Gimli, Manitoba
Encyclopedia
Gimli is a a rural municipality
located in the Interlake
region of south-central Manitoba
, Canada
, on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg
. It is about 75 kilometres (46.6 mi) north of the provincial capital Winnipeg
. The rural municipality's population in the 2006 Canada census was 5,797.
The town and surrounding districts were once an Iceland
ic ethnic block settlement
, and the area, known as New Iceland
, is home to the largest concentration of people of Icelandic ancestry outside Iceland.
on Lake Winnipeg
in the 1870s. Beyond the borders of Manitoba as it was then, this settlement fell within the District of Keewatin
, until 1881 when Manitoba was enlarged. In 1876 the community was hit by a severe outbreak of smallpox
. Originally organized as a self-administering "Icelandic reserve" directly responsible to Ottawa
, the settlers of New Iceland developed a unique constitution of by-laws for local government which remained in effect until they adopted provincial municipal government in 1887. The initial status of New Iceland as a "reserve" remained in effect until 1899.
In the Gimli Glider
incident on 23 July 1983, an Air Canada
Boeing 767
en route from Montreal
to Edmonton
ran out of fuel and made an unpowered landing on a decommissioned runway (having been used as a drag strip) at Gimli Industrial Park Airport
, a former RCAF base near Gimli with no control tower and no fire trucks available. A reenactment of the incident has aired on Discovery Channel
's Mayday
series.
In December 2002, the town of Gimli was dissolved as a legal entity.
and pickerel
. During the summer months, tourism is a major industry, as thousands of summer cottagers fill the town of Gimli, especially on weekends. Hotels, restaurants and stores cater to the summer visitors.
Two of the largest employers in Gimli are Gimli Distillery and Faroex. The Gimli Distillery opened in 1968. The plant employs 72 people with an annual payroll of almost $4 million. The operation is situated on two quarters of land and comprises a production building, barrel filling and dumping, and 46 warehouses to store the maturing whiskies. The plant, the source of Crown Royal
whisky, produces the company's global Canadian whisky requirement. Faroex Ltd., established in 1981, produces composite components for use in the agricultural, automotive, consumer and military supply industries. Faroex's first product was a flooring and support framing system made from plastic and fibreglass, used in hog production.
Smaller companies include Interlake Agencies, a local real estate and insurance company that started in Gimli in 1962. It is the largest seller of real estate in the Interlake region and one of the largest independent real estate companies in Manitoba, employing 18 real estate and insurance agents and selling more than $30 million of real estate a year.
Mid June 2011 saw the arrival of CJ 107.5, a local radio station featuring a mixture of both country and classical rock. The station is located in the Lakeview Hotel, broadcasting in Gimli and the surrounding Interlake area.
The Gimli Film Festival
is held annually; it features a 11 metres (36.1 ft) outdoor screen on Lake Winnipeg
. The Gimli Model Fest and R/C Airshow is an annual R/C hobby
showcase, the largest in mid-Canada; its Sunday afternoon air show includes jets with miniature turbine jet engines, warbirds, aerobatics, R/C combat and a kids' candy drop.
Rural municipality
A rural municipality, often abbreviated RM, is a form of municipality in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, perhaps best comparable to counties or townships in the western United States...
located in the Interlake
Interlake
Interlake is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created by redistribution in 1979, and has formally existed since the 1981 provincial election. Previously, much of the Interlake region was included in the constituency of St. George...
region of south-central Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg is a large, lake in central North America, in the province of Manitoba, Canada, with its southern tip about north of the city of Winnipeg...
. It is about 75 kilometres (46.6 mi) north of the provincial capital Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. The rural municipality's population in the 2006 Canada census was 5,797.
The town and surrounding districts were once an Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic ethnic block settlement
Block Settlement
A block settlement is particular type of land distribution which allows settlers with the same ethnicity to form small colonies.This settlement type was used throughout western Canada between the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
, and the area, known as New Iceland
New Iceland
New Iceland is the name of a region on Lake Winnipeg in the Canadian province Manitoba which was named for settlers from Iceland. It was settled in 1875.- Background :...
