Gillam, Manitoba
Encyclopedia
Gillam, Manitoba
, Canada
, is a community between Thompson
and Churchill
on the Hudson Bay Railway
line. Gillam is a significant community because of the nearby Nelson River Bipole
converter station on the Nelson River
. Gillam receives limited VIA rail passenger service at the Gillam railway station
.
The large Gillam Local Government District was established by the Manitoba government in the mid-1960s to facilitate development of hydroelectricity on the lower Nelson River. At 1996.346 square kilometres (770.8 sq mi), Gillam is considered to be the 15th largest city or town in Canada, although the majority of the encompassing area of the District is largely uninhabited and undeveloped, but filled with many lakes, rivers and large forests of pine trees. It is the largest town in Manitoba, and one of four extremely large "towns" (the other three are Leaf Rapids
, Snow Lake
, and Lynn Lake
) in northern Manitoba that, although technically towns, are mostly rural and are the size of most typical counties
in the United States or eastern Canada. Three of Manitoba's largest hydro dams—Kettle Generating Station, Long Spruce Generating Station, and Limestone Generating Station—are located within Gillam's boundaries. The Town of Gillam itself is quite small with an approximate population of 1200 people most of whom are employed by Manitoba Hydro
and work at one of the many stations in the surrounding area. There are also many small businesses, a small mall, grocery store, school (K-12), recreation centre, a train station and a local Royal Canadian Mounted Police
branch.
Gillam is also the home of Fox Lake Cree Nation
, an Indian Band. A majority of the members of Fox Lake Cree Nation live in the Town of Gillam or on Reserve Land in the nearby community of Bird, which is also located within the Gillam Local Government District. The ghost town of Sundance, whose purpose was to facilitate the building of the Limestone Generating Station, is also within the District of Gillam. Once a busy, fully functioning town, it has since been abandoned and torn down after the completion of Limestone (named for the Limestone River that empties into the Nelson just downstream of the dam).
CBWLT
channel 8 (CBC)
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, is a community between Thompson
Thompson, Manitoba
Thompson is a city in northern Manitoba. As the "Hub of the North" it serves as the regional trade and service centre of northern Manitoba. Thompson is located north of the Canada – United States border, north of the provincial capital of Winnipeg, and is northeast of Flin Flon...
and Churchill
Churchill, Manitoba
Churchill is a town on the shore of Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada. It is most famous for the many polar bears that move toward the shore from inland in the autumn, leading to the nickname "Polar Bear Capital of the World" that has helped its growing tourism industry.-History:A variety of nomadic...
on the Hudson Bay Railway
Hudson Bay Railway
Hudson Bay Railway is a Canadian railway operating over of trackage in northern Manitoba.HBRY was formed in July 1997 to purchase former Canadian National Railway trackage running north from CN trackage at The Pas, MB on two branches, one to Flin Flon, MB and on to Lynn Lake, MB, the other to...
line. Gillam is a significant community because of the nearby Nelson River Bipole
Nelson River Bipole
thumb|right|Nelson River Bipoles 1 and 2 terminate at Dorsey Converter Station near [[Rosser, Manitoba]]. The station takes [[HVDC]] current and converts it to [[alternating current|HVAC]] current for re-distribution to consumers...
converter station on the Nelson River
Nelson River
The Nelson River is a river of north-central North America, in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Its full length is , it has mean discharge of , and has a drainage basin of , of which is in the United States...
. Gillam receives limited VIA rail passenger service at the Gillam railway station
Gillam railway station
The Gillam Railway Station is a stop in Gillam, Manitoba, Canada. The stop is served by Via Rail's Winnipeg – Churchill train.The -storey, wood-frame building was built in 1930 by the Canadian National Railway as a Class II station building....
.
The large Gillam Local Government District was established by the Manitoba government in the mid-1960s to facilitate development of hydroelectricity on the lower Nelson River. At 1996.346 square kilometres (770.8 sq mi), Gillam is considered to be the 15th largest city or town in Canada, although the majority of the encompassing area of the District is largely uninhabited and undeveloped, but filled with many lakes, rivers and large forests of pine trees. It is the largest town in Manitoba, and one of four extremely large "towns" (the other three are Leaf Rapids
Leaf Rapids, Manitoba
Leaf Rapids is a town in north west Manitoba, Canada. The town was developed as an experimental model; a model that other northern communities could replicate as they strove for modern convenience and luxury in a northern environment...
, Snow Lake
Snow Lake, Manitoba
Snow Lake is a town in Manitoba, Canada located 685 km north of Winnipeg at the end of Provincial Road 392. The main industry is and always has been mining; currently with one mine producing Zinc. In late 2009 it was discovered that the Snow Lake area could have one of the largest gold rich VMS...
, and Lynn Lake
Lynn Lake, Manitoba
Lynn Lake is a small town in the northwest region of Manitoba, Canada, 1,071 km from Winnipeg. The town was named after Lynn Smith, chief engineer of Sherritt Gordon Mines Ltd. There are numerous outfitters in the Lynn Lake area...
) in northern Manitoba that, although technically towns, are mostly rural and are the size of most typical counties
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
in the United States or eastern Canada. Three of Manitoba's largest hydro dams—Kettle Generating Station, Long Spruce Generating Station, and Limestone Generating Station—are located within Gillam's boundaries. The Town of Gillam itself is quite small with an approximate population of 1200 people most of whom are employed by Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro is the electric power and natural gas utility in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1961, it is a provincial Crown Corporation, governed by the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board and the Manitoba Hydro Act. Today the company operates 15 interconnected generating stations. It has...
and work at one of the many stations in the surrounding area. There are also many small businesses, a small mall, grocery store, school (K-12), recreation centre, a train station and a local Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
branch.
Gillam is also the home of Fox Lake Cree Nation
Fox Lake Cree Nation
Fox Lake Cree Nation is a First Nation located in Fox Lake, Bird, Manitoba, Canada.On November 8th, 2007, Fox Lake Cree Nation dedicated a monumental statue in Gillam, Manitoba...
, an Indian Band. A majority of the members of Fox Lake Cree Nation live in the Town of Gillam or on Reserve Land in the nearby community of Bird, which is also located within the Gillam Local Government District. The ghost town of Sundance, whose purpose was to facilitate the building of the Limestone Generating Station, is also within the District of Gillam. Once a busy, fully functioning town, it has since been abandoned and torn down after the completion of Limestone (named for the Limestone River that empties into the Nelson just downstream of the dam).
Climate
Local media
Television
CBWLT joined the province-wide microwave network in the Summer of 1969.CBWLT
CBWT
CBWT is the CBC's television station in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is the only CBC station in Manitoba, since Brandon's CKX-TV closed on October 2, 2009....
channel 8 (CBC)