Winnipeg

INTRO
One might think that there is nothing much to be seen in Winnipeg besides snow, but one will be mistaken. This beautiful city with historical architecture, numerous parks picturesque waterways, is a lovely tourist destination that host cultural festivals, outdoor events and welcomes all winter sports buffs.

City Profile
City: Winnipeg
Country: Canada
Area: 401.2 km2
Population: 648,000
Mayor: Sam Katz
Language: English, French

LOCATION
Located at the eastern edge of the great plains of western in the province of Manitoba, Winnipeg is frequently called the "Gateway to the West", as it is in between eastern and western Canada and all the traffic passes through or close to the city. Situated at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine River, Winnipeg is in the middle of Canada and at the geographical centre of North America.

TIME TO VISIT
Winnipeg is recognised as both the coldest and the second sunniest city in Canada. It has extreme humid continental climate that is strongly influenced by the air coming from the Gulf of Mexico during the summers and by the Arctic high pressure air in winters. Typically, spring and summer in Winnipeg are characterised as fluctuating seasons when sudden temperature changes are not uncommon. In general, July is the hottest month with average temperatures of 35 degrees C but the high levels of humidity contribute to the perception of the air as even hotter. Thunderstorms and tornadoes may also occur during these two seasons as Winnipeg is also described as a windy city- April being the windiest month. The coldest month of the year is January with average low temperatures of minus 10 degrees Celsius. Winters are usually dry even though considered the coldest in the world. Probably the best time to visit Winnipeg is during the beginning of the autumn, namely in September or the beginning of the summer May and June so as to avoid the heavy snowing and wind.

POPULATION
Winnipeg is the home of over half a million people. This number has grown with about 3 percent for the last seven years as has the one for the population of the province itself. The majority of the population is Caucasian but there are smaller percentages of visible minority groups. Among them are Filipino, Asian, Black, Chinese, Latin American and some others. In general, the official languages in Winnipeg are English and French, with the majority speaking English alone, some use both English and French and a very insignificant number understand French only. Apart from that, because of the wide variety of ethnic groups in the city, many other languages can be heard, including German, Ukrainian, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Italian and so on.

DISTRICTS
Winnipeg is divided into many neighbourhoods. Here are the three most popular districts in the city:

Downtown Winnipeg is beautiful. Here are the famous Parliament Buildings, the St. Boniface Cathedral, the Forks, and Can West Global Park. The Winnipeg Art Gallery and several of the major parks are also part of the downtown area.
Fort Rouge is the first suburb in the city. It was mainly a residential district for people with British Canadian background. Many churches are situated there.
Exchange district has a large collection of stone architecture, special boutique stores, art galleries, antique stores, cafes and restaurants. The district has been preserved and many of its buildings are historical sites. It is among the tourist attractions of the city and many tourists visit it when they spend time here.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
Apart from the spectacular Winnipeg Folk Festival that takes place every July and attracts thousands of local and foreign tourists, the city also has entertainment for those visiting in other parts of the year. Several places are considered must-see attractions.

The Forks is the name of the place where the two rivers, the Assiniboine and Red Rivers, merged into one another and is the major tourist attraction in Winnipeg. It is also a National Historic Site in Canada as this is the original area of the city's foundation. One can take a boat along the river or ice-skate during the winter months. A walking path alongside the riverbank leads to the Legislative Building of the city. There is the Children's Museum as well and every June a famous children's festival is held in the region. Dining is also possible at the restaurant on the nearby Provencher Bridge that crosses the Red River. Annual outdoor performances are held at the close-by 3000 years old Oodena Circle. http://www.theforks.com/
Parliament Buildings are the most impressive buildings in Winnipeg that were completed in 1920 by the native Tyndall Stone. The complex includes the Legislative Chambers, Lieutenant's Governor residence, the Cabinet of Ministers and several other government departments. The buildings are surrounded by fine parks and gardens and the grounds are decorated by sculptures of famous people, including Queen Victoria and Lord Dufferin. Guided tours are available on certain days of the year, otherwise tourists need to make an appointment. http://www.gov.mb.ca/legtour/
Assiniboine Park houses the Assiniboine Park Zoo and Conservatory. The Conservatory features various tropical and exotic plants and displays of artworks by local artists. The zoo is the artificial home of over two hundred species, among which are native animals such as polar bears, elks and bold eagles. The park is situated right in the centre of Winnipeg and offers many open spaces for picnic and sunbathing. In winter, ice-skating is the primary reason why locals visit the park as the lake freezes. There is also an English garden and the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden. http://assiniboinepark.com/index.php
Royal Canadian Mint produces all the circulation coins and collector coins for the country. The Mint represents one of the largest and most intricate production processes in the world. Tourists can either take a representative who will explain the history of coin-making and will elaborate on each part of the production line or take a self-guided tour. The Mint also makes coins on behalf of other countries, including Australia, Cuba, and New Zealand. http://www.mint.ca/en/index_home2
The Manitoba Museum is the best place where one can learn about the history and culture of Manitoba. It is the only natural history museum in the city and comprises of a train station, a ship, Indian plains, Boreal Forest and many other science-related features. There is a Planetarium and an interactive educational centre for children as well. http://www.manitobamuseum.mb.ca

AIRPORT
The number of direct international flights to Winnipeg is currently limited. Transfer from some other Canadian airport is sometimes a necessity. Right now, there is a direct flight to Winnipeg from London. However, the airport is convenient and is being redeveloped so as to meet further transportation needs.

Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport is situated 7km from the downtown Winnipeg. The airport is not connected to the city by a metro, rail way or subway system. The only options upon arriving are renting a car, taking a bus or a taxi. Several hotels offer complimentary shuttle services directly to your accommodation. More info at: http://www.waa.ca/

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Public Transportation in Winnipeg, although lacking a subway and a light rail, is very well arranged.

Buses are the only local means of transportation and very reliable as tickets are valuable for throughout the entire city without any additional tickets fro transfer. Prices: $1.65 CND. Buses are free during the winter time in case of a blizzard.
Renting a car is the other useful way of travelling around. Several car rental companies are located at the airport terminal.
Taxis are also available in the city.

HISTORY
The Forks, where the city is situated, is a historical focal point where many aboriginal people travelled for thousands of years. The name of the city, literally translate from Cree, means "muddy waters". In 1870 the city was the site of the Red River Rebellion that was held between the local people and the newcomers from eastern Canada. The conflict ended with the victory over the natives and the incorporation of the city as a part of the fifth Canadian province. After that the city underwent a serious progress and its population enhanced dramatically. The First World War brought the local people to a general strike because of the bad working conditions. Unfortunately for the workers, the strike didn't end in their favour. To make matters worse, the World War II and the Great Depression left many people unemployed and even though the end of the war was seen as the beginning of a brighter future, the largest flood in the city in 1950 caused additional damage. Despite all the misfortunes, however, Winnipeg is a small prosperous city in Canada and has a lot to offer to both its citizens and visitors.

CITY LINKS

Winnipeg Free Press, A Daily Newspaper in English: winnipegfreepress.com
Winnipeg Sun, the other daily newspaper: www.winnipegsun.com
Winnipeg Official Website: www.winnipeg.ca/
Winnipeg Attractions: http://www.hellowinnipeg.com/Attractions.Cfm

UNIVERSITY LINKS

University of Manitoba: www.umanitoba.ca
University of Winnipeg: www.uwinnipeg.ca
Red River College: www.rrc.mb.ca