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Before incorporation
Winnipeg lies exposed to numerous weather systems including bitterly cold Arctic high pressure systems during the winter months, although people who live in Winnipeg claim their city's dry winter cold is more pleasant than the damper cold in Toronto. According to Environment Canada, Winnipeg is the coldest city in the world with a population of over 600,000.[18] The coldest temperature during the last 25 years was -41.7 °C (-43.1 °F) on February 5, 2007 [19] The coldest wind chill reading ever recorded was -57.1 °C (-70.8 °F) on February 1, 1996.
Spring and fall tend to be rather contracted seasons, each averaging little over six weeks. In general the weather during these seasons is highly variable, and rapidly changing. For example, temperatures in Winnipeg in October have ranged from -20.6 °C (-5.1 °F) to 30.5 °C (86.9 °F), and in May from -11.7 °C (10.9 °F) to 37.8 °C (100 °F).
See also: List of Winnipeg neighbourhoods
Transportation
Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg
7 " Before incorporation
Winnipeg lies at the confluence of the Assiniboine River and the Red River, which is known as The Forks, a historic focal point on canoe river routes travelled by aboriginal peoples for thousands of years. The name Winnipeg is a transcription of a western Cree word meaning "muddy waters".
Upper Fort Garry in the early 1870s
In 1738, the Sieur de la Vérendrye built the first trading post on the site (Fort Rouge) which was ultimately abandoned.[7] Other posts were built in the Red River region. Fort Gibraltar was built by the North West Company in 1809 and Fort Douglas was built by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in 1812. The two companies fought fiercely over trade in the area with each destroying the other's fort over the course of several battles. In 1821, Hudson's Bay and North West Companies ended their long rivalry with a merger.
Fort Gibraltar, the site of present-day Winnipeg, was renamed Fort Garry in 1822 and became the leading post in the region for the Hudson’s Bay Company. Fort Garry was destroyed in an 1826 flood, and rebuilt in 1835. It played a small role in fur trading, but remained the residence of the Governor of the company for many years.
Upper Fort Garry today
In 1869 to 1870, Winnipeg was the site of the Red River Rebellion, a conflict between the local provisional government of Métis leader Louis Riel and newcomers from eastern Canada. This rebellion led directly to Manitoba's entry into Confederation as Canada's fifth province in 1870. On November 8, 1873, Winnipeg was incorporated as a city. In 1876, the post office officially adopted the name "Winnipeg," three years after the city's incorporation.
Railway boomtown
Upper Fort Garry in the early 1870s
In 1738, the Sieur de la Vérendrye built the first trading post on the site (Fort Rouge) which was ultimately abandoned.[7] Other posts were built in the Red River region. Fort Gibraltar was built by the North West Company in 1809 and Fort Douglas was built by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in 1812. The two companies fought fiercely over trade in the area with each destroying the other's fort over the course of several battles. In 1821, Hudson's Bay and North West Companies ended their long rivalry with a merger.
Fort Gibraltar, the site of present-day Winnipeg, was renamed Fort Garry in 1822 and became the leading post in the region for the Hudson’s Bay Company. Fort Garry was destroyed in an 1826 flood, and rebuilt in 1835. It played a small role in fur trading, but remained the residence of the Governor of the company for many years.
Upper Fort Garry today
In 1869 to 1870, Winnipeg was the site of the Red River Rebellion, a conflict between the local provisional government of Métis leader Louis Riel and newcomers from eastern Canada. This rebellion led directly to Manitoba's entry into Confederation as Canada's fifth province in 1870. On November 8, 1873, Winnipeg was incorporated as a city. In 1876, the post office officially adopted the name "Winnipeg," three years after the city's incorporation.
The first locomotive in Winnipeg, the Countess of Dufferin, arrived via steamboat in 1877. The Canadian Pacific Railway completed the first direct rail link from Eastern Canada in 1881, opening the door to mass immigration and settlement of the Canadian Prairies. The history of Winnipeg's rail heritage and the Countess of Dufferin may seen at the Winnipeg Railway Museum.
