Rural Municipality of Gimli

Gimli is 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 47 mi north of the provincial capital Winnipeg The rural municipality's population in the Canada 2016 Census was 6,181

The town of Gimli and surrounding districts were once an Icelandic ethnic block settlement, and the area, known as New Iceland, is home to the largest concentration of people of Icelandic ancestry outside Iceland It also has significant Ukrainian and German communities, at 12% and 6% respectively

The Town of Winnipeg Beach lies adjacent to its southeast corner, on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, between it and the Rural Municipality of St Andrews to the south

Contents

• 1 Communities
• 2 History
• 3 Economy
• 4 Demographics
• 5 Arts and culture
• 6 Climate
• 7 Notable people
• 8 See also
• 9 References
• 10 External links

Communities

This is a map of the Rural Municipalities of Manitoba with the RM of Gimli highlighted in blue

• Arnes
• Camp Morton
• Gimli
• Husavik
• Sandy Hook

History

Gimli Viking statue commemorating Icelandic heritage The statue was built in 1967 and unveiled by the President of Iceland in the same year The statue site was then upgraded in 2017, Canada's bicentennial year

Gimli was founded by a large group of Icelandic settlers who arrived in New 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 converted to 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 aired on Discovery Channel's Mayday series and on Syfy's Urban Legends series

The Town of Gimli amalgamated with the Rural Municipality of Gimli on January 1, 2003

Economy

There are over 100 commercial fishers in Gimli, catching white fish 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 the Gimli Distillery and Faroex a division of Sigma Industries 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 Their 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 and is now the largest seller of real estate in the Interlake region and one of the largest independent real estate companies in Manitoba

Demographics

Ethnic Origins

	Population	Percentage
Icelandic	1,510	265
English	1,385	243
Ukrainian	1,265	222
Scottish	1,070	188
German	985	173
Irish	830	146
Polish	830	146
Canadian	670	118

Year			Pop	±%
1981	2,237	—
1986	2,458	+99%
1996	3,124	+271%
2001	3,501	+121%
2006	5,797	+656%
2011	5,845	+08%
2016	6,181	+57%

The Rural Municipality of Gimli had a population of 6,181 as of the Canada 2016 Census, an increase of 57% since the last census in 2011 The average age of RM of Gimli residents was 514 years old, this was well over the provincial average of 394 The percentage of the population 65 years or older was 335% of the population, this was nearly double the provincial average of 156% of the population in the age bracket

Gimli residents claim Icelandic heritage as the largest part of their ethnic background with 265% of the entire rural municipality claiming some Icelandic background, or 1,510 people Close behind are those that claim English and Ukrainian background at 243% and 222% respectively

Arts and culture

The community of Gimli in the rural municipality as seen from above

Gimli celebrates its heritage with the Icelandic Festival on August long weekend 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 celebration showcases the work of local artists in downtown Gimli Tourists are able to purchase anything from jewellery to paintings and Viking and Icelandic memorabilia A popular sight in the town is the pier which extends from the downtown shoreline out onto Lake Winnipeg and features the Gimli Seawall Gallery, a cement wall 977 feet 298 m long featuring 72 murals which depict the history and stories of the community

The Gimli Film Festival is held annually; it features a 11-metre 36 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

Mid-June 2011 saw the arrival of CJ 1075, 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

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification, Gimli has a humid continental climate with vast temperature differences between summer and winter, owing to its relatively northerly latitude and distance to coastlines As a result, summers are warm and sometimes hot, with winters sometimes being bitterly cold

Gimli has a sunny climate, with an average of 318 days with measurable sunshine per year The municipality has warm summers; however, the close proximity to Lake Winnipeg cools the summer temperature compared to locations further inland Winter moderation from the lake is eliminated because Lake Winnipeg freezes over in winter due to the cold continental tendencies Spring and autumn are short seasons, but contain comfortable temperatures

