I'm in the process of bringing a bit of personality to our yard and have decided the way I want to do it is with a creative variety or two of fruit tree.  
 
I'm curious about some of the more unique human-edible fruit varieties people have grown in this area that have done well with our winters.

One I've started with that comes highly recommended is crimson passion cherry. One I'd be interested to hear other opinions on is the Ure pear tree which from what I've read people in Saskatchewan and Alberta have been able to grow with good success...

Hi, Adam!  
 
In Brandon we do a lot of 'extreme cold weather' gardening and most of the varieties currently enjoyed are not suited to our frigid zone. (We live in Zone 3b)  
 
The varieties which are suited are: Raspberries, Strawberries, Gooseberries and Currants.  
 
Also included are Nanking cherries and Wild Plums (hardy here!).  
 
Cranberries grow wild here and I'm sure you've tasted the wickedly delicious homemade cranberry jelly at Thanksgiving.  
 
We are also fortunate to have Sand Cherries grow wild but they are found mainly in the sand dunes of Lake Winnipeg beaches.  
 
If the Sand Cherry shrubs are grown on clay soil they will not bear fruit or flower.  
 
(Soil conditions have a tremendous amount of say on whether a fruit tree will survive in one's yard!) LOL  
 
It is always worth looking into the Morden Experimental Farm for they grow Manitoba winter hardy varieties. They have also developed several varieties of hardy grapes.  
 
I have a "Hope For Humanity" Morden rose growing in my flower bed and it has survived our incredible cold winter with flying colors.  
 
This rose has been developed by the Research Station for the 100th Anniversay of the Red Cross.  
 
Currently it has eight long-stem rose buds and is in full bloom at the moment. It is growing in the poorest soil on our yard and just loves it. A very thankful plant to have.  
 
From what I have been able to find, it is very difficult to grow pears in cold climates. There is a Siberian Pear but apparently the fruit is rather bitter.  
 
Best of luck in your Ure pear search!  

I've heard a number of stories of people having decent luck with certain grape varieties locally.  
 
It sounds like they have quite a bit going on at that Morden facility. Ure pears apparently actually came out of there too and are supposedly able to survive in zone 3. They're supposed to have a nice taste to them but go bad in a matter of a day or two after ripening.  
 
The account I read was a 3a... would you mind sharing anything you might know on differences between 3a and 3b with a bit of a newbie?

the zone numbers go on harshness from what i've been told..... the harshest zone is 0 and the mildest is 8. each major zone is divided into subzones a and b (for example 3a and 3b) where zone a is slightly harsher than zone b. i'm pretty sure that's how it goes...... unless someone told me wrong.......

Hi, Adam!  
 
There is one small area in Manitoba which IS a zone 3a and ironically that is in Morden, Manitoba. Could be why they have been able to develop such outstanding plant varieties!  
 
My personal opinion as a gardener is how high are you willing to push your plant's comfort zone? Who hasn't dreamt of planting 'forbidden zone' plants and seeing just how they will perform in Brandon?  
 
I always bring in plants and winter them, then replant them in the spring.  
 
I've successfully wintered plants which are not supposed to survive beyond a single summer...ie, annuals.  
 
They are the most thankful plants and really push out the blossoms when you baby them!  
 
Acording to Agriculture Canada, Brandon's zone is: 2b  
 
ie. Pretty darn cold. LOL

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is hardy here.My 7-8 year old tree was purchased as a 5 inch seedling & has produced "real" cherries steadily for about 5 years,don't know if they are available here now,but it came from The Saskatoon Farm,Okotoks,Alberta by mail-order.Fruit is ripe now,just walk by my house for a sample.Sorry,I can't print the address or I might have 6512 cherry-pickers.  
 
 
Also try varieties of saskatoon & dwarf apple trees.  
 
 
 

Adam I am in Rivers and have a very healthy Ure pear tree. The tree is quite hardy. We are right on the edge of the prairie so get temperature extremes. The pears are very small,(little larger than golf balls),but are very sweet. The Ure tree is usually sold with another pear tree as a pollinater or it will not produce fruit.