It was hard to keep the list to just 101 things to do in Red Lake... we ended up with 170!
By Rhonda Beckman
Rhonda Beckman is a Red Lake resident leading the revitalization of Red Lake.
November 10, 2023
Revitalize Red Lake is a grassroots committee that simply wants to see small efforts lead toward big change that makes our district a great place to be. Our goal is to take pride and responsibility for the towns we love for the betterment of the whole community and everyone in it, positively and actively.
The 101 (and then some) Things to Do in the Red Lake District list came about after hearing the continual “there’s nothing to do around here” complaint that so often accompanies life in a small town. Sometimes we become complacent and forget that we are surrounded by natural beauty, which is literally at our doorstep. Community members offered up what they like to do and we ended up with 170 things to do (there's probably much more to include).
It was a beautiful realization that we truly don’t have many reasons to say “I’m bored.” Our district is coveted and explored by people from all over the world, and as you can see by this list, we’re doing a good job of keeping connected to our district as well.
1. Rent a kayak or canoe and launch from one of our many beautiful beaches or docks
No matter your age, you'll enjoy canoeing the lakes near Red Lake. Photo: Stacey Flemming
2. Watch the float planes take off and land in Howey Bay
6. Get ice cream at Video Plus, go across the road, and play on the school ground equipment
7. Play a game of hockey at the outdoor skating rink
8. Go fishing, whether by boat, skis on the shoreline or off the docks
Go fishing for a variety of species including a tiger muskie perhaps! Photo: Kristy Anderson
9. Take a swim at the pool or join the Gold Fins and swim with a team
10. Check out the sucker run in the spring
You have to love the smiles! Photo: Naomi Joy Leschied
11. Throw on a pair of water skis
12. Pick a batch of wild strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or pin cherries
There's nothing quite like the taste of wild blueberries! Photo: Karen Enns
13. Rent a paddleboard and view Howey Bay from the water
14. Go camping and eat s’mores!
15. Play at one of the local parks
16. Go rollerblading at Centennial Park
17. Go four-wheeling or snowmobiling down one of the many back roads or trails
Quading and hunting near Pakwash. Photo: Angie Skoglund Labonte
18. Join the book club at the library
19. Learn about Fairwind’s Drum at the Heritage Centre
20. Buy a box of cookies from the local Girl Guides
21. Check out the meat draw at the Legion on Friday nights and sing for your porchetta, play a game of shuffleboard or darts, and socialize with the locals
22. Take the ferry to McKenzie Island and walk the trails. Don’t forget your camera!
23. Come out to one of the arts and crafts shows and support local home-based businesses
24. In the winter, ski the awesome trails on McKenzie Island
Groomed trails on McKenzie Island await you. Photo: Angie Burke
Look closely and you'll see a five-month-old enjoy the paddle as well. Photo: Karen Enns
140. Go and get an annual checkup at the dentist and doctor’s office
141. Check out the awesome goods at the local thrift store which supports local charities
142. Have a picnic by the butterfly garden at Norseman Park
143. Look at the banners hung on the main drag which were taken by local photographers
144. Check out the mud nests made by sparrows by McTaggarts, but only look and don’t get too close
145. Go frog hunting at night with a flashlight
146. Check out the display of local art for sale at the Northern Sun News building
147. Go to a council meeting to be informed of what our local government is doing for our communities
148. Check out the murals painted by local artists (one beside the post office, across from the post office, on The Lakeview, and on The Treasure House building)
149. Go swimming or fishing at the government docks
150. Participate and enjoy the annual pow wow
151. Help a neighbour by mowing their lawn, or bringing them some fresh baking
152. Go to St Paul’s Bay and sit on the docks watching the sunset in the west
153. Build an ice fishing shack and remember to take it home before the ice melts!
154. Look at the mining equipment displays and read the historical plaque at Harry’s Corner
155. Go to the bridge down Suffel Lake Road or Pineridge Road
156. Check out the historical grave sites, respectfully, at Post Narrows
157. Have a fish fry at the Upper Chukuni River
158. Say hello to everyone you meet on the street, because it’s a small town and that’s just one of the 101 things you do in a small town
159. Go geocaching
160. Learn how to make an authentic batch of bannock and serve it warm with butter and homemade raspberry jam
Explore the outdoors: Photo: Parla Cline Sonifrank
161. Have a kitchen pickling or salsa-making party after harvesting all of your yummy veggies
162. Have a scavenger hunt in your community based on finding things in nature, street names, or any other criteria that connects you to your town!
Scavenger hunts are a great summer activity. Photo: Naomi Joy Leschied
163. Pick rosehips to make rosehip tea
164. Go to Roadside Convenience for ice cream or Slurpee and watch the sun go down and the cars go by!
165. Bike to the beach. Challenge yourself to bike the big hills instead of walking your bike!
166. Clear snow off the lake to make an outdoor rink
167. Make an inuksuk or check out the one made at the turnaround Leni Sadtler Memorial Garden
168. Watch a high school Rams sports game
169. Join the local soccer league
170. Just get outside and find out what your community has to offer you! It’s all there for you!
Revitalize Red Lake is a grassroots committee that simply wants to see small efforts lead toward big change that makes our district a great place to be. Our goal is to take pride and responsibility for the towns we love for the betterment of the whole community and everyone in it, positively and actively.
