Every May and June, residents of the Village of Dunnottar watch with anticipation as poplar piers are painstakingly constructed at select sites along a small stretch of the southwest shoreline of Lake Winnipeg. For generations, the beloved tradition of pier building in the village heralds the beginning of summer, and, when they’re dismantled in late September, mark its end. But during those short four months the piers host unique, time-honoured traditions: family celebrations, access to prime swimming spots, watching the sun rise, photography, stargazing and more. The piers are the perfect vantage point to simply sit and bear witness to the vast beauty and moody nature of Canada’s sixth largest freshwater lake.