The Rural Municipality of Sifton adopted its name in honour of the first member of legislative Assembly (MLA) for Brandon,Mr. John Sifton.According to historical records,the R.M. of Sifton held their first municipal elections in the year 1884.

In 1901,the population of the RM of Sifton was 1500 people.
Statistics reported 350 resident farmers.
There were 172,700 acres of which 27,000 were under cultivation and 500 acres of timber.
In stock,it was cited there were 1000 horses,3000 cattle,400 sheep and 800 pigs living in the RM.
The assessment ,real and personal property-$617,314;taxes imposed $8,104;assets$36,924 and liabilities$25,021.
Now in 2007,the RM of Sifton currently has an assessment of $1.9 million.
At present,the municipality has 766 residents.

The first Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Sifton was Edward Dickson.He was a fascinating man of many talents who came west as a bookkeeper for the C.P.R.He was well educated ,a chemist and spoke both French and English.Mr. Dickson ran a supply store,served as county clerk,Justice of the Peace and represented Lansdowne as MLA from 1888-1889.Perhaps most notable was Mr. Dickson's invention-by accident as they so often are-of smokeless gunpowder! He swept up some wheat flour from the Oak Lake mill and threw on the fire.When it exploded in his face,without smoke,he developed the concept,and created the Robin Hood Powder Co.in 1900.Later he established the Robin Hood Arms Factory in the States which was eventually sold to Remington.Mr. Dickson died in 1903;his widow,Mae,is buried in Oak Lake Cemetery.