Two communities share the name Norway House: Norway House Indian Reserve and the adjacent non-treaty community of Norway House. Information in this report relates to the non-treaty community unless noted.
The community is located on the east channel of the Nelson River, approximately 29 kilometres north of Lake Winnipeg. There is an all-weather road from Norway House to Jenpeg and then on to PR #391. By air, Norway House is 456 kilometres north of Winnipeg, 208 kilometres east of The Pas, and 190 kilometres south of Thompson.
One of the original Hudson's Bay Trading Posts from the fur trading days, the community was recognized by the department of Northern Affairs in 1970. Today it is governed by a mayor and council under The Northern Affairs Act.
Community Contacts
Norway House Community Administrator
Box 310
Norway House, Manitoba R0B 1B0
Phone 359-6719
Fax 359-6004
Office hours are:
Mon. to Fri. 8:00 - 5:00
In addition to the administrator, the community employs a public works employee, recreation director, two full- time water/sewer truck operators, two part-time water/sewer truck operators, a part time assistant in the office, and 3 seasonal arena maintenance workers.
Community Statistics
Population 1985 722
1991 507
1996 575
Households There are about 167 housing units in the community.
Bylaws o Employee Benefits
o Establishment of Fire Department
Boundary Regulation 128/88, as amended, refers to Director of Surveys Plan 18628A. See map.
Property Assessment and Taxes 1997 Assessment - based on a fixed percent of the approximate market value of property.
Business 161,750
Real Property 4,562,650
School Exempt 7,400
Grants-in-lieu 3,481,500
Exempt 3,749,600 Total 11,962,900
Rate of tax levy (mills):
General Municipal 7.00
School Levies
Farm & Residential 8.50
Commercial & Other 18.50
Frontier (Div #48) 18.00
Business Tax 4%
Emergency Services
Fire Fire fighting capability is based on a well-equipped pumper truck from the community fire hall. Portable forestry equipment is also available for grass and brush fires.
Police Police response is from the RCMP detachment in Norway House, phone 359-6715.
Medical Medical response is based on the federal hospital in Norway House staffed with two doctors, 15 nurses, a medical and public health centre, and three community health workers. Duncan Transportation provides local medical transportation services. Community-Based Services
Airstrip Manitoba Northern Airports operate a 3,922' x 100' crushed rock airstrip in the community with terminal, remote-controlled lighting and fuel facilities. Terry Mowat Enterprises staff provide weather data on a 24 hours/day basis under contract to Atmospheric Services, Canada. Head Office is in Winnipeg, phone 945-3421, or airport manager, phone 359-6702 or fax 359-4559.
Ferry Service Cable ferry James Apetegon provides daily service on the access highway across the Nelson river. Office is in Winnipeg, phone 945-3424.
Hydro Provided by Manitoba Hydro as land- line electric power. Residential rates are based on zone 2 levels:
Basic charge $ 7.63 /month
First 175 KWH 6.53 cents/KWH
Balance 5.16 cents/KWH
Office is located in Norway House, phone 359-6270.
Telephone Manitoba Telecom Services provides individual-line service and digital switching with toll-free calling to Cross Lake. Call MTS toll-free at 225-5687.
Water The community has piped water on Fort Island and West Island. Water is pumped from the Nelson river, filtered and chlorinated and fed into the system. Delivery is available for houses not yet connected to the system.
Waste disposal Solid-waste disposal site is located near the community on the reserve, and transport to the waste disposal site is contracted out. Sewage is handled by a combination of sewage collection lines and a pumpout truck to a lagoon located in the community.
Schools Frontier School Division operate three schools in Norway House. Jack River School, Rossville School, and Norway House High School provide up to 200 or more jobs. The three schools do not separate treaty and non-treaty students for enrollment statistics. The Division has an agreement with the Norway House Band to provide services for treaty students. Phone numbers are:
Jack River school 359-6781
Norway House High School
359-6761
Rossville School 359-6757
Area School Office 359-6711
School numbers are:
Nursery & Kindergarten 227
Grades 1-6 660
Grades 7-9 332
Grades 10-12 201 Total 1,420
Keewatin Community College employs a community coordinator for adult education courses. Phone 359-6313.
