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June 2023
Welcome to Lake Winnipeg: A world by the sea, far away from any ocean!
Dear Canada friend,
Come and join us to explore the world of Lake Winnipeg today! Far away from any ocean, this giant lake reminds more of a sea but a lake. There are stunning beaches to enjoy hot summer days, there is the small fishing town of Gimli – once home to Icelandic settlers - and there is Hecla Grindstone Provincial Park, a charming world of islands and rugged coastlines. Take a day trip up to the heart of New Iceland or add the area as a stop on your next roadtrip! Come and explore another one of Manitoba’s hidden gems – come, where Canada’s heart is calling!
Enjoy reading!
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Winnipeg Beach Provincial Park &
Piers of Matlock and Dunnotar
Winnipeg Beach Provincial Park features one of Lake Winnipeg's most popular beaches. Already in the early 20th century, Winnipeg Beach was a popular beach resort for Winnipeger’s who came by train and still wore bathing suits that reached down to the ground! Today, this three-kilometre stretch of beach is a lively place, inviting visitors to suntan, go for a swim, play beach volleyball, sail or windsurf. A long boardwalk stretches along the lake just behind the beach and invites for a walk. On weekends, live bands play and the BBQs are fired up. Check out the small shops and restaurants!
Less than 10 kilometres away lies the village of Dunnotar. This lakeside community is the amalgamation of the beaches of Matlock, Whytewold and Ponemah. The area also features the iconic piers that stretch out into the lake. These are a favourite place to watch the sunrise or to see the sky painted in the blazing colours of sunset.
Charming B&B on the lakeshore:
Aaron’s on the Lake Bed & Breakfast
Want a beach holiday on Lake Winnipeg? Less than 45 minutes north of Winnipeg, in the small community of Matlock, lies Aaron's on the Lake Bed & Breakfast. It‘s privately run by its friendly owners Eleanore and Randy McMahon, who make every guest feel at home. Their property is located directly on the lakeshore, just between Winnipeg Beach Provincial Park and Dunnotar. While you fall asleep to the sound of the waves in the evening, the warm sunrise over Lake Winnipeg will wake you up in the morning - relaxation is guaranteed! Guests can choose between the Gardenview room - a stand-alone building with private, screened-in veranda overlooking the garden - or the Lakeview and Pierview rooms, overlooking the lake and sharing a small kitchenette. All three rooms have private bathrooms. A delicious, home made breakfast makes a wonderful start to the day!
Bookable with Canadvac Travel Services.
Contact:
Aaron’s on the Lake Bed & Breakfast
Eleanore und Randy McMahon
aaronsonthelake@gmail.com
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Gimli
The lake-side town of Gimli is about an hour drive north of Winnipeg and a great summer or winter destination. It is rich in history, art, culture and outdoor discovery. Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the small harbour with fishing boats and tourist yachts and make sure to visit the long beach – be it for suntanning or for renting some water equipment to explore the lake. Make sure to greet the impressive Viking statue, proudly overlooking the area, and if you come at the right time in August, enjoy Islendingadagurinn, the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba, taking over the town. Watch viking battles, listen to live music, compete in the Islendingadunk and become an honorary Icelander by eating dried fish and knocking back a shot of Icelandic schnapps.
Rooms with a view:
Lakeview Gimli Resort
Lakeview Gimli Resort is located close to the small and scenic harbour and the long sandy beach of Gimli on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg. It offers 99 modern studio-style guest rooms and spacious suites with separate living and bedrooms, some of them with beautiful lake view. For longer stays, the spacious Vacation Suites with small kitchenette and extra storage space offer the amenities of a holiday apartment without sacrificing the comfort of a full-service resort. Even a coin-operated washing machine is available to the guests. The hotel features an indoor pool with hot tub and sauna as well as the Seagulls restaurant with patio overlooking the lake.
Bookable with America4You, CANADVAC or Jonview (Special Services).
