Winnipeg

I

Introduction

Winnipeg, capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba, Canada. Winnipeg is located in the province’s southeastern corner, where the rugged Canadian Shield gives way to open prairie, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers. Because of its strategic location, the city is often called “The Gateway to the West.”

Winnipeg has long, cold winters and warm summers. The average daily temperature range in January is -24° C to -13° C (-11° F to 8° F). The average July range is 13° C to 26° C (56° F to 79° F). The average yearly precipitation is 504 mm (19.8 inches), much of it in the form of snow.

II

People

In 1951 Winnipeg was Canada’s fourth largest city. Despite steady growth, it had slipped to seventh place by 1981. In 1981 the city proper had a population of 564,473, while the metropolitan area had a population of 592,061; in 2001 the city had a population of 619,544, and the metropolitan area had a population of 690,100. The metropolitan area contained almost 60 percent of Manitoba’s entire population.

Winnipeg was formed from both English- and French-speaking communities. The southwest district, along the Assiniboine, was largely English-speaking. This is where local merchants and other civic leaders lived, and many of their grand houses still remain. Across the Red River, the former town of Saint Boniface—now part of Winnipeg—was French-speaking and still has a large French-speaking community. Eastern European immigrants were concentrated in the city's North End, north of the main railways; indigenous people are found mostly in that area today.

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People of British origin form Winnipeg’s largest ethnic group (24 percent), although immigrants from other parts of Europe and, recently, Asia give the city a cosmopolitan character. The other principal ethnic groups are Ukrainians (7 percent), Germans (7 percent), French (5 percent), Filipinos (3 percent), Poles (2 percent), Jews (2 percent), and Chinese (2 percent). Winnipeg also has more than 20,000 indigenous people, more than any other Canadian city.

III

City Landscape

Winnipeg sits on a low-lying plain where the Assiniboine River flows into the Red River. The city proper, or area within the city limits, has a land area of 464 sq km (179 sq mi), and the metropolitan area has a land area of 4078 sq km (1574 sq mi). The rivers flood frequently, but the city is protected by the Red River Floodway, a large diversion channel opened in 1968. Winnipeg is also a major railway junction, and railways and rivers together played a major role in the city’s early development.

Winnipeg grew up around the district called The Forks, at the river junction. For many years this historic site was covered by railroad yards, but in recent years it has been redeveloped as a heritage park and recreation center. Winnipeg also has an impressive collection of pre-1914 buildings, especially in the Exchange District, with its warehouses and office blocks. Old Market Square, a popular downtown park, is located in the Exchange District too. Close by is Centennial Centre, a modern complex, which is home to three of Canada’s leading arts organizations, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and the Manitoba Opera. Adding to Winnipeg’s rich cultural scene are a number of other musical and theatrical groups, including the Manitoba Theatre Company. Of the city’s various annual festivals, the New Music Festival, the Folk Festival, and Folklorama (a celebration of Winnipeg’s many ethnic groups) are probably the best known. Important institutions in Winnipeg include the University of Manitoba (1877), the University of Winnipeg (1967), the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and the Museum of Man and Nature. The city also has a number of specialized museums.

Winnipeg’s best-known sports team, the Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL), plays in Canad Inns Stadium. The Manitoba Moose of the International Hockey League are based close by, at Winnipeg Arena. Winnipeg has many parks and recreational facilities, especially along the Assiniboine. The largest, Assiniboine Park, offers various attractions, including a zoo and a sculpture garden. The grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building also open onto the Assiniboine.

IV

Economy

Winnipeg has a diversified economy. The prairie soils are fertile and produce large quantities of grain and livestock. The area north and east of the city is rich in forest and mineral resources and water power for electricity. In addition to providing public services of all kinds, Winnipeg is the distribution center for the eastern prairies and the northwestern province of Ontario and a financial and grain marketing center. It has a broad industrial base, with industries involved in the manufacture and repair of agricultural and transportation equipment, brewing, meatpacking, clothing and textiles, and medical research. The city is also home to the headquarters and main production facility of the Royal Canadian Mint.

Because of its strategic location, Winnipeg serves as the transportation gateway to the prairie region from the east. The city is located on both of Canada’s transcontinental railways—the Canadian National and the Canadian Pacific—and the Trans-Canada Highway. It also has a busy international airport.

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