Ste. Anne

Ste. Anne, or Sainte-Anne-des-Chênes, is a town in Manitoba, located about 42 km southeast of Winnipeg. The population was 2,114 in 2016, 1,524 in 2006, and 1,513. It is known for being located on the Seine River and at the heart of the Old Dawson Trail. The town is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Ste. Anne.HistoryOriginally known as "La Pointe-des-Chênes", Ste. Anne was the first parish established in the area, dating back to 1856, when the territory was a part of Rupert's Land. The early settlers, French-speaking Habitants from Canada East, arrived looking for farmland. The first 198 families in the community busied themselves with their first major industry, supplying lumber for the construction of the St. Boniface Cathedral. The Hudson's Bay Company also had a strong presence in the community in the 1800s. Ste. Anne served as a stopover for weary travelers on their journey to Winnipeg, along the famed Dawson Trail.In June 1959, Ste. Anne experienced the worst flood in its history. Water rose at a rate visible by eye, and the Ste. Anne Hospital was evacuated. In 1960, the Seine River diversion project was completed to prevent future floods.Geography and climateSte. Anne is situated just east of the longitudinal centre of Canada (near the geographical centre of North America), and approximately 80km north of the border with the United States. It is near the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies. It is surrounded by rich agricultural land to the west, and the boreal forest to the east. The Seine River runs through the middle of town. The tree-lined river is very picturesque and gives the area a beautiful naturalist look. The closest urban area with over 500,000 people is Winnipeg, approximately 40km west of Ste. Anne.