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| Winnipeg's
St. Boniface Cathedral 1 |
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Located smack-dab in the middle
of Canada, amidst endless
prairie farmland, Winnipeg
is seldom associated with the term vacation destination. Sure, it's a place
for business trips or to drive through on the way to or from Ontario,
but for Canadians, taking a holiday in Winnipeg is the equivalent of going to
Amish Country for
a bachelor party.
Yet Winnipeg's reputation
is unfounded—and unfair—as most don't realize that Winnipeg is a thriving
cultural centre that offers a vibrant atmosphere and close proximity to some
of Canada's most well-known (and beautiful) beaches. Known only for harsh, long
winters and mosquito-laden summers, only Manitobans seem to understand the true
charm of this lively city.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF WINNIPEG
The settlement that went on to become known as downtown Winnipeg was formed
at the convergence of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers by French colonists in
1738, though a more permanent settlement was not formed until 1822. Known as
Fort
Gibraltar and later as Upper Fort Garry, it was quickly destroyed in
a flood and rebuilt in 1835, only to be re-named Fort Gibraltar.
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Grand
Beach on a Busy Summer's Day 2 |
The Red River rebellion—which
saw Metis People, led by Louis Riel, clash with recently settlers from the east—re-defined
Winnipeg's landscape and led to the formation of a new Canadian province: Manitoba.
Winnipeg was officially incorporated as a city in 1873. Shortly after, Winnipeg
experienced an impressive growth spurt as it was one of North America's major
transportation hubs, especially before the Panama Canal was constructed. In
1971, many of Winnipeg's suburbs were amalgamated into the city to create one
large city. These suburbs included St. Boniface, St. James-Assiniboia, Transcona,
St. Vital and Kildonan.
Despite it having been Canada's
third largest city in the early 1900s, Winnipeg's growth has slowed in the years
since, especially compared to other Canadian prairie cities like Calgary
and Edmonton. These days,
the Winnipeg area has around 700,000 people, making it Canada's 7th largest
city.
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| Royal
Canadian Mint at Night 3 |
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MUST-SEE DISTRICTS
Fort
Rouge was Winnipeg's first suburb, and these days it's a vibrant, inner-city
neighbourhood that offers great shopping and dining options, particularly on
Corydon,
the city's Little Italy district. In Fort Rouge's north end, Osborne
Village is one of Canada's most densely populated neighbourhoods and
is definitely Winnipeg's trendiest area, offering locally-run businesses that
flaunt cutting-edge food, drinks, music and consumer goods. Osborne Village
has an urban vibe that is unique to Winnipeg and Canada.
Downtown
Winnipeg is peppered with the usual skyscrapers that one expects in
the centre of a major city. It's here that corporate-types go about their daily
business, but once the offices close down, downtown is still somewhat hopping,
especially when there's a concert or hockey game at MTS
Centre, Winnipeg's main sport and entertainment venue. The intersection
of Portage
and Main is one of Canada's most well-known, and is reputedly the coldest
and windiest intersection in Canada. Also located downtown is Winnipeg's Chinatown,
where the city's Asian influence comes to life with amazing food and colourful
events.
Despite it being located
in the Prairies, far from Quebec,
Winnipeg is proud to have a large, vibrant French-speaking population. The city's
own French Quarter can be found in the area now known as St.
Boniface, located across the river from Fort Rouge. St. Boniface is
connected to downtown via the Esplanade
Riel, a pedestrian bridge with a unique cable-stayed structure.
Winnipeg's West
End, located along Ellice and Sargent Avenues, is considered the international
district of the city. Import gift shops and a large array of global dining options
line the streets of this modest district. The North End is known for its colourful
murals and also as the birthplace for several prominent artist-types, including
Burton Cummings.
HISTORIC SITES AND MUSEUMS
Fort
Gibraltar Historic Site, located in Saint Boniface, is a testament to
the trials and tribulations of early settlers in Winnipeg. Though the original
fort is long gone, the main structure was re-built in 1978, and the stone gate
still stands. The fort is open for exploration during the summer months and
is the site of many festivities during the popular Festival
du Voyageur in February.
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Oak
Hammock Marsh 4 |
The French Quarter is also
the location of the historic St.
Boniface Cathedral, where Louis Riel is buried. The cathedral burned
down in 1968, but the stone façade still stands as a testament to the
strength of the faith of French pioneers. Nearby, the Convent of the Grey Nuns
still stands, exactly as it has since 1845, making it both the oldest building
in Winnipeg and the largest oak log building in North America. The convent is
part of the St.
Boniface Museum, which features extensive exhibits and artifacts related
to Winnipeg's French history, including the fur trade, the Red River Rebellion
and everything before and since.
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| Shopping
at the Forks 5 |
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The Manitoba
Museum is also important as it commemorates the natural and human history
of this diverse province. Eight galleries represent everything from the urban
cityscapes to the rural communities to the harsh arctic landscape and everything
in between. The onsite planetarium brings the solar system to life and enchants
both kids and grown-ups in the process.
