HISTORY/MAPS
The book titled HISTORY & FOLKLORE OF THE WHITESHELL PARK NORTH BY ANN COTT is now on the internet.
It includes Brereton, Red Rock, Jessica, White, Big Whiteshell, Betula, Barrier Bay, Nutimik, Dorothy, Ottter Falls, Eleanor, Pointe du Bois and George Lakes.
If you are interested in acquiring it, please click on the link below:
http://www.ourroots.ca/e/toc.aspx?id=10482
THE WHITESHELL COTTAGERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED
1951 IS THE DATE TO REMEMBER
The Founding of a Cottagers Association
The political and economic conditions prevalent in Manitoba in 1951 would have discouraged all but the strongest and dedicated group of cottagers from attempting to form an organization devoted to bringing electrical power into the Whiteshell Provincial Park.
At the time, the government of the day was faced with tremendous expenditures associated with the disastrous flood in 1950, when the Red and Assiniboine Rivers overflowed creating a lake out of the Red River Valley from Netley to Emerson.
It was difficult to believe that the Manitoba Government would be prepared to spend an appreciable amount of money to develop a resort in the Whiteshell Park for cottagers, campers and commercial operators. It was a great challenge and was described at that time to dream the impossible dream.
The one favourable aspect was that the government had developed a program to supply electrical power to rural communities throughout the province. Maybe, just maybe they could be persuaded to extend this into the Whiteshell Provincial Park. After all, the rural electrification program was nearing completion.
This apparently was what inspired Art Ans, Harold Brett, Sid Martin, Henry Milbrandt, Bill Morrow and Ken Hellier to call a meeting on September 2, 1951 at Brereton Lake. The result was the formation of the Whiteshell District Association.
The Park was at the time only accessible by Highway #1 that was a two lane hard surfaced road leading east from Winnipeg via Lockport, Beausejour, and Whitemouth. It entered the Whiteshell east of Rennie and then crossed the Ontario boundary three miles east of West Hawk Lake and continuing thirty-five miles into Kenora.
There was also an entrance to the northern area of the Whiteshell from a point on the Highway #1, approximately five miles west of Whitemouth where a gravel road led to the power development at Seven Sisters. The road continued through the Park past the lakes along the Winnipeg River up to the Rennie River. Later, with the erection of a bridge over the Rennie River, it was joined to Highway #1, south of Brereton Lake, just west of Rennie. The road was then described as extremely dusty and washboard. Incessant Spring rains and floods resulted in washouts and mud holes making entrance to cottages and resorts difficult at the best of times and almost impossible at others.
The Forest Service had cleared and established narrow roads or trails on the perimeters of the developing resorts and from lake to lake in some areas. Our records indicate that there were fewer than 700 cottages in the Park in 1951 whose occupants braved by-ways. Only the hardy adventurer would not be discouraged from traveling on these roads for pleasure purposes.
But this was not all. There was no telephone service as power lines were non-existent. As a result, to communicate with the rest of the world, a cottager was required to drive to Kenora, Whitemouth or to the power plant at Seven Sisters to make a phone call. Yes, those were the good old days!
Only a few cottagers and camp owners (as they were referred to at the time) had installed generating plants for electricity. The majority of the cottagers had coal oil or gasoline lamps and lanterns and wood burning stoves that were a source of heat and used for cooking.
Iceboxes were used in the summer to keep food from spoiling and blocks of ice were usually purchased from a camp owner who had the proper facilities for storing ice.
Nevertheless, even though faced with adversity the founders of our Association were not deterred. They tackled the problem of electricity, roads, water supply and lake levels that can now be handled on a collective basis. With the formative stages of the Association completed it was now time to press for the much-needed improvements.
To the sixty cottagers at the founding meeting the most important issue was to defray the Associations expenses. They determined that the only pressing need was for postage and stationary and that a nominal fee of one dollar per member would be sufficient to cover the cost.
They immediately began to work on the issue of electrical power. By the late 1950s the Association had accomplished the main purpose for which it was formed and had negotiated bringing electricity to most cottage areas in the Whiteshell at an affordable price. An incident worth mentioning that was taken from the files of the Associations Secretary Mr. Brett in 1964, who conveyed that upon approaching a woman for her two-dollar membership fee, her response was "We don't have to pay that anymore, we got the electricity in last year". Unfortunately, she failed to realize that there still were other issues of importance, like there is every year.