, is home to the largest concentration of people of Icelandic ancestry outside Iceland.
History
Gimli was founded by a large group of Icelandic settlers who arrived in New IcelandNew Iceland
New Iceland is the name of a region on Lake Winnipeg in the Canadian province Manitoba which was named for settlers from Iceland. It was settled in 1875.- Background :...
on Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg is a large, lake in central North America, in the province of Manitoba, Canada, with its southern tip about north of the city of Winnipeg...
in the 1870s. Beyond the borders of Manitoba as it was then, this settlement fell within the District of Keewatin
District of Keewatin
The District of Keewatin was a territory of Canada and later an administrative district of the Northwest Territories.The name "Keewatin" comes from Algonquian roots—either kīwēhtin in Cree or giiwedin in Ojibwe—both of which mean north wind in their respective languages...
, until 1881 when Manitoba was enlarged. In 1876 the community was hit by a severe outbreak of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
. Originally organized as a self-administering "Icelandic reserve" directly responsible to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, the settlers of New Iceland developed a unique constitution of by-laws for local government which remained in effect until they adopted provincial municipal government in 1887. The initial status of New Iceland as a "reserve" remained in effect until 1899.
In the Gimli Glider
Gimli Glider
The Gimli Glider is the nickname of the Air Canada aircraft that was involved in a notable aviation incident. On 23 July 1983, Air Canada Flight 143, a Boeing 767-200 jet, ran out of fuel at an altitude of ASL, about halfway through its flight from Montreal to Edmonton via Ottawa...
incident on 23 July 1983, an Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
Boeing 767
Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
en route from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
to Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
ran out of fuel and made an unpowered landing on a decommissioned runway (having been used as a drag strip) at Gimli Industrial Park Airport
Gimli Industrial Park Airport
Gimli Industrial Park Airport, , is a former military field located west of Gimli, Manitoba, Canada. The field is now operated as a civilian airport, with one of the original parallel runways decommissioned and now a significant portion of Gimli Motorsport Park...
, a former RCAF base near Gimli with no control tower and no fire trucks available. A reenactment of the incident has aired on Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
's Mayday
Mayday
Mayday is a distress signalMayday or May Day may also refer to:* May Day, a holiday on or around May 1** International Workers' Day* Mayday, Colorado- Music :* Mayday , an electronic music festival* Mayday...
series.
In December 2002, the town of Gimli was dissolved as a legal entity.
Economy
There are over 100 commercial fishers in Gimli, catching white fishWhitefish (fisheries term)
Whitefish or white fish is a fisheries term referring to several species of demersal fish with fins, particularly cod , whiting , and haddock , but also hake , pollock , or others...
and pickerel
Pickerel
Pickerel may refer to:*Esox, the genus of fish commonly known as the pickerels which includes pike and muskellunge as well as other pickerel*American pickerel*Chain pickerel*Walleye, or Yellow Pickerel * Pickerel Frog...
. During the summer months, tourism is a major industry, as thousands of summer cottagers fill the town of Gimli, especially on weekends. Hotels, restaurants and stores cater to the summer visitors.
Two of the largest employers in Gimli are Gimli Distillery and Faroex. The Gimli Distillery opened in 1968. The plant employs 72 people with an annual payroll of almost $4 million. The operation is situated on two quarters of land and comprises a production building, barrel filling and dumping, and 46 warehouses to store the maturing whiskies. The plant, the source of Crown Royal
Crown Royal
Crown Royal is a blended Canadian whisky, 40% alcohol by volume, 80 proof. The brand is currently owned by Diageo, who purchased it when the Seagram portfolio was dissolved in the year 2000. It is the top-selling Canadian whisky in the United States....
whisky, produces the company's global Canadian whisky requirement. Faroex Ltd., established in 1981, produces composite components for use in the agricultural, automotive, consumer and military supply industries. Faroex's first product was a flooring and support framing system made from plastic and fibreglass, used in hog production.
