Winnipeg tourist information

In 1738, the Sieur de la Vérendrye built the first post on the site, Fort Rouge, but it was later abandoned. Other posts were built in the Red River region, which was fiercely contested by the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company. Fort Gibraltar, a post of the North West Company on the site of present-day Winnipeg, was renamed Fort Garry in 1822 and became the leading post in the region. In 1835, Fort Garry was rebuilt after the devastating flood of 1826 and although it played a small role in the actual trading of furs, it housed the residence of the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company for many years. In 1869-1870, Winnipeg was the site of the Red River Rebellion, a conflict between the local Métis people led by Louis Riel and newcomers from eastern Canada. This rebellion led directly to the entry of Manitoba into Confederation as Canada's fifth province in 1870. On November 8, 1873, Winnipeg was incorporated as a city. In 1876, the post office officially adopted the name "Winnipeg", three years after the city's incorporation.

The name Winnipeg is a transcription of the western Cree word wi-nipe-k, meaning "muddy waters" from wi-ni - dirty, or soiled - and nipiy - water. It is the Cree name of Lake Winnipeg, some sixty kilometres to the north (about forty miles).

Winnipeg experienced an economic boom during the 1890s through 1920s, however, growth slowed towards the end of that period due to the opening of the Panama Canal, a key event in 1914. This 77 kilometre conduit for international trade and passenger travel helped propel Vancouver over Winnipeg in the resulting years. No longer did cargo or people have to traverse the country solely by railway. The option of using the Panama Canal had a profound effect on Winnipeg's development.

Another major event that effected Winnipeg both economically, socially and politically was the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919. Appalling labour conditions following World War I led to calls for reform. Around 35,000 Winnipeggers walked off the job in May 1919. The government defeated the strike through arrests, deportation and violence. The strike winded down in June 1919, but the lasting effect was a polarized population.

The population rose from about 25,000 in 1891 to more than 200,000 by 1921. The Manitoba Provincial Legislature Building reflects the optimism of the boom years. Built of Tyndall Stone in 1920, it is topped by the "Golden Boy".

From the 1920s to 1945, Winnipeg experienced many challenges. Vancouver surpassed Winnipeg to become the third largest city in Canada in the 1920s. Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton and Calgary also grew quickly and this allowed them to offer services comparable to Winnipeg firms. Wholesale trade declined in Winnipeg from 1924 to 1930 due in large part to growth in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The wholesale trade continued a downward spiral in Winnipeg due to national department stores moving into the region. Manufacturers bypassed city wholesalers offering their goods directly to retailers and the public. The mail order business also hurt Winnipeg since many of the orders were filled in eastern Canada.

The stock market of crash in 1929 only hastened an already steep decline in Winnipeg. The Great Depression followed and dragged Winnipeg down to depths not seen it its history. By 1937, city officials told a federal commission from Ottawa that they could no longer function without assistance.

Numerous companies shut down and massive unemployment ensued. To make matters worse, drought and depressed agricultural prices drove people off the land and into the cities.

The only thing that saved Winnipeg and the rest of the province from complete devastation was the city and provincial hydro-electric power plants built in the years prior to the Depression. The low cost electric power made it possible for businesses to slowly develop throughout the province. One of the industries that blossomed in the Depression years was the garment industry. The low cost power, vacated warehouses and plentiful workforce were ideal for the needle trade.

The Depression only ended when World War II broke out in 1939. Thousands of Canadians volunteered to join the forces. In Winnipeg, the old established armouries of Minto, Tuxedo (Fort Osborne) and McGregor were so crowded that the military had to take over other buildings to handle the capacity. Businesses in Winnipeg went on a war footing as well and men and women were hired in large numbers.

Despite nearly full employment in Winnipeg, the hardships of the Depression were not completely left behind. Rationing, shortages, stamps and coupons were the order of the day. There was also an entire generation of men and women overseas contributing to the war effort which left huge holes in many families.

The end of World War II brought a new sense of optimism in Winnipeg. Pent up demand brought a boom in housing development. Neighborhoods on new streets sprung up almost overnight. The building activity came to an abrupt halt in 1950 when city was swamped in the Winnipeg Flood. Not since 1861 had the water levels risen so high and heavy rainfall in the spring kept the flood waters above flood stage for 51 days. On May 8, 1950, the huge swell of water tore through eight dikes and destroyed four of eleven bridges. Homes and businesses filled with water and nearly 70,000 people had to be evacuated. Premier Douglas Campbell called for federal assistance and Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent declared a state of emergency. Soldiers from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were brought to the city just prior to the flood and remained for the duration of it. Only one person lost their life to the flood but the final tally in damage was over $1 billion.

The end result of the flood was a federal and provincial Royal Commission to determine what needed to be done to prevent such a thing from happening again. The Red River Basin Investigation recommended a system of complementary flood control measures. This involved a primary and secondary diking system for Winnipeg and a floodway to divert the Red River around Winnipeg.

The whole project, which also included the Shellmouth Reservoir on the upper Assiniboine River, the Portage Diversion channel and a control structure on the Fairford River, cost of $99,200,000. The Winnipeg Floodway alone cost $62,700,000.

Despite the damage done in the Winnipeg Flood of 1950, there was much criticism and outright opposition to the project. Under the leadership of Premier Duff Roblin, an agreement for cost sharing with the Government of Canada was signed. Construction commenced in October of 1962 and was completed in 1968. For many years, both critics and supporters called the floodway "Duff's Ditch."

The current city of Winnipeg was created when the City of Winnipeg Act was amended to form Unicity in 1971. The municipalities of St. James-Assiniboia, St. Boniface, Transcona, St. Vital, West Kildonan, East Kildonan, Tuxedo, Old Kildonan, North Kildonan, Fort Garry, and Charleswood were amalgamated with the Old City of Winnipeg. Small portions of the city have since seceded, but the vast majority of the populated area of the city remains within one single municipality. In order to prevent urban sprawl, the city restricted development to inside an urban limit line and in most cases left several kilometres of open space between the municipal boundary and suburban developments. Surrounding municipalities have a combined population of fewer than 100,000.