Oðin Green: History

A view of Gimli in 1910.
Source: Archives of Manitoba

Odin Green

The land that is now Odin Green waterfront property has been in the Arnason family since the late 1800s, when it was granted from the Dominion of Canada to Johann Pjetur Arnason. It borders Lake Winnipeg, on a bay sheltered by a unique semi-circular peninsula. The bay provides safe boating and recreational opportunities, natural sand beaches, and is one of the world’s top windsurfing sites. The land was used as part of farming operations until the early 1970’s, but was not highly suitable for agriculture. The property fell into disuse and the current owners acquired the land in the late 1970’s. Bruce and Gerald Arnason conceived a waterfront subdivision called Odin Green in 2004, and proceeded through construction over the next few years.

The name Odin Green reflects the family’s and the region’s Icelandic heritage. “Odin” refers to the best known and most powerful deity from Norse mythology. The name was chosen as a reminder of the traditional values that helped the Icelandic immigrants in their struggles to build a new life here in Canada. "Green" refers to the state of nature and the location of the subdivision in an area teeming with birds, fish, and wildlife. It also reflects the "green" approach taken in design, including the minimization of traffic flows and light pollution, and a large commitment to common use areas.

The design of the subdivision solves the problems of shoreline erosion and boat docking problems that plague the open shore area of Lake Winnipeg, The fully sheltered man made lakes of the subdivision offer sand beaches and full erosion protection while providing the opportunity for boat docking in front of your own home. Access to the sheltered recreational bay and to greater Lake Winnipeg (the world’s 10th largest freshwater lake) takes approximately three minutes by boat. The area is secluded and quiet, with acres of forested walking paths, yet it is only one mile from the local urban area with access to all modern amenities.

Gimli area

Gimli was first settled in 1875 upon the arrival of Icelandic settlers. Life had been harsh in Iceland in the preceding years, when volcanic eruptions and unusually cold winters left work and food scarce. These Icelanders were looking for a new land where they could stay together, prosper and keep their cultural traditions and language. The first settlers arrived October 21st 1875 and landed at Willow Point, just south of the present day town of Gimli. They soon inhabited the 36 mile long, 11 mile wide area along the western shore of lake Winnipeg that had been granted to them by the federal government. They became a sovereign nation which they named New Iceland and established their own system of government, laws and schools. After several difficult years of adjusting to a new climate, acquiring knowledge for survival in this new land and surviving an outbreak of smallpox, their future looked promising. The soil was good, there was plenty of wood for building and burning, and the game and fishing were plentiful. Their strong tradition of education, democracy, family and community thrived and provided a solid foundation for this new settlement. New Iceland remained independent until 1881 when it became part of the province of Manitoba, but retained its own government system until 1887.

By the turn of the century, settlers from Ukraine, Poland, Hungary and Germany settled in large numbers in this area, increasing the ethnic diversity of the area. The railroad arrived in Gimli in 1906 which allowed tourists easy access to the area’s lake and beaches.

A Ukrainian family standing near the store they owned and operated in Vita, Manitoba, dated July 19, 1921.

The construction of a military air base and RCAF Service Flying Training School during WWII created a surge in the population. The base was used as a jet fighter training school from 1950 until 1971, when it was abandoned and then converted into an industrial park.

The town and Rural Municipality of Gimli today are home to the largest concentration of people of Icelandic ancestry outside of Iceland. Gimli is renowned for its fresh water fishery and its beautiful beaches make it a destination for thousands of tourists and Summer residents.