Rural Municipality of Gimli - Economy

Economy

There are over 100 commercial fishers in Gimli, catching white fish and pickerel. During the summer months, tourism is a major industry, as thousands of summer cottagers fill the town of Gimli, especially on weekends. Hotels, restaurants and stores cater to the summer visitors.

Two of the largest employers in Gimli are the Gimli Distillery and Faroex (a division of Sigma Industries). The Gimli Distillery opened in 1968. The plant employs 72 people with an annual payroll of almost $4 million. The operation is situated on two quarters of land and comprises a production building, barrel filling and dumping, and 46 warehouses to store the maturing whiskies. The plant, the source of Crown Royal whisky, produces the company's global Canadian whisky requirement. Faroex Ltd., established in 1981, produces composite components for use in the agricultural, automotive, consumer and military supply industries. Their first product was a flooring and support framing system made from plastic and fibreglass, used in hog production.

Smaller companies include Interlake Agencies, a local real estate and insurance company that started in Gimli in 1962. It is the largest seller of real estate in the Interlake region and one of the largest independent real estate companies in Manitoba, employing 18 real estate and insurance agents and selling more than $30 million of real estate a year.

Mid June 2011 saw the arrival of CJ 107.5, a local radio station featuring a mixture of both country and classical rock. The station is located in the Lakeview Hotel, broadcasting in Gimli and the surrounding Interlake area.