Shoal Lake: Winnipeg’s best water option

This Alberta Steamer ship travels the river across Alberta and even Canada

The services of four engineers — G.C. Whipple and James H. Fuertes from New York, R.S. Lea from Montreal and J.E. Schwitzer, the assistant chief engineer of the CPR were engaged to investigate a new water supply for Winnipeg. Their August 29, 1907, report prepared by the engineers singled out Shoal Lake as a viable option.

According to the report, the water is very soft in comparison with the water at present supplied to Winnipeg. The water may therefore be termed as an excellent one for domestic, boiler and general manufacturing purposes. In addition, based from the engineers, when it comes to quality the Shoal Lake is unquestionably the best source of supply.

In the meantime, Ashdown and city councillors, in the face of public concern over soaring electricity costs imposed by the private sector, began to emphasize the developing of a hydroelectric plant on the Winnipeg River, which for years tabled any mention of a new source of water for Winnipeg.

Another blow to the water project was the world-wide recession that hit in 1907. The recession and a city debt nearing $14 million combined to hinder Winnipeg’s ability to raise funds for municipal operations and major projects. In fact, the financial situation was so dire that banks were reluctant to provide loans in order for the city to continue its day-to-day operations.

It was only with great difficulty that Ashdown was able to resolve the city’s financial situation by convincing the London, England market to accept Winnipeg-issued bonds. Eventually, $7.5 million in bonds were sold at 99.5-cents on the dollar. With the city’s financial dilemma resolved, the hydroelectric plant at Pointe du Bois, 80 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, finally got underway in January 1909 and was completed by 1911.