At the Pinawa Dam Provincial Park, the Pinawa Generating Station was Manitoba's first year-round hydro generating plant and marked the beginning of hydroelectric development on the Winnipeg River. The 193 ha park lies in the heart of "Cottage Country" on the Pinawa Channel/Winnipeg River system, on the edge of the Canadian Shield. The townsite of Old Pinawa is approximately 1.5 hours drive from Winnipeg. "The Friends of Old Pinawa", a volunteer organization, have made the park more attractive and help promote tourism in the area.