About Winnipeg

Location

The City of Winnipeg is located almost at the geographic centre of North America. The city is surrounded by vast and beautiful Prairies. Two main rivers, the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, meet in the centre of city, at The Forks.

See APEGM's location: in the world, in Canada, in Manitoba, in Winnipeg

Population Size

With a population of 633,451 (2006), Winnipeg is characterized by slow but steady growth. It is the seventh largest city in Canada, and dominates the Manitoba economy. Winnipeg has a rich ethno-cultural mix. People from numerous nations have made Winnipeg their new home.

Area

The city is large. However, its downtown can be reached from any point in a short period of time. In spite of the trend towards strong suburban growth, the downtown continues to be a vibrant shopping, entertainment, and cultural centre of the city.

Temperatures

Winnipeg has a continental-type climate, enjoying four distinct seasons. There are significant temperature variations through the year generally ranging from highs of +35 degrees Celsius (+95 degrees Fahrenheit) to lows of -40 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees Fahrenheit).

Precipitation

The average annual precipitation is approximately 535 millimeters (21 inches) per year, of which about 125 millimetres (5 inches) falls as snow.

Sunshine

The City is the sunshine capital of Canada, with over 2300 hours of sun annually. The sky is arguably as blue as in southern Italy.

Old Settlements

Though there have been fur-trading posts on the site since 1738, the first permanent settlement of the area occurred in 1812 when a group of Scottish crofters arrived. Winnipeg was incorporated as a city in 1873, with a population of 1,869 people.

The arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885 brought a 30-year period of growth and prosperity unequalled in Canadian urban development. A flood of immigrants, high wheat prices, plentiful capital, and improved farming techniques contributed to making Winnipeg the wholesale, administrative, and financial centre of western Canada. Following World War I, economic stagnation due to low wheat prices and the Depression lasted well into the 1940s.

Since 1945, Winnipeg has grown steadily, based on its position as a major grain, financial, manufacturing, and transportation centre.

Formation of the New City

In 1972, the unified City of Winnipeg was created by amalgamating the following 12 municipalities, towns and cities:

The Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg
City of Winnipeg
City of St. Boniface
City of St. Vital
City of Transcona
City of St. James-Assiniboia
City of East Kildonan
City of West Kildonan
R. M. of North Kildonan
R. M. of Old Kildonan
R. M. of Fort Garry
R. M. of Charleswood

Economy

A diversified economy. Winnipeg has the most diversified secondary manufacturing base of any Canadian city, well supported by an equally varied range of service industries.

Stability

A stability characterized by predictable rates of population, housing, and labour force growth.

Affordable Housing

Good quality residential neighborhoods offering affordable housing and a unique system of over 70 community centres. For the same price, a house in Winnipeg may be at least twice as large as in Vancouver.

Recreation

Ample recreational opportunities highlighted by the rivers which accommodate boating and an interesting riverwalk system, as well as providing a scenic setting for excellent regional parks and a multitude of golf courses.

Arts and Entertainment

Several national and world class cultural and professional sporting organizations and related opportunities. The City has a long tradition of vibrant literary, music, religious and ethnic organizations. The City is home to several important attractions, including:

the world famous Royal Winnipeg Ballet,
the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra,
the Winnipeg Art Gallery has the world's largest collection of Inuit stone sculpture,
The Manitoba Museum is the only four-star attraction in Western Canada, according to the Michelin Guide, an international travel publication
the Manitoba Music Festival held in the city is the largest of its kind in Canada; and
the ancient history of aquatics is depicted in the Aquatic Hall of Fame and Museum of Canada Inc. This excellent institution, located in the Pan-Am Pool on Poseidon Bay, houses hundreds of artifacts and memorabilia.