The Association's first President, Mr. Milbrant sent the following letter on September 15, 1951 to all cottagers requesting that they join the Association. He wrote as follows:
"There are now approximately seven hundred summer residents in the Whiteshell. In ten years there may be two thousand or more. It seems imperative that we should at this time, commence the building of an organization which may through its spokesmen, add to our holiday enjoyment in future years."
Mr. Milbrandt was able to accurately predict the future. By 1962 the number of cottage owners in the Park had grown to 2,870. Each year brought new challenges. Throughout the years Cottagers concerns kept increasing and kept the Association's officers busy.
One phase remains constant since 1951. The Association continues to operate as a volunteer non-profit organization to ensure that we are all able to enjoy our lakeside lifestyle. It is most essential that we continue in our efforts so that we and future generations will not only be able enjoy the park but continue to be able to maintain reasonable lease and service fees.
1. PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION:
The Whiteshell Cottagers Association Incorporated is a volunteer non-profit
organization that promotes the best interests of cottagers who lease or own
land in the
The Association represents the interests of cottagers to government and
provides leadership and information to its members and other associations
with common interests.
The Association advocates for fair and reasonable service and lease fees for
cottagers, and encourages good environmental stewardship on the part of
cottagers and all other park users.
Maps of the Whiteshell may be found at these addresses.
http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parks/popular_parks/whiteshell/map_park.pdf
TOWNSITE/SUBDIVISION MAPS
* Barrier and Nutimik Lake Subdivision
* Betula Lake Subdivision
* Big Whiteshell and Green Lakes Subdivisions
* Eleanor-Margaret Lakes and Otter Falls Subdivisions
* Red Rock Jessica and White Lakes Subdivisions
* West Hawk-Caddy-Star and Hunt Lakes Subdivisions
Some telephone numbers that you may find useful
For all of the Park
Environmental Accident Reporting line: 945-4888
Forest Fire Report Line: 24 hours: 1-800-782-0076
TIP Turn in Poachers: 24 hours: 1-800-782-0076
Bill Blaikie: Minister of Conservation billblaikie@shawlink.ca
Constituency Office: 415-4802
Legislative Building: 450 Broadway, Wpg
Bruce Bremner: Assistant Deputy Minister 945-4842 bruce.bremner@gov.mb.ca
Fred Meier: Assistant Deputy Minister 945-7008 fred.meier@gov.mb.ca
Barry Bentham: Director of Parks & Natural Areas 945-4362 barry.bentham@gov.mb.ca
Greg Shabaga: Chief, NRO 345-1449
Jeff Colpitts: Manager Parks 945-4406 jeff.colpitts@gov.mb.ca
John Irwin: Director, Eastern Region Operations Division, 345-1435 john.irwin@gov.mb.ca
Larry Teetaert: Regional Parks Specialist, Eastern Region 345-1455 larry.teetaert@gov.mb.ca
vacant: Regional Forest Manager, Eastern Region 345-1453
Kelly-Anne Richmond: Manager of Planning and Development, Conservation 945-4382
Mitch Walker: Assistant Regional Director Conservation 345-1433 mitch.walker@gov.mb.ca
Christine Melnick: Water Stewardship 945-1133
Diane Oertel: Environmental Officer/Public Health Inspector 345-1486 Diane.Oertel@gov.mb.ca
Pat Martin: Engineer Development 945-0169
Bill Watkins: Biodiversity Conservation Section, Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection Branch 945-8481 william.watkins@gov.mb.ca
Melanie Betsill: Drinking Water Officer, Whiteshell: 346-6062
VACANT: Park Superintendent, South Whiteshell: 349-6014,
Kelvin Kowaski: District Park Supervisor, South Whiteshell 349-6015 kelvin.kowaski@gov.mb.ca
Heidi Kroeger: Environment Officer: 345-1490 Who to call to report holding tank abnormalities: Responsible for the Whiteshell Prov. Park NORTH OF RENNIE Heidi.Kroeger@gov.mb.ca
Jason Lasuik: Environment Officer: 345-1428 Who to call to report holding tank abnormalities for the Whiteshell Prov. Park SOUTH OF RENNIE Jason.Lasuik@gov.mb.ca
Farrah Anderson: Provincial Park Lot Development Inspector, North Whiteshell, Seven Sisters, 348-4007 farrah.anderson@gov.mb.ca
Parks District Office
Falcon Lake: 204-349-2201
Rennie: 204-369-3153
Seven Sisters: 204-348-4004
West Hawk: 204-349-2245
CONTACT US:
Our office e-mail address is wcai2@mts.net
Our mailing address is
Whiteshell Cottagers Association Inc.
1975 Corydon Avenue
Suite 2D
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3P 0R1