Winnipeg
Nov 15th 2003, 11:18 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 35
Winnipeg
Anyone got any views on Winnipeg? Lived there? Worked there? Whats the culture like and so on?
Nov 15th 2003, 4:24 pm
#2
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Joined: Mar 2003
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 1,071
Can't say as I have been there but I do know they call it Winterpeg!
Nov 16th 2003, 5:33 pm
#3
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Hiya, We're moving there next March. We chose Winnipeg on a personal basis as my grandmother was born there and I felt compelled to be near her birthtown but aside from that it is quite a good place to go with respect to housing (one of the cheapest places to live in all of Canada), jobs (one of the lowest unemployment rates), ethnic diversity etc. The disadvantages would include the less dramatic scenery with it being mainly flat (although there's a snow board run just North of the city) and also the flatness means high winds which makes it feel much colder. Manitoba is central to the whole of Canada and Winnipeg is not too far from the US border plus you can travel up to North Manitoba for polar bear and beluga whale spotting. I have a whole host of websites about Winnipeg if you wanted more info. for instance weather conditions (although it gets cold it is listed as more sun hours than most other places in Canada and has the sunniest Springs and Winters), neighbourhoods, job situations etc. so give me a nod if you wanted. For a starter you can read the Manitoba advantage report which compares the area to others to give you an idea http://www.gov.mb.ca/finance/reports/pdf/advantage.pdf 
Nov 19th 2003, 3:53 am
#4
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2
Hey E,
Although this is a British Expats site I am originally from Winnipeg, currently living in Toronto and about to move to Glasgow (which is why I am registered here).
Winter: yes, can get very cold - the coldest I've experienced was a record breaking -42°C. Due to dangerously cold temperatures, everyone over the age of 16 in Winnipeg drives a car. This has a strong impact on the urban design of the city resulting in lots of parking lots and poor public transit. Unlike Ontario, Manitoba has one of the lowest auto insurance rates in North America.
Yes, you also have to plug your car in at night (most cars have engine block heaters) but it's a myth that if you spit in February it will hit the ground as an ice cube.
Summer: 1 to 2 hours out of Winnipeg are some of the best beach and cottage areas in the world. Grand Beach and Victoria Beach are stunning, miles of white sand along the enormous Lake Winnipeg. The Lake of the Woods area is filled with interconnected lakes and islands and is ideal for boating and canoe trips. In either regions you can still buy a lake-front cottage for very little. Equally impressive is the never-ending farm land that surrounds the city.
Socially: there are a ton of bars – try the Red Cactus on Corydon or any in the Exchange District. Winnipeggers are usually very friendly and despite being a multicultural mix, the city is starving for international visitors. An accent will take you very far.
Culture: far more sophisticated (galleries, ballet, music, cafes, attitude) than the other Prairie cities (especially Calgary). When I was living there, the New Music Festival consecutively sold out the Centennial Concert Hall. 5000+ people watching a Finnish abstract sound artist perform by throwing steel balls on to the string of a Steinway, in February.
The Negative: it doesn’t seem to be handling urban Native Canadian poverty issues very well. Tends to be a 9 to 5 city. Car dominated. Lost it’s NHL franchise. And you do feel like you are living on an island during the winter.
The Positive: clean air, brilliant sunshine, beaches, incredibly cheap living (check out the online real estate listings), Royal Winnipeg Ballet & Opera and really friendly people.
If you are still interested, to get a flavour of the city (and find out the latest canola and wheat prices) listen to the local cbc broadcast between 12-2pm and 4-6pm Central time:
http://www.cbc.ca/audio.html
Good luck.
Although this is a British Expats site I am originally from Winnipeg, currently living in Toronto and about to move to Glasgow (which is why I am registered here).
Winter: yes, can get very cold - the coldest I've experienced was a record breaking -42°C. Due to dangerously cold temperatures, everyone over the age of 16 in Winnipeg drives a car. This has a strong impact on the urban design of the city resulting in lots of parking lots and poor public transit. Unlike Ontario, Manitoba has one of the lowest auto insurance rates in North America.
Yes, you also have to plug your car in at night (most cars have engine block heaters) but it's a myth that if you spit in February it will hit the ground as an ice cube.
Summer: 1 to 2 hours out of Winnipeg are some of the best beach and cottage areas in the world. Grand Beach and Victoria Beach are stunning, miles of white sand along the enormous Lake Winnipeg. The Lake of the Woods area is filled with interconnected lakes and islands and is ideal for boating and canoe trips. In either regions you can still buy a lake-front cottage for very little. Equally impressive is the never-ending farm land that surrounds the city.
Socially: there are a ton of bars – try the Red Cactus on Corydon or any in the Exchange District. Winnipeggers are usually very friendly and despite being a multicultural mix, the city is starving for international visitors. An accent will take you very far.