Winnipeg experienced a boom during the 1890s and the first two decades of the twentieth century, and the city's population grew from 25,000 in 1891 to more than 179,000 in 1921.[8] Immigration increased during this period and Winnipeg took on its distinctive multicultural character. The Manitoba Legislative Building reflects the optimism of the boom years. Built of Tyndall Stone and opened in 1920, its dome supports a bronze statue finished in gold leaf titled "Eternal Youth and the Spirit of Enterprise" but commonly known as the "Golden Boy". The Legislature was built in the neoclassical style that is common to many other North American state and provincial legislative buildings of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Winnipeg faced financial difficulty when the Panama Canal opened in 1914. The canal reduced reliance on Canada's rail system for international trade, and the increase in ship traffic helped Vancouver surpass Winnipeg to become Canada's third-largest city in the 1920s.[9]
Winnipeg General StrikeWinnipeg experienced a boom during the 1890s and the first two decades of the twentieth century, and the city's population grew from 25,000 in 1891 to more than 179,000 in 1921.[8] Immigration increased during this period and Winnipeg took on its distinctive multicultural character. The Manitoba Legislative Building reflects the optimism of the boom years. Built of Tyndall Stone and opened in 1920, its dome supports a bronze statue finished in gold leaf titled "Eternal Youth and the Spirit of Enterprise" but commonly known as the "Golden Boy". The Legislature was built in the neoclassical style that is common to many other North American state and provincial legislative buildings of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Winnipeg faced financial difficulty when the Panama Canal opened in 1914. The canal reduced reliance on Canada's rail system for international trade, and the increase in ship traffic helped Vancouver surpass Winnipeg to become Canada's third-largest city in the 1920s.[9]
Main article: Winnipeg General Strike of 1919
As a result of appalling labour conditions following World War I, 35,000 Winnipeggers walked off the job in May 1919, in what came to be known as the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. The government broke the strike through arrests, deportation and violence. The strike ended June 21, 1919, when the Riot Act was read and a group of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers charged a group of strikers; two strikers were killed and at least thirty others were injured, resulting in the day being known as Bloody Saturday. The lasting effect was a polarized population. One of the leaders of the strike, J.S. Woodsworth, went on to found Canada's first major socialist party, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), which would later become the New Democratic Party.
Crowd gathered outside old City Hall during the Winnipeg General Strike, June 21, 1919
Great Depression and World War IIAs a result of appalling labour conditions following World War I, 35,000 Winnipeggers walked off the job in May 1919, in what came to be known as the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. The government broke the strike through arrests, deportation and violence. The strike ended June 21, 1919, when the Riot Act was read and a group of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers charged a group of strikers; two strikers were killed and at least thirty others were injured, resulting in the day being known as Bloody Saturday. The lasting effect was a polarized population. One of the leaders of the strike, J.S. Woodsworth, went on to found Canada's first major socialist party, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), which would later become the New Democratic Party.
Crowd gathered outside old City Hall during the Winnipeg General Strike, June 21, 1919
The stock market crash in 1929 only hastened an already steep decline in Winnipeg. The Great Depression resulted in massive unemployment, which was worsened by drought and depressed agricultural prices.
The Depression ended when World War II broke out in 1939. Thousands of Canadians volunteered to join the forces. In Winnipeg, the old established armouries of Minto, Tuxedo (Fort Osborne) and McGregor were so crowded that the military had to take over other buildings to increase capacity.
Winnipeg played a large part in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). The mandate of the BCATP was to train flight crews away from the battle zone in Europe. Pilots, navigators, bomb aimers, wireless operators, air gunners, and flight engineers all passed through Winnipeg on their way to the various air schools across Western Canada. Winnipeg served as a headquarters for Command No. 2. [10]
After World War II and the 1950 floodThe Depression ended when World War II broke out in 1939. Thousands of Canadians volunteered to join the forces. In Winnipeg, the old established armouries of Minto, Tuxedo (Fort Osborne) and McGregor were so crowded that the military had to take over other buildings to increase capacity.
Winnipeg played a large part in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). The mandate of the BCATP was to train flight crews away from the battle zone in Europe. Pilots, navigators, bomb aimers, wireless operators, air gunners, and flight engineers all passed through Winnipeg on their way to the various air schools across Western Canada. Winnipeg served as a headquarters for Command No. 2. [10]
The end of World War II brought a new sense of optimism in Winnipeg. Pent-up demand brought a boom in housing development, but the building activity came to a halt due to the 1950 Red River Flood, the largest flood to hit Winnipeg since 1861. The flood held waters above flood stage for fifty-one days. On May 8, 1950, eight dikes collapsed and four of the city's eleven bridges were destroyed. Nearly 70,000 people had to be evacuated. Premier Douglas Campbell called for federal assistance and Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent declared a state of emergency. Soldiers from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry regiment staffed the relief effort for the duration of the flood. The federal government estimated damages at over $26 million, although the province insisted it was at least double that.[11]
To prevent future floods, the Red River Basin Investigation recommended a system of flood control measures, including multiple diking systems and a floodway to divert the Red River around Winnipeg. This prompted the construction of the Red River Floodway under Premier Dufferin Roblin.