Recreation facilities o Arena with artificial ice
o ball field
o playground
Government Services
Community Economic Development, Rural Development, regional office, located at Thompson, phone 677-6692.
Communities Economic Development Fund, head office, located at Thompson, phone 778-4138.
Culture, Heritage and Citizenship, Regional Services Branch, Norman regional office is located at The Pas, phone 627-8213.
Department of Labour, Employment Standards Branch, Employment Standards Officer, works out of Thompson, phone 677-6664.
Department of Labour, Fire Commissioner’s Office, Assistant Fire Commissioner, works out of Thompson, phone 677-6592.
Department of Natural Resources, Operations Division, Northeastern Region, Natural Resources Officer, Seasonal Fire Rangers and Initial Attack Crews are located in Norway House, phone 359-6877 or the regional office in Thompson, phone 677-6648.
Manitoba Environment, Environmental Operations Division, Northern regional office, located at The Pas, phone 627-8307.
Manitoba Justice, Regional Courts, Circuit Court sits in Norway House with coordination from the Thompson court Office, phone 677-6759.
Commercial Services
Accommodation o The Playgreen Inn provides accommodation and meals.
o Norway House Riverside Cottages - 359-4444
Transportation o GardewineNorth provides freight service to Norway House by all-weather road from its terminal in Winnipeg.
o Reimer Manitoba Express provides freight services between Thompson and Norway House by all-weather road.
o Perimeter Airlines (Inland) Ltd. and Skyward Aviation both provide scheduled and charter service to Norway House.
o Two local taxis operate within the community.
o Grey Goose Bus Lines provides limited passenger and small parcel service from Winnipeg or Thompson.
Businesses o Anderson Fuel & Convenience (reserve) 359-4296
o Apetegon small Motor Repairs -359-6696
o Canada Post Corporation - 359-6741
o Chicken Chef - 359-6646
o D’Aoust Carpentry - 359-6341
o Duncan Transportation (reserve) - 359-6345
o Fort Island Enterprises - 359-6645
o Lakeside Convenience Store (reserve) 359-6684
o Lakeside Gas Bar (reserve) 359-6800
o Low’s IGA - 359-6689
o Misty Bay Automotive - 359-6512
o Molson Lake Lodge -
o Mowat Sales and Backhoe Rentals - 359- 6377
o Nor-Man Pharmacy 359-6363
o Northern Stores - 359-6258
o Norway House Fisherman’s Coop - 359-6579
o Norway House Local Housing Board - 359-4063
o Norway House Plumbing & Heating - 359- 6962
o Pinaw Wach Ltd (Personal Care Home) - 359-6606
o Riverside Restaurant - 359-4866
o Scribes Taxi -359-6407
o Shell Canada Products Ltd - 359-6592
o Skyward Aviation - 359-4900
o South Nelson Supply 359-4510
o Super Video World - 359-6089
o The York Boat Diner (reserve) - 359-6679
o Toronto Dominion Bank 359-6006
o West Island Welding & Repair - 359-6674
o York Boat Inn (reserve) - 359-6550 or 1-888-355-9675
Economic Overview
The terrain, which currently severely limits economic opportunity, is primarily a granite base with little or no soil cover. Large areas are marshy and there are many small creeks, streams and rivers. Several small lakes lie in the nearby area, and much of the waterways are dotted with islands.
Commercial fishing is conducted throughout the year. Fishers deliver their catch to the Playgreen Point and Tait Island fish stations.
Other factors in the economy are trapping and local services, as Norway House is a regional centre. Trapping occurs in the Norway House RTL zone.
Wild rice has been seeded in shallow lakes east of Norway House.
Continuing its history as a regional centre, Norway House is also a transportation centre with air carriers flying in all directions.
