Avonlea Colony

Avonlea Colony is located just outside Dominion City in the Municipality of Emerson–Franklin, in Manitoba’s southeastern corner about 20 km north of the Canada–U.S. border. Listed among Manitoba’s Hutterite colonies, Avonlea was founded in 1988 and forms part of a network of communal farms spread across the province.

The Emerson–Franklin area has long been shaped by agriculture, with high‑quality Class 1 and Class 2 soils supporting field crops such as canola, wheat, barley, alfalfa, dry field peas, and a range of livestock including beef, pork, poultry, and eggs. Avonlea Colony fits into this landscape as a mixed farming community, organizing land, livestock, and infrastructure to make effective use of the region’s strong crop and protein‑production base.

Like other Hutterite colonies in Manitoba, Avonlea is built around communal living: families share work, resources, and decision‑making, with adults and youth contributing in barns, fields, shops, and kitchens. This cooperative structure supports efficient large‑scale farming while maintaining a close‑knit, faith‑centred way of life that emphasizes stewardship of the land and mutual support within the community.

With its combination of favourable farmland, strategic location near the U.S. border, and strong agricultural surroundings, Avonlea Colony is a steady contributor to the local food system and rural economy of southeastern Manitoba.