Isaac

Oak Lake is a community of approximately 359 people.  It is a low crime community, and the residents take great pride in keeping the community clean and beautiful.

Aside from agriculture, another significant economic resource in Oak Lake is tourism and recreation.  The lake itself, located approximately 15km from town, is a natural paradise. Fisherman, water skiers, sea-dooers, boaters, and sailors alike will find a great place to enjoy their hobbies and interests.  

So whether you fancy sports, culture, or peaceful living, Oak Lake and the RM of Sifton is an ideal place to raise a family or enjoy one's retirement.

| The Town of Oak Lake |  | Introduction |  | COMING EVENTS |  | History of Oak Lake |  | Why an Ox? |  | Meet Isaac |  | The Bell Tower |  | Picture Gallery | 

Aerial View of Oak Lake

  Oak Lake is home to many historic buildings and architectual points of interest: The Oakland Hotel, built in 1885; Pleasant Plains School, built in 1894; the Old Stone Blacksmith Shop, built in 1897 and the Post Office, built in1930.  Oak Lake is also home to the 1890 Anglican Church, now a designated heritage site.
   

November 4 - 4-H Craft Sale

November 11 - Remembrance Day Service

November 20 - Musical Concert

In the Early 1800's several trading posts were located in this area. A favourite stopping place for the freight carts and the settlers was the trading post on the shore of Oak Lake,where Oak Trees were readily available for repairs to the wagons.
In the 1870's the Canadian Pacific Company began to build a railroad from coast to coast.By autumn of 1881,the crew had reached Flat Creek.They spent the winter there and in the spring moved the camp two miles west where they built a station and siding.The townsite of Oak Lake was established.The name was borrowed from the lake located six miles southwest of the town.The settlement was incorporated as a town on July 15,1907.

To better understand why the Town of Oak Lake decided to purchase an ox,it is better to understand a bit of Oak Lake history first.
The town of Oak Lake was established  in the late 1800's  when the Canadian Pacific company was building its famous railroad across this nation.Long before this established town was built however ,the area was invaluable to early pioneers.
Oak Lake was an important stop to the freight cart trains of these settlers.The large Oaks in the area were a source of timber for Ox driven Red River Carts.It was the last stop for repairs as the large Oaks needed do not grow west of the region for many miles.Many Oxen have pulled loaded carts through this area.
The economy of the Oak Lake trading area has always been based on agriculture.If one intended to farm in the past a reliable source of power was needed to work the land.The Ox was the obvious choice .
The farm Ox may have been agonizingly slow ,unforgivably stubborn ,and tormentingly unresponsive but ,all things considered he was the best farm power source available to most homesteaders.In the past the amazing strength of the Ox ploughed many quarter sections of land.           .

Isaac the Ox ,Oak Lake Fair Parade

In recognition of the Ox and cart as an important part of our past the Oak Lake and Area Economic Development Board voted to capitalize on the existing strength of the community  and advertise for a well mannered ,trainable Ox.With the support of the community and the media an Ox was found.
Isaac the Ox,born in 1988,became Oak Lake's live mascot.Isaac was at the Mennonite Heritage Village at Steinbach for nine years and then at Oak Lake for five years.
Isaac 2 was the the local mascot from 2002 until his retirement in February 2005.
Both Isaacs were  of the  Ayshire breed .This breed are known as large dairy animals..
The Ox are a remainder of our past.Today past meets present in Oak Lake .
 

In the early years fire was an ever - present danger,both in town and on the farms.The old newspapers are full of accounts of fires  started from lamps and heated stovepipes.These fires were very difficult to control because of lack of available water and inadequate equipment.
Many of the Oak Lake Council meetings had time spent on fire equipment and plans for more efficient use of it.By 1910 there seemed to be more money in the country and the fire fighting equipment was updated.
July 1912- McCubbin became fire chief and a new fire brigade was organized.
August 1912 - A second chemical engine with hose reel attached was to be purchased and that the present engine be put in first class shape
March 1913 -Councillor McCubbin was to write Bell Manufacturers for a price on a 40- inch alarm bell,also to towns in Manitoba having similar bells.
April 7,1913 - The Council Secretart was instructed to procure a steel alloy fire alarm bell 44 inches in diameter ,from C.S. Bell Co.,Hillsboro,Ohio.
When the new bell was installed it could be heard all over town .Whenever it rang,everyone turned put to man the buckets and hoses to help try to control the fire.

During these years the street lighting was really inadequate and all the side streets and south of the track was dark black at night.It was probably a concern for the safety of the children more than as a disciplinary measure that led the council to use the bell to enforce a curfew.
November 1913- A bylaw was prepared prohibiting the presence of children under the age of 16 years on the streets of the town after nine o'clock and the Council arranged for the bell to be rung as a curfew at nine o'clock each evening.
This curfew was strictly enforced.
The local town constable was responsible for ringing the bell,so depending on his popularity:the bell became a means of devilling him.
January 1923 -A motion was passed that the board be affixed to the bell tower giving notice that anyone ringing the fire bell except in case of alarm be liable to a penalty of $10.00.
Evidently the curfew was abandoned by the mid 1920's but the bell was used as an alarm for many years.
In 1986 a Bell Tower Committee was formed and in July the Bell Tower was refurbished.To this day,the bell stands proudly atop its tower on Main Street.

Bell Tower

Photos courtesy of the Oak Lake Economic Development Board