Winnipegosis

This article is about the unincorporated community. For the lake, see Lake Winnipegosis. For the komatite formation, see Winnipegosis komatiite belt.

Winnipegosis
Nickname:  Little Muddy Water
Winnipegosis
Coordinates: 51.616667°N 99.933333°W / 51.616667; -99.933333
Country	Canada
Province	Manitoba
Region	Parkland Region
Established,	January 6, 1915
Government
• MLA (Swan River)	Ron Kostyshyn (NDP)
• MP (Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa)	Robert Sopuck (CPC)
Population  (2011 Census)
• Total	647
• Density	258.8/km2 (670/sq mi)
• Change 2006-11	3.0%
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	204
Demonym	Winnipegosiser

Winnipegosis is an unincorporated urban community in the Rural Municipality of Mossey River within the Canadian province of Manitoba that held village status prior to January 1, 2015. It is located along Lake Winnipegosis and the Mossey River and had a population of 647 in 2011.

Its village status was relinquished when the village amalgamated with Rural Municipality of Mossey River.

History

The name "Winnipegosis" comes from the Cree word meaning "Little Muddy Water", a diminutive of Winnipeg, which means "Muddy Water". The Winnipegosis area was the site of the original Fort Dauphin, constructed by descendants of the French explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye, in the late 18th century. The peak of the community's economic boom occurred during the settler-era fur trade and 20th century timber and fishing industries.

The community was originally incorporated as a village on January 6, 1915. Celebrations were held in July 2015 for the 100th anniversary of Winnipegosis.

Economy

Winnipegosis has an economy including restaurants, museums, gas stations, financial institutions, grocery stores, hair dressers, a pharmacy, nine-hole golf course and hardware store. The community also has a Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment, a volunteer fire department, and ambulance service. Today, ranching, agriculture, fishing, tourism and senior's services provides the community with its present and future economic prosperity.

The area is a popular place for hunting and fishing. American black bear hunting is a growing industry in the Winnipegosis area and with its proximity to Lake Winnipegosis and many small surrounding lakes, it is a haven for migratory game birds and attracts many ducks and geese. There is both commercial and recreational fishing, as there are walleye and an assortment of other Manitoba freshwater fish.