Where’s Winnipeg?
Winnipeg is the vibrant, creative capital of Manitoba, right at the geographical centre of Canada and North America.
Who Are We?
We’re a mid-sized city of over 700,000 culturally diverse people, who bring a cosmopolitan, international flair to the city as well as a warm, welcoming spirit. Winnipeg is home to 60 per cent of Manitoba’s population and the city continues to grow at a brisk pace. Geography, climate and temperament have molded Winnipeggers into a people who value individual expression but also recognize the worth of pursuing and fulfilling common goals. In education, arts and culture, sports and business, Winnipeg has set the gold standard.
Where We Come From
The junction of the Red and the Assiniboine rivers, now known as The Forks, was an important trading spot for native aboriginal tribes in 6000 BC. Cree, Ojibwa, and the Assiniboine 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 100 ethnic groups speaking over 80 languages are represented here. Winnipeg’s level of cultural achievement and flourishing arts scene is largely attributed to this rich mixture of ethnic populations.
