Manitoba (1947)

the Canadian American border world's longest unfortified frontier gateway to that friendly and hospitable neighbor of the north the mighty Dominion of Canada here it's the central Canadian province of Manitoba adventure land of sky blue waters a province of thriving towns and cities where today and yesterday blend in colorful patterns where a modern day miss skates to a winter serenade or in Manitoba the sports of the great outdoors follow the season whether its skimming on ice in a race for the wild wintry wind or sailing on water in a waltz with a warm summer breeze here is a vacation it's paradise a wonderland offering everything to everyone from Manitoba's picturesque scenic resorts famed for their hospitality to the inspiring beauty of her city her progressive spirit is predominant this is the land of the Royal mountain long celebrated in history and legend the land of old-world cathedrals and stately churches these Indian children descendants of pre and Assiniboine may have adopted the white man's way of life but the old days when Indian English and French fought for supremacy are not forgotten here indeed is a land of many fascinations whether found in the romantic pages of her past or in the exciting story of her presence each year hosts of Canadians and Americans alike come to enjoy their own thrilling Manitoba holiday far to the north in his province of amazing contrasts lies fabulous Hudson Bay who sub Arctic seas rolled toward the aurora borealis and whose very name is synonymous with Manitoba's exciting history long ago when only the dog teams followed the trackless trails of his winter wilderness the Hudson's Bay Company established its great fur trade today that company is still a vast enterprise dealing in many commodities Hudson Bay blankets and the precious furs that are Milady's delight Manitoba is also a land of majestic rivers pouring their torrents through forests and Prairie but now the power of their waters is being harnessed for the growing needs of Industry the hydroelectric plant has tapped the rushing tide in taming the wildness of the mighty flood and diverting its precious energy to the ever-increasing demands of modern life or Manitoba with a population of some seven hundred eighty thousand occupies a domain larger than the combined areas of Minnesota Wisconsin Illinois and Iowa meatpacking is her first manufacturing industry drawing its livestock from the teeming herds of her prairies and producing a variety of meat products for local and foreign consumption the storied Red River rolls down on Winnipeg the capital home of the provincial government and supporting a population of some 350,000 less than one hundred years ago this new world metropolis was only a cluster of log cabins an Indian tepee where pioneer and Indian lived and worked together to found a new settlement in the Great Canadian Midwest today Winnipeg is the fourth city in Canada and one of the most cosmopolitan in North America here history and modern progress march hand-in-hand in a rich and colorful city literally hewn from the Prairie itself typical of Winnipeg is the saying of the old French Voyager he who drinks of the Red River returns to drink again the University of Manitoba while young by comparison to other establishments of higher learning is one of the finest in the entire Dominion offering every advantage in the realms of the Arts and the sciences it draws its students from all the Canadian provinces and a number of states below the border Winnipeg is also a city of attractive suburban homes a far cry from those first log cabins of the Red River Valley the capital is Manitoba's Railroad Center its rail lines connect with all of Canada and with the United States some 75 trains arriving and departing daily from Winnipeg stations modern highways also carry truck and automobile traffic to those faraway places this one links Winnipeg with Brandon to the west Brandon in the heart of Manitoba's world-renowned wheat country is the richest agricultural region in the province here after years of careful cultivation was evolved the famous number 1 northern the Canadian hard wheat which has become the standard for the entire world this fertile farming district ships its grain and byproducts both to Canadian and world markets since the days of the early colonists who settled in the verdant Valley of the Assiniboine it has been the center of Manitoba's great farming industry a major contributor to the Dominions huge annual wheat crop here busy grain elevators rising like sentinels across the land collect the wheat which goes to produce some of the world's finest grades of white flour brandon itself Manitoba's second city well deserves the name of agricultural capital a friendly industrious community it straddles two national highways adding to its strategic importance in the wheat country but Brandon is also noted as the center of a vast livestock territory renowned for its surrounding prosperous farm areas where each year great herds of livestock are raised and shipped to national and foreign markets yet perhaps Brandon's most notable event is its provincial Fair held each summer by the enterprising people of this vast rural region here purebred cattle typical of the quality of Manitoba's livestock compete for Blue Ribbon distinction royal princes of the animal kingdom they make an impressive picture in this bull beam display of pomp and pageantry as for the members of the younger generation they're out to steal a few scenes also if not the entire show now it's Manitoba horse flesh on parade as farmers and ranchers show their prized stock these equine aristocrats are some of the Dominions finest but just about every type of horse is represented at his Brandon show from thoroughbred to draft animals Manitoba heavyweights pull their weight in farm wake for horsepower on the hoof is still a mighty important factor in the workaday life of this farming community as for mechanized power here is a million-dollar display of modern farm machinery but no fair would be complete without its funds own and Canadian children take full advantage of this one a merry-go-round is always in full-time operation here when they're running the famous Brandin sulky races thousands throng the stands to watch some of the Dominions finest trotters these high-stepping speedsters always produce plenty of action from start to finish the Brandon Fair is a thrilling experience northward now for another holiday adventure Manitoba's magnificent riding mountain national park some 125 miles north of the international boundary this great Timberland playground is one of North America's finest vacation areas it's clear water lakes are fringed by miles of sandy beaches where annually thousands of visitors from Canada and the United States alike come to play and enjoy the watersports of this famous and highly popular Forest Preserve it is a holiday resort offering almost every type of recreation of manitoba wonderland for young and old alike and everywhere guarding the Dominions vast domains are the efficient and colorful Mounties no matter what the activity there's a wide diversity of fun for everyone in this high country land of the great outdoors whether it's a sightseeing excursion on one of the crystal-clear lakes or to spend in an outboard with a leer of blue water singing its song whether it's a day spent on one of the many picturesque forest trails or driving a whistling golf ball over a mountain country course that only Nature herself could so beautifully conceived whether it's any of these from pun in the Sun to just arrest in the shade there's enjoyment for everyone in this forest land pleasure land of fascinating Manitoba for here indeed is a province of a thousand and one interests a country of vivid and everlasting contrast those contrasts are even more striking north of parallel 53 where towns like lapa lobby of the north have their own colorful stories northern Manitoba is many things vast prairies great forests lakes and rivers where lumbering mining and fishing and fur trapping are important industries all Manitoba is busy at something her productive timber lions constantly feed the appetites of her hungry sawmills supplying the construction demands of her fast-growing communities our modern rail lines carriers of her trade and transport are ever on the move [Music] her highways arteries of travel and commerce are being constantly improved and extended her industries are on the march producing for her own markets and those of the world as for her many outdoor sports and her tourist trade business in these is always good for this is a vacationers dream of paradise and thousands are finding it true this is Manitoba Canada's great Keystone province a land of never-ending romance and adventure a land no visitor ever forgets once he has answered it's exciting call [Music] [Applause] [Music]