About Gimli
The Town of Gimli is located on the west shore of Lake Winnipeg, 80 kilometres north of Winnipeg (the provincial capital) in Manitoba's Interlake Region. This "traveler's Paradise", is known for its long sandy beaches, its picturesque harbour and its beautiful well-developed waterfront. In Norse Mythology, Gimli literally means "Home Of The Gods" or "Paradise".
In recent years, the community has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Manitoba, living up to its name and attracting thousands of visitors annually.
Gimli's history dates back to 1875, when the Canadian Government granted land along Lake Winnipeg to Icelandic settlers. The Icelanders quickly set up an almost sovereign nation with their own government system and laws, and the community became known as New Iceland. In 1876, federal surveyors completed their work and divided the republic into townships and three town sites. One of these sites became Gimli. In 1881, when Manitoba's boundary expanded to its present size, New Iceland retained its government system, which remained in effect until 1887, when the present municipal system of government was adopted.