Contact:
Lakeview Hotels & Resorts
Carla Forster
cfoster@lakeviewhotels.com
New Icelandic Heritage Museum
If you want to learn even more about the strong Icelandic heritage in Gimli, you have to visit the New Iceland Heritage Museum. The museum tells the story of the arrival of the first Icelanders in Manitoba – their struggles and their successes. In recent years the museum has also added exhibits about the first Ukrainians in the area as well as the important role of the Indigenous communities in the survival of those first settlers. Walk through time in the artifact-filled museum, dress up in viking garb for a photo-op, and browse the gift shop on the way out for specialty Icelandic and Manitoba-made products.
Contact:
New Icelandic Heritage Museum
Julianna Roberts
executive@nihm.ca
Gimli Glider Exhibit
On July 23, 1983, a full passenger airplane ran out of fuel due to miscalculations and had to make an emergency landing at the defunct airforce base in Gimli which was and is still used as a racetrack in the summer months. No one on board the flight was injured despite the dangerous landing. The Gimli Glider Exhibit tells the remarkable story in depth through video, personal recollections of the 1983 event and important artifacts. And you can get in the pilot's seat to try to land the out-of-action airplane yourself in their mock-cockpit simulator.
Contact:
Gimli Glider Exhibit
gimligliderexhibit@gmail.com
Viking Rentals
Far too hot? Then it’s about time to enjoy summer vibes and water fun on Lake Winnipeg! Visit the booth of Viking Rentals on Gimli Beach to book your Seadoo. Reservations by phone only.
Contact:
Viking Rentals
Tel. +1 (204) 641 8469
Prairie Sea Kayak Adventures
Prairie Sea Kayak Adventures offers guided kayak tours in a safe setting on Willow Creek (5 km south of Gimli) which flows into Lake Winnipeg. Guests are provided a two hour guided tour of the creek where they can glide above the water’s surface, allowing them to get close to nature. There are also other tours available as the Yoga Kayak Tour, Celestial Event Tours (e.g. Full Moon Tours) and Destination Tours to various regions on Lake Winnipeg and beyond.
Contact:
Prairie Sea Kayak Adventures
Rob Jantz
info@prairieseakayak.ca
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Hecla Island
A little further north of Gimli, about two hours drive from Winnipeg, lies Hecla Grindstone Provincial Park. It embraces Grindstone Peninsula and a series of islands stretching between the eastern and western shores of the lake, including Hecla Island. When an Icelandic community settled here in 1876, the island was given its name. In Hecla Village, the history of the Icelanders is still told today. The park also protects the region‘s natural heritage of rugged islands, limestone coastlines, secluded beaches, lush forests and wetlands. It is home to a huge variety of mammals and birds, including black bears, moose, wolves and an impressive colony of American White Pelicans.
Expore the area on a variety on hiking trails, including the famous Lighthouse Trail, leading to an old and beautiful lighthouse – a perfect Instagrammable spot! Visit Gull Harbour and enjoy a great meal in the cozy setting of Lighthouse Inn.
Comfort at
Hecla Grindstone Provincial Park:
Lakeview Hecla Resort
Just a few steps from Lake Winnipeg, Lakeview Hecla Resort is uniquely located right on Hecla Island in Hecla Grindstone Provincial Park. It features 65 modern and spacious studio-style guest rooms and 22 luxurious suites with separate bedrooms and living rooms. All rooms have a work table, flat screen TV, mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker and kettle, hairdryer, wellness bathroom and a unique view of the greenery. After eventful days in nature, at the lake and beach or on the Golf Course next door, the hotel's indoor pool with water slide and hot tub, the fitness centre, Salka Spa or the Seagulls Restaurant are at the guests’ disposal for relaxation.
In the summer, Lakeview Hecla Resort rents bikes, available at the hotel’s front desk.
Bookable with CANADVAC or Jonview (Special Services).
Contact:
Lakeview Hotels & Resorts
Carla Forster
cfoster@lakeviewhotels.com
Great hospitality at the end of the world:
Lighthouse Inn
On Hecla Island in Hecla Grindstone Provincial Park, at the serene marina of Gull Harbour, lies the Lighthouse Inn. The locally run accommodation offers twelve cozy guest rooms with fantastic views of the lake. All rooms boast a sleek, modern ambience. Another option, a few steps away, is a private cabin with patio, fire pit and BBQ. Truly „at the end of the world“.
Contact:
Gull Harbour Marina
Andrew Meyer
andrew@gullharbour.com
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