Climate data for Gimli, Manitoba
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C °F	82 468	81 466	150 59	292 846	361 97	367 981	350 95	375 995	365 977	261 79	228 73	63 433	375 995
Average high °C °F	−128 9	−93 153	−18 288	82 468	163 613	216 709	249 768	232 738	169 624	95 491	−11 30	−105 131	71 448
Daily mean °C °F	−182 −08	−148 54	−73 189	27 369	106 511	161 61	192 666	175 635	116 529	48 406	−52 226	−154 43	18 352
Average low °C °F	−235 −103	−203 −45	−128 9	−29 268	47 405	105 509	135 563	118 532	63 433	00 32	−92 154	−203 −45	−35 257
Record low °C °F	−412 −422	−394 −389	−344 −299	−256 −141	−95 149	−13 297	28 37	05 329	−158 36	−164 25	−343 −297	−394 −389	−412 −422
Average precipitation mm inches	222 0874	173 0681	300 1181	300 1181	498 1961	941 3705	697 2744	642 2528	667 2626	383 1508	276 1087	225 0886	5325 20965
Average rainfall mm inches	03 0012	03 0012	88 0346	198 078	476 1874	941 3705	697 2744	642 2528	656 2583	303 1193	53 0209	18 0071	4078 16055
Average snowfall cm inches	276 1087	217 854	241 949	114 449	22 087	0 0	0 0	0 0	11 043	84 331	266 1047	250 984	1481 5831
Average precipitation days ≥ 02 mm	123	92	95	81	99	127	117	116	111	100	94	124	1276
Average rainy days ≥ 02 mm	030	035	25	56	95	127	117	116	109	82	23	053	761
Average snowy days ≥ 02 cm	139	97	85	37	10	005	0	0	045	26	86	136	620
Mean monthly sunshine hours	1193	1412	1903	2475	2844	2896	3191	2718	1748	1411	949	1024	2,3764
Source: Environment Canada

Notable people

• David Arnason: writer and English professor born in Gimli
• Leo Kristjanson: economist and president of the University of Saskatchewan from 1980 to 1989
• Gunnar Thorvaldson: Conservative senator, Senate of Canada
• John MacDonald: Canadian musician
• Vilhjálmur Stefánsson: ethnologist and Arctic explorer
• Eric Stefanson: retired Manitoba Progressive Conservative politician born in Gimli
• W D Valgardson: writer and professor
• George Johnson: physician and former Minister of Education and Health in Manitoba, as well as the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
• Hans Wuthrich: world renowned curling ice technician
• Peter Bjornson: Politician, Teacher, Governor General's Award winner and former Minister of Education in Manitoba

See also

• Gimli Industrial Park Airport
• Gimli Glider
• Gimli High School

References

1. ^ a b "Close-Up: The Canadian town known as 'New Iceland'" BBC News 11 June 2011 
2. ^ a b c "Manitoba Communities: Gimli Rural Municipality" Manitoba Historical Society Retrieved 2017-08-08 
3. ^ "Gimli: The Evolution of a Community" Rural Municipality of Gimli Retrieved 26 January 2013 
4. ^ http://wwwdfo-mpogcca/sch/Forum/foru111_epdf broken link
5. ^ Faroex
6. ^ Interlake Agencies
7. ^ a b "RM of Gimli Demographics" Statistics Canada Retrieved 10 August 2017 
8. ^ a b "RM Gimli Census profile" Statistics Canada Retrieved 2017-08-10 
9. ^ Icelandic Festival of Manitoba
10. ^ Seawall, Gimli Art Club
11. ^ Gimli Film Festival
12. ^ Gimli Model Fest and R/C Airshow
13. ^ CJ 1075
14. ^ Lakeview Hotel
15. ^ a b "Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000" Environment Canada Retrieved March 19, 2012 

External links

• Official website
• RM of Gimli Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee
• Map of Gimli RM at Statcan
• Gimli CommunityInfo

