Gladstone is an unincorporated urban community in the Municipality of WestLake – Gladstone within the Canadian province of Manitoba that held town status prior to January 1, 2015. It is located on the Yellowhead Highway at the intersection with Highway 34. The Gladstone railway station receives Via Rail service.

Gladstone
Unincorporated community
The Gladstone United Church.
The Gladstone grain elevator.
The Happy Rock roadside attraction.
Nickname: 
Happy Rock
Gladstone is located in Manitoba
Gladstone
Gladstone
Location within Manitoba
Coordinates: 50°13′28″N 98°57′03″W / 50.22444°N 98.95083°W / 50.22444; -98.95083
CountryCanada
ProvinceManitoba
MunicipalityWestLake – Gladstone
Area
 • Total
2.40 km2 (0.93 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
928
 • Density390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)

History

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The first known name for the area was Third Crossing, as it was situated at the third crossing of a prairie trail over the Whitemud River. When settlement became significant in 1872 the community was renamed to Palestine.[1]

In 1879, the community was renamed a third and final time to Gladstone, after the British Prime Minister of the time William Ewart Gladstone. On 18 July 1882, the community was incorporated as the Town of Gladstone.[1]

On the first day of 2015, the town amalgamated with the communities of Lakeview and Westbourne, creating the present-day Municipality of WestLake – Gladstone, of which Gladstone is now a part of as an unincorporated urban community.[2]

Demographics

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In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Gladstone had a population of 928 living in 407 of its 443 total private dwellings, a change of 4.4% from its 2016 population of 889. With a land area of 2.39 km2 (0.92 sq mi), it had a population density of 388.3/km2 (1,005.7/sq mi) in 2021.[3]

Happy Rock

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Gladstone is often referred to as "Happy Rock", a play on the community's name: "happy" being another word for "glad", and "rock being another word for "stone".[4][1]

This is the name given to the community's monument located along Highway 16, acting as the symbol and mascot of the community. The Happy Rock monument also acts as the visitor information centre and is a vital part of tourism in the community. On July 5, 2010, Canada Post made a commemorative stamp of the Happy Rock as part of its Roadside Attractions collection.[5]

Climate

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Climate data for Gladstone
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8
(46)
10
(50)
16.7
(62.1)
36
(97)
39
(102)
38
(100)
37
(99)
40.5
(104.9)
38.5
(101.3)
28.5
(83.3)
21.7
(71.1)
8.9
(48.0)
40.5
(104.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −11.1
(12.0)
−8
(18)
−0.9
(30.4)
10.9
(51.6)
19.3
(66.7)
23.6
(74.5)
26.7
(80.1)
25
(77)
18.8
(65.8)
11.7
(53.1)
−0.1
(31.8)
−9
(16)
8.9
(48.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) −16.6
(2.1)
−13.6
(7.5)
−6.4
(20.5)
4.2
(39.6)
11.9
(53.4)
16.7
(62.1)
19.6
(67.3)
17.8
(64.0)
12.1
(53.8)
5.6
(42.1)
−4.8
(23.4)
−14.1
(6.6)
2.7
(36.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −22
(−8)
−19.3
(−2.7)
−11.9
(10.6)
−2.5
(27.5)
4.5
(40.1)
9.8
(49.6)
12.4
(54.3)
10.5
(50.9)
5.4
(41.7)
−0.5
(31.1)
−9.6
(14.7)
−19.3
(−2.7)
−3.5
(25.7)
Record low °C (°F) −42.2
(−44.0)
−42.2
(−44.0)
−35.6
(−32.1)
−31.1
(−24.0)
−10.5
(13.1)
−1
(30)
2
(36)
0
(32)
−7.2
(19.0)
−23
(−9)
−37
(−35)
−41
(−42)
−42.2
(−44.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 16.9
(0.67)
15.8
(0.62)
23.4
(0.92)
31.5
(1.24)
54.7
(2.15)
71.7
(2.82)
66.3
(2.61)
72
(2.8)
55.7
(2.19)
29.8
(1.17)
19.7
(0.78)
19
(0.7)
476.3
(18.75)
Source: Environment Canada[6]

Railway station

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Gladstone is served by Via Rail's Winnipeg–Churchill train.

Preceding station   Via Rail Following station
Plumas
toward Churchill
Winnipeg–Churchill Portage la Prairie
toward Winnipeg
Former services
Preceding station Canadian National Railway Following station
Ogilvie
toward Calgary
CalgaryWinnipeg Golden Stream
toward Winnipeg

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Manitoba Communities: Gladstone (Unincorporated Town)". Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  2. ^ "Manitoba Communities: WestLake-Gladstone (Municipality)". www.mhs.mb.ca. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  3. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and designated places". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  4. ^ "Historic Sites of Manitoba: Happy Rock (Gladstone, Municipality of WestLake-Gladstone)". www.mhs.mb.ca. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Canada Post Stamp Details, July to September 2010, p,8, Volume XIX, No. 3
  6. ^ Environment Canada - Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 19 April 2011
  7. ^ "Propagandhi Nazi Baiting and Hardcore Raging | Exclaim!".

Further reading

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