The 101 (and then some) Things to Do in the Red Lake District list came about after hearing the continual “there’s nothing to do around here” complaint that so often accompanies life in a small town. Sometimes we become complacent and forget that we are surrounded by natural beauty, which is literally at our doorstep. Community members offered up what they like to do and we ended up with 170 things to do (there's probably much more to include).
It was a beautiful realization that we truly don’t have many reasons to say “I’m bored.” Our district is coveted and explored by people from all over the world, and as you can see by this list, we’re doing a good job of keeping connected to our district as well.
1. Rent a kayak or canoe and launch from one of our many beautiful beaches or docks
No matter your age, you'll enjoy canoeing the lakes near Red Lake. Photo: Stacey Flemming
2. Watch the float planes take off and land in Howey Bay
6. Get ice cream at Video Plus, go across the road, and play on the school ground equipment
7. Play a game of hockey at the outdoor skating rink
8. Go fishing, whether by boat, skis on the shoreline or off the docks
Go fishing for a variety of species including a tiger muskie perhaps! Photo: Kristy Anderson
9. Take a swim at the pool or join the Gold Fins and swim with a team
10. Check out the sucker run in the spring
You have to love the smiles! Photo: Naomi Joy Leschied
11. Throw on a pair of water skis
12. Pick a batch of wild strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or pin cherries
There's nothing quite like the taste of wild blueberries! Photo: Karen Enns
13. Rent a paddleboard and view Howey Bay from the water
14. Go camping and eat s’mores!
15. Play at one of the local parks
16. Go rollerblading at Centennial Park
17. Go four-wheeling or snowmobiling down one of the many back roads or trails
Quading and hunting near Pakwash. Photo: Angie Skoglund Labonte
18. Join the book club at the library
19. Learn about Fairwind’s Drum at the Heritage Centre
20. Buy a box of cookies from the local Girl Guides
21. Check out the meat draw at the Legion on Friday nights and sing for your porchetta, play a game of shuffleboard or darts, and socialize with the locals
22. Take the ferry to McKenzie Island and walk the trails. Don’t forget your camera!
23. Come out to one of the arts and crafts shows and support local home-based businesses
24. In the winter, ski the awesome trails on McKenzie Island
Groomed trails on McKenzie Island await you. Photo: Angie Burke
Look closely and you'll see a five-month-old enjoy the paddle as well. Photo: Karen Enns
140. Go and get an annual checkup at the dentist and doctor’s office
141. Check out the awesome goods at the local thrift store which supports local charities
142. Have a picnic by the butterfly garden at Norseman Park
143. Look at the banners hung on the main drag which was taken by local photographers
144. Check out the mud nests made by sparrows by McTaggarts, but only look and don’t get too close
145. Go frog hunting at night with a flashlight
146. Check out the display of local art for sale at the Northern Sun News building
147. Go to a council meeting to be informed of what our local government is doing for our communities
148. Check out the murals painted by local artists (one beside the post office, across from the post office, on The Lakeview, and on The Treasure House building)
149. Go swimming or fishing at the government docks
150. Participate and enjoy the annual pow wow
151. Help a neighbour by mowing their lawn, or bringing them some fresh baking
152. Go to St Paul’s Bay and sit on the docks watching the sunset in the west
153. Build an ice fishing shack and remember to take it home before the ice melts!
154. Look at the mining equipment displays and read the historical plaque at Harry’s Corner
155. Go to the bridge down Suffel Lake Road or Pineridge Road
156. Check out the historical grave sites, respectfully, at Post Narrows
157. Have a fish fry at the Upper Chukuni River
158. Say hello to everyone you meet on the street, because it’s a small town and that’s just one of the 101 things you do in a small town
159. Go geocaching
160. Learn how to make an authentic batch of bannock and serve it warm with butter and homemade raspberry jam
Explore the outdoors: Photo: Parla Cline Sonifrank
161. Have a kitchen pickling or salsa-making party after harvesting all of your yummy veggies
162. Have a scavenger hunt in your community based on finding things in nature, street names, or any other criteria that connects you to your town!
Scavenger hunts are a great summer activity. Photo: Naomi Joy Leschied
163. Pick rosehips to make rosehip tea
164. Go to Roadside Convenience for ice cream or Slurpee and watch the sun go down and the cars go by!
165. Bike to the beach. Challenge yourself to bike the big hills instead of walking your bike!
166. Clear snow off the lake to make an outdoor rink
167. Make an inuksuk or check out the one made at the turnaround Leni Sadtler Memorial Garden
168. Watch a high school Rams sports game
169. Join the local soccer league
170. Just get outside and find out what your community has to offer you! It’s all there for you!
Rhonda Beckman resides in Red Lake where she uses her artistic talents as an instructor at The Clever Corvid Art and Art Workshops and a Visual Art teacher at the Red Lake District High School. Her artwork depicts the beauty of the Red Lake area. In her spare time, she is part of a grassroots committee that simply wants to see small efforts lead toward big change that makes the Red Lake district an even greater place to be.