The Town of Lac du Bonnet is situated 91 kilometres north-east of Winnipeg on the west bank of a portion of the historic and picturesque Winnipeg River.
The name Lac du Bonnet was given to the area on October 1, 1900 by Walter Wardrop, Sr., entrepreneur when the post office came into existence and he became its first postmaster. He called the new post office Lac du Bonnet, a name he took from the "big lake" some five miles downstream from the area.
While your in Lac-Du-Bonnet see if you can make your way 8km to Pinawa. In and Around Pinawa you'll find:
The Old Pinawa Dam, on the Pinawa Channel was the first hydro electric dam built between Sault St. Marie and the Rockies. Constructed in 1906, it supplied electricity to Winnipeg until 1951 when the new dams on the Winnipeg River were built. Later, it was used to teach the militia to cope with a nuclear attack and was also used as a artillery range.
A walking bridge, interpretive signs and an amphitheatre with spectacular falls and rapids are now a part of the Old Pinawa Dam Provincial Heritage Park.
The Pinawa Suspension Bridge, located on Alice Chambers Trail is 54 metres long and 1 metre wide. Crossing the Pinawa Channel north of the Pinawa Cemetery, the Bridge is part of a loop for interpretive walks, casual fishing and cross country skiing. The Pinawa Channel Heritage Walk on the north side of the channel is accessed either by the Bridge or the Diversion Dam at the end of PR #211. Both visitors and local residents have a greater opportunity to discover and appreciate the natural beauty of the Pinawa district on this branch of the Trans Canada Trail. Also featured at this site is a covered picnic shelter. This project was built by volunteer labour under the direction of the Pinawa Trails Group, and is known to many in the community as the "Labour of Love".
The Pinawa Heritage Sundial is a horizontal dial stretching 10 metres square, with a gnomon 5 metres high and is designed specifically for the latitude and longitude of the site. The site for the Pinawa Heritage Sundial is a small park in the centre of town near the marina. The park creates a meeting place overlooking the Winnipeg River and offers visitors an opportunity to discover the heritage and beauty of the region.
Other Links
Town of Lac Du Bonnet
Lac Du Bonnet Regional District
Town of Pinawa
Pinawa Canoe Route
