Until April of 2004, I lived in Winnipeg. In May of that year, I became a denizen of Edmonton. In May of 2005, I came back to Winnipeg. As they say, Man makes plans, Fate laughs. Pre-Edmonton, the opportunities there were ample. Post-move to Edmonton, they diminished like quarters at a VLT. Maybe it was my breath.
When people think of Winnipeg, they often think, of the NHL's ill-fated Winnipeg Jets or the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers or even the The Forks. One thing that few people seem to know about Winnipeg is how it looks to be carpeted in trees when you look at it from up on high. One of these days I'll take a panoramic picture of it. To see it is to be in wonder.
The late Sir Peter Ustinov once observed that Winnipeg is home to "a ballet company of world renown, a fine symphony orchestra and a superb art gallery. The quality of the food is invariably incomparably superior and rare wines appear in bewildering profusion." He went on to say, "Its faults are shared by all humanity but its virtues are its own."
Having travelled to every capital city in the provinces across the country, I can say that Winnipeg easily stands on its own in virtually every aspect. From arts-related events (symphonies, theatre, concerts, ballet, etc) to academic (scientific, medical, etc) to sports, Winnipeg is host to a diverse group of people and accomplishments. For example:
- Folklorama - The largest and longest running multicultural festival of its kind in the world. This brings out people of all cultures to see people of all cultures. A better way to mingle with so many people in this kind of timeframe and spaceframe, I cannot imagine.
- Manitoba's HVDC Research Centre performs innovative research and development in HVDC and power electronic technologies, instrumentation, and simulation. They created RTDS, the world's first real time digital simulator of power systems.
- Winnipeg's virology lab. If you are familiar with the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the U.S., this is a similar sort of structure. This lab, unlike many other viral labs, "...is set up for both human and animal diseases, which is of vital importance as scientists uncover more evidence of human diseases transmitted from animals."
- The Assiniboine Park and Zoo. The Assiniboine Park was establshed in 1904, making it over 100 years old. The park, itself, hosts a beautiful pavilion, duck pond -- where ducks and geese come to swim with their newborn in the spring and where you can skate in the winter -- the English Garden, grounds that host major cricket events (as in the sport), a theatre amidst the vast open grounds where people relax or frolic or something in between. To see some pictures of said grounds, click here. In addition to the park, a zoo is also included. You can spend a few days in this place and still wish you had more time to see the rest.
- The Royal Winnipeg Ballet. I have spoken with people from across the planet who would never have heard of Winnipeg were it not for the RWB. Whether you like ballet or not, the high calibre of the RWB is known across the world and is certainly something to be proud of.
- The Bar Scene. Winnipeg has excellent options for bars, such as the wide open and spacious Silverados and its counterpart right next door, Mardi Gras. Both bars are 3 storeys tall, one with a dance/techno/hip-hop ambience and the other with a rock/dance vibe. There is also The Empire Cabaret, an old building with a new flavour. It's unique in its decor, in that it has a martini bar and fireside lounge on the lower level and a huge dance floor on the upper. More bars can be seen on the URLs given by clicking here.
- And certainly not the leastly, the MTS Centre. In its initial year, it was host to over 35 concerts ranging from the likes of Aerosmith to Michael Flatley as well as being the permanent home of the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.
