WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA

The City of Winnipeg is the provincial capitol of Manitoba, Canada. The City's name comes from the Indian Cree name given to the lake 64 km north, meaning Win = muddy and Nipee = water.

In 1670, King Charles of England granted the Hudson's Bay Company a charter that deeded "all territory draining into the rivers flowing into Hudson's Bay." Thus, the greater portion of the Dominion of Canada came into possession of the Hudson's Bay Company and remained so until 1869.

Early Settlement
One of the most critical intersections of the early river highways so important to trade was the forks of the Red River, running northward toward Hudson Bay, and the Assiniboine River, the fur traders' traditional route to the western plains. A series of trading posts has been established at The Forks beginning with Fort Rouge in 1738. The Northwest Company built Fort Gibraltar on the site in 1810, and in 1822, the Hudson's Bay Company erected Fort Garry which maintained a leadership role throughout the fur trading era.

In 1869, when the Hudson's Bay Company sold its land rights including Red River to the new Dominion of Canada, the Metis, the descendants of the fur traders and the Native Indians, felt their way of life would be threatened and resisted. They needed a leader. Providence delivered them Louis Riel, grandson of Lagimodiere. He was educated and eloquent, with a strong sympathy for their cause. Under Riel's direction, the Metis rebelled and took control of Red River. A provisional government was established with Riel as president. His negotiations with Ottawa resulted in Manitoba becoming the first new province of the Dominion.

Commerce
With the entry of Manitoba into the Dominion of Canada, Winnipeg's immigration boom was underway. Waves of immigrants flooded into Manitoba from Iceland and Eastern Europe, eager to put their "old country" grain growing experience to the test in the rich prairie soil. Soon, they were producing bumper crops which the Winnipeg Grain Exchange sold to markets around the world.

Winnipeg's commercial boom and explosive growth were under the direction of businessmen who used American cities such as Chicago as their model of success. Their business ventures were energized by the driving demand for merchandise, lumber, and agricultural implements from the rapidly expanding population.

In 1871, federal census figures showed Winnipeg, with a population of 241 and ranked 62nd among all urban centres in Canada. By 1891, it had risen dramatically to eighth place. Winnipeg was ranked as Canada's third largest and fastest growing city, by 1911, with a population of over 136,000! In a few short years, the "little village" had grown into a major Canadian city, a thriving commercial centre and the West's most vital transportation and distribution hub.

The most spectacular element of this growth period was the passing of Minneapolis and Chicago, and the crowning of Winnipeg as the greatest grain centre on the North American continent. Winnipeg and its business leaders had fulfilled their dream of becoming the "Bull's Eye of the Dominion", "Gem of the Prairies", and "Chicago of the North".

Flood History
According to City data, flooding along the Red River was recorded in

Throughout Winnipeg's history, flooding along the Red River has been responsible for millions of dollars in damages.

Flood Mitigation
Following the disastrous flood of 1950, which covered most of the southern part of the Province, Winnipeg was yet again faced with millions of dollars in damage. Premiere Duff Roblin suggested diverting the excess spring run-off around the city of Winnipeg. The original plan was to have the diversion enter Lake Winnipeg, but it was decided that this option was too expensive, so the outlet was placed at Lockport. Water enters the floodway at St. Norbert, south of Winnipeg. Duff's Ditch was officially opened on October 11, 1968 at a cost of $63,000,000. After years of derisive comments, the "Ditch" proved its worth in 1997 when Winnipeg, unlike every other city along the Red River, was spared major flooding and extensive damage.

In support of its downtown and its retail trade, in 1988 Winnipeg completed 1.2 miles of continuous weather protected pedestrian walkways linking the Bay Department Store to Winnipeg Square, Lombard Concourse, and the historic Grain Exchange Building.

Culture and Recreation
Always aware of its roots, Winnipeg offers many historic sites and exhibitions to continue telling the story of its development, including the Museum of Man and Nature and the historic Fort Garry. There are festivals and events including Le Festival du Voyageur, at Western Canada's largest winter festival. The unique ten-day celebration, based on the fur trade era, is held each February in St-Boniface, Winnipeg's French Quarter. It celebrates the "joie de vivre" of the fur traders reflecting Canada's unique French-Canadian heritage, and showcasing historic and cultural treasures. Learn more about the 1950 Red River Flood through the recorded stories of St. Vital residents. Contact the St. Vital Historical Society Inc.

Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo is located along the Assiniboine River. The Zoo, Conservatory, English Garden, Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, Tudor-style Pavilion, and a French Formal Garden are a few of the features found in the park. The zoo is home to 1,700 animals of 325 different species from around the world. The Assiniboine Park Zoo is located at 2355 Corydon Avenue. For more information call 204-986-6921.

Learn more about kayaking and paddling in Manitoba. The Manitoba Recreational Canoeing Association (MRCA) promotes safe canoeing and kayaking, provides standards for instruction, and protects the interests of paddlers. For more information on MRCA at 204-488-8225, http://www.paddle.mb.ca

Today
Winnipeg's prairie charm and cosmopolitan flair are matchless. The diversified economy includes technology-based industries including aerospace, medical research and health technology along with its ever successful agricultural based ventures.

Freelance writer Diana Moes VandeHoef explores how the Red River affects Winnipeg, Manitoba's growth in an article titled, "City of the Muddy Waters" on the New Colonist website.
See how other cities are including their rivers in the city's development:
"Rolling Down the River Walk" by Wilson F. Fang (San Antonio, Texas)
"A People's River" by Jennifer Newton Reents (Arkansas River park in Derby, KS.
"Cities of the Fox River Valley" by Ellen Kort (Fox River, Wisconsin)