The Pas (once Fort Paskoyac and still sometimes called Paskoyac) is a small town in northern Manitoba. The Pas is known as "Gateway to the North". It had about 5500 people in 2011, a population roughly split between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals.
It is approximately 630 km (390 mi) northwest of the provincial capital, Winnipeg, and 40 km (25 mi) from the border of Saskatchewan. It is sometimes still called Paskoyac by locals after the first trading post, called Fort Paskoya and constructed during French colonial rule. The Pasquia River begins in the Pasquia Hills in east central Saskatchewan. The French in 1795 knew the river as Basquiau.
Known as "The Gateway to the North", The Pas is a multi-industry northern Manitoba town serving the surrounding region. The main components of the region's economy are agriculture, forestry, commercial fishing, tourism, transportation, and services (especially health and education). The main employer is a paper and lumber mill operated by Canadian Kraft Papers. The Pas contains one of the two main campuses of the University College of the North.
The Pas is bordered by part of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation.
The Pas experiences a humid continental climate with long cold winters and short warm summers.
- Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival, +1 204-623-2912. Manitoba's oldest festival and one of Canada’s oldest winter festival. It has been held every year continuously since 1948 and features a wide variety of winter activities including ice fishing, muskrat skinning, and an annual sled dog race, which is part of the International Federation of Sleddog Sports.
Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival, +1 204-623-2912. Manitoba's oldest festival and one of Canada’s oldest winter festival. It has been held every year continuously since 1948 and features a wide variety of winter activities including ice fishing, muskrat skinning, and an annual sled dog race, which is part of the International Federation of Sleddog Sports.
- Clearwater Lake Provincial Park, +1 204 627-8287. This park has an area of 593 km². Clearwater Lake comprises almost half of the park. Large areas of boreal forest including spruce bog cover the land areas. Clearwater Lake, a deep, clear, cold lake, is renowned for its excellent water quality and large lake trout. The nearly circular lake, 16 km (10 mi) in diameter, has an average depth of 13.1 m (43 ft) and a maximum depth of 39 m (127 ft). It is spring-fed and lacks major inflowing streams which may carry silt, although there are several small inflowing streams on its south and west shores. Campgrounds are on the south shore. Vehicle permit: $5/day, $12/3 days.
Clearwater Lake Provincial Park, +1 204 627-8287. This park has an area of 593 km². Clearwater Lake comprises almost half of the park. Large areas of boreal forest including spruce bog cover the land areas. Clearwater Lake, a deep, clear, cold lake, is renowned for its excellent water quality and large lake trout. The nearly circular lake, 16 km (10 mi) in diameter, has an average depth of 13.1 m (43 ft) and a maximum depth of 39 m (127 ft). It is spring-fed and lacks major inflowing streams which may carry silt, although there are several small inflowing streams on its south and west shores. Campgrounds are on the south shore. Vehicle permit: $5/day, $12/3 days.
- Otineka Mall, Highway 10 N, Opaskwayak. M-W 10AM-6PM, Th Fr 10AM-9PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-6PM. "The Largest Mall in the North": Warehouse One, Red Apple, North of 53 Paperwork Plus, Bank of Nova Scotia, Super Thrifty Drug Mart, Sports Traders, Shane’s Music, Kick It Sports, Ardene, food court.
Otineka Mall, Highway 10 N, Opaskwayak. M-W 10AM-6PM, Th Fr 10AM-9PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-6PM. "The Largest Mall in the North": Warehouse One, Red Apple, North of 53 Paperwork Plus, Bank of Nova Scotia, Super Thrifty Drug Mart, Sports Traders, Shane’s Music, Kick It Sports, Ardene, food court.
- Good Thymes, 1607 Gordon Ave,, +1 204-623-2412. M-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-1AM. Sandwiches, burgers, pizza, pastas. Lunch $10-18, dinner mains $13-25.
- Fat Boy Restaurant, 329 Fischer Ave, +1 204-623-6322. M-F 6AM-9PM, Sa 7AM-9PM, Su 9AM-8PM.
Good Thymes, 1607 Gordon Ave,, +1 204-623-2412. M-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-1AM. Sandwiches, burgers, pizza, pastas. Lunch $10-18, dinner mains $13-25.
Fat Boy Restaurant, 329 Fischer Ave, +1 204-623-6322. M-F 6AM-9PM, Sa 7AM-9PM, Su 9AM-8PM.