Description of Historic Place

The Gimli Dance Pavilion sits within the picturesque setting of Gimli Park, surrounded by open expanses of grassed terrain and stands of mature trees near the western shore of Lake Winnipeg. The functional, one-storey wood-frame structure, constructed in 1911, is surrounded by a well-maintained older residential neighbourhood north of the town's business centre and west of the beach. The municipal designation applies to the pavilion, the adjoining banquet and service facilities and the park.

Heritage Value

The Gimli Dance Pavilion is the older of only two extant facilities of its type still operating in Manitoba and the only remaining dance hall of three built in the Interlake district. Designed by Olafur Thornsteinson, a talented craftsman, musician and early pioneer in New Iceland, the pavilion remains largely intact with its original materials and design features. Although diminutive in size and appearance compared to later facilities, it represents the popularity of dancing as a recreational activity after the turn of the twentieth century. The pavilion also holds significance as a social and cultural venue for the Icelandic community, hosting many events, including the yearly Icelandic Festival of Manitoba.

Source: Town of Gimli By-law No. 97-09, August 12, 1997

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that define the heritage character of the Gimli Dance Pavilion site include:
- the pavilion's location in Gimli Park amongst a larger collection of structures, including the outdoor stage, recreational buildings and picnic shelters, all set within flat, grassed expanses mixed with stands of mature trees

Key elements that define the pavilion's utilitarian external heritage character include:
- its low-to-the-ground rectangular form with a low hipped roof and basic on-grade concrete foundation
- the exterior walls of unfinished horizontal wood planking punctuated by a series of horizontal wooden shutters, located on the upper portion of the walls, covered with sturdy wire mesh on the exterior, and with hinges along the top edges to allow them to swing open upwards
- the simple sets of double wooden doors located at the southeast, southwest and northeast corners

Key elements that define the pavilion's function as a recreational facility include:
- the formal rectangular plan composed of two sections, the large rectangular dance floor and the enclosed promenade surrounding it on all sides
- the roof structure composed of exposed raised-chord trusses spanning the central gable to permit the large open unobstructed expanses of the interior, with basic eaves spanning the promenade
- the dance floor partially enclosed by unfinished wood-frame walls in each corner and otherwise delineated by stretches of open-support chamfer columns and brackets, with the lower portion of the walls filled in with sturdy wire mesh
- the small stage in the northwest corner of the dance floor
- the durable finishes and details, including the maple dance floor, the decorative V-joint corners of the promenade floor, the prominent brackets supporting the promenade roof, etc.