Winnipeg provides a very pleasant surprise for the visitor. Maybe because of its cold winters, or perhaps because of its isolation right in the centre of the vast width of Canada, Winnipeg is often unjustly maligned, and, very unfairly underrated. This city of 650,000 has an amazing range of interesting sights and attractions, leisure opportunities and cultural activities. Its location on the banks of the Red River and the Assiniboine River, make Winnipeg's riverside areas very attractive. Winnipeg's proximity to the huge inland Lake Winnipeg even allows residents and visitors access to a world class beach - thousands of kilometres from the ocean. Winnipeg's greatest asset though is, without doubt, its very friendly people. Winnipegers welcome visitors with open arms. They are very proud of their city and all it has to offer. This friendliness and civic pride impresses everyone who visits Winnipeg.

HISTORY

Enjoying the Beach in Summer

According the munipality of Winnipeg, the city derives its name from the lake that lies 64 km (40 mi) to the north. Named by area Cree, it translates to 'muddy water'(Win-nipee). The Cree and Assiniboine tribes shared the land of present-day Winnipeg until the arrival of the first European in 1738. This was French fur-trader Pierre Gaultier de la Vérendrye, who established a fort in what is now Winnipeg. Great rivalry existed between the French fur-traders and the Hudson Bay Company. In 1812 the first permanent European settlement was founded when Scottish nobleman Lord Selkirk obtained a land grant from the Hudson Bay Company and founded the Red River Colony. The Colony was also in the middle of the trading area of the North West Trading Company and so the needs of the colony were often at odds with that of the trading company. The Métis (people with mixed First Nations and European roots) who were employed by the North West Company, saw the colonists as a threat and violence ensued. This was somewhat alleviated in 1821 when the Hudson Bay Company and the North West Company merged. However tension between the European settlers and the Métis remained.

In 1867 the Dominion of Canada was formed and shortly thereafter the transfer of Hudson Bay Company territory to the government was arranged. The Métis led by Louis Riel feared they would lose their lands to new settlers and this resulted in the Red River Rebellion. The outcome of this was that laws that protected Métis property and language rights were instilled into the Manitoba Act of 1870, when Manitoba joined the Canadian Confederation.

	Downtown Winnipeg at Night

In 1878 the railway arrived in Winnipeg. For many years after the development of Winnipeg was largely linked to the development of western Canada as a whole. Winnipeg became the gateway to the west. Between 1870 and 1910 mass immigration took place, in particular from Russia, the Ukraine and Iceland. This added an even broader dimension to the cultural base of the city. The city's location made it a major transportation centre. Grains grown throughout the prairies were shipped by rail through Winnipeg to other points in North America, and to ports for shipment to the rest of the world. After the industrial boom of the late 1920s growth has been a little less dramatic, but nonetheless the city has developed into a modern and prosperous place. In the last several decades much urban redevelopment has taken place. Winnipeg is making a concerted effort to keep the historical downtown-core very much alive.

CLIMATE

It can never be denied that winter in Winnipeg can get bitterly cold, hence its often used nickname 'Winterpeg.' However the city has grown and developed around this problem, and several ingenious ways of dealing with the winter cold have been thought of. The intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street in downtown Winnipeg is believed by many to be the windiest intersection in Canada. Combine this wind with frigid sub-zero temperatures and it is not pleasant. However a whole underground city has been developed underneath this intersection, and the surrounding area. There are extensive underground malls, and many offices are linked to this. Transit service is excellent and frequent, and the efficiency of the snow removal system is noteworthy. Winnipeg has much in the way of cultural activities to help the winter months to pass quickly. There are several orchestras, an opera company and a world-renowned ballet company - The Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Live theatre is popular, and there are lots of art galleries. The music scene here is legendary, bands play all over the city, some of them very good indeed. Winnipeg is the home of the 'Guess Who' and in more recent years the 'Crash Test Dummies'. Some believe that the islolation that the Winnipeg winter brings has helped to make it such a haven of artistic talent. Spring comes very quickly and it is a good time to visit if you want to avoid the cold or don't particularly enjoy hot summers. Fall is also a very pleasant season to visit. Summer in Winnipeg is one of the best in Canada. It can get very hot, and with so many recreational facilities and lakes close by, Winnipeg is a great place to visit when it is hot. In 1999, Winnipeg hosted the Pan American Games for the second time. The city has certainly benefited from some of the sports facilities that were built for this.

