Lac du Bonnet is a town in

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

, Canada located northeast of

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

on the west shore of the

Winnipeg River Winnipeg River is a Canadian river that flows roughly northwest from Lake of the Woods in the province of Ontario to Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba. This river is long from the Norman Dam in Kenora to its mouth at Lake Winnipeg. Its drainage basin, w ...

. It is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet. The word "Bonnet" is pronounced by locals as "bonny."

History

The lake after which Lac du Bonnet takes its name was named by the French explorer and fur trader Pierre Gaultier La Verendrye, . The shape of the lake, itself part of the Winnipeg River, is said to have reminded him of a bonnet. The name "Lac du Bonnet" appears on a map of the explorer Joseph Derouen as early as 1760. Beginning in 1926, Lac du Bonnet was home to the #1 Wing of the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...

. As a backup communication system to wireless telephone transmitters, aircraft carried pigeons aboard, and as such a pigeon rookery was established on the air force base. RCAF operations in Lac du Bonnet continued until 1937. During the

2025 Canadian wildfires The ongoing 2025 Canadian wildfire season began with over 160 wildfires active across the country in mid-May 2025 primarily in Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan. Two civilians died in the town of Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, Lac du Bonnet located ...

, the city was forced to evacuate.

Demographics

In the

2021 Census of Population The 2021 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population with a reference date of May 11, 2021. It follows the 2016 Canadian census, which recorded a population of 35,151,728. The overall response rate was 98%, which is sli ...

conducted by

Statistics Canada Statistics Canada (StatCan; ), formed in 1971, is the agency of the Government of Canada commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. It is headquartered in ...

, Lac du Bonnet had a population of 1,064 living in 496 of its 549 total private dwellings, a change of −2.3% from its 2016 population of 1,089. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.

Attractions and events

On the first of July is a yearly

Canada Day Canada Day, formerly known as Dominion Day, is the national day of Canada. A Public holidays in Canada, federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 1867, with the passing of the B ...

parade, with fireworks, carnival rides, car show, and bingo. There are also usually many other community-hosted events. In November, Christmas-themed lighting is set up on the streets, kids can visit Santa, and a Christmas tree is erected. There are designated snowmobile trails into Lac du Bonnet and specific areas for

snowmobile A snowmobile, also known as a snowmachine (chiefly Alaskan), motor sled (chiefly Canadian), motor sledge, skimobile, snow scooter, or simply a sled is a motorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation on snow. Their engines normally ...

operators to park, along with five warming shelters. All of the trail maintenance is done by volunteer organizations. During the weekend in early March, the river is dotted with 1,000 holes for the local ice fishing derby. The annual Fire & Water Music Festival takes place on August-long weekend. Artists from across the country come to perform their music.

First airmail flight

Lac du Bonnet was the location of the first airmail flight in Manitoba, on 4 October 1927. This event is commemorated with a plaque and marker on the E side of Park Avenue by 3rd Street, next to the parking lot. According to the plaque, the flight was some 85lbs of mail, taken from here to Bissett and Wadhope.

Media

Newspapers

*''Lac du Bonnet Leader'', which published its final issue on June 27, 2013 *''Winnipeg River Echo'' *''Winnipeg River Clipper Weekly''

Radio and television

CBWT-2 first went on the air on May 27, 1968. In early 1969, the province-wide microwave system replaced the kine recordings; citizens of Lac Du Bonnet have had live television since this conversion. * CBWT-2 Channel 4 (

CBC CBC may refer to: Media * Cadena Baja California or Grupo Cadena, a radio and television broadcaster in Mexico * Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada's radio and television public broadcaster ** CBC Television ** CBC Radio One ** CBC Music ** ...

) * CICA Channel 44 ( TVO)

References

External links

Official site for Lac du Bonnet
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba Towns in Manitoba Hudson's Bay Company trading posts Urban municipalities in Eastman Region, Manitoba