Communities and Demographics

This fact sheet provides a demographic and community overview of the lower Winnipeg River basin (LWRB), detailing population trends, dwelling occupancy, and the presence of Indigenous communities including First Nations and Métis people.

• The population within six census subdivisions in the lower Winnipeg River basin (LWRB) grew by 4% over five years, increasing from 11,839 in 2011 to 12,292 in 2016.
• The LWRB experiences significant seasonal population surges due to cottage developments and visitors. In the RM of Alexander, the population rises from 3,333 to 20,000 during summer months, while the RM and Town of Lac du Bonnet increase from 3,800 to 8,000 people.
• Dwelling occupancy varies by area; in the RM of Alexander and RM of Lac du Bonnet, less than half of the 9,537 private dwellings are occupied by usual residents. Conversely, approximately 90% of dwellings in the towns of Powerview-Pine Falls, Lac du Bonnet, and Pinawa are occupied by usual residents.
• The LWRB is characterized by low population density, with the highest concentrations found in the Town of Pinawa (856 people per km2), the Town of Lac du Bonnet (507 people per km2), and the Town of Powerview-Pine Falls (262 people per km2).
• Indigenous presence in the LWRB includes the Fort Alexander First Nation/Sagkeeng Anicinabe located within the boundaries, and the Little Black River First Nation and Brokenhead First Nation located nearby. Additionally, Métis people traditionally use the basin's lands for harvesting, and the Métis Recognized Harvesting Area Map is being expanded to include the entire LWRB.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2021). Communities and Demographics. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-7-communities-demographics.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Communities and Demographics. 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-7-communities-demographics.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Communities and Demographics |date=May 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-7-communities-demographics.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2021communities, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Communities and Demographics}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-7-communities-demographics.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }