How the RM of Happyland got its name

By Joan Janzen

According to the RM of Happyland website, the rural areas of the province were initially divided into Local Improvement Districts for government administration purposes. These districts were later transformed into rural municipalities following the passage of the First Municipality Act in 1908.

Photo Credit: Resch Reflections Photography

The RM of Happyland No. 231 was originally named the RM of Prussia No. 231 and included the communities of Leader, Liebenthal, Mendham, and Prelate. In 1917, the name was changed to the RM of Happyland, likely due to the anti-German sentiment that arose during World War I.

The late Sam Reimche recounted that his father shared a story about how the RM received its name. A settler in the area, thrilled to be living in this open, free land, referred to it as a “happy land” in their limited English. The name ultimately became permanent.

The first RM office was located in Leader at 103 - 1st Street West. According to the history book ‘Pages of the Past’, the minutes from the first four years of the municipality's operation were unfortunately destroyed by a flood in the RM building's basement.

Here are some details recorded about the newly formed municipality: Men who enlisted in the army during World War I had their land taxes canceled. In 1918, a bounty of 1 cent per gopher tail was offered, resulting in a total of $88.70 paid out by June of that year. By 1919, the bounty was increased to 2 cents per tail, and by the end of that year, a total of $800.00 had been paid. In 1935, the only qualifications for RM office staff were the ability to speak German and perform some typing.