Winnipeg 
Visitors to Whiteshell Provincial Park will once again be able to step inside a piece of local history. The Whiteshell Natural History Museum at Nutimik Lake has officially reopened after an eight-year closure, following a $2.2-million reconstruction by the Manitoba government.
First built in 1959, the museum was once a summer highlight for park-goers, housing an extensive collection of wildlife mounts donated by nearby residents and cottagers. It closed its doors in 2017, leaving a gap in the region’s cultural landscape. Now, after major renovations, the site has been reimagined as both a museum and an outdoor interpretive space.
Per the news release, the project preserved original elements such as the fireplace, chimney, and classroom building, while adding a new reception area, modern washrooms, an amphitheatre, and a covered exhibition space. Displays now include interpretive panels highlighting petroforms—ancient rock formations that carry cultural and historical significance within the park.
The reopening was described by Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes as a long-awaited milestone, restoring a “must-see” destination for families, cottagers, and tourists. The Whiteshell Cottagers Association partnered with Manitoba Parks on the redevelopment, with president Ken Pickering emphasizing the effort as a model of cultural and environmental stewardship.
The museum is part of a broader $12-million investment in the park, which also includes the Crescent Beach Seawall at West Hawk Lake and upcoming pedestrian bridges and new campground facilities.
To mark the return, visitors over the Labour Day weekend can join special programming, including a campfire talk on traditional foods (Aug. 30, 7 p.m.) and a guided petroform walk (Aug. 31, 10 a.m.).
