Viking can accommodate the desires of any explorer. Drop anchor at our fully-serviced RV park, or one of our fine motels. Visit Viking’s Farmers Market on a Thursday and enjoy home baking and fresh produce. Enjoy a round of golf on our 9 hole golf course. Check out the Viking Corn Maze just ½ km east of Viking. The corn maze is a community fundraiser. The new Carena Complex, completed in 2008, is a modern facility housing an event arena, meeting rooms, fitness and wellness centre, indoor walking/running track, concession, playschool, and library.

    

Come enjoy the many events in the community. Viking's Scandinavian night is held in November, celebrating Scandinavian history with a catered Norwegian dinner. In February the Curling Club hosts “The Viking Fridge Spiel”. The biggest merchandise spiel in Canada which draws competitors and fans from western Canada.

 

The Town of Viking is Kalyna Country's top award winner in the Communities in Bloom Program - winners since 1998 and International Winners in 2001. In 2008 Viking won another National Award.

 

Inside the restored CN Station you can enjoy an art gallery and a tea room. Nearby is the beautifully landscaped Troll Park and the Naturalization Park. Enjoy the dwarfs and native plant species in the Scandinavian theme park. Experience Viking's civic pride and the beauty of the streets, boulevards and gardens, or take a stroll down their historical walking trails - maps are available at the Viking Museum or at the Visitor Centre. Viking is a beautiful place to bring your family - there is something for everyone.

 

Be sure to join us this year for the 2009 Centennial Celebration!

The town of Viking owes its origins to the Grand Trunk Pacific railway line that passed through the district in 1908 linking Winnipeg with Edmonton. After tracks were laid the following year, a new station was opened and provided a focus for the community's subsequent growth and economic development. The Grand Trunk Pacific, the Canadian Northern and the Grand Trunk Western were later incorporated into the Canadian National Railways system, which still operates the successful line that terminates at the port of Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

 

The area around Viking first began to be settled in 1902, and speculation immediately arose as to where a new railway line would likely be built. As a result, two hamlets came to be formed, Viking to the north and Harland to the south. Eventually, the railway was surveyed through the low-lying, slough filled countryside between the two hamlets, the level land creating fewer difficulties for loading railway cars. At the same time, a site for a new village was chosen and given the name “Meighen,” in honour of a senior railway official. Consequently, the buildings in the two hamlets had to be relocated with the help of oxen and a steam engine.

 

Subsequently a vote was held to select a more appropriate name for the amalgamated village. Not surprisingly, Viking emerged as the preferred choice because as it was favoured by the large number of area settlers of who were of Scandinavian descent. In these early years, Viking was a typical prairie village, with spring transforming Main Street into virtual bog featuring a perennial mud-hole in front of the Ford garage, which boasted a generator that initially supplied lights to the village. This seasonal problem was finally overcome when Main Street was dredged and cemented over. For the same reason, the original wooden sidewalks were replaced by cement ones in 1929, all of the boardwalks on the side streets eventually following suit. 

 

In the early years firewood hauled to the village by oxen was the primary fuel source, soon to be displaced by coal. Natural gas was installed in 1923 and was used for lighting until it in turn was replaced by electricity in 1939. Besides providing a home to local merchants, various businesses and their employees, Viking also began to attract an increasing number of area farmers following their retirement.

 

Viking is especially renowned as the home of the Carena, where the famous Sutter brothers played hockey before they went to the NHL. The Carena, whose construction was financed by the raffling of cars, was completed in 1952, and served as the cultural hub of the community until it burned down in 2005.

 

Viking recovered from this setback and the new Viking Carena Complex opened in 2007. It is a multipurpose, energy efficient, single ice surface facility. Phase II of the project is now complete. The complex houses a fitness centre, municipal library, meeting room, walking / running track and playschool.

 

Come experience the hardy pioneer spirit that has characterized and sustained Viking for 100 years. Join in the festivities as Viking celebrates its Centennial on June 26, 27 and 28th!

 

Travel into the past at the Viking Museum and stroll through the delightful village of restored heritage buildings: the 1907 one-room school house, 1905 log store, 1938 church, 1919 farm house, and 1921 hospital. Researchers can access the archives of local weekly newspapers spanning the years since 1913. In addition to a large collection of farm tools and implements, take a look at the collection of vintage “International Harvester” tractors. 5108-61 Avenue, north end of mainstreet. For hours and days of operation call 780-336-3066.