Culture: far more sophisticated (galleries, ballet, music, cafes, attitude) than the other Prairie cities (especially Calgary). When I was living there, the New Music Festival consecutively sold out the Centennial Concert Hall. 5000+ people watching a Finnish abstract sound artist perform by throwing steel balls on to the string of a Steinway, in February.
The Negative: it doesn’t seem to be handling urban Native Canadian poverty issues very well. Tends to be a 9 to 5 city. Car dominated. Lost it’s NHL franchise. And you do feel like you are living on an island during the winter.
The Positive: clean air, brilliant sunshine, beaches, incredibly cheap living (check out the online real estate listings), Royal Winnipeg Ballet & Opera and really friendly people.
If you are still interested, to get a flavour of the city (and find out the latest canola and wheat prices) listen to the local cbc broadcast between 12-2pm and 4-6pm Central time:
http://www.cbc.ca/audio.html
Good luck.
Nov 19th 2003, 8:12 pm
#5
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Joined: Nov 2003
Location: oakville, ontario
Posts: 257
you forgot to mention the mozzies. it`s their world capital.
Nov 22nd 2003, 6:11 am
#6
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Location: UK-Switz-US-Canada-Ireland
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For anyone already living in Winnipeg - I read somewhere that there's an underground subway route but I've been searching everywhere for more details of their routes and costs or a map of the underground or something but can't find anything online - anyone have any ideas?
Cheers!
Cheers!
Nov 22nd 2003, 2:46 pm
#7
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2
There isn't an underground / subway / metro although there are a lot of underground pathways connecting the downtown buildings. As mentioned the car is king in this Prairie town.
I found the real estate listing web site:
http://www.wreb.mb.ca/wren/index.htm
(click on 'This weeks MLS')
Expensive areas (£ 150,000+): Tuxedo, River Heights
Really affordable & nice neigbourhoods (£20,000+): Wolsely, Crescentwood.
Also,
http://www.webview360.com/index.jsp
Digital/Online News:
http://newwinnipeg.com/
I found the real estate listing web site:
http://www.wreb.mb.ca/wren/index.htm
(click on 'This weeks MLS')
Expensive areas (£ 150,000+): Tuxedo, River Heights
Really affordable & nice neigbourhoods (£20,000+): Wolsely, Crescentwood.
Also,
http://www.webview360.com/index.jsp
Digital/Online News:
http://newwinnipeg.com/
Nov 22nd 2003, 7:32 pm
#8
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Joined: Aug 2003
Location: UK-Switz-US-Canada-Ireland
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Originally posted by Douglas
There isn't an underground / subway / metro although there are a lot of underground pathways connecting the downtown buildings. As mentioned the car is king in this Prairie town.
I found the real estate listing web site:
http://www.wreb.mb.ca/wren/index.htm
(click on 'This weeks MLS')
Expensive areas (£ 150,000+): Tuxedo, River Heights
Really affordable & nice neigbourhoods (£20,000+): Wolsely, Crescentwood.
Also,
http://www.webview360.com/index.jsp
Digital/Online News:
http://newwinnipeg.com/
There isn't an underground / subway / metro although there are a lot of underground pathways connecting the downtown buildings. As mentioned the car is king in this Prairie town.
I found the real estate listing web site:
http://www.wreb.mb.ca/wren/index.htm
(click on 'This weeks MLS')
Expensive areas (£ 150,000+): Tuxedo, River Heights
Really affordable & nice neigbourhoods (£20,000+): Wolsely, Crescentwood.
Also,
http://www.webview360.com/index.jsp
Digital/Online News:
http://newwinnipeg.com/
Nov 26th 2003, 3:51 pm
#9
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11
hi all! i have some questions about winnipeg too, im moving there next month to attend university as a international student from singapore.
1. whats the procedure to apply for a cellphone and cable connection, what are the rates like and which service providers shd i be looking at?
2. i intend to bring 1k CAD cash and 2k CAD travellers cheque. i am thinking of using the 2k travellers cheque for opening a bank account. do u guys think its a good idea? which are the banks i shd consider and is it possible to get a credit/debit card?
3. i took gce o'levels and a'levels, do u think i shd bring my original certs there? i dunno if i may need there..
4. what winter clothes must i get to combat the winter? never bought winter clothes before, any websites i can look at? hehee, dun wanna buy the wrong type of clothes.
thanks for the help! :0)
1. whats the procedure to apply for a cellphone and cable connection, what are the rates like and which service providers shd i be looking at?
2. i intend to bring 1k CAD cash and 2k CAD travellers cheque. i am thinking of using the 2k travellers cheque for opening a bank account. do u guys think its a good idea? which are the banks i shd consider and is it possible to get a credit/debit card?
3. i took gce o'levels and a'levels, do u think i shd bring my original certs there? i dunno if i may need there..
4. what winter clothes must i get to combat the winter? never bought winter clothes before, any websites i can look at? hehee, dun wanna buy the wrong type of clothes.
thanks for the help! :0)
Nov 27th 2003, 4:17 am
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 136
we had cable connected this week, its $44 month for premium package, jut phone hem up answer the questions and someone comes out to hook you up, thez did our high speed internet the same time,
same with mobiles, simple, its cold here at the moment so be prepared.
same with mobiles, simple, its cold here at the moment so be prepared.
