Gimli, Manitoba — Canada’s Prairie Region (North America)

New Iceland

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, June 20, 2008

1. New Iceland Marker

Inscription. New Iceland represents a distinctive episode in the early settlement of the Canadian West. In 1875 and 1876, more than a thousand Icelandic immigrants settled a large tract of land reserved for them by the federal government along the western shore of Lake Winnipeg. Before 1887, the reserve was essentially self-governing under its own constitution, and the setters were primarily of Icelandic origin. New Iceland enabled them to preserve their language and cultural identity. Numerous descendants maintain vibrant traditions and close ties with Iceland.

La création de la Nouvelle-IsIande, épisode particulier de l’histoire de l’Ouest canadien, débuta avec l’arrivée en 1875 et 1876 de plus de mille Islandais sur la rive ouest du lac Winnipeg, sur des terres désignées par le gouvernement fédéral. Cette réserve fut essentiellement régie par sa propre constitution jusqu’en 1887 et demeura pour un certain temps presque exclusivement islandaise. Nýja Ísland permit aux colons de préserver leur langue et leur culture. Plusieurs descendants y gardent encore leurs traditions et des liens étroits avec l’Islande.

Stofnum Nýja Íslands

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er sérstæður þáttur í upphafi landnáms versturhluta Kanada. Árin 1875 og 1876 settust rúmlega eitt þúsund íslenskir innflytjendur að á stóru landssvæði sem ríkisstjórn Kanada úthlutaði þeim við vesturströnd Winnipegvatns. Fram til 1887 nuttu íbúar svæðisins mikils sjálfstæðis og höfðu sína eigin stjótnarskrá. Landnemarnir voru flestir af íslensku bergi brotnir. Nýja Ísland gerði þeim kleift að varðveita tungu sína og menningu. Fjölmargir afkomendur þeirra halda erfðavenjur í heiðri og rækta náin tengsl við Ísland.

Erected 2000 by Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. 50° 37.751′ N, 96° 59.149′ W. Marker is in Gimli, Manitoba. It is on Second Avenue south of Lady of the Lake Drive, on the left when traveling south. Located in Harbour Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 104 2nd Ave, Gimli MB R0C 1B1, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, June 20, 2008

2. New Iceland Marker

On the shore of Lake Winnipeg.

marker is in Manitoba’s Interlake Region.

It is also in the Prairies.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within 14 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Postage Stamp Province (approx. 13.7 kilometers away).

Also see . . . The New Iceland Heritage Museum. (Submitted on June 23, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2008, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,567 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 20, 2008, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. • Christopher Busta-Peck was the editor who published this page.