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Winnipeg is located at the centre of Canada and the centre of North America combining the best of what Canada has to offer in a city of over 712,000 strong. Be a Voyageur for the day, and explore our fur trade past, discover your spiritual side with an Aboriginal theme or maybe an itinerary full of culinary delights. How about a combination of all three?
Winnipeg is the vibrant, creative capital of Manitoba. A mid-sized city featuring culturally diverse people, Winnipeg offers a community with a cosmopolitan, international flair as well as a warm, welcoming spirit. Winnipeg hosts 60% of Manitoba’s residents and continues to grow at a brisk pace.
Described as the “cultural cradle of Canada,” Winnipeg offers a variety of arts, culture, sports, recreation and entertainment to satisfy every taste. We’re a four-season city that celebrates a rich colourful history through our many historic sites, exhibits, attractions and yearly festivals. From the architecturally distinctive Exchange District, to the joie de vivre of Old St. Boniface – Winnipeg’s French Quarter, to the heart of history at The Forks, Winnipeg is a striking blend of old and new, traditional and avant-garde – a cultural oasis without pretension.
The junction of the Red and the Assiniboine Rivers, now known as The Forks, was a trading spot for Aboriginal tribes. Cree, Ojibwa and the Assiniboin Nations traded furs, shell beads and other goods on this spot. In 1738, the French explorer and trader, La Verendrye, was the first European to reach this meeting place at the junction of the rivers, and, in 1812, Lord Selkirk convinced 105 Scottish farmers to come and form the Red River Settlement at The Forks. This started an immigration boom that solidified the future of Winnipeg.
As a model of multiculturalism, Winnipeg’s history reflects the important role immigration has played in the city’s development. Over 200 ethnic groups speaking over 100 languages are represented here. Winnipeg’s level of cultural achievement and flourishing arts scene is largely attributed to this rich mixture of ethnic populations.
Located at the geographic centre of North America, Winnipeg borders the provinces of Ontario to the east, Saskatchewan & Manitoba to the west, Nunavut to the north, and the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota to the south.
Winnipeg's geographic location places the city on the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies, the northern extension of North America’s Great Plains region. The surrounding landscape is characterized by agricultural land utilized for grain production and livestock. In addition, the area includes forests, marsh landscapes, and various lakes and rivers including Lake Winnipeg, the third largest lake in Canada and 13th in the world.
Winnipeg is a city that balances between a reverence and celebration of our past and an excitement and anticipation of the future. One of North America’s best collections of turn-of-the-last-century architecture is now the home to independent shops, galleries, designers and artists, while the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, The Forks, continues to evolve from a historical trading hub to Winnipeg’s busiest attraction. The Forks is also the future home to Canada’s first national museum to be located outside of Ottawa, The Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Source: Destination Winnipeg
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