Post by myrani on Oct 19, 2006 22:43:59 GMT -5
Aye, this is my first post, and I go and make an entirely new thread. But as a Canadian, and more to the point a Manitoban, I thought perhaps it would be a good idea to post some information relevant to the centre of North America's landmass.
...Arrogant Worms forever!!
... (ahem)
Behold, the province of the bison where about 70% of the population lives in a single city. Secondary to the provincial capital Winnipeg is Brandon. Everything else is just mostly sort of there, or rural. Or both. Since I'm from a lesser community to the south and a bit west of Winnipeg (the Peg is where the post-secondary action's at, thusly my presence here), I'm speaking from experience.
Winnipeg is essentially a multicultural schmoz. Hmm... much like most of the rest of Canada. (considers) Despite the general feeling that it's a gray city, as cities go (Vancouver, Calgary, and Halifax, IMO, are the most vibrant cities I've visited), Winnipeg is known for its cultural blend and arts. Being in the geographical middle of the country would probably help. It used to be the homicide capital of Canada, but apparently some other city stole that distinction.
Within the city there are areas of reputation, like the urbane Osborne Village and the nearby Confusion Corner (intersection of mayhem! But only if you don't know where you're going), Corydon (mmm, Italian food and gelati), the famed windy intersection of Portage & Main, The Forks (cultural centre, located where the Assiniboine River feeds into the Red River), the usually-to-be-avoided North End... there are some other districts, too.
And the land is flat. Saltpan flat. The Red River Valley used to be the bottom of the massive old Lake Agassiz, making the valley rather fertile and encouraging lots o' farming. People have commented on how much more open the sky is here, even when they're from other prairie provinces. Rolling hills come up again going to either side of the valley, with the lakes Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Winnipegosis to the north. Further north there's Thompson, Flin Flon on the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border, and of course Churchill, the polar bear capital of the world. Maybe someday I'll go see them.
Heading further south now, to the "city" I know best. Winkler isn't really much of a city, as far as they go. It just gets to claim to be because it's (recently) 10 000 people large. Though it's also starting to get its dose of multiculturalism, it's predominantly Mennonite, practically from the get-go. Quite conservative, notably industrial, and one of the fastest-growing communities in the province, if not the fastest of all. In a way, Winkler has small horizons much like one line of thought that comes out of Winnipeg... Circling Winnipeg is the Perimeter Highway, and many in the city don't venture or think beyond that border. This malady is classified as perimeteritis. However, there are also many well-travelled people in both communities...
Thusly, I conclude Manitoba is a province of great variety and difference of opinion (except maybe when it comes to sentiments about Toronto), and a province that is largely, perhaps a little unfairly overlooked. But I have to admit that most people wouldn't be missing way too much.
...Arrogant Worms forever!!
... (ahem)
Behold, the province of the bison where about 70% of the population lives in a single city. Secondary to the provincial capital Winnipeg is Brandon. Everything else is just mostly sort of there, or rural. Or both. Since I'm from a lesser community to the south and a bit west of Winnipeg (the Peg is where the post-secondary action's at, thusly my presence here), I'm speaking from experience.
Winnipeg is essentially a multicultural schmoz. Hmm... much like most of the rest of Canada. (considers) Despite the general feeling that it's a gray city, as cities go (Vancouver, Calgary, and Halifax, IMO, are the most vibrant cities I've visited), Winnipeg is known for its cultural blend and arts. Being in the geographical middle of the country would probably help. It used to be the homicide capital of Canada, but apparently some other city stole that distinction.
Within the city there are areas of reputation, like the urbane Osborne Village and the nearby Confusion Corner (intersection of mayhem! But only if you don't know where you're going), Corydon (mmm, Italian food and gelati), the famed windy intersection of Portage & Main, The Forks (cultural centre, located where the Assiniboine River feeds into the Red River), the usually-to-be-avoided North End... there are some other districts, too.
And the land is flat. Saltpan flat. The Red River Valley used to be the bottom of the massive old Lake Agassiz, making the valley rather fertile and encouraging lots o' farming. People have commented on how much more open the sky is here, even when they're from other prairie provinces. Rolling hills come up again going to either side of the valley, with the lakes Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Winnipegosis to the north. Further north there's Thompson, Flin Flon on the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border, and of course Churchill, the polar bear capital of the world. Maybe someday I'll go see them.
Heading further south now, to the "city" I know best. Winkler isn't really much of a city, as far as they go. It just gets to claim to be because it's (recently) 10 000 people large. Though it's also starting to get its dose of multiculturalism, it's predominantly Mennonite, practically from the get-go. Quite conservative, notably industrial, and one of the fastest-growing communities in the province, if not the fastest of all. In a way, Winkler has small horizons much like one line of thought that comes out of Winnipeg... Circling Winnipeg is the Perimeter Highway, and many in the city don't venture or think beyond that border. This malady is classified as perimeteritis. However, there are also many well-travelled people in both communities...
Thusly, I conclude Manitoba is a province of great variety and difference of opinion (except maybe when it comes to sentiments about Toronto), and a province that is largely, perhaps a little unfairly overlooked. But I have to admit that most people wouldn't be missing way too much.
