Flin Flon ’ s beloved stack of Flintabbatey — dubbed “ Flinty ”— greets visitors as they enter the town from Highway 10 . ( The statue itself is another source of barroom trivia : It was designed in 1962 by cartoonist Al Capp of Li ’ l Abner fame .)
In the nostalgia-filled stories of local residents , I hear of summers around lakes and winters lit by the northern lights . But I also learn about an arts and entertainment scheme established by the still-operating Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Company . Owned by the Whitneys , a family of wealthy American industrialists , the company set up affordable cultural diversions to keep Flin Flonners happy and living in the area to man the mine : ballet lessons for a dollar a year ; cheap and plentiful ice time for hockey and figure skating .
Of course , life in Flin Flon wasn ’ t all pirouettes and slap shots . The town is built on nearly impenetrable bedrock , on ground that is frozen half the year . I marvel at one local innovation : Rows of raised wooden boxes that are used as sidewalks , to mask the city ’ s above-ground sewage system . The system was designed in the 1930s as an alternative to underground sewers . The handsome raised walkway resembles a modernist architecture feature — at first glance , you ’ d never guess the “ dirty ” secret it hides !
I set out on a sunset hike along Flin Flon ’ s lakeside path , a . k . a . Flinty ’ s Boardwalk . As I wind my way around Ross Lake , I stop to chat with locals out for an evening walk . Crystal Kolt , who moved here from Winnipeg some 20 years ago , is now director of the Flin Flon Arts Council . “ To walk to work ,” she says , “ I stroll past a babbling brook , through a forest , up a cliff and past the lake . In the fall , I can even pick up blueberries along the way .”
There ’ s no shortage of natural wonders outside the city either . The Grass
A town built on rock
River canoe route — adaptable to novice or experienced canoers — boasts a series of falls and rapids , a suspension bridge , petroglyphs and an underground spring . During autumn months , red fruit-laden bushes blur into the colours of changing leaves for a spectacular painterly backdrop .
Fall is also the season for Culture Days , a Canada-wide festival with about 80 events in and around Flin Flon . Spectators can take in the area ’ s world-class arts scene with performances by the Ham Sandwich theatre group , offerings from the Northern Village Art Centre or concerts of classical and choral music .
As Kolt points out , the heritage of arts and sport combined with the mining industry has proven to be a valuable collaboration , establishing Flin Flon as a cultural hub . “ Because we ’ re a mining community , we have a lot of educated and skilled people here . So when we ’ re mounting a play ,
The Essentials
GettinG there From Winnipeg : 8.5- hour drive , following Provincial trunk Highway 10 northwest ; or fly in an hour
thinGS tO DO Culture Days : flin flon hosts some of Canada ’ s most vibrant offerings in this national celebration ( sept . 30-oct . 2 )
Geocaching : Hundreds of hidden caches in and around the city
eAt & DrinK Mike ’ s Ice N ’ Burger Hut : Charbroiled burgers and soft-serve at the entrance to flinty ’ s boardwalk
Orange Toad : a bookstore and coffee shop stocking tasty manitoba teas
The Grass River rapids
we have a professional lift-rigger from the mine to help with sets . The choir , which has performed at Carnegie Hall , also belts out “ O Canada ” at local hockey games . We ’ re truly a one-stop shop in Flin Flon .”
AMA CAA insider manitoba summer fall 2016 57