Altona: Sunflower Capital of Canada

Sometimes called the sunflower capital of Manitoba, Altona lies south of the highway running from Highway 75 west past Winkler and Morden. Locals often refer to the area as “the Bible belt,” as it is home to many Mennonite people and has a heavy following of people of the Christian faith. That does not mean, however, that non-Christians are excluded or ostracized. Indeed, in the past three decades, there has been a steady influx of people of all races and religions.

Population is approximately 4,500. Altona is slightly more than an hour from Winnipeg, along Hwy 75, then Hwy 14, to Hwy 30.

Being close to the US (North Dakota) border, many people from the area make routine trips across the border at nearby Emerson. Altona is a great grain-growing region. Not far from Altona, in St. Joseph, another form of farming occurs, with Manitoba’s largest wind farm supplementing the abundant hydro-electric power that the province generates.