Note: As of January 1, 2003, The Town of Gimli has been amalgamated with, and is now part of the Rural Municipality of Gimli.
Geography
The Town of Gimli is located on the west shore of Lake Winnipeg, 80 kilometres north of Winnipeg (the provincial capital) in Manitoba's Interlake Region. This "traveler's Paradise", is known for its long sandy beaches, its picturesque harbour and its beautiful well-developed waterfront. In Norse Mythology, Gimli literally means "Home Of The Gods" or "Paradise".
In recent years, the community has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Manitoba, living up to its name and attracting thousands of visitors annually.
History
Gimli's history dates back to 1875, when the Canadian Government granted land along Lake Winnipeg to Icelandic settlers. The Icelanders quickly set up an almost sovereign nation with their own government system and laws, and the community became known as New Iceland. In 1876, federal surveyors completed their work and divided the republic into townships and three town sites. One of these sites became Gimli. In 1881, when Manitoba's boundary expanded to its present size, New Iceland retained its government system, which remained in effect until 1887, when the present municipal system of government was adopted.
In 1897, the Gimli area was opened up to homesteaders and saw a surge of settlers from the Ukraine, Poland, Hungary and Germany. The arrival of the railroad in 1906 made the area accessible to summer tourists arriving from Winnipeg, to enjoy the lake, the beaches, and the recreational activities the community had to offer.
In 1908, the Village of Gimli separated from the Municipality of Gimli, and was officially incorporated. The Town of Gimli was officially incorporated in 1947.
Gimli saw a surge in population during the Second World War with the construction of an air base and the RCAF Service Flying Training School. Closed in 1945, the base opened again in 1950 as a jet fighter training school, and trained thousands of Canadian pilots until 1971 when the base was abandoned. Today, the base has been converted into a productive and prosperous industrial park.
Economic Base
Tourism is undoubtedly the fastest growing sector of the local economy. Local authorities and business people have taken the advantage of the town's excellent location and created one of the finest resort communities in the province. A recent revitalization of the waterfront and the construction of a major hotel and conference centre, has boosted the tourist economy, attracting more visitors than ever.
Although tourism is a vital part of the community, Gimli has a strong industrial sector as well. Lake Winnipeg supports a large commercial fishery, and many residents work on the lake in some of the many large boats in Gimli Harbour. Gimli is home to the main production facility for one of Canada's largest distillers. The Gimli industrial Park is home to a number of light manufacturing firms and a railway engineer training school.
Major Attractions
Tourists come to Gimli each year to enjoy the many recreational activities the town has to offer. The town is a cottage community, and the population swells each summer as vacationers move into their summer homes. Many people make the hour-long drive from Winnipeg just to relax on the beach and soak up the sun. A dip in the lake is cool refreshment after a day of tanning. With boating on the lake being a popular summer activity, Gimli's harbour has berths for many private crafts.
The Gimli Yacht Club hosts many regattas and events each year, and the lake is popular among local sailboat and boardsailing enthusiasts.
The town has a hockey arena and curling rink, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and is within minutes of several fine golf courses.
Gimli hosts many annual events throughout the year including fun and competitive sports tournaments, a large and very popular craft sale, and a huge Icelandic Festival. "Islendingadagurin", as it is called, brings thousands of visitors to Gimli for the food, entertainment, midway, parade and festivities. The weekend event celebrates the Icelandic and Norse traditions and history of the largest Icelandic community outside of Iceland.
