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Cross Lake
Location of Cross Lake on Cross Lake
Cross Lake
Coordinates: 54°37′32″N 97°46′48″W / 54.62556°N 97.78000°W / 54.62556; -97.78000
Country	Canada
Province	Manitoba
Census division	22
Elevation	207 m (679 ft)
Time zone	UTC−5 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (CDT)

Cross Lake is a community in the Northern Region of the Canadian province of Manitoba, situated on the shores of the Nelson River where the river enters the namesake Cross Lake. An all-weather road, PR 374, connects the communities to PR 373 via the Kichi Sipi Bridge.

Although one population centre, it is politically divided into 4 entities:

• Cross Lake unincorporated designated place, part of Unorganized Division No. 22 – 20.42 km (7.88 sq mi), 512 people (in 2021)
• Cross Lake 19 Indian reserve of the Cross Lake First Nation (Pimicikamak Cree) – 23.18 km (8.95 sq mi), 1,865 people (in 2021)
• Cross Lake 19A Indian reserve, also Cross Lake First Nation – 6.05 km (2.34 sq mi), 2,045 people (in 2021)
• Cross Lake 19E Indian reserve, also Cross Lake First Nation – 7.32 km (2.83 sq mi), 763 people (in 2021)

History

In 1795, James Tate established a Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) fur-trade post on the southern end of Cross Lake, first called "X" Lake and then Apsley House in 1796. But in spring of that year, it was abandoned. It was re-established in 1849, but again closed a year later.

In 1869, a HBC post reopened on the lake. In 1886 and 1887, the HBC built new facilities on the north side of the lake's narrows. From circa 1885 to 1889, this post was also responsible for an outpost at Cross Portage.

In 1959, the post became part of the HBC Northern Stores Department. HBC divested this department in 1987 to The North West Company, which still operates a Northern Store at Cross Lake.

In March 2016, First Nation officials in Cross Lake declared a state of emergency because of an epidemic of suicides. There had been "six suicides in the last two months and 140 attempts in the last two weeks alone", and band councilor Donnie McKay said the community "is traumatized and needs immediate help from the provincial and federal governments".

Geography

The communities are situated on the eastern shores of Cross Island and Cross Lake. The lake is on the Nelson River north of Lake Winnipeg. It is long and narrow and extends 102 km (63 mi) east-northeast. The Nelson enters and leaves on the west side. The Minago River enters on the west. From the Minago a portage trail leads to Moose Lake and the Saskatchewan River. On the east side via the Walker River, Walker Lake and Kapaspwaypanik Lake the Kapaspwaypanik Portage leads to the Carrot River and Oxford Lake on the Hayes River.

It is located about 520 kilometres (320 mi) by air north of Winnipeg, and 120 kilometres (75 mi) by air south of Thompson.

Climate

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cross Lake had a population of 521 living in 139 of its 162 total private dwellings, a change of 17.6% from its 2016 population of 443. With a land area of 20.42 km (7.88 sq mi), it had a population density of 25.5/km (66.1/sq mi) in 2021.

The adjoining reserves of Cross Lake 19 (population 1,751 in 2011), Cross Lake 19A (population 1,889 in 2011) and Cross Lake 19E (population 682 in 2011) of the Cross Lake First Nation had a combined population of 7,622 in 2011.

Together these communities formed a population centre of 9,033 in 2017.

Notable people

• Brady Keeper, professional hockey player
• Ernest Monias, musician

References

1. ^ "Cross Lake, Northern community (NCM) Manitoba [Designated place] Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
2. "Cross Lake 19, Indian reserve (IRI) Manitoba [Census subdivision] Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
3. "Cross Lake 19A, Indian reserve (IRI) Manitoba [Census subdivision] Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
4. "Cross Lake 19E, Indian reserve (IRI) Manitoba [Census subdivision] Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
5. ^ "Hudson's Bay Company: Cross Lake". pam.minisisinc.com. Archives of Manitoba - Keystone Archives Descriptive Database. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
6. "Hudson's Bay Company - Cross Portage". pam.minisisinc.com. Keystone Archives Descriptive Database, Archives of Manitoba. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
7. "Northern/NorthMart Locator". www.northmart.ca. North West Company. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
8. Jillian Taylor; Laura Glowacki (9 March 2016). "Pimicikamak declares state of emergency to deal with suicide crisis". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
9. "Google Maps Distance Calculator". Retrieved 7 January 2015.
10. "Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Geographical Names (Cross Lake)". Retrieved 29 August 2014.
11. Canada, Environment and Climate Change (25 September 2013). "Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010 Station Data – Climate – Environment and Climate Change Canada". climate.weather.gc.ca. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
12. Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
13. "Population and dwelling count, 2011 Census". Statistics Canada. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
14. ^ "Corrections and updates: Population and dwelling count amendments, 2011 Census". Statistics Canada. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.

v t e Division No. 22, Manitoba (Thompson and North Central)
Cities	Thompson
Local government districts	Mystery Lake
First Nations	Bunibonibee Cross Lake Garden Hill God's Lake Manto Sipi Nisichawayasihk Norway House Red Sucker Lake St. Theresa Point Tataskweyak War Lake Wasagamack York Factory
Indian reserves	Cross Lake 19 Cross Lake 19A Cross Lake 19E Garden Hill First Nation God's Lake 23 God's River 86A Nelson House 170 Norway House 17 Oxford House 24 Red Sucker Lake 1976 St. Theresa Point Split Lake 171 (part) Wasagamack York Landing
Indian settlements	Ilford
Unorganized areas	Unorganized Division No. 22
Unincorporated communities	Cross Lake Gods Lake Narrows Nelson House Norway House Oxford House Pikwitonei Red Sucker Lake Thicket Portage Wabowden Wasagamack
See also: Municipalities in Manitoba Census divisions of Manitoba 2015 municipal amalgamations

• Designated places in Manitoba
• Hudson's Bay Company trading posts
• Localities in Manitoba
• Northern communities in Manitoba
• Unincorporated communities in Northern Region, Manitoba