Leaf Rapids, Manitoba

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Leaf Rapids is a town in northern Manitoba, Canada. It was an experimental town, a model for other communities to copy as they strove for modern convenience and luxury in a northern environment.

In 1969 Sherritt Gordon Mines discovered a vast copper and zinc ore body at Ruttan Lake. As a result of this substantial discovery, there was an urgent demand for a community to provide support services for the mine and its workers.

The government of Manitoba decided that the past mistakes in the planning of northern resource communities should not be repeated and participated directly in the planning of the community. An entirely new approach to building was conceived. In July 1970 the Leaf Rapids Development Corporation Ltd. was charged with the responsibility of building the Town of Leaf Rapids – 25 kilometres away from Ruttan Lake. The town was constructed with a deep respect for the wilderness that is incorporated into every aspect of the community, from construction to infrastructure to recreation. In June 1971, the construction of Leaf Rapids began, ensuring that much of the natural vegetation would be saved. Even in present day Leaf Rapids, a permit must be obtained before cutting down any trees within the town limits.

As a result it is a functional, appealing community that blends in well with its environment. From the outset, Leaf Rapids has been able to provide a solid inventory of social, cultural and educational facilities, programs and experiences – beautifully merged with the pristine environment of Northern Manitoba.

Built in a semi-circle of residential bays around the Town Centre Complex, Leaf Rapids won the coveted Vincent Massey Award for Urban Excellence in 1975. The Town Centre Complex was built of a material that was supposed to turn bright blue as it reacted over time to air pollution; however, in this remote part of the world, there is no air pollution, causing the Town Centre Complex to remain rust colored. During the first four years of its life, architects and town planners from across Canada and around the world – some as far away as Japan – visited Leaf Rapids to view its unique design and infrastructure. Over the years, other towns followed suit and today Leaf Rapids is not alone in offering modern urban convenience in the midst of a commanding wilderness – but Leaf Rapids was the first.

The Ruttan Mine was closed down in the summer of 2002 - ending one chapter in the town’s history.

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