Winnipeg Beach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Winnipeg Beach
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Town
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Town boundaries
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 Winnipeg Beach
Location in Manitoba
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Manitoba |
| Region | Interlake |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.87 km2 (1.49 sq mi) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 1,439 |
| • Density | 371.8/km2 (963.0/sq mi) |
| Area code(s) | 204 and 431 |
Winnipeg Beach is a fun town located in the Interlake Region of Manitoba, Canada. It sits right on the southwestern shore of Lake Winnipeg. The town was started in 1900 by Sir William Whyte.
You can find Winnipeg Beach where Highway 9 and Highway 229 meet. It's about 56 kilometers (35 miles) north of the city of Winnipeg. The town is surrounded by other areas like Gimli and Dunnottar. In 2021, about 1,439 people lived there all year round.
Contents
History of Winnipeg Beach
How the Town Began
In 1900, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) bought a large piece of land. This land was 65 kilometers (40 miles) north of Winnipeg, right on the shore of Lake Winnipeg. The CPR wanted to build a special resort town there.
They chose this spot because it had a beautiful sandy beach that stretched for three kilometers. The CPR also built many places for people to stay and have fun. This included a big dance hall.
The Golden Age of the Resort
In the early 1900s, fancy hotels lined the main street of Winnipeg Beach. Piers, parks, and picnic areas were built for the many visitors. People would travel from Winnipeg to the beach every weekend.
By 1913, the resort was so popular that the CPR ran 13 trains between Winnipeg and the beach. The famous "Moonlight Special" train would take people back to the city at midnight every Saturday. This train ran for 50 years, and a round trip only cost fifty cents!
A long boardwalk allowed people to walk along the beach. It led to carnival games and small cottages. There was even a large wooden roller coaster, one of the biggest in Canada at the time. It carried hundreds of riders on busy days. The Pavilion building had a huge dance floor, about 1,300 square meters (14,000 square feet). People said it was the biggest in Western Canada.
Changes Over Time
The popularity of Winnipeg Beach as a fancy resort started to fade in the 1950s. While the beach itself remained a favorite spot, the amusement park closed for good in 1964.
The Water Tower: A Landmark
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Many buildings were built by the CPR for the resort and railway. Today, only the tall steel water tower is left. It was built in 1928 by Vulcan Iron Works Ltd. in Winnipeg.
This tower is 40 meters (130 feet) high and held 90,000 liters (24,000 US gallons) of water. It provided water for the CPR's steam trains and helped protect the resort from fires. The tower stopped working when the resort closed. It is one of the best examples of old steel water towers left in Manitoba. Even today, it is a well-known landmark in the community.
Winnipeg Beach Today
Modern Attractions and Activities
After the resort closed, the Province of Manitoba worked to make the town popular again. In the 1960s, they created Winnipeg Beach Provincial Park. They improved the beach and the parks along it. A restaurant, lounge, and changing rooms were built, along with a big parking lot. The park is still a popular place for people who love the beach.
The town also built a skateboarding park. This helps to give young people in the community a fun place to go.
Filming Location and Camps
The TV show Falcon Beach was filmed in the town. This happened during the summers of 2005 and 2006.
Just north of Winnipeg Beach, there are several summer camps for kids. One of these is Camp Massad of Manitoba.
Annual Events
"Boardwalk Day" is a special event held every summer. It includes a carnival, a market, outdoor food, fireworks, and live music.
Local Government
The town of Winnipeg Beach is run by a mayor and a five-member town council. The current mayor is Pamela Jackson. The council members are:
- Jean Gendron
- Barry Hoel
- Douglas Jarvis
- Larry Kisiloski
Population Information
In the 2021 Census, Winnipeg Beach had a population of 1,439 people. These people lived in 757 homes. This was a 25.7% increase from its 2016 population of 1,145. The town covers a land area of 3.91 square kilometers (1.51 square miles).