Creation of Unicity to presentTo prevent future floods, the Red River Basin Investigation recommended a system of flood control measures, including multiple diking systems and a floodway to divert the Red River around Winnipeg. This prompted the construction of the Red River Floodway under Premier Dufferin Roblin.
Prior to 1972, Winnipeg was the largest of thirteen cities and towns in a metropolitan area around the Red and Assiniboine rivers. Unicity was created on July 27, 1971 and took effect with the first elections in 1972. The City of Winnipeg Act incorporated the current city of Winnipeg: the municipalities of St. James-Assiniboia, St. Boniface, Transcona, St. Vital, West Kildonan, East Kildonan, Tuxedo, Old Kildonan, North Kildonan, Fort Garry, and Charleswood were amalgamated with the Old City of Winnipeg.
In 1979, the Eaton's catalogue building was converted into the first downtown mall in the city. It was called Eaton Place but would change its name to Cityplace following the controversial demolition of the empty Eaton's store in 2002.
Immediately following the 1979 energy crisis Winnipeg experienced a severe economic downturn in advance of the early 1980s recession. Throughout the recession, the city incurred closures of prominent businesses such as the Winnipeg Tribune and the Swift's and Canada Packers meatpacking plants. [12]
In 1993, feeling that their community needs were not being fulfilled, the residents of Headingley seceded from Winnipeg and officially became incorporated as a municipality.
Political historyIn 1979, the Eaton's catalogue building was converted into the first downtown mall in the city. It was called Eaton Place but would change its name to Cityplace following the controversial demolition of the empty Eaton's store in 2002.
Immediately following the 1979 energy crisis Winnipeg experienced a severe economic downturn in advance of the early 1980s recession. Throughout the recession, the city incurred closures of prominent businesses such as the Winnipeg Tribune and the Swift's and Canada Packers meatpacking plants. [12]
In 1993, feeling that their community needs were not being fulfilled, the residents of Headingley seceded from Winnipeg and officially became incorporated as a municipality.
The first elections for city government in Winnipeg were held shortly after the city was incorporated in 1873. On January 5, 1874, Francis Evans Cornish, former mayor of London, Ontario defeated Winnipeg Free Press editor and owner William F. Luxton by a margin of 383 votes to 179. There were only 382 eligible voters in the city at the time but property owners were allowed to vote in every civic poll in which they owned property. Up until the year 1955, mayors could only serve one term. City government consisted of 13 aldermen and one mayor. This number of elected officials remained constant until 1920.
The inaugural Council meeting took place on January 19, 1874 on the second floor of Bentley's, a newly constructed building on the northwest corner of Portage and Main.
Construction of a new City Hall commenced in 1875. The building proved to be a structural nightmare and eventually had to be held up by props and beams. The building was eventually demolished in favour of building a new City Hall in 1883.
Winnipeg City Hall
A new City Hall building was constructed in 1886. It was a "Gingerbread" building built in Victorian grandeur and symbolized Winnipeg's coming of age at the end of the nineteenth century. The building stood for nearly 80 years. There was a plan to replace it around the World War I era, during the time that the Manitoba Legislature was under construction, but the war delayed that process. In 1958, falling plaster almost hit visitors to the City Hall building. The tower eventually had to be removed and in 1962 the whole building was torn down.
Winnipeg City Council embraced the idea of a "Civic Centre" as a replacement for the old city hall. The concept originally called for an administrative building and a council building with a courtyard in between. Eventually, a police headquarters and remand centre (the Public Safety Building) and parkade were added to the plans. The four buildings were completed in 1964 in the brutalist style, at a cost of $8.2 million. The Civic Centre and the Manitoba Centennial Centre were connected by underground tunnels in 1967.
See also: List of mayors of Winnipeg, Manitoba
Law and government
Winnipeg panorama, from 1907
The inaugural Council meeting took place on January 19, 1874 on the second floor of Bentley's, a newly constructed building on the northwest corner of Portage and Main.
Construction of a new City Hall commenced in 1875. The building proved to be a structural nightmare and eventually had to be held up by props and beams. The building was eventually demolished in favour of building a new City Hall in 1883.