Smaller companies include Interlake Agencies, a local real estate and insurance company that started in Gimli in 1962. It is the largest seller of real estate in the Interlake region and one of the largest independent real estate companies in Manitoba, employing 18 real estate and insurance agents and selling more than $30 million of real estate a year.
Mid June 2011 saw the arrival of CJ 107.5, a local radio station featuring a mixture of both country and classical rock. The station is located in the Lakeview Hotel, broadcasting in Gimli and the surrounding Interlake area.
Arts and culture
The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba is held on the long weekend in August. The first Icelandic festival in Manitoba was held in Winnipeg in 1890; it was held there annually until 1931, and since 1932 has been held in Gimli.The Gimli Film Festival
Gimli Film Festival
The Gimli Film Festival is a Canadian film festival, held annually in Gimli, Manitoba....
is held annually; it features a 11 metres (36.1 ft) outdoor screen on Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg is a large, lake in central North America, in the province of Manitoba, Canada, with its southern tip about north of the city of Winnipeg...
. The Gimli Model Fest and R/C Airshow is an annual R/C hobby
Radio-controlled aircraft
A radio-controlled aircraft is controlled remotely by a hand-held transmitter and a receiver within the craft...
showcase, the largest in mid-Canada; its Sunday afternoon air show includes jets with miniature turbine jet engines, warbirds, aerobatics, R/C combat and a kids' candy drop.
Climate
Notable people
- David ArnasonDavid ArnasonDavid Arnason is a Canadian author and poet who lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with his partner Mhari Mackintosh.-Life:...
: writer and English professor born in Gimli. - Leo KristjansonLeo KristjansonLeo Friman Kristjanson, was the President of the University of Saskatchewan from 1980 to 1989.-Biography:...
: economist and president of the University of SaskatchewanUniversity of SaskatchewanThe University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
from 1980 to 1989. - Gunnar ThorvaldsonGunnar ThorvaldsonGunnar Solmunder Thorvaldson, KC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1941 to 1949, and in the Canadian Senate from 1958 until his death...
: Conservative senator, Senate of Canada. - John MacDonaldJohn MacDonald (Canadian musician)John Roy MacDonald is a musician who plays the French horn and has won several major competitions.He was born on July 13, 1948 in Gimli, Manitoba, Canada. His family moved to Ottawa three years after his birth. He was influenced by his horn-playing elder brothers, Ian and James and began...
: Canadian musician. - Vilhjálmur StefánssonVilhjalmur StefanssonVilhjalmur Stefansson was a Canadian Arctic explorer and ethnologist.-Early life:Stefansson, born William Stephenson, was born at Gimli, Manitoba, Canada, in 1879. His parents had emigrated from Iceland to Manitoba two years earlier...
: ethnologist and explorer. - Eric StefansonEric StefansonEric Stefanson is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the cabinet of Progressive Conservative Premier Gary Filmon from 1991 to 1999, and was a member of the Manitoba legislature from 1990 to 2000...
: retired Manitoba Progressive ConservativeProgressive Conservative Party of ManitobaThe Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
politician born in Gimli. - W. D. ValgardsonW. D. ValgardsonWilliam Dempsey Valgardson is a Canadian novelist, short story writer, and poet. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and raised in Gimli, Manitoba, he completed his BA at United College, BEd at the University of Manitoba, and his MFA at the University of Iowa...
: writer and professor. - George JohnsonGeorge Johnson (Manitoba politician)George Johnson, OC was a medical doctor and is seen by historians as one of the leading political reformers of the twentieth century in Manitoba. He served as a Cabinet Minister in the governments of Dufferin Roblin and Walter Weir and as the province's 20th Lieutenant Governor from 1986 to...
: physician and former minister of Education and Health in Manitoba. - Hans WuthrichHans Wuthrich (icemaker)Hans R. Wuthrich is a top curling ice technician from Canada. He has been making ice for the last 15 years for major events around the world such as the Brier and World Curling Championships. Wuthrich was the recipient of the 2003 Canadian Curling Association's 'Award of Achievement' for his...
: curling ice technician.
External links
- Official website
- Map of Gimli R.M. at Statcan