Grace Lake Seaplane Base

Primarily economic reasons, directly linked to the collapse of Lamb Air. Lamb Air was the largest operator and owner of the main facilities at Grace Lake. Its bankruptcy in 1981, caused by a combination of economic recession, high interest rates, and changing market dynamics, removed the base's anchor tenant and primary purpose. A secondary factor was the broader shift in northern aviation from floatplanes to wheeled aircraft operating from newly constructed gravel runways in remote communities, reducing the overall demand for a large, centralized seaplane base.

The site is no longer an active or registered aerodrome. The waterfront area where the base was located is now a mix of private residential properties with private docks, and some light commercial/industrial usage. The main, large hangar building formerly used by Lamb Air still stands at the end of Grace Lake Road and appears to be used by private businesses for storage or other purposes. The shoreline is primarily used for recreational boating by local residents. There is no remaining public aviation infrastructure.

Grace Lake Seaplane Base was a historically significant hub for bush flying in Northern Manitoba and a critical piece of transportation infrastructure for the region from the 1930s to the early 1980s. Its primary significance is tied to being the main base of operations for Lamb Airways Ltd. (Lamb Air), one of Canada's pioneering northern airlines.

Operations handled included:
- **Scheduled and Charter Passenger Service:** Connecting The Pas to dozens of remote First Nations communities, mining outposts, and trading posts that were inaccessible by road.
- **Cargo and Mail Transport:** It was a vital artery for supplies, equipment for mining and forestry, and mail delivery to the north.
- **Support for Industry:** The base was instrumental in the development of mining exploration, commercial fishing, and forestry in Northern Manitoba.
- **Tourism:** It served as the departure point for fly-in fishing and hunting lodges in the vast wilderness.
- **Aircraft Maintenance:** Lamb Air operated extensive maintenance facilities at the base, servicing its large and diverse fleet of aircraft, which included iconic bush planes like the Noorduyn Norseman, de Havilland Beaver, Otter, and larger types like the C-46 and DC-3 (which operated from the nearby land airport but were managed from the Grace Lake headquarters).

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Grace Lake Seaplane Base as a commercial or public aerodrome. The demand that sustained it historically has been replaced by a network of regional airports and a smaller, more decentralized floatplane industry. The Pas is currently served by The Pas Airport (ICAO: CYQD) for land-based aircraft and The Pas Water Aerodrome (TC LID: CJR3) on the Saskatchewan River for seaplane operations. The partial residential development of the former base's shoreline would also present significant zoning and operational challenges to any potential reopening.