Lynn Lake

Lynn Lake, Manitoba, incorporated as a town in 1997, population 482 (2011c), 714 (2006c). The Town of Lynn Lake is a community located 1066 km by road northwest of Winnipeg on the Canadian SHIELD. The townsite was developed by Sherritt Gordon Mines Ltd and the Manitoba government. It was named after Lynn Smith, then chief engineer of the mining company.

Nickel was discovered at Lynn Lake in the late 1930s, but awaited development until 1952. In 1950 Sherritt Gordon began moving its operations up from Sherridon, 250 km south. The move, which involved 219 buildings (including houses, a school, a bank, stores and churches, as well as mining and milling equipment), was by tractor train and took 4 winters to complete.

In 1985 the town faced collapse with the closure of the nearby Fox Lake copper and zinc mine by SherrGold Ltd, a subsidiary of Sherritt Gordon. The SherrGold Mine completely closed down in the early winter of 1989. This caused considerable hardship for the community as the economy was almost totally based on the mining industry. Efforts were subsequently made to diversify the economy. Consequently, tourism is becoming increasingly important to the community, with fly-in fishing and hunting becoming major attractions. Each June the town hosts the Northern Pike Festival. Gold was mined from 1993 to 2000, with milling done in Lynn Lake.