The solid gold shot glass paying homage to this Northern Manitoba town's roots
Next time you visit Snow Lake, Manitoba – stop in at the Snow Lake Motor Inn, ask the bartender for the 'Golden 49er' and you will be handed a shot glass made of solid gold mined right there in the community.
Owner Gerard Lamontagne had been looking for a way to promote Snow Lake Motor Inn, one of the Northern Manitoba's oldest mining town bars. The town was built around the Britannia mine, and on Christmas Eve, 1949, the Snow Lake Motor Inn opened its doors.
"I always loved that idea because the hotel was built for the community of Snow Lake to service all the miners and their families," Lamontagne said, adding the idea of a solid gold shot glass came to his mind.
Working with a jeweller in Winnipeg, Lamontagne had a custom Snow Lake Motor Inn solid gold shot glass created – the majority of the gold coming right from the community.
Gerard Lamontagne holds the 'Golden 49er' a solid gold shot glass made with gold mined in his community of Snow Lake, Manitoba. (Source: Gerard Lamontagne)
"There's guaranteed not another one in any bar on the planet," Lamontagne said. "And without a doubt not another one where you can actually come – as anybody that's legally able to enter the bar – and have a drink from the solid gold shot glass."
Lamontagne debuted the Golden 49er to the community on Saturday, giving his 92-year-old father the first taste from the golden glass.
He said he wants the Golden 49er to be more than just a memorable way to enjoy a drink.
"We want it to be something that's going to give back to our community and basically to Canadians in general," adding a portion of the proceeds from the Golden 49er will be going to charities annually.
Along with the debut of the Golden 49er, Lamontagne said the Snow Lake Motor Inn has donated $333 each to the local Royal Canadian Legion, The Ronald McDonald House, and Boys and Girls Club.
Lamontagne said he hopes the Golden 49er will become a worldwide tourist attraction.
"Come on down to Snow Lake and enjoy some of our northern hospitality - there are a lot of other beautiful things to check out in the community – and stop in the Motor Inn and have a shot from the Golden 49er," he said.
"Maybe it'll bring you some luck."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.