Gimli - paradise on Lake Winnipeg

From settlement in 1875 (on a gift of land from Canada) until joining Manitoba (in 1887), Gimli (Icelandic for either “Paradise” or “Home of the Gods”) on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg was a fishing village and the self-governing city-state of New Iceland.

Today, with a population of 6,000, Gimli Manitoba is still the largest community of people of Icelandic descent outside Iceland. It retains its heritage traditions and still has the commercial fishery, but is better known as a modern beach town with a scenic harbour and marina. It is also the site of the Gimli Glider crash landing. Miraculously, everyone walked away.

In summer, the population more than doubles with cottagers and campers who come to enjoy the white sand, crashing waves, golf, drag racing, harbour concerts and popular summer festivals:

Getting to Gimli

is easy. From Winnipeg, take the Perimeter to Highway 8 and you’ll be there in an hour, but if you have the time for a more leisurely pace, choose the scenic route, Highway 9. Stop for a cone and to have a look at Selkirk and Winnipeg Beach on the way up.

More things to do in Gimli

Fun on the beach -- beach volleyball, kayak and sea-doo rentals, tennis, fishing.

Rainy day? How about bingo at Royal Canadian Legion, Saturday and Monday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at 146 6th Street.

Winter in Gimli is the time for skating, ice fishing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing on 13 km of maintained trails.

Guided Tours to fish, play golf, go skiing and experience other Manitoba attractions are available from Interlake Transit & Tours, (204) 389-2353. If you are coming from Winnipeg, take the bus to Selkirk, where they will pick you up.

The strange story of the Gimli Glider

Some say it was a string of administrative and mechanical mistakes.

Others blame Canada’s conversion from Imperial measurement to metric, which was far too abrupt for a lot of people to get their heads properly wrapped around.

Or maybe it was just simple human error. But, for whatever reason, on July 23, 1983 Flight 143, an Air Canada Boeing 767, took off from Montreal, made a quick stop at Ottawa and continued west on what should have been just another flight to Edmonton, Alberta. And it would have remained a routine flight, except for one detail – they had just a quarter the amount of fuel the flight would require.

That summer day, Flight 143 would become become the legendary Gimli Glider.

Where to eat in Gimli

Amma’s Tearoom serves light lunches and Icelandic specialties such as rulluplsa, skyr and ponnukokur at 94 First Avenue.

Central Bakery is the place for really good breakfasts, homemade soups and sandwiches, with take-out goodies available at the bakery next door. Open daily year-round at 30 Centre Street.

Chicken Chef is a family restaurant also open for breakfast, and they have delivery! At Centre Street & 2nd Avenue.

Seagull’s at Lakeview Resort, 10 Centre Street, has the best patio and best lake view for lunch or dinner, with steak, pastas, salads. Very popular spot in summer.

Comodo’s Chinese also has a fireplace patio and is open daily. What I like here are the all-you-can-eat buffets. 81 1st Avenue.

Kris’ Fish & Chips is my favourite for the best F&C in town, burgers and ice cream. It’s right across the street from Lakeview Resort. Just down the street, The Beach Boy is popular.

Janet & Walter’s is another beach classic. Go there on date night for steak. It’s in Sandy Hook, three villages south of Gimli.

Where to stay

Lakeview Resorts has the best waterfront views and beach-side rooms and two-room suites for $90 to $285 per night. At 10 Centre Street.

Misty Lake Lodge & Conference Centre is just north of town. Bland ‘80s décor but a beautiful setting, with a golf course, tennis courts, pool, hottub, sauna, fitness facility, restaurant and lounge, and a beautiful patio. Condos and executive rooms $100 per night and up and also full-service RV and camping.

RV Resorts

Spruce Sands Resort in Arnes is a 315-unit RV resort with a lakefront café and bake shop, also its own beach, playground, kayak and bike rentals, laundry, and convenience store 15 minutes north of Gimli.

Autumnwood Motel & RV is a year-round basic motel with 18 rooms and a seasonal RV park close to the beach on Gimli Park Road.

Real Estate

West Point Condominiums (right) offers luxury open-concept suites with short term and long term leases and a rent-to-own program. Suites are 1,123 sq. ft. to 1,787 sq. ft. with two or three bedrooms, indoor or outdoor parking, granite counter tops, and stainless steel appliances, fitness facility, lake views. Some units are two-storey. At 88 2nd Avenue (across the street from The Viking).

Indavoll is a new development of condos, bungalows and cottages on Autumnwood Drive priced from $149,000. Features are low-maintenance exteriors, open floor plans, wood decks, optional basements. There is a community centre and elementary school across the street from Indavoll.

Luxury family homes are fairly new to Gimli—only during the last decade or so have people begun building ‘dream’ homes here. One of these was recently on the market with four bedrooms and three bathrooms in 3,000 sq. ft. This custom-built cedar timberframe home has vaulted ceilings and is on a point, almost surrounded by the water. List price is $745,000.

Looking for a Cottage?

Cottage lots are still available for $19,900 and up.

Cottages north of town range from $55,000 to $80,000 for one or two bedrooms on a smaller lot; expect to pay $120,000 and up for a three-bedroom cottage on the water.

Retire here

Gimli has new condos and apartments that are an attractive option, especially for snowbirds.

There is a lively 55-plus/retirement community with an active artists’ collective showing their works at Gimli Art Club’s waterfront gallery, open daily in July and August.

What’s nearby?