Grand Beach (Manitoba) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand Beach |
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Grand Beach and Provincial Park on the shores of Lake Winnipeg in August 2020
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| Location | Rural Municipality of St. Clements |
| Coordinates | 50°33′15″N 96°38′00″W / 50.55417°N 96.63333°W |
| Part of | Lake Winnipeg |
| Elevation | 748 feet (228 m) |
| Highest point | 12 metres (39 ft) |
| Length | 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) |
| Area | 30 ha (75 acres) |
| Formed by | Lake Agassiz |
| Age | 430-490 million years |
| Operator | Province of Manitoba |
Grand Beach is a beautiful freshwater beach in Manitoba, Canada. You can find it on the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg, near the town of Grand Marais. This popular spot is also located along the historic La Vérendrye Trail.
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History of Grand Beach
Grand Beach was first settled by "homesteaders." These were people who moved to a new area to build homes and farms. For a long time, the only settlers were a large community of Métis people.
Things changed when the Canadian Northern Railway built a train line to Grand Beach in 1917. They also set up a resort there. Once people could easily reach the beach by train, it quickly became a very popular vacation spot for people from Manitoba.
The Famous Dance Pavilion
One of the most impressive buildings at the resort was the Dance Pavilion. It was built in 1918. Some people even said it was the largest dance hall in the entire Commonwealth at that time!
The dance hall, along with the amazing beaches, made Grand Beach a top choice for day trips. Many people from Winnipeg would visit in the 1920s. Regular train services made these trips easy, with the last train leaving at midnight.
Sadly, the Dance Pavilion was destroyed in a fire on September 5, 1950. The fire started at 11 AM. Before the fire, the railway company had already decided to sell the resort buildings. In 1951, a person named Harvey J. Emke from Winnipeg bought the properties.
What to See and Do at Grand Beach
Grand Beach is part of Grand Beach Provincial Park. It has about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) of soft, white sand. Behind the beach, you'll find sand dunes that can reach up to 12 meters (39 feet) high!
At the west end of the beach, there's a boardwalk. Here you can find places to buy food and go shopping. There are also changing rooms and clean washrooms available all along the beach for visitors.
Annual Events at Grand Beach
Grand Beach hosts several fun events each year:
- Canada Day Family Festival
- Grand Marais Family Festival
- Manitoba Summerfest
- Beaches Half Marathon