Sport Clubs

Winnipeg is home to professional sports teams:

Sporting Events

Winnipeg has hosted special events such as:

the 1967 Pan-American Games,
the 1991 Grey Cup (judged by many as the best ever in the 79 years of the event), and
the 1999 Pan-American Games

Universities

Manitoba has five universities, three of which are in Winnipeg:

The University of Manitoba, as the largest and most comprehensive institution of higher learning in Manitoba, plays a distinctive role within the Province. In addition to offering undergraduate liberal education in arts, science, and education, The University of Manitoba provides programs in a broad range of professional studies, applied sciences and fine and performing arts and is responsible for the vast majority of graduate education and research in Manitoba. The University of Manitoba serves all parts of the Province, including inner city and suburban areas, rural and northern regions and attracts students from all population groups and from all walks of life. It manages and delivers a comprehensive array of both degree and non-degree credit courses not only on its campuses but also by correspondence and other distance education modalities both throughout the Province and beyond the Province, thereby significantly increasing accessibility to university education.
Le Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface est reconnu pour la qualité de son enseignement. Il constitue un milieu d'apprentissage qui privilégie des contacts fréquents et respectueux entre le personnel et le corps étudiant. Accueillant et sensible aux besoins des personnes, il leur propose des activités qui reflètent l'intérêt qu'il accorde à leur croissance personnelle et professionnelle.

Le Collège encourage l'usage de la langue française et la valorisation de l'identité culturelle francophone. De plus, il reconnaît l'importance du dialogue interculturel et il facilite l'apprentissage de différentes langues. Les activités de formation qu'il offre mènent à une grande ouverture sur le monde. Le Collège évolue dans un climat de liberté, de responsabilité et de respect. Il favorise l'égalité des personnes et l'équité dans tous les domaines de son fonctionnement.
The University of Winnipeg is home to more than 8,000 students. It is a provincially and privately funded post-secondary institution with undergraduate and selected graduate programs.

The University of Winnipeg is large enough to offer over 400 courses in 40 subject areas from filmmaking to forensics and small enough to make sure students connect with the University's award-winning professors. A downtown, urban campus, The University of Winnipeg is spread over of three city blocks, ensuring easy access to all classes and amenities.

The other two universities are:

The Brandon University is a co-educational, non-denominational, government-supported institution within the Province of Manitoba. It is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).

The University emphasizes research, scholarship, critical thinking, performance, artistic creation, communication and participation, as a means of imparting value and meaning to society and contributing to the public good. The University nurtures and develops excellence in its programs, attracts an outstanding faculty, defends academic freedom, preserves knowledge, and sustains a scholarly community where cultural differences are valued. The University strives to complement its primary mission of teaching and research by sharing the expertise of its staff, its information resources, and its facilities with the greater community.
University College of the North is an institution devoted to community and northern development and reflects the Aboriginal reality and cultural diversity of northern Manitoba.

The University College of the North offers diploma and certificate level Programs & Courses covering a wide area of interests. Many of our programs have full accreditation and are unique to Manitoba. UCN is also in the midst of a Distant Education initiative, which will bring our programs and courses into an estimated 24 northern communities.

The University College of the North (UCN) has two main campuses...The Pas and Thompson, complete with a full range of services. In addition, the College has six regional centers which are located in Churchill, Cross Lake, Easterville, Flin Flon, Swan River, and Split Lake. UCN's geographical intake area is almost 80% of the total area of Manitoba.

Colleges

Manitoba has three colleges, two of which are in Winnipeg:

Red River College is the largest and most comprehensive institute of applied learning in Manitoba. It provides the highest quality education and training for 32,000 full and part-time enrolments each year.
Yellowquill College, a First Nation Institution of post-secondary education, provides high quality education and training to adults, giving them skills and knowledge to obtain employment and/or further their education.

The other college is:

Assiniboine Community College is responsible for agriculture training for the entire province, and the Agriculture and Environment division offers agriculture courses in communities across Manitoba. Contract courses are offered in Brandon and throughout Assiniboine's catchment area, and distance-delivered training is an area undergoing huge growth. It also provides training certification of applicators and dispensers of agricultural pesticides for the entire province. The College also has the provincial mandate for Practical Nursing training. Training is conducted at the permanent sites at Brandon and Winnipeg and various rotating sites throughout the province.