General Info

Located at 51° 37' N, 99° 56' W, Winnipegosis is a small town of perhaps 800 people. Farmlands surround the town. There is a beach in town on Lake Winnipegosis. The Mossey River flows into the lake. Once there was a thriving fishery in the town, but it has since dwindled. The remaining fishing boats are largely used now for tours of the lake and nearby islands (such as Snake Island).

The area is inhabited in part by Ukrainian and Icelandic immigrants and their descendants.

Winnipegosis is 50 km north of Dauphin, and approximately 400 km northwest of Winnipeg.

"Winnipegosis" is derived from a Cree word meaning "Little Muddy Water", a diminutive of Winnipeg, which means "Muddy Water".

There is a road near Winnipegosis where a murder happened in the 1920s. The road is called "Murder Hill Road" by locals.

From Manitoba Community Profiles (http://www.communityprofiles.mb.ca/cgi-bin/csd/index.cgi?id=4617073):

History

The first Europeans to come to the Winnipegosis area were the early explorers and the fur traders. For years before, native tribes hunted and fished in the area. The village's name is in fact derived from an Indian word meaning "Little Muddy Water", signifying the murky waters of the Mossy River.

The mouth of the Mossey River played a vital role in the fur trade. It was here where many trappers and traders met throughout the year to do business and purchase supplies. Winnipegosis was the site of the original Fort Dauphin, constructed by descendants of the French explorer LaVerendrye, in the late 1700's. In the early years, the community's importance to the fur trade drew more and more people to the area, and the village was officially incorporated in 1915. By this time, the fur trade had all but died, but lumbering and fishing in the area became the main economic activities.

Economic Base

Business in Winnipegosis is still strong, but again has taken on a new face. Lumbering in the area continued until the seventies, when the rail line was abandoned and transportation costs became too great.

Today agriculture is one of the major economic activities in the Winnipegosis area. The rocky soils and treed cover on much of the surrounding farmland, makes the area almost perfectly suited to ranching and cattle production. Winnipegosis now serves as an important centre for the local farming and ranching industry. Local producers turn to Winnipegosis for most of their needs including fuel, equipment sales and repair, feed and medication, and various other supplies. To some extent, field crops are also grown in the area. Several growers plant cereal grains and oilseeds, while many grow forage crops for use as feed for the area's livestock.

Fishing and tourism play a small role in the village's economy. Several nearby areas are popular with travelers and many businesses and services in Winnipegosis cater directly to these visitors.

Major Attractions

Residents of Winnipegosis enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor recreational activities. During the summer, baseball games on the local diamonds, fishing and boating on the lake, or golfing on the beautiful nine-hole golf course, are just a few of the favourite pastimes.

During the winter, people ice-fish, while the boats are exchanged for snowmobiles, and for playing hockey, and for curling and skating. The Winnipegosis area is also known for its game and bird hunting with plenty of deer, moose, fox, coyotes and waterfowl to be had. Several outfitters and lodges in the area provide accommodations, guiding services and other amenities to visiting sportsmen and women.

For a bit of a slower pace, residents or visitors can enjoy a relaxing afternoon cruise on the lake or a stroll through the town museum, featuring the Myrtle M, one of Manitoba's last wooden freighters. The community is also known for its bird watching and wildflowers, and is very popular among photography buffs and outdoor enthusiasts.