Bissett originally
acted as the service centre to the San Antonio gold mine. During the
25 years, 1943 to 1968, some 200 employees produced 38,272.13 grams
of gold and 6,108.62 grams of silver. The mine was closed down as
being uneconomical. It reopened briefly in 1980-81, closed again in
1982-83, opened again in 1996-97 and again closed.
The
community of Bissett is located on PTH #304 about 256 kilometres
northeast of Winnipeg. This highway has now been extended into the
new Provincial Nopiming Park and Wallace Lake, some 32 kilometres to
the east and southward through the park to Bird River Road. The
highway traverses a major recreation area, and Bissett is one of the
two major entry points.
The community was recognized in
October 1972, and is represented by a mayor and council under The
Northern Affairs Act.
Community Contacts
Bissett Community Clerk Bissett Post
Office Bissett, Manitoba, R0E 0J0
The community also employs a public works employee,
volunteer fire chief and shares a recreation director with
neighbouring communities.
Community Statistics
Population 1985 146 1991 154 1996
159
Households There are 60 housing units in the
community.
Bylaws o Basic Planning Statement o
Employee Benefits o Trailer Court
Boundary
Regulation 128/88, as amended, refers to Director of Surveys
Plan 18427A. See map.
Property Assessment and
Taxes 1997 Assessment - based upon a fixed per cent of
approximate market values of property.
Business
54,040 Real Property 8,857,640 Grants-in-lieu
740,000 Exempt 340,100 Total 9,991,780 Rate of tax
levy (mills): General Municipal 7.00 School Levies Farm
& Residential 8.50 Commercial & Other 18.50 Frontier
(Div #48) 18.00 Business Tax 4%
Emergency Services
Fire Fire fighting capability is based on a
well-equipped pumper truck from the community fire hall. Portable
forestry equipment is also available for grass and brush fires. In
addition, a 1/2 ton truck with portable water supply responds to
grass and small brush fires.
Police Police services
are based in Powerview, about one and a half hours away, phone
367-2222. RCMP have trailer facilities for overnight
accommodation.
Medical Medical facilities include a
public health worker and the community ambulance. Community-Based Services
Hydro Provided by Manitoba Hydro as land line
electric power. Residential rates are based on zone 2
levels: Basic charge $ 7.63 /month First 175 KWH 6.53
cents/KWH Balance 5.16 cents/KWH Office is located at Pine
Falls, phone 367-2617.
Telephone Manitoba Telecom
Services provides individual line service and digital switching with
toll-free calling to Manigotagan and Pine Falls exchanges. Call MTS
toll-free at 225-5687.
Water Water source is Rice
Lake. In 1987 an upgraded intake line was installed. Treatment
consists of a nanofiltration system, followed by chlorination. Water
is then distributed by line system to all of the
community.
Waste disposal The
community has a solid waste disposal site a few kilometres away
which includes a liquid lagoon. Sewage is transported to the lagoon
by low-pressure collection system or truck
haul.
Schools The San Antonio School, located in
the community, is operated by Frontier School Division. Three
teachers and two support staff work here. Phone
277-5277.
Recreation facilities o outdoor rink with change
house o ball diamond o beach area o campground o 922 sq
metres curling rink and hall o 41.6 sq metres handicraft
building
Government
Services
Community
Economic Development, Rural Development, regional office located at
Selkirk, phone 785-5005.
Communities Economic Development
Fund, head office located at Thompson, phone
778-4138.
Culture, Heritage and Citizenship, Regional
Services Branch, Eastman regional office located at Beausejour,
phone 268-6018.
Department of Labour, Employment Standards
Branch, Employment Standards Officer, located at Winnipeg, phone
945-3352.
Department of Labour, Fire Commissioner’s Office,
Assistant Fire Commissioner, located at Winnipeg, phone toll-free
1-800-282-8069.
Department
of Natural Resources, Operations Division, Eastern Region - Seasonal
Fire Rangers, helitac summer base, and year-round Natural Resource
Officers are located at Bissett, phone 277-5212, or regional office
at Lac du Bonnet, phone 345-1444.
Manitoba Environment,
Environmental Operations Division, Eastern-Interlake district office
located at Lac du Bonnet, phone 345-8647, or regional office at
Steinbach, phone 346-6060.
Manitoba Justice, Regional Courts,
Circuit Court sits at Pine Falls, coordinated by the Selkirk
Regional Court Office, phone 785-5120.
Commercial Services
Accommodation Hotel San Antonio has rooms,
restaurant and pub, phone
277-5250.
Transportation o M. Osadchuk Trucking
(freight) serves the community of Bissett. o Bissett Air Service
provides charter float and ski-plane services, phone 277-5262. o
N&K Trucking provides local trucking services, phone
277-5254. o Selkirk Air provides charter air services between
Selkirk, Bissett and other points, phone
277-5536.
Businesses o Bissett Construction,
277-5585 o Bissett Development Corporation o Bissett
Outfitters, 277-5262 o Bissett Variety Shop, 277-5229 o
Calvery Prospecting Ltd. o Henrickson Mining o San Antonio
Joint Ventures Ltd. o Sub Tech o Warren's Service,
277-5260 o West Shield Consulting o Wynn Drilling Ltd,
277-5220 o Wynn's Place, 277-5500 o Yield Mining Syndicate,
277-5231
Economic
Overview
Forestry,
trapping, mining and wild rice are the major contributors to the
local economy. Tourism and the local services also provide income to
the community. Forested areas surrounding the community are
included in provincial forestry management unit 34. Substantial
harvesting is done in the area, with the wood being delivered to the
Pine Falls Paper Company Ltd. at Pine Falls. About 10 small private
sawmills have their own quotas for saw logs in addition to their
contracts with Pine Falls Paper Company. Both Pine Falls Paper
Company and the sawmills hire locally to fill the contracts.
Trapping is largely confined to registered traplines in the
Hole River and Lac du Bonnet RTL zones. Bissett shares this RTL zone
with other nearby communities.
Commercial fishing is not a
large contributor to the local economy.
The San Antonio gold
mine's production has been generally suspended since 1983. A brief
operational period occurred under Rea Gold during 1997-98. The mine
infrastructure has been maintained.
The community formed the
Bissett Development Corporation, which is responsible for
encouraging economic development.
Some tourism, as well as
the local service sector, contributes income to the economy of the
community.