Winnipeg City Hall
A new City Hall building was constructed in 1886. It was a "Gingerbread" building built in Victorian grandeur and symbolized Winnipeg's coming of age at the end of the nineteenth century. The building stood for nearly 80 years. There was a plan to replace it around the World War I era, during the time that the Manitoba Legislature was under construction, but the war delayed that process. In 1958, falling plaster almost hit visitors to the City Hall building. The tower eventually had to be removed and in 1962 the whole building was torn down.
Winnipeg City Council embraced the idea of a "Civic Centre" as a replacement for the old city hall. The concept originally called for an administrative building and a council building with a courtyard in between. Eventually, a police headquarters and remand centre (the Public Safety Building) and parkade were added to the plans. The four buildings were completed in 1964 in the brutalist style, at a cost of $8.2 million. The Civic Centre and the Manitoba Centennial Centre were connected by underground tunnels in 1967.
See also: List of mayors of Winnipeg, Manitoba
Main article: Government of Winnipeg
Municipal politicsSince 1992, the city of Winnipeg is represented by 15 city councillors and a mayor elected every three years. The present Mayor Sam Katz was elected to office in 2004 and re-elected in 2006. Katz is the first Jewish mayor of Winnipeg. Winnipeg is a single-tier municipality governed by a mayor-council system. The structure of the municipal government is set out by the province of Manitoba in the City of Winnipeg Act. The mayor is elected by direct popular vote to serve as the chief executive of the city. The City Council is a unicameral legislative body representing geographical wards throughout the city.
Provincial politicsWinnipeg is represented by 31 provincial Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), 25 of whom are members of the New Democratic Party, 4 are members of the Progressive Conservative Party and 2 are members of the Liberal Party. In the provincial election in 2007, the NDP won 2 ridings from the Conservatives, rising from 23 to its present 25 seats in the city. All 3 leaders of the provincial parties represent Winnipeg in the legislature.
Federal politicsWinnipeg is represented by 8 Members of Parliament: 3 Conservatives, 3 New Democrats and 2 Liberals. There are 6 Senators representing Manitoba in Ottawa. Only 2 list Winnipeg as the division they represent although all of them were residents of Winnipeg when appointed to the Senate. The political affiliation in the Senate is 3 Liberals, 2 Conservatives and 1 Independent.
CrimeIn 2004, Winnipeg had the fourth highest overall crime rate among Canadian Census Metropolitan Area cities listed with 12,167 Criminal Code of Canada offences per 100,000 population. Only Regina, Saskatoon, and Abbotsford had higher crime rates. Winnipeg had the highest rate among centres with populations greater than 500,000.[13] The crime rate was 50% higher than that of Calgary and more than double the rate for Toronto.
In 2005, Statistics Canada shows Manitoba had the highest decline of overall crime in Canada at nearly 8%. Winnipeg dropped from having the highest rate of murder per capita in the country. That distinction now belongs to Edmonton. Manitoba did continue to lead all other provinces in auto thefts, almost all of it centered in Winnipeg.[14]
To combat auto theft, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) established financial incentives for motor vehicle owners to install ignition immobilizers in their vehicles, and now requires owners of high-risk vehicles to install immobilizers.[15]
Winnipeg is protected by the Winnipeg Police Service, which has over 1350 members.
Geography and climateIn 2005, Statistics Canada shows Manitoba had the highest decline of overall crime in Canada at nearly 8%. Winnipeg dropped from having the highest rate of murder per capita in the country. That distinction now belongs to Edmonton. Manitoba did continue to lead all other provinces in auto thefts, almost all of it centered in Winnipeg.[14]
To combat auto theft, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) established financial incentives for motor vehicle owners to install ignition immobilizers in their vehicles, and now requires owners of high-risk vehicles to install immobilizers.[15]
Winnipeg is protected by the Winnipeg Police Service, which has over 1350 members.
Main article: Geography and climate of Winnipeg
Winnipeg is situated just west of the longitudinal centre of Canada (near the geographical centre of North America), and approximately 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of the border with the United States. It is near the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies, and about 70 kilometres (45 miles) south of Lake Winnipeg. It is situated in the flood plain of the Red River and is surrounded by rich agricultural land. The closest urban area with over 500,000 people is the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.
