Gimli Manitoba: Icelandic Heritage on Lake Winnipeg

There is a Viking statue on the Gimli harbour dock, and it watches over a scene that would be entirely unremarkable if not for what it represents. This town of around 6,000 people on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg is the centre of one of the most successful transplanted cultures in Canadian history: a community of Icelandic settlers who arrived in 1875, named their new territory New Iceland, and maintained a distinct identity so successfully that Gimli remains the largest Icelandic community outside Iceland itself.

The town sits an hour north of Winnipeg, easily reached by highway and rewarding as either a day trip or a short overnight stay. Lake Winnipeg — often described as the tenth-largest freshwater lake in the world, though its impressive dimensions are poorly known outside Manitoba — stretches to the horizon, providing Gimli with wide sandy beaches, a fishing harbour, and a lakeside character entirely unlike any other prairie town.

The Icelandic story

The Icelanders arrived at the western shore of Lake Winnipeg in the autumn of 1875, following a Canadian government offer of land grants and the push of hardship and volcanic destruction at home. The colony they established — stretching along the lake’s western shore — was initially autonomous, and they governed themselves for several years before Manitoba absorbed the territory.

The settlers faced extraordinary early hardships: smallpox outbreaks, crop failures, extreme cold in their first winters without adequate shelter. But they persevered, and the culture they built took deep root. The Icelandic language was maintained in churches and schools well into the twentieth century. Cultural organisations, literary societies, and athletic clubs reinforced a community identity that persisted long after most immigrant groups had fully assimilated.

The New Iceland Heritage Museum on Centre Street is the essential first stop for any visitor interested in this history. The museum holds photographs, documents, artefacts, and personal stories from the settlement period through the present. It is a small museum but genuinely impressive in the quality of its curation and the depth of the story it tells. The staff are knowledgeable and often have personal connections to the settlement history.

A short walk from the museum, the Gimli harbour area retains much of the character of an active fishing community. Commercial fishing boats work Lake Winnipeg for walleye (pickerel in Manitoba parlance), sauger, and lake whitefish. The harbour was central to Gimli’s economy for generations, and while tourism has grown in importance, the fishing fleet is real and working.

Islendingadagurinn: the Icelandic Festival

Every August long weekend — typically the first weekend of August — Gimli hosts Islendingadagurinn, the Festival of the Icelanders. The festival has run since 1890, making it one of the oldest cultural festivals in Canada and certainly among the longest-running ethnic heritage celebrations on the continent.

The weekend features Viking-themed events, traditional Icelandic food (skyr, vinarterta, and various lamb-based dishes), live music, sand sculpture competitions on the beach, and the crowning of the Fjallkona — the Lady of the Mountain — a ceremonial figure representing Iceland. Local and visiting Icelandic performers, speakers, and musicians participate, and the connection to the living Icelandic nation is maintained through regular exchanges and delegations.

Even for visitors with no particular interest in Icelandic culture, the festival is entertaining and the crowd is welcoming. The beach fills with thousands of visitors and the atmosphere is festive without being overwhelming.

Lake Winnipeg beaches

Gimli’s beach stretches for several kilometres along the lake’s edge, with fine sand and relatively warm water by late July (Lake Winnipeg’s shallow southern basin warms faster than deeper lakes). The supervised beach near the main boardwalk area is the focal point; further north and south, the beach becomes progressively quieter.

Lake Winnipeg looks like a sea. The opposite shore is not visible from Gimli, and on days when wind whips across the shallow water, the waves have genuine size and force. Swimming is pleasant in calm conditions; the lake requires respect when weather turns.

The Gimli boardwalk connects the beach to the harbour, with benches, a children’s play area, and several seasonal food vendors. Ice cream, fish and chips, and perogy stands are the appropriate lakeside food choices.

Fishing on Lake Winnipeg

Lake Winnipeg produces some of the finest walleye (pickerel) fishing in Canada — a fact well known among Manitoba anglers but largely unappreciated outside the province. The lake’s massive shallow basin and nutrient-rich water support enormous fish populations. Walleye of 2–3 kilograms are common; larger fish are regularly caught.

Several fishing outfitters and charter operators in Gimli offer guided fishing excursions on the lake. These typically run half-day (4 hours) or full-day (8 hours), targeting walleye with jigging or live-bait rigs. No experience is required — guides provide all equipment and are accustomed to teaching beginners.

A Manitoba fishing licence is required (available online through the provincial government or at local sporting goods shops). Seasons and limits are strictly managed; the guide will explain the regulations and handle compliance.

Winter ice fishing is a parallel Gimli tradition. From January through mid-March, the lake freezes solidly enough for ice huts, and the walleye fishing under the ice is productive. A small community of seasonal ice huts appears several kilometres offshore, and rental packages including hut, gear, and guide are available.

Getting there and around

Gimli is 80 kilometres north of Winnipeg on Highway 9 — a straightforward drive of about an hour. There is no scheduled public transport to Gimli from Winnipeg. A vehicle is necessary for independent travel.

Within Gimli, the harbour, beach, and main commercial strip are all walkable. Bicycles can be rented seasonally for exploration further afield.

A scenic return to Winnipeg can follow Highway 9 south through Selkirk (home to the Manitoba Museum of the Red River Settlement) or loop back via Highway 8 and the communities along the Red River for a different perspective on the region.

Where to eat in Gimli

The Waterfront Restaurant at the hotel facing the harbour is the most reliable option for a full meal, with Lake Winnipeg fish consistently on the menu.

Grapes and Grounds is a local favourite for coffee and lighter fare, useful for a morning start before hitting the beach.

The Fishhook Café and various seasonal harbour-side vendors provide fresh fish dishes, including the local preference for fried pickerel served simply with fries and coleslaw.

Icelandic-specific food is most reliably found during the August festival, but the heritage museum’s gift shop can point visitors toward local producers of traditional items like skyr and vinarterta.

Practical information

Accommodation: Gimli has several lakeside motels and a hotel on the waterfront. Booking well ahead for the August festival weekend is essential — this weekend fills months out. Airbnb and vacation rental options in private cottages nearby are more plentiful. Winnipeg is close enough that a day trip avoids the accommodation question entirely.

What to bring: Lake Winnipeg weather is changeable even in summer; a windbreaker is appropriate regardless of the forecast. Sunscreen is necessary on the beach, where the open lake allows full UV exposure.

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Gimli is the kind of place that rewards knowing its story. Arrive without context and it is a pleasant lakeside town with good beaches and a working harbour. Arrive knowing about the Icelanders who built it — the hardship of the first winters, the literary culture that persisted in a new language on a new continent, the unbroken thread from 1875 to the present — and it becomes something genuinely remarkable.