered in 1800's with three one-room schools in the area. In 1910 these schools were consolidated in the village of Warren where population growth was occurring. The old school was destroyed by fire in 156. A one-storey school was completed in 1957 after the former school burned in a fire. Consolidation of the schools occurred in 1910 at Warren. A new and larger school was built in Warren in 1957. In 1967 the Interlake School Division, which was established in 1959, made the decision to discontinue with local school boards. Many of the one-room schools in the RM were closed at this time and the grade 1-8 children were moved to the larger schools at Warren. A Collegiate was built in Warren in 1961 for all students in the area, including neighboring Rosser Municipality students, but excluding Argyle and Erinview students. Kindergarten was offered in 1971. Additions to the schools were made in 1975.

The Methodist Church was built in 1913, and became The United Church in 1925. The Warren Methodist Ladies organized in 1910, which are now known as United Church Women's group. These ladies raised money for the church; one fundraiser was the Fall Supper first held in Nov. in 1911. The Fall Supper has been held yearly to this date. A Manse was built in 1926 for the Minister and family to live in but was sold many years later. Additions were made to the church in 1985.

A Bank of Hamilton opened in 1918 but did not prove successful. A store was opened which has changed hands over the years, and is now Pete's General Store. Another store in Warren, built in 1911, closed its doors in 1985 and was owned by L & C Brown. Doak's owned a store across from the school 1910-40; later became a lunchroom and poolroom. The building was vacant when it burned down in 1971.

A Post Office has been in the community since 1885. Our friendly postmistress is there to welcome everyone and keep the mail moving. This personal service is something we value as postal systems change more and more to outdoor mailboxes.

The Agricultural Hall was built in 1914, which served as a two sheet-curling rink in the winter. The present curling rink was built in 1968. The community had an open-air rink for hockey and skating until 1957, when the current rink was built. Renovations have been made to update these facilities over the years.

The Warren Memorial Hall was built in 1939 with a new addition.

Local Attractions include South Interlake Golf & Country Club, Niska Game Farm, Vicki's Doll Display, Hamlin's Garden Gallery and Tea House, Interlake Trading Co. Nearby are the Woodlands Hotel, Miami Beach, Salvation Army Camp Woodlands, and Woodlands Pioneer Museum.

Built on volunteer spirit and support, a host of facilities, clubs and organizations, ensures that the community of Warren stays alive and is strong.