Winnipeg has an extreme humid continental climate (Koppen climate classification Dfb). Spring and autumn are highly variable seasons, and winters are long and cold. In a typical year, daily average high temperatures range from around -14°C to 26°C; the recorded extremes are -45°C and 40.6°C (-49°F and 105.1°F). Winnipeg also reaches temperatures of above 30°C more often then other Canadian cities such as Toronto or Montreal. It is not uncommon for the city to reach dangerously low windchill temperatures of -40°C or lower in the winter months. The summers in Winnipeg are often humid; it is not uncommon for humidex readings to exceed 40°C in the region and climb to dangerously high humidity levels between May and September.[16]
The weather is characterized by an abundance of sunshine throughout the year. July is the sunniest month with 318 hours of bright sunshine, and November the least sunny, with 96. Winnipeg is the second sunniest city in Canada in the winter and has the second clearest skies year-round.[17]
Winnipeg is situated just west of the longitudinal centre of Canada (near the geographical centre of North America), and approximately 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of the border with the United States. It is near the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies, and about 70 kilometres (45 miles) south of Lake Winnipeg. It is situated in the flood plain of the Red River and is surrounded by rich agricultural land. The closest urban area with over 500,000 people is the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.
Winnipeg has an extreme humid continental climate (Koppen climate classification Dfb). Spring and autumn are highly variable seasons, and winters are long and cold. In a typical year, daily average high temperatures range from around -14°C to 26°C; the recorded extremes are -45°C and 40.6°C (-49°F and 105.1°F). Winnipeg also reaches temperatures of above 30°C more often then other Canadian cities such as Toronto or Montreal. It is not uncommon for the city to reach dangerously low windchill temperatures of -40°C or lower in the winter months. The summers in Winnipeg are often humid; it is not uncommon for humidex readings to exceed 40°C in the region and climb to dangerously high humidity levels between May and September.[16]
The weather is characterized by an abundance of sunshine throughout the year. July is the sunniest month with 318 hours of bright sunshine, and November the least sunny, with 96. Winnipeg is the second sunniest city in Canada in the winter and has the second clearest skies year-round.[17]
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Winnipeg Climatological DataTemperatureMonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovD ecMeanRecord high °C (°F)8 (46)12 (53)23 (74)33 (94)37 (99)38 (100)38 (100)41 (105)39 (102)31 (90)24 (75)12 (53)Average high °C (°F)-13 (9)-9 (17)-1 (30)10 (51)19 (67)23 (74)26 (78)25 (77)19 (65)11 (51)-1 (30)-10 (15)8 (47)Mean °C (°F)-18 (-0)-14 (8)-6 (21)4 (40)12 (54)17 (63)20 (67)19 (65)12 (54)5 (42)-5 (22)-14 (6)3 (37)Average low °C (°F)-23 (-9)-19 (-2)-11 (12)-2 (28)5 (41)11 (51)13 (56)12 (53)6 (43)-0.3 (31)-10 (15)-19 (-2)-3 (26)Record low °C (°F)-42 (-44)-45 (-49)-38 (-36)-26 (-15)-11 (12)-3 (26)1 (34)0.6 (33)-7 (19)-17 (1)-34 (-29)-38 (-36)Precipitation and Sunshine HoursMonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTota lTotal mm (in)20 (0.8)15 (0.6)22 (0.9)32 (1.3)59 (2.3)90 (3.5)71 (2.8)75 (3.0)52 (2.1)36 (1.4)25 (1.0)19 (0.7)514 (20)Rainfall mm (in)0 (0.0)3 (0.1)8 (0.3)22 (0.9)58 (2.3)90 (3.5)71 (2.8)75 (3.0)52 (2.0)31 (1.2)6 (0.2)2 (0.1)416 (16)Snowfall cm (in)23 (9.1)14 (5.6)16 (6.2)10 (3.4)0.8 (0.3)0 (0)0 (0)0 (0)0.4 (0.2)5 (2.0)21 (8.4)20 (7.8)111 (44)Sunshine hours120138178239286283318280186147961002372Data recorded at Winnipeg International Airport for Environment Canada. Average data recorded over a 30 year span from 1971 to 2000.Winnipeg lies exposed to numerous weather systems including bitterly cold Arctic high pressure systems during the winter months, although people who live in Winnipeg claim their city's dry winter cold is more pleasant than the damper cold in Toronto. According to Environment Canada, Winnipeg is the coldest city in the world with a population of over 600,000.[18] The coldest temperature during the last 25 years was -41.7 °C (-43.1 °F) on February 5, 2007 [19] The coldest wind chill reading ever recorded was -57.1 °C (-70.8 °F) on February 1, 1996.
