Shoal Lake (Kenora District, Ontario)

Shoal Lake is a small dispersed rural community located within the Kenora District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is situated on the eastern shores of Shoal Lake, near the Ontario-Manitoba border. The area is known for its natural environment, including boreal forest and lake systems.

Historically, the region has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples, particularly Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) First Nations. Modern settlement involved resource extraction activities such as forestry and fishing, alongside tourism.

Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, an Indigenous community with a reserve located primarily on the peninsula between the east and west basins of Shoal Lake, is distinct from but geographically related to the dispersed rural community. The First Nation has faced significant challenges related to access to clean drinking water, as Shoal Lake has served as the primary water source for the City of Winnipeg for over a century via the Shoal Lake Aqueduct. The construction of the aqueduct in the early 20th century impacted the community’s access to the lake and surrounding resources.

Transportation to and from Shoal Lake is primarily by road. Local economies rely on natural resource-based industries and tourism, with opportunities for outdoor recreation such as fishing, hunting, and camping.