Sweet summer in Canada: A vacation in Manitoba

Our Sweet summer in Canada series explores vacation destinations across the country that report having the highest levels of life satisfaction. This month, we’re exploring some popular vacation destinations in the province that reported having the fourth-highest levels of life satisfaction: Manitoba. In the first quarter of 2024, 51.4% of Manitoba’s population reported having a high level of life satisfaction (8, 9 or 10 on a scale of 1 to 10).

Spectacular views of the northern lights, Viking festivals, rural retreats and more—let’s explore some of our top picks when it comes to summer vacation in Manitoba.

Witness the northern lights in Churchill, Manitoba

Churchill is located in Northern Manitoba on the west shore of Hudson Bay, stretching across 50.83 square kilometres of land.

Churchill was home to 870 people in 2021, down from 899 in 2016. More than half (495 people) of Churchill’s population reported having an Indigenous identity during the 2021 Census of Population, including 345 First Nations, 80 Métis and 25 Inuit. 

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are a display of colourful light, commonly seen in the night sky of the northern hemisphere. Although the northern lights tend to be the most visible during the winter months, in Churchill, they are visible almost year-round.

To get the best viewing experience of the northern lights, read more about where, when and how to see the northern lights in Churchill, Manitoba.

Gimli, Manitoba: Home of the Viking

Gimli, Manitoba, located just an hour north of Winnipeg, is a lakeside community with strong ties to Iceland. If you’re interested in Vikings, Gimli is the place to go to discover all things Viking—and many more odes to Icelandic culture.

You’ll want to head over to Viking Park to see the Viking statue, which stands almost five metres tall in the centre of the park. Gimli also hosts the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba, or “Islendingadagurinn,” which means “day of the Icelanders.”

The rural municipality of Gimli was home to 6,569 people in 2021, up 6.3% from 2016. Gimli is known to have the largest population of Icelandic descendants outside of Iceland. In 2021, 1,330 people living in Gimli reported having Icelandic ethnic or cultural origin, which refers to the ethnic or cultural origin of the person’s ancestors.

When dining in Gimli, be sure to treat yourself to some Vínarterta, a traditional Icelandic dessert made of alternating layers of biscuit and prunes or plum jam, often enjoyed with coffee.

Check out more about what to do and what to see when visiting Gimli.

Head to Flin Flon for a lakeside retreat

Flin Flon is a small community located in northern Manitoba, where you’ll find an active arts scene, lakeside lodges and a vibrant community.

Flin Flon, where English is the predominantly spoken language, was home to 4,940 people in 2021, 51 fewer compared with five years earlier.

Cottage rentals and campgrounds in Flin Flon provide the perfect oasis for a family getaway in the outdoors. With easy access to boating, fishing and swimming areas, renting a cottage or camping in Flin Flon can be enjoyable for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.

Almost two-thirds (63.9%) of residents of Flin Flon were aged 15 to 64 years in 2021, with seniors (18.8%) outnumbering children (17.4%). The average age in Flin Flon was 42.2 years.

By comparison, in Manitoba overall, there were more children (18.8%) than seniors (17.1%), and the average age was 39.7 years in 2021.

Approximately one in four (585 people) of the 2,465 working residents of Flin Flon were employed in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction in 2021. Health care and social assistance was the next largest employer (450 jobs), followed by retail trade (350), education (200) and accommodation and food services (150).

Check out more places to go and activities to enjoy when visiting Flin Flon.

To discover more of everything that Manitoba has to offer, check out Manitoba’s tourism website.