Nov 27th 2003, 4:19 am
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 136
we had cable connected this week, its $44 month for premium package, jut phone hem up answer the questions and someone comes out to hook you up, thez did our high speed internet the same time,shaw is the best to use.
same with mobiles, simple, its cold here at the moment so be prepared. very thick clothes, waterproofs.
same with mobiles, simple, its cold here at the moment so be prepared. very thick clothes, waterproofs.
Nov 27th 2003, 9:38 am
#12
Living in the sun
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Pacific Pines. Gold Coast
Posts: 316
Originally posted by crazydaisy
Hiya, We're moving there next March. We chose Winnipeg on a personal basis as my grandmother was born there and I felt compelled to be near her birthtown but aside from that it is quite a good place to go with respect to housing (one of the cheapest places to live in all of Canada), jobs (one of the lowest unemployment rates), ethnic diversity etc. The disadvantages would include the less dramatic scenery with it being mainly flat (although there's a snow board run just North of the city) and also the flatness means high winds which makes it feel much colder. Manitoba is central to the whole of Canada and Winnipeg is not too far from the US border plus you can travel up to North Manitoba for polar bear and beluga whale spotting. I have a whole host of websites about Winnipeg if you wanted more info. for instance weather conditions (although it gets cold it is listed as more sun hours than most other places in Canada and has the sunniest Springs and Winters), neighbourhoods, job situations etc. so give me a nod if you wanted. For a starter you can read the Manitoba advantage report which compares the area to others to give you an idea http://www.gov.mb.ca/finance/reports/pdf/advantage.pdf
Hiya, We're moving there next March. We chose Winnipeg on a personal basis as my grandmother was born there and I felt compelled to be near her birthtown but aside from that it is quite a good place to go with respect to housing (one of the cheapest places to live in all of Canada), jobs (one of the lowest unemployment rates), ethnic diversity etc. The disadvantages would include the less dramatic scenery with it being mainly flat (although there's a snow board run just North of the city) and also the flatness means high winds which makes it feel much colder. Manitoba is central to the whole of Canada and Winnipeg is not too far from the US border plus you can travel up to North Manitoba for polar bear and beluga whale spotting. I have a whole host of websites about Winnipeg if you wanted more info. for instance weather conditions (although it gets cold it is listed as more sun hours than most other places in Canada and has the sunniest Springs and Winters), neighbourhoods, job situations etc. so give me a nod if you wanted. For a starter you can read the Manitoba advantage report which compares the area to others to give you an idea http://www.gov.mb.ca/finance/reports/pdf/advantage.pdf
martin
Nov 27th 2003, 6:56 pm
#13
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2002
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 75
Originally posted by CJ6680
we had cable connected this week, its $44 month for premium package, jut phone hem up answer the questions and someone comes out to hook you up, thez did our high speed internet the same time,shaw is the best to use.
same with mobiles, simple, its cold here at the moment so be prepared. very thick clothes, waterproofs.
we had cable connected this week, its $44 month for premium package, jut phone hem up answer the questions and someone comes out to hook you up, thez did our high speed internet the same time,shaw is the best to use.
same with mobiles, simple, its cold here at the moment so be prepared. very thick clothes, waterproofs.
We're having problems finding somewhere to rent that'll take our pet Lab. How're you finding places to rent with your dog?
Best wishes,
Daisy
Dec 3rd 2003, 2:28 pm
#14
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Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 136
easy to find somewhere that took the dog, we are renting with the view to purchase the property from the owner which is good, make sure you gosouth of the river, everyone will tell you its the best place to live with kids, we are in river heights, it was so simple at the airport, they are more concerned for the dog from the travel they quickly stamped the passports to hurry us through, its cold here at the mo.
will gather some info on places for dogs and send them over to you on private im ok crazydaisy.
will gather some info on places for dogs and send them over to you on private im ok crazydaisy.
Dec 4th 2003, 3:24 am
#15
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Originally posted by CJ6680
easy to find somewhere that took the dog, we are renting with the view to purchase the property from the owner which is good, make sure you gosouth of the river, everyone will tell you its the best place to live with kids, we are in river heights, it was so simple at the airport, they are more concerned for the dog from the travel they quickly stamped the passports to hurry us through, its cold here at the mo.
will gather some info on places for dogs and send them over to you on private im ok crazydaisy.
easy to find somewhere that took the dog, we are renting with the view to purchase the property from the owner which is good, make sure you gosouth of the river, everyone will tell you its the best place to live with kids, we are in river heights, it was so simple at the airport, they are more concerned for the dog from the travel they quickly stamped the passports to hurry us through, its cold here at the mo.
will gather some info on places for dogs and send them over to you on private im ok crazydaisy.