Gimli, Manitoba

Gimli
Community
The Gimli Harbour Master's building and lighthouse, constructed in 1910, rebuilt 1974.
The Gimli Harbour Master's building and lighthouse, constructed in 1910, rebuilt 1974.
Gimli is located in Manitoba
Gimli
Gimli
Coordinates: 50°38′01″N 96°59′24″W / 50.63361°N 96.99000°W / 50.63361; -96.99000
CountryCanada
ProvinceManitoba
RegionInterlake
Rural MunicipalityRM of Gimli
Demonym:Gimlungur (singular); Gimlungar (plural)
FoundedOctober 21, 1875[2]
Village of GimliMarch 6, 1908
Town of GimliDecember 31, 1946[3]
Amalgamated with
RM of Gimli
January 1, 2003[3]
Government
 • MayorKevin Chudd
 • MP (Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman)James Bezan (CPC)
 • MLA (Interlake-Gimli)Derek Johnson (PC)
Area
 • Total
3.02 km2 (1.17 sq mi)
Elevation
222 m (728 ft)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
2,345[1]
 • Density746.6/km2 (1,934/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Postal code
Area code(s)204, 431

Gimli is an unincorporated community in the Rural Municipality of Gimli on the west side of Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada.

The community's first European settlers were Icelanders who were part of the New Iceland settlement in Manitoba. The community maintains a strong connection to Iceland and Icelandic culture today, including the annual Icelandic Festival. Gimli was incorporated as a village on March 6, 1908, and held town status between December 31, 1946, and January 1, 2003, when it amalgamated with the RM of Gimli.[3] Census Canada now recognizes the community as a population centre for census purposes. The 2021 Canadian census recorded a population of 2,345 in the population centre of Gimli.[1]

The town's settlers sustained themselves primarily from agriculture and fishing. Gimli maintains a strong connection to the lake today, tourism has played a part in the town's current economic sustainability. Gimli Beach is popular in the summer, while the Gimli Harbour is the largest harbour on Lake Winnipeg and in Western Canada between Ontario and the Pacific Coast.[4]

Gimli held one of the events (rowing) in the 2017 Canada Games.[5]

  1. ^ a b "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population, Gimli Population Centre". Statistics Canada. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gimlisaga was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c "Manitoba Municipalities: Gimli". The Manitoba Historical Society. October 23, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  4. ^ "About Gimli Harbour Authority". Gimli Harbour Authority. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  5. ^ "Winnipeg 2017". Canada Games. Canada Games Council. Retrieved 30 July 2023.