The
Forks National Historic Site, located across the river from St. Boniface
in downtown Winnipeg, is where early First Nations peoples in the Winnipeg area
congregated, and today it remains a modern-day gathering place where residents
and visitors can browse goods at the market, get a bite to eat, pick up groceries
or enjoy a leisurely stroll along the river's edge and through the interpretive
park, where history is illustrated through informative signs. The Forks is the
proposed site of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights when it opens in 2010.
Another famous Winnipegger,
author Gabrielle Roy, grew up at 375 Deschampes Street, and because of her important
contributions to the Canadian Literary Scene, the house was converted into a
museum
dedicated to the literary arts in 2003.
The
Royal Canadian Mint, located east of St. Boniface, is one of Winnipeg's
most well-known attractions, and not just for its unique architecture. It's
the place where all Canadian coins are produced, not to mention the coins of
several other countries. Highly efficient and impressive, a tour of the mint
and its boutique is a great way to spend the better part of a day.
THE ARTS
Winnipeg is known as one of the cultural hubs of Western Canada. A number of
famous artsy-types call Winnipeg home (see box), not to mention a number of
theatre, dance
and music companies.
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Some
famous Winnipeggers
Louis Riel, politician
Gabrielle Roy, author
Nia Vardalos, actress and writer
Anna Paquin, actress
Tommy Douglas, politician
Neil Young, musician
Brett Hull, Hockey Player
Chris Jericho, wrestler
Randy Bachman, musician
Fred Penner, children's entertainer
Burton Cummings, musician
Chantal Kreviazuk, musician
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The
Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) has been impressing audiences on the international
stage with world-class productions since it started touring in 1945. RWB has
the distinction of being North America's longest-running ballet company. Performances
occur at the Centennial
Concert Hall in downtown. The Manitoba
Opera, a company thathas been putting on renowned performances since
1972, also calls this stage home.
Western Canada's oldest
public art space, the Winnipeg
Art Gallery, has been encouraging and supporting the local artistic
community since 1912. Ever-changing exhibits enhance and enrich personal experience
through the medium of visual artwork, making the gallery a must-see for kids
and adults in Winnipeg.
For another evening out, take in a show at the Manitoba
Theatre Centre, home to the Manitoba
Theatre Company, which set the stage for theatre companies across North
America as the first English-speaking regional theatre group.
NATURAL ATTRACTIONS
Like many cities in Canada, Winnipeg is surrounded by an expansive rural landscape
where wildlife make their home and the endless prairie allows one to forget
the hassles of urban living. Oak
Hammock Marsh is an award-winning restored wetland that is a prime breeding
ground for many species of rare birds. With over 30 km (18 mi) of trails and
a state-of-the-art interpretive centre, a day at the Marsh is a day well-spent.
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| Royal
Winnipeg Ballet Dancers 6 |
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Though Winnipeg (or Winterpeg
as it is sometimes known) is considered one of the coldest cities in Canada,
it's also known for its beaches. And while it's true that Manitoba's only oceanfront
property connects to the Arctic
Ocean, over 14 per cent of the province is covered in lakes, including
the world's tenth largest freshwater lake, Lake
Winnipeg. Grand
Beach, for one, offers a stunning 3-km (1.9-mi) stretch of white sand
waterfront deliciousness. And at only 80 km (50 mi) from Winnipeg, a trip to
Grand Beach can easily be a day trip, though accommodations
are available for those who can't get enough of it.
EVENTS
In a culture-rich city like Winnipeg, it's no surprise that there are a number
of festivals throughout the year that celebrate not only the arts but the spirit
of this vibrant city. The Winnipeg
Folk Festival is one such event, uniting folk, bluegrass, celtic and
old-time music lovers in nearby Bird's
Eye Provincial Park. The schedule of performers is always impressive,
featuring artists from around the world. North America's second largest fringe
theatre festival also takes place in Winnipeg, celebrating film and
performances that veer off the beaten path.
The Red
River Exhibition, taking place near the end of June each year, is a
fun-filled, family-oriented event that offers all the excitement of a midway,
plus concerts and other performances, agriculture exhibits, kids programs and
more.
Not all of Winnipeg's fun
happens in the summer, and Festival
de Voyageur is proof. One of the city's biggest events, Festival celebrates
the French population of Manitoba by re-creating the energy of the world famous
Carnaval
De Quebec in a Western Canadian setting. For 10 days every February,
the history of early French settlers in Manitoba is brought to life through
activities, learning programs, music, vendors and more.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Travel Manitoba; Winnipeg's
St. Boniface Cathedral; Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Travel Manitoba; Grand
Beach on a Busy Summer's Day; Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Royal Canadian Mint;
Royal Canadian Mint at Night; Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Travel Manitoba; Oak
Hammock Marsh; Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Travel Manitoba; Shopping
at the Forks; Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Travel Manitoba; Royal
Winnipeg Ballet Dancers; Winnipeg, MB, Canada
