1

As with any prairie town in the early settlement years, Gimli's economic development was steady from the earliest days when the Icelandic settlers landed on the shores of Lake Winnipeg with their meagre supplies. Shortly after their arrival enterprising business men opened general stores to serve the needs of a growing community. Postal service was established, a school and churches were built. This steady growth saw more jobs created in businesses that provided lumber, and building supplies. The settlers farmed and fished and as these industries grew so did the town. Fish marketing and freighting both summer and winter became a maintstay of the community and remains so today.

2

Lakeview Hotel in Gimli
1900
Gimli, Manitoba

3

Lakeview Hotel (later became Betel Home) and the Lyric Theatre on First Avenue.
1912
Gimli, Manitoba First Avenue

4

H.P. Tergesen's on the corner of First Avenue and Centre Street
1915
Gimli, Manintoba

5

Built in 1899, Tergesen's General Store is still used today. It is a good example of the early commercial development in the community. The second floor of this building has been removed but served a variety of purposes over the years including: residential quarters, a classroom and a meeting hall. Like most early commercial establishments the store sold a wide variety of merchandise (see next photo).

6

H.P. Tergesen's store interior
1915
Gimli, Manitoba

7

Cutting ice blocks from Lake Winnipeg for ice house of fish processing facility and for ice boxes
1920
Gimli Harbour

8

Right from the beginning of the settlement Lake Winnipeg and its resources were an important part of the economy. Summer and winter fisheries provided both local food supplies and goods to ship from the community. Another important resource was the lake itself. In winter ice was cut and used for packing summer fish catches, for ice boxes, and even for the occasional summer treat of ice cream.

9

Horse drawn fish freighters hauling on a frozen Lake Winnipeg
1930
Gimli, Manitoba - on Lake Winnipeg

10

Lake freighters hauling lumber on Lake Winnipeg
1935
Lake Winnipeg in winter, near Gimli

11

Gimli train station. Train heading north.
1912
Gimli, #9 Highway

12

When the Canadian Pacific Railway was extended to Gimli, the tourism industry had its first beginnings and Gimli established a reputation as a resort town. As a result there was a growing need for services such as hotels, restaurants and even more growth in the construction industry as Gimli also became firmly established as "cottage country".

13

Gimli train station, C. P. R., was on the corner of highway 9 and Centre Street.
1950
Gimli, Manitoba

14

Swimmers at Gimli beach
1940
Gimli, Manitoba