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Winnipeg Information   

 

 
 
 

About Winnipeg

 

 
 
 
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Manitoba.
 
It is by far Manitoba's largest city with a population of 633,451. The Winnipeg Metropolitan Area (which includes Winnipeg and surrounding rural municipalities) has a population of 694,668 and is the eighth largest Census Metropolitan Area in Canada.
 
Winnipeg lies in close proximity to hundreds of lakes. including Lake Winnipeg, Canada's fifth largest lake and the world's eleventh largest, as well as Lake Manitoba and Lake of the Woods.
 
The city is located near the geographic centre of North America, on a flood plain at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, a point now commonly known as The Forks.
 
A resident of Winnipeg is known as a Winnipegger.
 

Geography and Climate

Winnipeg is situated just east of the longitudinal centre of Canada (near the geographical centre of North America), and approximately 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of the border with the United States.
 
It is near the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies, and about 70 kilometres (45 miles) south of Lake Winnipeg. It is situated in the floodplain of the Red River and is surrounded by rich agricultural land.
 
The closest urban area with over 500,000 people is the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.
 
Winnipeg Summers are warm to hot and often quite humid with frequent thunderstorms. The summers in Winnipeg are similar to those experienced in cities in the Midwestern United States.
 
Spring and autumn are short and highly variable seasons. In a typical year temperatures range from -30° C to 30° C, recorded extremes are 40.6° C and -50° C (105.1° F to -52° F). The weather is characterized by an abundance of sunshine throughout the year.
 
Winnipeg is the second sunniest city in Canada in the winter and has the second clearest skies year-round.
 
Due to its location in the centre of a large land mass and its distance from both mountains and oceans, Winnipeg has an extreme continental climate.
 
The city’s northerly location is also influential, though Winnipeg is located farther south than cities like London or Amsterdam.
 
The city is famous for its long, cold and snowy winters, and is often referred to as “Winterpeg”. According to Environment Canada, Winnipeg is the coldest city in the world with a population of over 600,000.
 
Winnipeg is one of Canada's sunniest cities, and the weather in all seasons is characterized by an abundance of sunshine.
 
The city receives an average of 2,372 hours of sunshine per year compared with 1,928 hours at Vancouver and 2,037 hours at Toronto. July is the sunniest month, and November the least sunny.
 
Winnipeg, like Chicago, is also known as a windy city. The average annual wind speed is 16.9 km/h (10.5 mph), predominantly from the south. The city has experienced wind gusts of up to 129 km/h (80 mph). The windiest weather usually occurs during blizzards or thunderstorms. April is the windiest month, and July the least windy. Tornadoes are not uncommon in the area, particularly in the spring and summer months.
 
 
 
Information from Wikipedia
 
 

History

 
 
 
Pre-20th century

Winnipeg lies at the confluence of the Assiniboine River and Red River, which is also known as The Forks, and was a focal point on canoe river routes travelled by aboriginal peoples for thousands of years. The name Winnipeg is a transcription of a western Cree word meaning "muddy waters".
 
In 1869-1870, Winnipeg was the site of the Red River Rebellion, a conflict between the local Métis people led by Louis Riel and newcomers from eastern Canada. This rebellion led directly to Manitoba's entry into Confederation as Canada's fifth province in 1870.
 
On November 8, 1873, Winnipeg was incorporated as a city. In 1876, the post office officially adopted the name "Winnipeg," three years after the city's incorporation.
 
Early 20th century

Winnipeg experienced a boom during the 1890s and the first two decades of the twentieth century, and the city's population grew from 25,000 in 1891 to more than 200,000 in 1921. Immigration increased during this period, and Winnipeg took on its distinctive multicultural character.
 
The Manitoba Legislative Building reflects the optimism of the boom years. Built of Tyndall Stone and opened in 1920, its dome supports a bronze statue finished in gold leaf titled "Eternal Youth and the Spirit of Enterprise" but commonly known as the "Golden Boy". The Legislature was built in the neoclassical style that is common to many other North American state and provincial legislative buildings of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
 
Winnipeg's growth slowed considerably after the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. The canal reduced reliance on Canada's rail system for international trade, and the increase in ship traffic helped Vancouver surpass Winnipeg to become Canada's third-largest city in the 1920s.

