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City of Winnipeg

City of Winnipeg

The City of Winnipeg is located at the junction of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers. Situated on the Red River Valley, the landscape around Winnipeg is characteristically flat. Repeated flooding in the past deposited much of the fine Red River silt and clay along the floor of the sprawling valley. The rich black clay soils left behind by these floods provided the Red River Valley with some of the best agricultural lands in the world. With almost 700 000 residents, Winnipeg is one of Canada's largest urban centres. Winnipeg is also one of Canada's greener cities. This is evident through the multiplicity of Elm trees that line the streets of many older residential areas. Winnipeg's suburbs are dotted with parks and greenspaces also. Large parks such as Assiniboine Park, Kildonan Park and St. Vital Park have been preserved for recreational use by visitors and residents alike.

History

For thousands of years, the present day location of Winnipeg served as a meeting place for many native tribes. Native peoples congregated here for celebrations and ceremonies, as well as, to trade their wares. In 1738, the area became a fur-trading centre, where trappers and the famed voyageurs could trade hides for needed supplies. Lord Selkirk's Settlers arrived in 1812 and formed the Red River Settlement, the first permanent settlement. Winnipeg was incorporated as a city in 1873. Construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885 brought the arrival of a large number of immigrants into the city.

The flood of immigrants, high wheat prices, and improved farming techniques made Winnipeg the wholesale, administrative, and financial centre of Western Canada.

Economic Base

A central location and highly skilled workforce make Winnipeg a major financial, manufacturing, transportation, business and retail centre. With one of Canada's 24-hour airports and a major rail and road-way system that connect east, west, north and south, goods from Winnipeg can reach anywhere in the world within 48-hours. The city is the headquarters of Canada's grain industry and is home to numerous grain companies. The city is also the headquarters for many national and international financial and insurance companies. Winnipeg's secondary manufacturing sector is one of the most diverse and fastest growing in Canada. This sector alone has exploded, having experienced growth nearly ten times the national average since 1991.

Winnipeg has several other strong industries that strengthen its economy. Winnipeg is home to a major food and beverage processing centre and one of Western Canada's largest aerospace centres. Winnipeg is also very proud of its growing film and television industry.

The Winnipeg Convention Centre is located in the heart of downtown Winnipeg and the heart of North America. It combines a warm contemporary atmosphere with state-of-the-art technology and versatility for a wide range of event. Currently able to offer 160,000 square feet of exceptional meeting, exhibition and banquet space over three floor levels, the WCC recently announced a $125 million expansion that will see its convention spaces expanded to 270 000 square feet.

CentrePort Canada is North America’s newest 20,000-acre inland port and Foreign Trade Zone. Located next to Winnipeg’s James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, CentrePort’s 20 000 acre site offers greenfield investment opportunities for a wide variety of business operations including distribution, warehousing and manufacturing. CentrePort also offers unique access to tri-modal transportation links (road, rail and air) providing both local and international companies with easy access to major national and international road, rail and sea corridors and gateways.

Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport is one of Canada’s oldest international airports as well as home to its newest terminal building. Scheduled to open on October 30, 2011, this $565 million terminal, designed by world renowned architect César Pelli, will improve air transportation links between Manitoba and the world. The Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport is also home to Canada Post’s newest mail sorting plant opened in 2010.

Major Attractions

Winnipeg loves to host visitors from around the world and has done so many times in the past. Winnipeg can be characterized as a "festival city", since it hosts more than 130 days of festivals and activities each year. Cultural events such as "Folklorama" and "Le Festival du Voyageur", celebrate the traditions and heritage of the many different ethnic groups that make Winnipeg their home.

One of the most popular venues for local festivals is The Forks National Historic Site. The site on the banks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers serves as a meeting place for visitors and residents alike. The Forks site is rich in history and tradition. Renovated railway engine shops house a shoppers market with many specialty boutiques, services and restaurants. The Winnipeg Children's Museum and the Manitoba Theatre for Young People also call The Forks their home.

The new Canadian Museum for Human Rights, located at this historic Forks in downtown Winnipeg, is Canada’s first national museum located outside of the capital region. Designed to increase understanding and awareness about human rights, human rights issues and challenges, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights serves as a beacon to draw people to Winnipeg through its message of promoting respect for others while encouraging all visitors to reflect, discuss and act to prevent the history covered within from ever happening again.

Winnipeg has a very rich arts and entertainment scene. Sir Peter Ustinov once observed that Winnipeg is home to "a ballet company of world renown, a fine symphony orchestra and a superb art gallery. The quality of the food is invariably incomparably superior and rare wines appear in bewildering profusion". The Manitoba Museum in downtown Winnipeg is one of the finest history museums in North America. The venue houses many displays that depict such scenes as an early native settlement. The Museum also has on display a replica of the original HMS Nonsuch. Travelling displays complement the already superb collection of artifacts found at the museum. Winnipeg also offers its residents and visitors many fun family oriented outdoor events. These events include the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the world renown Winnipeg Children's Festival and fundraising events like the Teddy Bear's Picnic and Manyfest.

Fans of fine dining will find the city home to a plethora of restaurants and venues that offer many unique and exquisite dishes from all corners of the globe. Winnipeg enjoys a large independent music scene with performances by local, national and international acts. Old Market Square, Osborne Village and the Corydon Avenue Strip all offer an interesting and unique combination of upscale specialty shops, dining, and nightspots. Corydon is famous for its many outdoor patios and trendy atmosphere. Old Market square plays host to music and theatre acts during the summer. Sports fans will find much to love about Winnipeg too.

Our professional teams include The Winnipeg Blue Bombers football team, The Winnipeg Jets NHL hockey team and The Winnipeg Goldeye's baseball team. Winnipeg offers many other sporting activities, including over 850 parks and 23 golf courses in the city and surrounding area. Winnipeg's friendly hospitality shines throughout the year. The community spirit is evident in every aspect of our community. Winnipeg's spirit was proudly displayed to the world in 1999, when it played host-city to the most successful Pan-Am Games ever held. Winnipeg and the province served as a temporary home to thousands of athletes, coaches, officials and fans. Whether lounging or playing in one of Winnipeg's many beautiful parks, taking a stroll through the city's world-class zoo, enjoying the fine dining and entertainment, catching a professional sports team or a game of golf, attending one of the many festivals or events, or taking a leisurely cruise down one of the city's scenic waterways, Winnipeg has something to offer everyone. For work, play, or both, join us in Winnipeg.

Other Information

Many famous Winnipegger's include The Guess Who, Burton Cummings, Randy Bachman, Fred Turner, Neil Young, Tom Jackson, Evelyn Hart, The Crash Test Dummies, Adam Beach, Guy Maddin, Nia Vardalos, Anna Paquin, Fred Penner, Len Cariou and Chantal Kreviazuk.

Visit community website: www.winnipeg.ca