Winnipeg

Overview

Once an important trading post for Canada's First Nations peoples, Winnipeg - the capital of Manitoba – is enjoying the glow of a cultural renaissance. The city’s known for its innovative arts and entertainment scene, and in fact it boasts the most live music per night per capita in Canada. And, you may not know this, but Winnipeg fostered some rock and roll greats, including Neil Young and The Guess Who. Other notable musicians include Bachman Turner Overdrive, Chantal Kreviazuk and Fred Penner.

The vast prairies and forests that make up the region are beautiful. Many people make the trip to canoe or swim in Winnipeg's exquisite lakes, explore the wetlands or visit some of the local attractions that make the city so special. Other attractions include noteworthy restaurants listed as some of the best in the country, many of which you’ll find in the downtown core. Stop to dine at one of the city's diverse selection of restaurants, from authentic Ukrainian (mmm, homemade perogies!) to traditional French fare in Winnipeg's historic French Quarter.

But there's a lot more to this city than outdoor activities and food. The city features world-class attractions, most notably the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) – an architectural marvel, and the Journey to Churchill at Assiniboine Park and Zoo – a multi award winning Arctic exhibit. Plus, Winnipeg is a thriving cultural centre with a film community that has hosted everything from an annual Aboriginal Film Festival to large-scale Hollywood productions. It is also home of the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, a theatre company that has earned critical acclaim for its top-notch productions. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Manitoba Opera are also among the world's finest.

As one of Canada's sunniest cities, you’ll also find numerous outdoor festivals and events here. The Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, Winnipeg International Jazz Festival and Winnipeg Comedy Festival are just a few of the most popular ones that bring visitors to the city each spring and summer. And let’s not forget about winter fun. Activities like Festival du Voyageur – a celebration of Winnipeg’s fur trading, Francophone roots featuring live music, food, snow sculptures, costumed interpreters takes place every February in the neighbourhood of St. Boniface. Throughout winter you can strap on a pair of skates and enjoy the outdoors at The Forks along the Red River Mutual Trail, a stunning skating surface studded with internationally designed Warming Huts.

Visitors also come out in droves to check out Folklorama, a two-week multicultural event that's the largest and longest running event of its kind in the world, featuring more than 40 pavillions.

Another interesting tidbit about Winnipeg is that it was the inspiration for naming a very famous bear – a bear who would later become a character in the Winnie the Pooh series! But enough about that for now - it's time to plan your trip.

Winnipeg is a fantastic destination for:

festivals
outdoor adventure

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Destination Basics

Make sure to check the forecast and pack clothes that will keep you warm (or cool) when travelling to this city of extremes. Winnipeg might hold the record for being the coldest city in the winter, but it's also Canada's second sunniest city. In total, Winnipeg receives over 2,300 hours of sunlight a year!

Temperatures here alternate between extremes in the summer and winter. Winters are very cold, with temperatures regularly falling well below the 0 C mark for days at a time (earning the city its unofficial nickname, "Winterpeg"). Summers are hot and humid and because of it, residents regularly experience evening thunderstorms during the warmer months. With the humidex, summer temperatures often feels as hot as 30 C or higher with average temperatures falling in the mid 20s C. As for spring and fall, they're typically short seasons in which temperatures vary greatly by year.

Average monthly temperature and average monthly rainfall diagrams for Winnipeg

With over 740,000 residents, Winnipeg is one of Canada's 10 largest cities. Despite its size, this capital city maintains a down-to-earth, small town feel. In fact, don’t be surprised if friendly locals chat with you in the streets, openly offering directions to help get to and from attractions and activities.

Winnipeg also offers a great deal of family attractions, as well as plenty of historical sites and monuments for the history buffs in your group.

But no matter what you're looking to do on your visit, Winnipeg is sure to deliver. There are spas, parks, festivals, plenty of places to dine and lots of hot nightspots to head to after dark.

So pick up your down-filled parka, lace up your boots and take a trip to one of Alberta's hidden gems. (You may want to skip the parka in the summer though.)