In 1899 two brothers, Bert and Ernest Goodland, while wandering over the prairies found themselves among a group of settlers and decided to build themselves a store.

During the summer of 1899, the Canadian Pacific Railway built a number of branch lines throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan, among these was a branch line starting out from Deloraine in a southerly direction with its terminus at Waskada. The first information of this line being built was a letter from the Railway Company to the Goodland Brothers, E.E. and H. T., who at that time were farming three quarter sections, the SW-02-02-24(-W1) and the E-03-02-24(-W1). In this letter they were told about the new projected line and also that there would be a station somewhere on the Goodland farm as this line would pass their land. If they were agreeable a surveyor would come out and survey a suitable spot for a townsite and station grounds. The Commissioner thought a suitable name for the Townsite would be their own name, Goodland, but when the station was built later and the name painted it was called "Goodlands".

In due course, a surveyor came and surveyed the townsite situated on 03-02-24(-W1) just where the track straightened out after making a sharp curve to the right. The right of way was being graded and the track was expected to be laid before winter. Bert Goodland immediately conceived the idea of building a store and getting a Post Office applied for.

Our Cemetery is a well dignified park-like resting place for many of our pioneers. Much work goes into this each year to keep it looking so, and is done by many of our hard-working citizens who give so much of their time and effort for the ones who have passed on.

In June 1968 ornamental gates were erected as well as a cairn built, a project of our Canada Centennial Committee. These were dedicated by Mr. Bob Histed in memory of our pioneers and the army personnel who gave their lives in two wars.

Also dedicated at the same time was a memorial gate over the entrance to our ballpark and arena. In memory of Fred Morningstar who had passed away in 1967 and who had given so willingly of his time and efforts, to heIp better sports in our community

(Source: Goodlands - West of the Turtle Mountains 1870 - 1970, pp 2f [1970; Adapted])

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In 1903: Cemetery at Goodlands to be surveyed.

(Source: Glimpse Through the Years - A History of Medora, p 11 [1970; Adapted])

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NOTE: A list is provided of burials known at the time of publication.

(Source: Bridging Brenda - Volume I, pp 82ff [1990; Adapted])

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Established in 1867

(Source: Manitoba Genealogical Society [Adapted])

A sign above the entrance to this cemetery implies it was established in 1867 which, if true, would be one of the earliest in the province. In fact, the earliest known burial occurred here in 1903. A memorial at the northeast corner of the cemetery commemorates Goodlands pioneers and military veterans. Two plaques commemorate two local residents, Fred Morningstar and Neil Christensen, for their life-long service to the community.

(Source: Manitoba Historical Society [Adapted])

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Dominion Land Survey coordinates: LSD16-34-01-24-W1

In the Municipality of Brenda-Waskada

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As noted above, a part of the story of the town and its inhabitants from the early days of European settlement through roughly 1990 is told in the two-volume history named "Bridging Brenda". There are also earlier related works (1970) entitled "Glimpse Through the Years - A History of Medora" (1970), "Brief History of Medora Early Pioneers" (circa 1935) and "Waskada Memoirs"as well as the work dedicated to the town's own story entitled "Goodlands - West of the Turtle Mountains 1870 - 1970". 

Free digital versions of these and many other Manitoba local history books can be found online in the University of Manitoba Digital Collections. There is also a list of such books organized by district and town name on the Manitoba Historical Society's website on their page entitled "Finding Aid: Manitoba Local History Books".

A list of burials in this cemetery is available from the Manitoba Genealogical Society (reference #0634), transcribed by a member or members in 1990. Also available to MGS members is a searchable online database named the "MGS Manitoba Name Index" (or MANI). Some additional information is contained in the 1996 MGS publication "Carved in Stone: Manitoba Cemeteries and Burial Sites" (revised edition, Special Projects Publication, 106 pages).