Saint-Laurent is located on the shore of Lake Manitoba and is a historic Métis community. An annual cultural festival, historic commemorative sites, and recreation options on the water or on the golf course give a trip several clearly distinct focal points.

Métis History on Lake Manitoba

The Métis community of St. Laurent was established on the shore of Lake Manitoba in 1824. Its early livelihoods included fishing, trapping, trading and small-scale farming. The lakeside location and these early livelihoods are both part of the community’s origins. In 2004, the Métis community was selected for an opening exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute’s new National Museum of the American Indian. The community’s founding and its later selection for the exhibition mark distinct historical points of reference: its early way of life on the one hand, and a later cultural presentation on the other.

Church, Mission and Remembrance

St. Laurent Roman Catholic Church and Grotto represents a mission that developed into a well-established parish with a church, school and an Oblate novitiate. The church building was constructed in 1963, replacing an earlier building at the same site. A bell in front of the church was cast in 1898. Near the church stands a monument to those who fell in the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War.

The Manipogo Festival in March

Each March, at the end of the fishing season, the community celebrates Métis culture with the Manipogo Festival. The timing links a recurring cultural event with the seasonal end of fishing. If you’d like to include the festival in your trip, check the current event dates in advance.

Shoreline Destinations in the Municipality

The municipality of St. Laurent is home to a variety of shoreline and recreation destinations. Twin Beaches stretches for more than six kilometres of natural beach and is shared by the municipalities of St. Laurent and Woodlands. Laurentia Beach has public access via Laurentia Beach Road. Twin Lakes Beach is known as a windsurfing destination. The names indicate different highlights to help you choose: Twin Beaches for its length and shared use, Laurentia Beach for public access, and Twin Lakes Beach for windsurfing.

Another natural landmark is located in the community itself: a poplar more than 325 years old stands in Big Tree Park (Parc Gros Arbre) in Saint-Laurent. This distinct tree is different from the shoreline and watersport options in the municipality.

Golf Course and Driving Range

The Lake Manitoba Resort Golf Course is a newly developed 9-hole course that offers a challenge for golfers of all skill levels. If you don’t want to play a round, you can also use the resort’s driving range. The course and the range are separate options; using the range does not require playing a round. As course and operating details may change, check the latest information before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Winnipeg, Emerson.

For the main travel overview: Manitoba.