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Geography
The Rural Municipality of Bifrost is located approximately 100 kilometres north of Winnipeg, Manitoba's capital. The community lies along the western shore of Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba's largest lake, and is part of the province's Interlake Region. The municipality surrounds the incorporated Town of Arborg and the Village of Riverton, and these communities offer a wide range of services to Bifrost.
History
In 1875, the Canadian Government set aside a large portion of land on the west shore of Lake Winnipeg exclusively for Icelandic settlement. The first group of settlers arrived later that year and took up land near Willow Point, close to what is presently the Town of Gimli. Over the next year, 1200 more settlers arrived and the community of New Iceland grew.
As the population grew, so did the need for some form of local government. The Rural Municipality of Gimli was formed to handle this task. It soon became evident, though, that the residents of the northern part of the municipality were too far removed from the government offices given the travel conditions and poor roads of the day. The Province was petitioned to do something to remedy the situation, and in 1907, split the R.M. of Gimli in two, the northwestern portion being known as Bifrost. The community of Hnausa was chosen as the home for municipal offices of Bifrost, and the R.M. was incorporated in 1908. The chosen name of Bifrost comes from the Scandinavian word from Norse mythology meaning "rainbow bridge connecting heaven and earth".
As the community developed, the villages of Arborg and Riverton quickly evolved as centres for trade in the community. In 1916, it was felt that one of these centres would better serve the municipality as home of the municipal offices. In 1916, the Bifrost Government moved to Arborg, and the community took on its present state. Today, the Rural Municipality of Bifrost is home to some 2750 residents. The community is diverse culturally, as well as, economically and is always a great place to visit.
Economic Base
The economy of the R.M. of Bifrost is centred around the incorporated Town of Arborg and the Village of Riverton. Although they located close together, they are two very different centres. Arborg, and the western portions of the municipality sit in the Canadian Prairies and many of the residents make their living from the land, farming grain, oilseeds and livestock. Several businesses in the R.M. of Bifrost serve the agriculture industry by supplying seed, fertiliser and inputs, as well as, marketing service for harvested product. To supply a growing world market, several livestock operations have been constructed in the area. The eastern portion of the municipality lies along the edge of Lake Winnipeg, and the scenery, people and economy take on a much different feeling. Lake Winnipeg supports a large commercial fishery, and many Bifrost residents living along the lake come from a long line of traditional fishermen. The economy of the eastern part of the municipality and the Incorporated Village of Riverton is deeply rooted in fishing for Pickerel, Whitefish and the famous Lake Winnipeg Goldeye. Several businesses in the community service the fishing boats and equipment that these men and women rely on. In the winter months, boats are moored and traded for tracked Bombardier snow vehicles, and nets are tended through the ice. Several small manufacturing firms operate in the community providing machining to local fishers and farmers, as well as, several who produce products such as farm equipment parts for export to world markets.
Throughout the municipality, tourism is also a big player in the community's economy. Several quaint Bed & Breakfast establishments, as well as, several vacation areas boost the economy by attracting visitors from around the world. Hecla Island Provincial Park, another popular tourist attraction, also draws thousands of visitors to the municipality year round.
Major Attractions
Bifrost's location on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, means that there is an abundance of recreational activities available year round. During the summer, the lake is ringed with warm, sandy beaches, perfect for swimming or just lounging in the sun. The many rivers, creeks and marshes that dot the shores, provide great opportunities for people to catch many species of fish. In the fall, these same areas are teeming with waterfowl and are popular with avid hunters. Throughout the winter, there are endless possibilities for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. The frozen lake ice, offers countless places to drill a hole and drop a line to try your hand at ice fishing. Several other facilities, including hockey arenas, curling clubs, baseball diamonds, parks and playgrounds, are available nearby in the Town of Arborg
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