TRANSPORTATION

Getting to Winnipeg by any means is relatively simple. The city is on the Trans-Canada Highway, and there are also good highway connections from across the border with North Dakota from the rest of the United States. There are bus connections from all over the province and other provinces and states. Winnipeg is well served by Via Rail Canada, Canada's national railway network. It is a major stop for 'The Canadian' Via's Trans-Canada train, and there is also Via service to Northern Manitoba, ending at Churchill on the Hudson Bay, which is famous for being a place to spot polar bears and beluga whales. Winnipeg International Airport is linked from all major cities in Canada, and several in the U.S.A. There is also limited direct air service from the U.K. and Europe.(For more transportation information click here)

FEATURED ATTRACTIONS

The Manitoba Museum has exhibits that explain natural phenomena in a simple but fascinating way that appeals to everyone. The museum has seven galleries that show different interrelationships between people and the environment, and cover wildlife, geology, culture and history. There are wonderful dioramas of Aboriginal life, and Manitoba landscapes. There is a recreation of a 1920s town, and amongst the highlights is a full-sized replica of the 'Nonsuch,' the ship that took the first cargo of furs to England in 1668, resulting in the founding of the Hudson Bay Company. As additional attractions there is the Science Centre - a 'hands on' facility and a Planetarium.

Within a relatively short time, The Forks has become the major meeting place in Winnipeg, and that was the intention of the people who created it. The Forks is a redevelopment project set on 56 acres of riverside property behind the VIA Rail Station on Main Street and Broadway. The Forks is named for the forks of the Red and Assiniboine rivers which merge at this point, and it is a park and recreation area with stores, markets, restaurants, bars, as well as special sports, leisure, cultural and historical events. The Forks is centred on various late 19th and early 20th Century warehouses, stables and factories that have been carefully restored. There is a boat dock, with various boat tours and river buses leaving from here. Canoes and sea cycles are available for rental.

Fresh Produce at the Forks Market

The riverwalk has interpretive plaques concerning the history of the area and leads as far as the Provincial Legislative Building. Live performances take place at the open air amphitheatre. The Forks was the site of a lot of earlier settlement by First Nations, fur traders, pioneers, and the Métis. For information about activities at the Forks or for any other travel questions about Manitoba, visit the Manitoba Travel Idea Centre in the Johnston Terminal. The Johnston Terminal is a restored four-storey warehouse, and has a variety of shops and two restaurants. The Forks Market has five full-service restaurants and a wide range of different fresh produce and prepared foods with everything from gourmet and ethnic specialties to fast food. There is also a great selection of crafts, paintings, sculptures, pottery and jewelry. The market is housed in former stables, and much attention has been given to creating a bright and open effect. The Forks is also home to The Manitoba Children's Museum.

	The Provincial Legislative Building, Winnipeg

The Provincial Legislative Building of Manitoba is one of the world's finest examples of neoclassical architecture in the world. To be more specific it was constructed in the beaux-arts classical style. By any standards it is a magnificent structure. The stone used in construction is a rare limestone known as Manitoba Tyndall stone. A famous symbol of the city of Winnipeg, is the four metre bronze statue called The Golden Boy set at the top of the building, and covered in 23.5 carat gold. The statue faces north to represent where the province's future lies. In his right hand is a torch pointing to economic development, in his left hand, a wheat sheaf representing agriculture. There is a grand staircase inside, which has two identical giant bison statues at either side of the bottom of the stairs - they appear almost as sentinels for the building. Guided tours are available. The grounds are also very attractive and contain some notable artwork in the form of statues. For a good lunch, at a great price, try the Golden Boy Cafeteria in the Legislature Building.

On the southeast outskirts of the city is a stunning, ultra-modern, pyramid shaped building. This is the Royal Canadian Mint and not only does it produce Canada's coins, but those of many other countries also. The mint produces over two billion coins annually. It is considered one of the most modern and efficient mints in the world. The building has an attractively landscaped interior courtyard, and there is an interesting historical display about coinage through the ages. Tours are available from Monday to Friday.

Relaxing at Grand Beach

Another feature that Winnipeg has, that is a big surprise to visitors, is nearby Grand Beach Provincial Park. On a hot Manitoba summer day - and that can be very hot - lying on the beautiful white sand of Grand Beach, or swimming in the warm waters of Lake Winnipeg, it is very easy to imagine that you are somewhere by the ocean thousands of miles to the south. Although there are plenty of things to do here, the number one attraction is total relaxation on the beach. You really won't believe this place until you actually experience it. The white sand was formed by retreating glaciers from the ice age, and this sand forms a lot of sandbars in the water; this breaks down the lake into smaller areas, so in summer the water gets comfortably warm. The colour of the water varies, but on hot days combined with the white sand the beach looks totally tropical. Several major magazines have selected Grand Beach as one of the top ten beaches in North America; one famous mens' magazine selected it as one of the top ten beaches in the world. The beach is three kilometres long, and behind it are dunes up to eight metres high. A lagoon has formed behind the dunes, and this is the habitat of many species of birds. There are several nature trails by the lake, and inland in the forests and backcountry. Many different recreational opportunities are available and these include boating and water sports, fishing, camping and hiking in summer, fall and spring. In winter the area's trails are ideal for cross country skiing and snowmobiling.