Winnipeg General Strike

As a result of appalling labour conditions following World War I, 35,000 Winnipeggers walked off the job in May 1919, in what came to be known as the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919.
 
The government broke the strike through arrests, deportation and violence. The strike ended June 21, 1919, when the Riot Act was read and a group of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers charged a group of strikers; two strikers were killed and at least 30 others were injured, resulting in the day being known as Bloody Saturday. The lasting effect was a polarized population.
 
One of the leaders of the strike, J.S. Woodsworth, went on to found Canada's first major socialist party, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), which would later become the New Democratic Party.
 
Great Depression and World War II

The stock market crash in 1929 only hastened an already steep decline in Winnipeg. The Great Depression resulted in massive unemployment, which was worsened by drought and depressed agricultural prices.
 
The Depression ended when World War II broke out in 1939. Thousands of Canadians volunteered to join the forces. In Winnipeg,
 
Post-World War II and 1950 flood

The end of World War II brought a new sense of optimism in Winnipeg. Pent-up demand brought a boom in housing development, but the building activity came to a halt in 1950 when the city was swamped by the 1950 flood, the largest flood to hit Winnipeg since 1861. The flood held waters above flood stage for 51 days. On May 8, 1950, eight dikes collapsed and four of the city's eleven bridges were destroyed. Nearly 70,000 people had to be evacuated.

 
The federal government estimated damages at over $26 million, although the province insisted it was at least double that.
 
To prevent future floods, the Red River Basin Investigation recommended a system of flood control measures, including multiple diking systems and a floodway to divert the Red River around Winnipeg. This prompted the construction of the Red River Floodway under Premier Dufferin Roblin.
 
Post 1970

The current city of Winnipeg was created when the City of Winnipeg Act was amended to form Unicity in 1971. The municipalities of St. James-Assiniboia, St. Boniface, Transcona, St. Vital, West Kildonan, East Kildonan, Tuxedo, Old Kildonan, North Kildonan, Fort Garry, and Charleswood were amalgamated with the Old City of Winnipeg.
 
In 1979, the Eaton's catalogue building was converted into the first downtown mall in the city. It was called Eaton Place but changed its name to Cityplace following the demise of the entire Eaton's chain in 1999
 
 
 
 
Information from Wikipedia.
 
 

Economy

Located at the eastern edge of the great plains of Western Canada, Winnipeg plays a prominent role in transportation, finance, manufacturing, agriculture and education.
 
Because all rail and highway traffic between eastern and western Canada must travel through or near the city, it is often called the "Gateway to the West".
 
Winnipeg is an important regional centre of commerce, industry, culture, finance, and government.
 
In 2003 and 2004, Canadian Business magazine ranked Winnipeg in the top 10 cities for business. In 2006, Winnipeg was ranked by KPMG as one of the lowest cost locations to do business in Canada.
 
Approximately 375,000 people are employed in Winnipeg and the surrounding area.
 
Winnipeg's largest employers are either government or government-funded institutions: the Province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, the University of Manitoba, the Health Sciences Centre, the Casinos of Winnipeg, and Manitoba Hydro.
 
Approximately 54,000 people or 14% of the work force are employed in the public sector.
 
Winnipeg is the site of Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg and the headquarters of 1 Canadian Air Division, as well as home to several reserve units.
 
The Royal Canadian Mint located in eastern Winnipeg is where all circulating coinage in Canada is produced. The plant, established in 1975, also produces coins for many other countries in the world.
 
Winnipeg is also home to the National Microbiology Laboratory, Canada's front line in its response to SARS and one of only 15 Biosafety level 4 microbiology laboratories in the world.
 
 
 
 
 
Information from Wikipedia
 
 

Real Estate

As with much of Western Canada, in 2007, Winnipeg experienced both a building and real estate boom. In May of 2007, the Winnipeg Real Estate Board reported the best month in its 104-year history in terms of sales and volume.
 
CREA - Canadian Real Estate Association
MLS - Multiple Listing Service
MREA - Manitoba Real Estate Association
CMHC - Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation
CAHPI - Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors
ICX - Canada's Commercial Listing
Property Assessment
Lawyers
 
 
 
 
 
Information from Wikipedia.
 
