Island Lake is a quaint community nestled in the northeastern region of Manitoba, Canada. This unique community is part of an archipelago near the north shore of Island Lake, including Red Sucker Lake, Garden Hill, Wasagamack, and St Theresa Point. Situated 297 km southeast of Thompson, Manitoba, and 610 km northeast of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Island Lake is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
The community of Island Lake is well-served by a variety of government and private agencies. These include a Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment, a Manitoba Conservation office, and the Government of Manitoba, which operates the Island Lake Airport. The community also boasts the Stevenson Island School (Frontier School Division), a Bell MTS office, a Manitoba Hydro office, and the North West Company, which operates the Northern Store. Several small convenience stores and the Island Lake Lodge, a fly fishing lodge on Stevenson Island, further enhance the community's amenities.
Perimeter Aviation offers daily service to Island Lake from Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport using Bombardier Dash 8 and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners. The community is also served by a Medevac Base on Stevenson Island, ensuring medical assistance is available 365 days a year.
Island Lake is one of the least foggy places in Canada, with only 21.11 hours of fog annually. Only Penticton, British Columbia, sees less fog throughout the year. In February, Island Lake averages a mere 0.67 hours of fog. The community experiences a subarctic climate (Dfc) with mild, rainy summers and severely cold winters.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Island Lake had a population of 54 living in 21 of its 66 total private dwellings. This represents a change of -31.6% from its 2016 population of 79. With a land area of 3.54 km2 (1.37 sq mi), the community had a population density of 15.3/km2 (39.5/sq mi) in 2021. Despite its small size, Island Lake, Manitoba, is a vibrant community with a lot to offer.
