New provincial park honours ‘Duff’s Ditch’

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/11/2020 (1959 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In our lifetimes, there are few events, momentous occasions, or people we encounter who will leave a lasting impression.  

Manitobans are fortunate to have benefitted from the foresight and wisdom of former premier Duff Roblin, whose government oversaw construction of the Red River Floodway.

What began as a plan to address the frequency of flooding in the Red River valley became an undertaking that showcased the combined work of government at all levels.  This collaboration resulted in the construction of a floodway around Winnipeg, seven ring dikes around towns in the Red River valley, the Portage diversion, and the reservoir dam at Shellmouth. All these projects help to divert water away from urban areas and have protected many properties over time.

With these substantial projects came some real difficulties. The building of the floodway was faced with opposition. Also, construction costs on a project of this scale were huge. The total amount of earth to be moved, the manpower necessary to construct the various dikes, combined with the dam, bridges, and railroads needing to be relocated was time-consuming and expensive.  Outside of the Panama Canal and South Saskatchewan River Dam, to name a couple, no project of that scale had been undertaken.

Duff argued flood damage costs would exceed the costs of the project. Over the last 50 years, since the completion of the floodway, Manitobans, and specifically Winnipeggers have benefitted from the protection the floodway has provided.  

In 1997, the ‘flood of the century’ tested the engineers’ design and the structure of the floodway gates and floodway. The floodway was reinforced at various bridges, railroad crossings and was extended to the west to protect individuals from the rising waters of the Assiniboine river.

The floodway protected two-thirds of Winnipeg from flooding, and the ring dikes protected all but one of the towns around which they had been constructed. Winnipeg and surrounding areas were protected from the damaging flood waters, thanks to Duff Roblin.

Duff Roblin Provincial Park was officially opened in October, 2020. The park is located on the east side of the floodway gates, just minutes south of Winnipeg, and displays many features which showcase the construction, equipment and stages of the project.

Tourists are encouraged to explore the park, sit on a bulldozer used in the construction, and read the many plaques posted along the walkway to the top of the ramp.  Located at the top of the ramp, periscopes  offer tourists an opportunity to view the majestic floodway built all those years ago.