Flinty's Board Walk

FLINTY'S BOARD WALK - by G.B. Reid

In the mid 1990's, three individuals were sitting around discussing ways and means that they could bring some beauty to the Ross Lake Area. Those three individuals were Del Baird, Lois (Bunny) Burke, and Mayor Graham Craig. As time progressed there were certainly other names who were added to this list.

Flin Flon, Manitoba is located 780 kilometers north of the City of Winnipeg. A single industry community that relies on Mining activity for its major source of income and employment, needed to look at ways to diversify into avenues other than mining, became apparent with cutbacks in the mines. With the assistance of a local tourism coordinator, an idea to capitalize on the city's namesake and dime novel, "The Sunless City," was initiated Flintabbatey Flonatin, in his fish like submarine, discovered a city of gold in a bottomless lake. The above is the Archway entrance to the boardwalk and Flinty's Submarine.

Ross Lake, conveniently located in the centre of the city, became the focal point for the project. For decades, waste materials from the mine as well as the cities sewage system, used the lake as a means to dispose of these materials. Prior to the beginning of this project, great efforts were put forth to clean up all mine and sewage waste from Ross Lake and the fish have now returned.

This cairn was erected in horour of the late Del Baird who was one of the founding members of the Boardwalk project. A committee was formed to facilitate the ideas for the Flinty Project with this guideline: 1.) The scope of the project was to clean up the shores and area around Ross Lake and the lake as well. 2.) The aim of the project was to construct boardwalk paths, submarine and historic points of interest. 3.) The objective was to provide information of our heritage, geology highlights, and supply the community with an area of beauty which I feel today has been accomplished, and hopefully will continue to grow.

The above photo shows bronze plaque on cairn at Del's Viewpoint.

Ross Lake and its shores were cleaned up and the idea for the Flinty Boardwalk was underway. Reprinting of the original "The Sunless City" book, and have the proceeds to go into the board walk was proposed and approved.

In conjunction to the boardwalk, it was proposed that a submarine be built and put into the lake to represent the journey that Flintabbatey Flonatin took to get to the Sunless City through the bottomless lake. It was found that it would have been dangerous to boaters and snowmobilers so they built the sub next to the lake and it was put between the boardwalk and the highway to the heart of the city. A picnic/rest area has been built at the submarine site, but is still in need of future development. HudsonBay Railway agreed to partner to fix up the crossing at the sub to make it easier for walking. Sea Cadets of the region built benches and placed them along the trail and boardwalk, Hapnot School students have built duck feeding stations and birdhouses for the Ross Lake area. A group of interested parties designed part of the trail as a geological learning site using the local expertise of geologists that worked for the mining companies in some capacity, Tom Heine, Gov't Geologist.

The above picture is a small bridge west of the railroad bridge over the Flin Flon Creek which goes into Ross Lake. The idea of selling boards for the boardwalk was put into play. These boards sold for $100.00 per board to raise money for the project and they were engraved to the individuals liking, and the city issued a tax receipt for income tax purposes for more incentive to buy. Not only did local residence buy up the boards, but visitors to the city wanted to leave their names on the walk as well, and to this day 1200 boards have been sold.

Using people from Employment Job Creation Program, helped to build the boardwalk, the building process began. At first the original distance was only 2.2 km, but a local group applied for more funding and built up the trail which made the total walk 4.4 km. Amongst the trail there are 4 sets of stairs leading to various locations in the city, an archway was built and put at the entrance inviting visitors to stroll the Flinty Boardwalk, and amongst the trail there are signs that tell some of the story of The Sunless City, some heritage background, and give information about the rock formations in the area.

The landscape of the Flin Flon region can be difficult to trudge through, being a steep and rocky area, with all the beauty the area offers, there was a need to construct access to those wanting to be able to admire the scenic view.

This photo shows the accessibility to areas that were generally difficult to access prior to the building of the stairway, and this also helps photographers capture images which display the area in a manner that it can be appreciated.

This shows the Boardwalk on a bright sunny morning. When you reach the top, there are paths taking you in a couple of different directions which leads you to other view points that I am sure you would enjoy.

From this view point one certainly can see a number of Flin Flon subdivisions - Channing, Mile 84, Birchview, Willowvale and surrounding area. Then there are paths that proceed toward the uptown area, coming out on the south end of North Ave., leading you to the centre of the city.

