The
first Europeans, the
Voyageurs, to travel
Lake Winnipeg knew what is now the peninsula of Victoria Beach as '''L'Île-à-la-Biche'''. What is now the remains of the old railway dam were portaged as a shortcut from the
Winnipeg River Estuary to Lake Winnipeg. In April 1910, the Victoria Beach Investment Company was founded by C.W.N. Kennedy, having a president and 4 directors. The aim of the Company was to "lay out, improve, sell and dispose of its lands to be used primarily as a summer resort." Any person desirous of running a business had to get the approval of the VB Company. In 1913, the assets of the Victoria Beach Investment Company were sold to the Victoria Beach Company, who upheld the original goals and continued to acquire land in the area. By 1915, the company had gained control of the land that now comprises the municipality. In the following years, the company sold numerous lots, and many campers had begun to construct
cottages.
Incorporation On 6 August 1919, after negotiations with the province, the Municipality of Victoria Beach was incorporated. On 15 June 1926, the
Victoria Beach News began publishing. Today, it is run under the name of the
Victoria Beach Herald, publishing only in the summer months. Because the area was mainly a
summer resort, those who lived here full-time had to be hardy outdoors people who relied on industries such as commercial fishing, trucking and the lumber industry in the off season. There were many
mink ranches in Victoria Beach and Victoria Beach mink became unique and popular; however, with the advent of man-made materials which were lighter and the wearing of animal skins becoming distasteful, the last mink ranch pelted out in March 2003, marking the end of an era. 1935 saw both the
Royal Canadian Legion and the Alex Anderson Memorial Community Club established in the community. The Community Club is now a skating rink, curling club and social hall. Other amenities of the area include a marina, swimming docks for swimming lessons, a sailing club, Moonlight Inn Restaurant, a library, children's playground and nice beaches sporting very fine and soft white sand. Baseball was very popular and Victoria Beach teams were hugely successful in tournaments throughout the summer. During the 1930s and 1940s,
antisemitism was common in Victoria Beach. Members of the
Anglo establishment often refused to sell or rent to
Jews. An advertisement in the
Victoria Beach Herald euphemistically referring to Jews as "those unwanted people", and warned that Victoria Beach could "degenerate to a
Coney Island" if Jews were allowed to rent and buy properties. 1954 saw
Manitoba Hydro service provided to the permanent residents and in 1956 hydro was extended for use by the cottage community. == Demographics ==