A comprehensive History of the Pinawa Dam as a generating station can be obtained at these locations:

• Pinawa Dam History - Friends of Old Pinawa
• Pinawa 1906-1951 - Manitoba Electrical Museum, Inc.

Old Pinawa Dam

Pinawa Dam Heritage Park

The park is located beside highway 520. The location of this park was originally a hydroelectric dam built between 1903-06 to provide electricity to the province of Manitoba and the city of Winnipeg. Strangely, it was not until after this facility closed that neighbouring communities received electrical power. It is one of many locations in the area like Slave Falls, McArthur Falls, Great Falls, Pointe du Bois and Pine Falls where the energy of the Winnipeg River is harnessed to develop electrical energy.

Dedication Pinawa Dam

This generating station closed in 1951 and was partly demolished. The Canadian Army took it over and used the remaining Pinawa company town site houses and other buildings to stage battle scenes and effectively turned them into war-zone rubble. Then they left.

In 1986 the Manitoba Government, Department of Natural Resources re-named it Pinawa Dam Heritage Park, and it was open to the general public again. It is cared for by a dedicated non profit group of volunteers called The Friends of Old Pinawa.

The Pinawa Dam Heritage Park is commonly referred to as Old Pinawa Dam. Ever since the hydro operations ceased it has been a favorite gathering place for area teenagers during daytime and night-time. A sign stating that swimming can be dangerous has never stopped some daring people from enjoying its warm rapids. By late summer the water tumbles down with less gusto allowing those with nimble feet to walk across over the slippery moss covered rocks. Others use the rapids as a waterslide.

The Friends of Old Pinawa have worked diligently through the years to make what remains of the dam site safe for hiking, and the grounds tidy for families and other groups of people to enjoy. The Trans Canada Trail and a hiking trail go through the park and follow the Pinawa Channel. Snowmobilers drive through in wintertime.

Compiled by:
Miriam Simoens, Secretary
The Lac du Bonnet and District Historical Society Inc. June 2010

The Town of Pinawa, Manitoba (built in 1963)

The only way to enter the town of Pinawa by vehicle is to drive to the end of Highway 211. Pinawa is situated beside the Winnipeg River and at the northern edge of the Whiteshell Provincial Park.

The name comes from a First Nations term for calm water. The town built by the Canadian Government for Atomic Energy (AECL) to provide housing and recreation for the the employees of its research station located several miles away. The station is presently being de-commissioned so the town gradually changing from a company town to include cottages and tourists.

Pinawa offers many summer recreation possibilities such as boating, canoeing, fishing, hiking, biking and swimming. The Trans Canada Trail goes through here. There are wonderful hiking trails like the Ironwood Trail, Alice Chambers Trail and the Pinawa Chanel Heritage Walk. It offers an excellent nine hole golf course. During winter there is cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, skating and curling. The Eastern Manitoba Concert Association (EMCA) offers a delightful season of touring stage performers.

The inhabitants of Pinawa are not only people because many white tail deer have decided to call it home as well. The Highway 211 is a good place for spotting the great grey owl, our Provincial Bird. Because the town is surrounded by Canadian Shield wilderness the area is great for spotting a wide variety of birds and animals.

Compiled by:
Miriam Simoens, Secretary
The Lac du Bonnet and District Historical Society Inc. June 2010

All aboard for Lac du Bonnet, Pointe du Bois and Slave Falls

Locomotive #3

Over 90 years ago, before Manitoba Hydro was even a gleam in anyone’s eye, Locomotive No. 3, pictured above, ran on the Winnipeg Hydro Tramway.

Built in 1882 by Dubs & Company in Glasgow, Scotland and purchased by Winnipeg Hydro in 1918, she hauled construction supplies and staff provisions, as well as staff and locals, between Lac du Bonnet, Pointe du Bois and Slave Falls. The only other means of transportation between these communities at that time was by water.

Locomotive

The tramway operated as a private railway for the greater part of the first half of the 20th century. In 1962 a paved highway was constructed between Lac du Bonnet and Pointe du Bois after it proved to be a more economical option than operating and maintaining the railway.

When the tramway closed sometime in the 60s, Winnipeg Hydro donated Locomotive No. 3 to the Vintage Locomotive Society, Inc. She eventually became part of the Prairie Dog Central Railway and operates to this day from May to September out of the Inkster Junction located just outside Winnipeg.

In the early 1900s, Scandinavian settlers, consisting mostly of Swedes, homesteaded on the east side of the Winnipeg river, opposite the village of Lac du Bonnet. This district became known as Riverland.

Some of the early Swedish pioneer family names in Riverland were Lindgren, Nasstrom, Petterson, Ongman, Pearson, Rosenholm, Tinndal, Anderson, Erickson, Hendrickson, Magnusson, Johnsson, and Larson.

The Swedes proved to be successful in farming, construction, logging, carpentry, and other trades. Some men worked construction at Pinawa Power Plant, 1902 – 1906, Pointe du Bois Power Plant until 1911, the brick plant, and McArthur’s sawmill in Lac du Bonnet.