 

Education

 
Education is a responsibility of the provincial government in Canada.
 
In Manitoba, education is governed principally by The Public Schools Act and The Education Administration Act, as well as regulations made under both Acts.
 
Rights and responsibilities of the Minister of Education, Citizenship and Youth and the rights and responsibilities of school boards, principals, teachers, parents and students are set out in the legislation.
 
There are two major universities, a community college, a private Mennonite college and a French college in St. Boniface.
 
The University of Manitoba is the largest university of the province of Manitoba, most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. In a typical year, the university has an enrollment of 24,542 undergraduate students and 3,021 graduate students.
 
The University of Winnipeg received its charter in 1967 but its roots date back more than 130 years. The founding colleges were Manitoba College 1871, and Wesley College 1888, which merged to form United College in 1938.
 
Winnipeg is also home to numerous private schools, both religious and secular.
 
School divisions
There are six public school divisions in Winnipeg:
 
 
Higher education
There are four universities and one major college in Winnipeg:
 
Private Schools in Winnipeg:
 
 
 
 
 
Information from Wikipedia.
 

 

Attractions

Winnipeg is well known across the prairies for its arts and culture.
 
Among the popular cultural institutions in the city are: the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG), the Manitoba Opera, the Manitoba Museum (formerly the Museum of Man and Nature), the Manitoba Theatre Centre, the Prairie Theatre Exchange, and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
 
Winnipeg is also the future home of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, which will be the first Canadian national museum outside of the National Capital Region. The museum, designed by American architect Antoine Predock, will be located at The Forks. The federal government has contributed $100 million towards the estimated $311-million project. Construction of the museum began on April 1, 2008, and is expected to be completed in late 2012.
 
The city is home to several large festivals. The Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival is North America's second largest Fringe Festival, held every July.
 
The Winnipeg International Writer's Festival (THIN AIR) rivals similar festivals in Calgary and Vancouver.
 
 
For a list of all Festivals, click here.
 
Construction on the planned Canadian Museum for Human Rights is slated to begin at the Forks during the fall of 2007. It will be the first Canadian national museum outside of the National Capital Region.
 
You can also check out the Winnipeg Zoo and Assiniboine Downs for those animal lovers.
 
 
 
Information from Wikipedia.
 

Sports Teams

Winnipeg has a long and storied sports history. It has been home to several professional hockey, football and baseball franchises.
 
There has also been numerous university and amateur athletes over the years who have left their mark.
 
Current professional franchises:
 
Club League Venue

Established

Winnipeg Blue Bombers Canadian Football League Canad Inns Stadium

1930
Winnipeg Jets National Hockey League MTS Centre

2011
Winnipeg Goldeyes Northern League CanWest Global Park

1994
 

Winnipeg has been home to several professional hockey, football, and baseball franchises. Winnipeg is once again home to the Winnipeg Jets, formerly the Atlanta Thrashers. The original Winnipeg Jets, the city's former National Hockey League team, was lost during the 1995-96 season to Phoenix, Arizona due to mounting financial troubles, despite a campaign effort to "Save the Jets".[111] In 2011 True North Sports and Entertainment moved the former Thrashers franchise to Winnipeg and renamed the team the Winnipeg Jets.

The Jets play at MTS Centre, which is currently ranked the world's 19th-busiest arena among non-sporting touring events, 13th-busiest among facilities in North America, and 3rd-busiest in Canada.[112] A new football stadium to replace Canad Inns Stadium is currently under construction at the University of Manitoba. The $115-million facility will be the new home of the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the CIS’ University of Manitoba Bisons. Construction began in May 2010 and is scheduled for completion in 2012. Opened in 1999, Shaw Park was built for Winnipeg’s American Association of Independent Professional Baseball's Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball team. The Goldeyes led the Northern League for ten straight years in average attendance as of 2010, with 300,000+ annual fan visits, until they left to join the American Association.

The University of Manitoba Bisons and the University of Winnipeg Wesmen represent the city in interuniversity sport. Winnipeg has two Manitoba Junior Hockey League teams, the Winnipeg Saints and the Winnipeg South Blues. The city is represented in the Canadian Junior Football League by the Winnipeg Rifles, and in soccer it's represented by the Winnipeg Alliance FC in the Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League and the WSA Winnipeg in the USL Premier Development League.

