In 1874, after the establishment of the Mennonite East Reserve, William Hespeler, who had recruited Mennonites to the area, saw the opportunity to develop a rail station to supply the new Mennonite settlements, at a location selected by railway tycoon Joseph Whitehead.[4] Initially the town that grew up around the station was named Hespeler, but eventually became known by the name of the railway station, Niverville, after 18th-century explorer and fur trader Chevalier Joseph Boucher de Niverville.[5][6]
The first grain elevator in western Canada, a unique round structure was built in Niverville in 1879 by Hespeler.[7]
Niverville has expanded on multiple occasions through annexation of land from the Rural Municipality of Ritchot to the west and Hanover to the east and north. It was incorporated as a town in 1993.[10] Many inhabitants today are Mennonite or British, with a growing number of immigrants of other backgrounds.[11] In recent years, Niverville has grown into a "bedroom community" of Winnipeg and is among the fastest growing towns in the province.[12]
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Niverville had a population of 5,947 living in 1,971 of its 2,010 total private dwellings, a change of 29% from its 2016 population of 4,610. With a land area of 8.7 km2 (3.4 sq mi), it had a population density of 683.6/km2 (1,770.4/sq mi) in 2021.[13]
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses
Economy
Niverville's economy is based on agriculture and construction as the town has become a bedroom community for Winnipeg.[20] Employers include the Great GORP Project (Food Industry), Spectis Moulders (polyurethane architectural products), Maple Leaf Foods (agribusiness), William Dyck and Sons (hardware store and lumberyard), Wiens Furniture (furniture, appliance and bedding retailer) and Niverville Credit Union.
Arts and culture
Niverville host an annual Niverville Olde Tyme Country Fair, which is held the second weekend of June.[21]
Niverville's Community Resource and Recreation Centre (CRRC) is the community's main indoor recreation complex that houses an athletic fieldhouse, theatre, and an ice hockey arena that is home to the Niverville Nighthawks of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and Niverville Clipper ice hockey teams. The town's other recreational facilities include the Niverville Centennial Arena, Niverville Curling Club, an outdoor tennis court located at Niverville Middle School, a fitness and dance gym, a nine-hole golf course, and Hespeler Park. The Crow Wing Trail also runs through the town.[22]
A heritage wall documenting Niverville's history was opened on Main Street in 2021.[23] A museum documenting local history, including a Red River Ox Cart, is located on the second floor of the CRRC.[24]
Government
The town is governed by a mayor and council elected by the residents. The current mayor is Myron Dyck.[25] Niverville lies within the federal riding of Provencher; the current MP for this riding is Ted Falk.[26] At the provincial level, Niverville has been part of several different ridings as boundaries have changed over the years. Currently, Niverville is part of the Morris electoral district, represented by Ron Schuler.
Infrastructure
Niverville improved its Water Treatment Plant in 2012, expanding the reservoir to 1.2 megalitres.[27]
In June 2017, hot, dry weather caused higher water usage, and town notified residents to cut back on water usage because the reservoir could not be replenished quickly enough.[28] A new well field opened in 2017 to prevent future water shortages.[29]
Education
Niverville schools are part of the Hanover School Division. Niverville Elementary School (K-4), Niverville Middle School (5-8), and Niverville High School (9-12) provide education for the students of Niverville and surrounding area. Niverville High School (NHS) replaced the former Niverville Collegiate Institute (NCI) in 2019.[30]