Spring and fall tend to be rather contracted seasons, each averaging little over six weeks. In general the weather during these seasons is highly variable, and rapidly changing. For example, temperatures in Winnipeg in October have ranged from -20.6 °C (-5.1 °F) to 30.5 °C (86.9 °F), and in May from -11.7 °C (10.9 °F) to 37.8 °C (100 °F).
See also: List of Winnipeg neighbourhoods
Main article: Transport in Winnipeg
Winnipeg has had a public transit system since the 1880s, starting with horse-drawn streetcars. Electric streetcars from 1891 until 1955, and electric trolley buses from 1938 until 1970. Winnipeg Transit now operates entirely with diesel buses. For decades, the city has explored the idea of a rapid transit link, either bus or rail, from downtown to the University of Manitoba's suburban campus.
Because of extremes in summer and winter temperatures in the city (averaging -40C to +40C) the roads tend to be in rough conditions with the combination of thawing and freezing, or during the heat and humidity of the summer.
The city is directly connected to the United States via Highway 75 (a northern continuation of I-29 and US 75). The highway runs 107 kilometres to Emerson, Manitoba, the 8th busiest border crossing.[20] Much of the commercial traffic that crosses in Emerson either originates from or is destined to Winnipeg. Inside the city, the highway is locally known as Pembina Highway.
Winnipeg's airport, recently renamed as Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, is currently under redevelopment. A new terminal building is scheduled for completion by 2009. The field was Canada's first international airport when it opened in 1928 as Stevenson Aerodrome.[21]
Winnipeg is unique among North American cities its size in that it does not have freeways within the urban area. Beginning in 1958, the primarily suburban Metropolitan council proposed a system of freeways, including one that would have bisected the downtown area. A modern four-lane highway called the Perimeter Highway was built in 1969. It serves as an expressway around the city (also known as a ring road) with interchanges and at-grade intersections that bypass the city entirely. It allows travellers on the Trans-Canada Highway to avoid the city and continue east or west uninterrupted.
Winnipeg has also embarked on an ambitious wayfinding program erecting new signage at strategic downtown locations. [22] The intention is to make it easier for travellers, specifically tourists to locate services and attractions.
EconomyWinnipeg has had a public transit system since the 1880s, starting with horse-drawn streetcars. Electric streetcars from 1891 until 1955, and electric trolley buses from 1938 until 1970. Winnipeg Transit now operates entirely with diesel buses. For decades, the city has explored the idea of a rapid transit link, either bus or rail, from downtown to the University of Manitoba's suburban campus.
Because of extremes in summer and winter temperatures in the city (averaging -40C to +40C) the roads tend to be in rough conditions with the combination of thawing and freezing, or during the heat and humidity of the summer.
The city is directly connected to the United States via Highway 75 (a northern continuation of I-29 and US 75). The highway runs 107 kilometres to Emerson, Manitoba, the 8th busiest border crossing.[20] Much of the commercial traffic that crosses in Emerson either originates from or is destined to Winnipeg. Inside the city, the highway is locally known as Pembina Highway.
Winnipeg's airport, recently renamed as Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, is currently under redevelopment. A new terminal building is scheduled for completion by 2009. The field was Canada's first international airport when it opened in 1928 as Stevenson Aerodrome.[21]
Winnipeg is unique among North American cities its size in that it does not have freeways within the urban area. Beginning in 1958, the primarily suburban Metropolitan council proposed a system of freeways, including one that would have bisected the downtown area. A modern four-lane highway called the Perimeter Highway was built in 1969. It serves as an expressway around the city (also known as a ring road) with interchanges and at-grade intersections that bypass the city entirely. It allows travellers on the Trans-Canada Highway to avoid the city and continue east or west uninterrupted.
Winnipeg has also embarked on an ambitious wayfinding program erecting new signage at strategic downtown locations. [22] The intention is to make it easier for travellers, specifically tourists to locate services and attractions.
Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg
December 29th, 2007, 03:31 AM
اتمنى من الله العلي القدير انه يوفق الجميع وتكونوا كلكم بصحة وعافيه ..
ابغى معلومات كافيه عن مدينة winnipeg
والجامعة الموجوده بها the university of monitoba اللي عنده اي معلومات حول الجامعة والمدينة
ياريت مايقصر وربنا مع الجميع ان شاء الله ...
اختكم ألوفا