Indeed, more than one-quarter of Dauphin's 8,000 residents can speak Ukrainian.
You'd think the strong housing demand would be a sure sign that Dauphin's population was going through the roof, but that's not the case, Irwin said.
"There are fewer people per house these days. People don't have six kids anymore," he said.
There are another 2,500 people in the nearby municipality, while Dauphin services an area of nearly 10 times that many.
There is no shortage of amenities. There's a regional hospital, which has proven adept at attracting doctors from far and wide, all five major banks are represented and the RCMP has a detachment with 40 officers.
For those who want to be active, there's an indoor track around the Credit Union Place arena and a pair of golf courses on either side of town. As well, the town is planning an $800,000 upgrade to Vermillion Park, a popular camping destination, including a new splash park.
Plans are also in the works to start construction on a skateboard park this summer, a jointly funded project with the province.
The biggest attraction is unquestionably Dauphin's Countryfest, Canada's longest-running country music festival. Every July long weekend it attracts 14,000 people, who generate an economic impact of $9.8 million for the region.
"It's much larger than most city-based events. It has a huge impact," Irwin said. A further influx of tourists - and their wallets - is expected when Dauphin hosts the provincial curling championships in February.
Countryfest donated $400,000 a couple of years ago to help build a new four-screen movie multiplex after the old "one-horse" movie theatre burned down. The new $5 million facility opened up last year.
"When movies open in Toronto or Winnipeg, they open in Dauphin the same day." Irwin said. The mayor is confident that Dauphin will increasingly be seen as a place to live, work and play by people of all ages.
"If we can make sure the amenities that people expect are here, they will come."
from Western Investor February 2012
