Welcome to Manitoba

Capital: Winnipeg Motto: Glorious Et Liber (Glorious and Free) Flower: Prairie Crocus Population(1998): 1,140,964 The Land Manitoba is known as the land of 100 000 lakes, a legacy of enormous Lake Agassiz, which covered much of the province after the glaciers retreated. The major rivers of western Canada flow into the lowland region of Manitoba, giving Manitoba 90 percent of the hydro-electric potential of the Prairie region. The northern topography is heavily glaciated and covered in forest, dominated by pine, hemlock and birch.Camping grounds, parks, lakes and rivers as well as historic sites are the principal attractions for Manitoba's visitors. Tourism also relies on dozens of community festivals, a number of which have international reputations. The People About 60 percent of Manitoba's nearly 1.15 million people live in metropolitan Winnipeg, the provincial capital. The second-largest city is Brandon, in southwestern Manitoba.Although Manitoba is one of the smaller provinces in population, it is an important center for a number of ethnic groups. It is one of the most important centers of Ukrainian culture outside Ukraine and has one of the largest populations of Mennonites in the world. More than 128 000 people are of Aboriginal or Métis origin. There are also many Manitobans of Icelandic origin. Economy Today, manufacturing leads all industrial groups, followed by agriculture, the production of hydroelectric power and mining. The primary industries (including electric power generation) represent about half of the total revenue derived from all goods-producing industries. Manufacturing and construction account for the rest. *Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2003. Downtown Winnipeg’s redeveloped downtown offers good business opportunities, great shopping, fine dining and a real range of entertainment – whether you look toward the famous Downtown corner of Portage and Main, the turn of the century warehouse district known as The Exchange District, or the bustle of The Forks. The Forks is one of the downtown’s brightest spots. Development to date has included the Forks Market and Johnston Terminal, housing unique shops and restaurants, as well as some offices, a major tourist information office, a magnificent riverside walk which extends as far as the Legislative grounds, and a boat docking facility. The Manitoba Children’s Museum is located on the Forks site. The Manitoba Theater for Young People, and television station MTN are scheduled to be among the next major tenants in late 1999. There is also a proposal to undertake improvements to the existing Low Line Bridge to accommodate pedestrian and emergency vehicle access to the South Point. The intention is to develop both sides of the Red River from The Forks to Kildonan Park, as well as to give the Aboriginal community an obvious presence. The Forks is the location of a number of annual events, such as the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival and Earth Day. The Forks began when a tri-level government public development corporation was set up to redevelop the historic river front site at the junction of the Red and the Assiniboine Rivers. The basic concept was to develop the area as a meeting place, a district all-season gathering and recreation site to include the perspective of The Forks as Canada’s crossroads. In an ongoing effort to improve downtown public transportation, the Graham Avenue Transit Mall was developed to divert buses from Portage Avenue. Parking has been reinstated along a portion of downtown Portage Avenue to further accessibility to retail locations along the street. Other public and private commitments central to the revitalization of The Downtown include a $100 million investment in the Portage Place rental complex and pedestrian walkways which link the Bay Downtown and Eaton’s; $41 million expenditure to construct One Canada Centre’ $57 million investment to establish a residential community north of Ellice Avenue neighbourhood. Completion of the $75 million TD Centre at the corner of Portage Avenue and Main Street represents the final phase of redevelopment at this famous intersection. With interior modifications in the Post Office tower, employees, visitors, residents and shoppers can now make the most of an enclosed walkway system which links the Bay Downtown with The Lombard Hotel, just beyond the corner of Portage and Main. Approximately 743,224 sq. metres of retail, commercial, personal service and office space, and more than 6,600 off-street parking spaces are connected to the 1.93 km pedestrian system. Some 19,300 Winnipeggers work and live within this climate-controlled environment. The Exchange District comprises some 18 blocks of early 1900 warehouses. Falling into disfavor particularly during the ‘60s and ‘70s, this internationally recognized historic district is on the up swing. The neighbourhood is filled with a mixture of high-end shops, restaurants, bars and coffee houses, as well as a few memorable establishments at the other end of the scale. There are filmmakers, photographers, designers, clothing manufacturers, historic preservationists and gallery owners in the neighbourhood. The street traffic ranges from Gucci to gaunt. Local building owners are pushing the city to develop housing codes, which take into consideration the age of the structures, that will allow for the further development of loft apartments. On Broadway, trees, park benches and summertime street vendors share space with some of the city’s most modern office and apartment buildings. HOUSING The availability of rental and condominium accommodation south of Portage Avenue has eased with Fort Garry Place, and prior to that, the Colonnade respectively. A 1,100-unit housing project north of Portage Place has been completed. Street-level shops and cafés have been combined so that both residents and visitors will have a variety of specialty goods and services around the clock. The Kiwanis Château and Fred Douglas Place provide housing designed especially for seniors. These projects are located in the North of Portage area. Average downtown rents are higher, ranging from $460 to $700 a month. COMMUNITY INFORMATION City Centre Community Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 986-5248 Health Sciences Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 787-3661