Their homes were hand hewn dovetailed log construction, chinked with moss and plastered with a mixture of clay, cow manure, and straw. Some were white washed with a mixture of lime and water.

They worked hard making a living off the land by farming, trapping, hunting, and fishing. Water was acquired from the river year round. Cash was scarce. Cordwood was plentiful, and many eked out their farm living cutting and hauling wood to town to trade for flour, sugar, and coffee.

There were no cars, and no roads. Travel was by walking, through brushed trails, and around swamps, horseback, teams of oxen, or rowboat on the river.

The Swedish community was close in faith, work, and play. Neighborhood get togethers and community events were a very important factor to their unity. A school, church, and community hall would soon follow.

School Point – Riverland 1910 -1922

A log one room schoolhouse and a teacherage were built at School Point (today marked at Anderson Way and Davies Road). Built by community volunteers between 1910 and 1914, on donated land, it was to serve the children of the Swedish families who had settled in the Riverland area.

The first teacher was Naima Erickson (nee Bergstrom) who taught grades one to eight. Within several years the school had an enrollment of 22 students. It was closed in 1922 and the children later attended the new Riverland School further East.

A building called the Pavilion was erected on the South line to serve as a gathering place. This pavilion was owned by the school, and many of the sporting and cultural activities held at School Point took place there.

In the summer, School Point served as the site for a ferry landing. The ferry owned by K.J. Erickson made the necessary connection across the river. It was used to assist in the barging of equipment needed for the construction of the Pinawa Hydro Electric Generating Station.

from MHAC Cairn on site

Riverland School District 1557

The second Riverland school was used from 1922 – 1966. It still stands on its original location, along with the teacherage, on Riverland Road. At one time fifty to sixty pupils from grades one to eight attended this one room schoolhouse. In the early years children had to walk one to four miles to attend school.

Riverland Hall

Known as the Riverland Recreation Association, this hall was situated across the road from School Point. The Riverland community pooled together their resources, with donated land, materials, and labour. The end result was a hall with a dance floor, loft, stage and kitchen. (used until the 1960s)

Ebenezer Lutheran Church Riverland Rd. and Anderson Way

In 1912, Lutheran church services were first held at the log schoolhouse in School Point. Later, 1925, they were held at the Riverland School #2, and then moved to Riverland Hall. The congregation grew and with a land donation of ½ acre by Frank Pearson, building committee led by Emil Naastrom, (who also carried the loan till it was paid off in 1946), chimney built by Axel Lindgren, the completion of the church became a reality in 1931. With amalgamation with Lac du Bonnet it dissolved in 1959.

Silver Lodge

Silver Lodge was opened in the 1920s by Mr. and Mrs. Nels Eric Johnson (Johnsson). It was a popular summer resort for tourists, with board and room available at $15.00 a week. There were several small cabins, and Saturday night dances were held at the lodge. (used until1954 raising of the water level)

“A Swedish Christmas on the Prairies”

On November 29, 2011, the Lac du Bonnet Museum had the pleasure of sharing with grades one and two from the Centennial School in Lac du Bonnet a traditional Swedish pioneer Christmas celebration. The Hans Erickson cabin was filled to the brim with Swedish décor. The traditional tree boasted handmade paper chains, Swedish flag garland, advent stars, but most importantly the beautiful reindeer each child made and brought with them and put on the tree. Museum staff shared the customs of Sweden with the students, which were common on a Swedish homestead in western Canada. A few games were played, and everyone listened to beautiful carols sung by Iona Plato. The children listened to the stories of the Swedish homesteaders that came and settled in the Riverland area on the East side of the Winnipeg River. The students learned a few Swedish words, listened to poems and short stories, shared some laughter, and enjoyed a visit from Santa or “Jultomten”, who gave them a special “Swedish” treat to take home.

Feedback received from Centennial School

The presentation you created for our Grade 1/2 students was outstanding. The decorating, the selection of music and readings, the game and visit from Santa were all perfectly planned for children of this age. One of the reasons our children were well behaved was because they were engaged in the learning at the museum. You drew them in.

More importantly, from my perspective, was the idea that a group of loving adults carefully planned for the education of children in our community. The saying, "It takes a community to raise a child" was lived yesterday. I tried not to get teary when the little boy on my lap asked, "Can I go hug Santa?". I don't think he will ever forget telling Santa that he missed him and loved him and hearing Santa say, "I missed you too" and "I love you too".

The care that was given to your first educational presentation leads me to believe there will be a successful liaison between the museum and our school for years to come.

Congratulations and many thanks! Leslie

Leslie Wakeman
Guidance and Counseling
Centennial School
November 30, 2011

The following day, the museum was open to the public for two readings first at 7:00 and the second at 8:00. “A Swedish Christmas on the Prairies” was again well received.

Click on pictures to enlarge, To see more pictures of the this event click; Swedish Christmas.