v e Division No 18, Manitoba North Interlake Area
Towns	Arborg Winnipeg Beach Former towns Gimli
Villages	Former villages Riverton
Rural municipalities	Armstrong Bifrost – Riverton Coldwell Fisher Gimli Grahamdale St Laurent West Interlake Former RMs Bifrost Eriksdale Siglunes
First Nations	Lake Manitoba Little Saskatchewan Pinaymootang
Indian reserves	Dog Creek 46 Fairford 50 part Little Saskatchewan 48
Unorganized areas	Unorganized East Division No 18 Unorganized West Division No 18
Unincorporated communities	Arnes Ashern Broad Valley Camper Camp Morton Chatfield Clarkleigh Deerhorn Eriksdale Faulkner Finns Fisher Branch Fisherton Fraserwood Geysir Grahamdale Gypsumville Harperville Hilbre Hnausa Hodgson Husavik Inwood Jaroslaw Komarno Ledwyn Lundar Malonton Meleb Moosehorn Morweena Mulvihill Narcisse The Narrows Neveton Oak Point Oakview Okno Poplarfield Rembrandt Rosenburg St Laurent St Martin St Martin Junction Sandridge Sandy Hook Scotch Bay Shorncliffe Silver Spearhill Steep Rock Sylvan Vidir Vogar Washow Bay Zbaraz
See also: Municipalities in Manitoba Census divisions of Manitoba 2015 municipal amalgamations

v e Subdivisions of Manitoba
Subdivisions	Regions Census divisions Municipalities Communities Indian reserves Population centres Designated places
Cities	Brandon Dauphin Flin Flon part Morden Portage la Prairie Selkirk Steinbach Thompson Winkler Winnipeg
Towns	Altona Arborg Beausejour Carberry Carman Churchill Gillam Grand Rapids Lac du Bonnet Leaf Rapids Lynn Lake Melita Minnedosa Morris Neepawa Niverville The Pas Powerview-Pine Falls Snow Lake Ste Anne Swan River Teulon Virden Winnipeg Beach Former towns Birtle Boissevain Deloraine Emerson Erickson Gilbert Plains Gladstone Grandview Gretna Hamiota Hartney MacGregor Manitou Minitonas Oak Lake Pilot Mound Plum Coulee Rapid City Rivers Roblin Rossburn Russell Souris Sainte Rose du Lac Treherne
Villages	Dunnottar St-Pierre-Jolys Former villages Benito Binscarth Bowsman Cartwright Crystal City Elkhorn Ethelbert Glenboro McCreary Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Riverton Somerset St Claude St Lazare Waskada Wawanesa Winnipegosis
Rural municipalities	Alexander Alonsa Argyle Armstrong Bifrost – Riverton Boissevain – Morton Brenda – Waskada Brokenhead Cartier Cartwright – Roblin Clanwilliam – Erickson Coldwell Cornwallis Dauphin De Salaberry Deloraine – Winchester Dufferin East St Paul Ellice – Archie Elton Emerson – Franklin Ethelbert Fisher Gilbert Plains Gimli Glenboro – South Cypress Glenella – Lansdowne Grahamdale Grandview Grassland Grey Hamiota Hanover Harrison Park Headingley Hillsburg – Roblin – Shell River Kelsey Killarney-Turtle Mountain La Broquerie Lac du Bonnet Lakeshore Lorne Louise Macdonald McCreary Minitonas – Bowsman Minto – Odanah Montcalm Morris Mossey River Mountain Norfolk Treherne North Cypress – Langford North Norfolk Oakland – Wawanesa Oakview Pembina Piney Pipestone Portage la Prairie Prairie Lakes Prairie View Reynolds Rhineland Riding Mountain West Ritchot Riverdale Rockwood Roland Rosedale Rossburn Rosser Russell – Binscarth Sifton Souris – Glenwood Springfield St Andrews St Clements St François Xavier St Laurent Ste Rose Stanley Ste Anne Stuartburn Swan Valley West Taché Thompson Two Borders Victoria Victoria Beach Wallace – Woodworth West Interlake West St Paul WestLake – Gladstone Whitehead Whitemouth Woodlands Yellowhead Former rural municipalities Albert Archie Arthur Bifrost Birtle Blanshard Brenda Cameron Clanwilliam Daly Edward Ellice Eriksdale Ethelbert Franklin Gilbert Plains Glenella Glenwood Grandview Hamiota Harrison Hillsburg Lakeview Langford Lansdowne Lawrence Lorne Louise McCreary Miniota Minitonas Minto Morton North Cypress North Norfolk Oakland Ochre River Odanah Park Pembina Rhineland Riverside Roblin Rossburn Russell Saskatchewan Shell River Shellmouth-Boulton Shoal Lake Siglunes Silver Creek South Cypress South Norfolk Ste Rose Strathclair Strathcona Swan River Wallace Westbourne Whitewater Winchester Woodworth
Portal:Manitoba

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