page_title: Oak Lake, Manitoba
section_title: Economy
hierarchical_section_title: Oak Lake, Manitoba / Economy
caption_attribution_description: English: The post office in Oak Lake, Manitoba, constructed 1930.
context_page_description: Oak Lake is an unincorporated urban community in the Rural Municipality of Sifton within the Canadian province of Manitoba that held town status prior to January 1, 2015. It is located 52 km west of Brandon along the Trans-Canada Highway. The lake after which it was named is in the rural municipality's western area.
  During the late 19th century, the area around Oak Lake was a popular stopping point for fur traders and settlers due to the large number of big oak trees located around the lake that could be used to repair their wagons.
  In the fall of 1881, work crews on the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway had reached Flat Creek to the east of the current townsite. In the spring they moved the camp west and built a siding and station where the community's flags and flower garden are now located.
context_section_description: The economy of the Oak Lake area is dominated by farming, although nearby Virden has a booming oil economy. The rural municipality office is located in Oak Lake, which employs a handful of people to manage the running of public services. Other employers include the Valleyview CO-OP grocery store, Golden Embers restaurant, Dandy's confectionery, and several smaller, personal businesses.
  Basic groceries and household items can be purchased from the Co-op. Other locations for shopping are Virden, 15 minutes away, Brandon, 30 minutes away, and for rare items, Winnipeg and Minot each 2½ hours away. Oak Lake has the seasonal Dandy's Drive In and Golden Embers. Virden and Brandon have a number of casual and fine dining restaurants as well.
caption: The Post Office building in Oak Lake, constructed in 1930.
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