Gimli

About Gimli

Gimli sits on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg, a lakeside town that grew out of the Icelandic settlement known as New Iceland in the 1870s. That heritage still shapes its identity: Icelandic surnames are common, a tall Viking statue stands near the waterfront, and every summer the town hosts one of North America's oldest Icelandic festivals. The lake itself, broad enough to feel like an inland sea, sets the mood for everything here.

Most visits start at Gimli Harbour, where fishing boats and sailboats share the docks and a short walk leads out to the harbour lighthouse. Along the breakwater, the Gimli Seawall Gallery turns concrete into a long outdoor canvas of painted murals. The New Iceland Heritage Museum tells the settlement story in detail, while the Gimli Glider Museum recalls the 1983 emergency landing of an Air Canada jet on the town's former air base runway. H.P. Tergesen & Sons, a family general store on the main street, is a favorite stop for books and Icelandic goods, and Gimli Beach and Gimli Park fill up on warm afternoons.

Gimli suits families, beachgoers, and travelers curious about Canada's immigrant history. The pace is easygoing, with everything in the compact center reachable on foot. Summer brings the busiest weeks, especially around the August Icelandic festival, while winter turns the lake into a frozen plain used for ice fishing.