As you stroll through this area you will come upon benches in rest areas that have been placed there by families, and individuals in memory of loved ones, so it can be a little like a stroll down memory lane.

This photo shows an area that was once where Flin Flon's first ski run operated until it was moved to its present location, on the south side of Centoba Park. The idea of creating a suspension bridge across this gap was looked at, but would required a fair amount of funding and a considerable amount of work, but the view from here in the evening and early mornings is one that can be appreciated.

The photos show the foot path which is covered in crushed rock to help make it a pleasant walk. Along the foot paths there are many things of interest.

This photo shows some of the foot paths leading to the Boardwalk in the fall which is probably one of the most beautiful walks with the fall colours that one could ask for.

JOSEPH MARCEL BRAIN

1895 - 1977

A world Traveller in his youth, an adventurous man of Ukrainian descent, whose wanderings finally took him to Northern Manitoba, and his destiny. Here, as an amateur geologist and prospector he discovered Flexar and Birch Lake Mines, and forever left his mark as one of Flin Flon's outstanding citizens.

My first memories of Joe Brain, when I first came to this community, was a little man wearing a felt hat and a top coat who always seemed to be scurrying from bank to bank in the latter part of the day. He was always engaged in conversation on the street corner with people who were involved in mining and also individuals who were looking to him for tips and advice on the stock market. This man no doubt has left his mark on this community by contributing to such projects as the Petting Zoo, and paths leading to the Flin Flon Boardwalk. I would like to display some photos showing an area where a path was funded by the Joe Brain Foundation. This is a man who has contributed a great deal to this community.

This photo here shows the stairway coming down from the Roche subdivision funded by the Joe Brain Foundation. There was $10,000.00 provided by the Joe Brain Foundation which paid for the stairs leading down to Dominion Blvd./ Manitoba Ave.

This path leads to the above stairway which is a beautiful walk especially in the fall of the year.

This is another photo displaying the beauty that Flin Flon Creek offers in all four seasons. This photo is just a little further up Flin Flon Creek taken off of a new foot bridge that spans over the walking path today.

This is a view from the Boardwalk showing two of the most prominent figures left on the Flin Flon skyline. With South and North Main being dismantled, and the Smelter closing in June of 2010, and no more smoke from the stack, these were items that were on the Flin Flon skyine for over 80 years, so when you approach our fair city from the southeast or from the west, the skyline is somewhat different than it once was years ago.

The Hudson Bay Rail Line parallels the Boardwalk for a good portion of its length. This was once a CN Line which today is owned and operated by Omnitrax, known as Hudson Bay Railway that supplies Flin Flon with their railroad needs, moving out concentrates, and zinc to outside markets. Omnitrax no longer operates to the port of Churchill, and only comes to Flin Flon twice a week.

This view is at the northeast end of Ross Lake. This part of the Boardwalk leads to the many stairs that led you up to the area where you get an excellent view of the lake, the town, and the surrounding area.

Each and every year on the July lst weekend our community treats us to a great fireworks presentation, and the evening that it occurs, the Boardwalk comes alive with people as they circle the lake from the southeast corner up to the northwest corner, and this gives you a great view point to witness the fireworks and the refletions in the waters of Ross Lake. In 2010, I was very fortunate to capture an electrical storm that was moving into our area at the same time as the fireworks display. This helped make great images.

GRAHAM CRAIG

Graham is no stranger in our community. He moved here in 1958 as an Optometrist, and served our communiity and our people until he retired in December 1989. In that 31 year period, Graham served 9 years on the school board, a councillor on local city council for 6 years, and also served our community as Mayor for another 6 years, plus was one of the driving forces behind the Flin Flon Boardwalk project. Job well done Graham. Graham and wife Grace still reside in Flin Flon today, and spend their summers at their summer cottage, and their winter months in town. They raised 3 children, Dave, Carla and Jane, and he is still active in our community today.

If you are a local resident or a visitor, a stroll along Flin Flon's Boardwalk will give you an opportunity to look at a Mining Community which has been around for 100 years. I share these images with you and hope that you enjoy them. If you choose to share, please do NOT MODIFY OR WATERMARK as I take pride in my work and I am asking you to PLEASE RESPECT THAT. Enjoy and look forward to your comments. Thank You.

MAP OF FLIN FLON BOARDWALK

I would like to say Thanks to Dave Price for providing me with the above map.