Arborg is one of the more unique communities in the Interlake. A town comprised of a healthy mix of Polish, Ukrainian and Icelandic settlers, it was part of New Iceland until Manitoba became a province. It is the fourth largest town/city in the Interlake with a population just under 1,300 people.
In 2010, the town teetered in the edge of falling below 1,000 residents, following the trend of many Manitoba small towns of declining population. However, an aggressive approach to making the town a hub or destination for the catchment area p[aid off, with businesses like Enns Brothers farm equipment, Bifrost Biodiesel and others setting up shop in town. Others expanded or started offshoots of existing businesses like Diemo Machine or Home Hardware.
Due to the pioneering nature of the Bobbee brothers, the New Bothwell cheese plant, long closed, was purchased and revitalized as a flax processing facility, while one of the brothers continued to work on a decades-long dream to build a golf course. Paul Bobbee was one of the leaders in attempting to convince other Manitoba communities to get involved in biodiesel, while he and David were the first farmers in the Interlake to grow hemp.
A great partnership of the RM of Bifrost, led by Reeve Harold Foster, and the town of Arborg worked to build a 48-unit seniors housing complex to the town, followed by partnering with the Dueck family in Vidir to establish a seco9nd project.
These initiatives helped boost the town’s reputation as progressive and welcoming, and encouraged retiring seniors in the surrounding area to move into town.
A group of local women spent more than a decade creating the Arborg Heritage Museum and campground.
However, the real success of Arborg is due to the growth of Vidir Machine and Diemo Machine, two businesses started by the local Mennonite community and employing hundreds of locals.
With a decent local hospital and vibrant shopping district, Arborg is positioned to grow in the coming years, defying outmigration trends in the north Interlake.