Winnipeg was the first Canadian city to ever host the Pan American Games, and the second city to host the event twice, once in 1967 and once in 1999.[114] The Pan Am Pool, built for the 1967 Pan American Games, hosts aquatic events, including diving, speed swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo.
 
In recent years, the province has very successfully played host to many sporting events such as the Grey Cup, the World Curling Championships and the Canada Summer Games.
(destinationwinnipeg.ca)
 
 
Information from Wikipedia.
 

Recreation

Residents of Winnipeg have access to 2.5 million acres of parkland and more than 100 golf courses in the province. Winnipeggers can fish in one of the province’s 100,000 pristine lakes, hike over the sand dunes in the desert near Carberry, or stroll along the many long, sandy beaches. In fact, Grand Beach on Lake Winnipeg is one of the best in North America. You can watch the huge and varied flocks of birds from the boardwalks at Oak Hammock Marsh. The choices are almost endless. Best of all, there are so many great outdoor locations and activities that it is easy to get away from the crowds.
 
 
 
Information from destinationwinnipeg.ca
 

Shopping

 
 
 
 

 

Transportation

Winnipeg has had a public transit system since the 1880s, starting with horse-drawn streetcars. Electric streetcars from 1891 until 1955, and electric trolley buses from 1938 until 1970.
 
Winnipeg Transit now operates entirely with diesel buses. For decades, the city has explored the idea of a rapid transit link, either bus or rail, from downtown to the University of Manitoba's suburban campus.
 
The city is directly connected to the United States via Highway 75 (a northern continuation of I-29 and US 75). The highway runs 107 kilometres to Emerson, Manitoba, the 8th busiest border crossing. Much of the commercial traffic that crosses in Emerson either originates from or is destined to Winnipeg. Inside the city, the highway is locally known as Pembina Highway.
 
Winnipeg's airport, recently renamed as Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, is currently under redevelopment. A new terminal building is scheduled for completion by 2009. The field was Canada's first international airport when it opened in 1928 as Stevenson Aerodrome.
 
Winnipeg is unique among North American cities its size in that it does not have freeways within the urban area. 
 
Beginning in 1958, the primarily suburban Metropolitan council proposed a system of freeways, including one that would have bisected the downtown area.
 
A modern four-lane highway called the Perimeter Highway was built in 1969. It serves as an expressway around the city (also known as a ring road) with interchanges and at-grade intersections that bypass the city entirely. It allows travellers on the Trans-Canada Highway to avoid the city and continue east or west uninterrupted.
 
The Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport is currently undergoing a $585-million redevelopment. Scheduled for completion in late 2011, the development includes a new terminal, a four-level parking facility, and other infrastructure improvements.[148] The field was Canada's first international airport when it opened in 1928 as Stevenson Aerodrome.[149] The airport is the 8th busiest in Canada in terms of passenger traffic and, along with Winnipeg/St. Andrews Airport, is among the top 20 in terms of aircraft movements.[150] Winnipeg Bus Terminal, located at Winnipeg International Airport, offers domestic and international service by Greyhound Canada, Grey Goose Bus Lines, Winnipeg Shuttle Service and Brandon Air Shuttle.
 
Approximately 20,000 acres (81 km2) of land to the north and west of the airport has been designated as an inland port, CentrePort Canada, and is Canada’s first Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ). It is a private sector initiative to develop the infrastructure for Manitoba’s trucking, air, rail and sea industries.[152] Still in its preliminary stages, construction has begun on a $212-million four-lane freeway that will connect CentrePort with the Perimeter Highway.
 
 
 
Information from Wikipedia.
 

Utilities & Services

 

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Local Media

Winnipeg has two daily newspapers, six English television stations, one French television station, 25 AM and FM radio stations and a variety a regional and nationally based magazines that call the city home.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hospitals

This is a list of hospitals in Winnipeg. Some of the facilities run by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

 

 
Health Care
 
 
 
Information from Wikipedia.

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Abe Friesen
Phone: 204-888-3393
Fax: 204.888.3331

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Phone 204-888-3393

abe@abefriesen.com

 

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