5 Great Things About Winnipeg

I haven’t lived in Winnipeg since 1982 (I spent 25 years living on an acreage by Birds Hill Provincial Park and have lived in Matlock, a small lakeside community one hour north of Winnipeg since 2007.) But Winnipeg is my hometown and I still possess a strong affection for the city and write about it at every opportunity.

winnipeg-highlights

 5 great things about winnipeg

In the spirit of the “Take 5” concept developed by John MacIntyre, creator of the Book of Everything series (I was a contributor to the Manitoba Book of Everything), I’d like to share my own list of 5 special places in Winnipeg:
1) The Leo Mol Sculpture Garden at Assiniboine Park:
The sculpture garden features an amazing selection of works by renowned sculptor, Leo Mol, whose bronze works provide me with peace and inspiration. Assiniboine Park was opened in 1909 and has many great attractions to take in, so plan to spend a day there.
assiniboine-park-winnipeg

This Winnie the Pooh sculpture is just one of the many wonderful sculptures you will see at Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

This is the place where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet. Aboriginals have been meeting here for thousands of years and today, most Winnipeggers have met at The Forks to shop, people watch, or enjoy a great meal or some merrymaking.
forks-winnipeg

The Forks is a favourite Winnipeg attraction for both visitors and locals. This is a photo of “The Common” area where you can eat and drink your way through a number of cultures.

This historic property boasts Winnipeg’s most romantic ambience and the city’s best Sunday Brunch. The Palm Room (lounge and dining room) has architecture reminiscent of a European masterpiece and the hotel is said to have a resident ghost.
fort-garry-hotel

The Palm Dining Room at The Fort Garry has Winnipeg’s best Sunday Brunch and is a great place for a drink or light meal.

winnipeg highlights

4) Shaw Park (formerly Canwest Global Park):
We’ve got former Mayor Sam Katz to thank for this fantastic facility–home to the award-winning Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball team of the Northern League. Enjoying a sunny afternoon or warm summer evening watching Goldeyes baseball from comfortable seats complete with drink holders and entertainment in the stands is a wonderful Winnipeg activity to enjoy. Unfortunately, the 2020 season has been interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But hopefully, life–and Goldeyes baseball will soon return to normal.
winnipeg-highlights

Visiting a Goldeyes Baseball game on a summer evening or afternoon is a great way to experience the fans of Winnipeg.

Winnipeg is a big sports city with highly enthusiastic fans, whether for baseball, football (the Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League)  hockey (the Winnipeg Jets NHL team and the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League) or soccer with the brand new Valour FC of the Canadian Premier League.
winnipeg-highlights

At one end of this bridge is The Forks. At the other end is St. Boniface, the French neighbourhood of Winnipeg where you will find Chocolatier Constance Popp.

5) Great street art :
Winnipeg has an incredible amount of street art and murals to explore. According to the Murals of Winnipeg site, Winnipeg is home to 3,900 murals of original works of street art. You can take a self-guided tour of the city by following Bob Buchanan’s website via the link above. Below is the amazing mural you’ll see adorning three walls of the New West Hotel on Main Street in Winnipeg.
murals-of-winnipeg
There is something about Winnipeg that inspires friendliness, beauty, and creativity. I guarantee that if you take my suggestions and take in the above highlights, you will come away with a greater appreciation of this fantastic city–full of art, culture and joie de vivre.
And for more on the best cultural attractions in the city, please check out this post.

Doreen Pendgracs

Known throughout the Web as the "Wizard of Words", I've been a freelance writer since 1993. I researched and wrote Volume I of Chocolatour that won a Readers' favourite Award in 2014. Always enjoy experiencing new destinations and flavours.

66 Responses

  1. brainlinx says:

    The murals and the forks would be my favorite great things about Winnipeg. It must have been fun living in such a vibrant city. It’s obvious you loved it as it shows through on your post. Thanks for sharing

  2. Jenn says:

    It’s amazing what you can find in the places you grew up when you look at it from an outsiders perspective. Looks like there is a lot of fun things to do in Winnipeg. It’s been on my list of a while of places to visit.

  3. I’ve spent a lot of time in Canada, but never made it to Winnipeg. Looks like I’m missing a wonderful city. How amazing to be able to claim over 600 street art murals. Has anyone ever done a book on them?

  4. Sue Reddel says:

    Honestly, Winnipeg has never been on my travel radar but you just changed that. I’d love to check out The Forks and many of the other attractions. Looks like a fun destination.

  5. That’s a nice list of reasons to head north on a really long road trip! I’d love to see all the murals. Pittsburgh has a handful, but lots of space for more.

  6. If I ever get to Winnipeg, I’ll make sure to check out that sculpture garden at Assiniboine Park! I can see why it would be calming!

  7. Beverly says:

    I am not sure where the Common is. If it is the food service area on the main floor, yes I have enjoyed having lunch there.

  8. Beverly says:

    Your post about Winnipeg brought back many memories. I especially like having lunch at the Forks.

  9. Even before this article, I had a soft spot for Winnipeg but now, after reading this, I’m so close to getting on the first flight out there! Hopefully the Fort Garry Hotel’s ghost is a friendly one!

  10. I haven’t been to Winnipeg (yet). Seems like a fun place to visit but I suspect that springtime or autumn would be best?

  11. What I remember from my own visit to Winnipeg long ago is a wonderful department store where I bought a fabulous flannel nightie and some lambswool flip flops that I still wear! Would love to go back and see that sculpture garden.

    • Hi Carole. I hate to disappoint u buf the shopping scene has changed in Winnipeg. No more Eaton’s, no more Sears. The Bay still exists, but in a truly modified way. Not sure where u had shopped. We still had great shopping options, but they have changed.

  12. What? They have murals in Winnipeg? Now I have to go there.

  13. Linda Strange says:

    HI Doreen: As usual, this is wonderful ! I’ve always appreciated living in Winnipeg.. We have what the big cities have, but everything is more easily accessible . I enjoy rubbing it in to our “big city” friends that you can drive through the heart of the City from perimeter to perimeter in less than an hour; and that it’s about a 20 minute trip for me to the James Richardson International Airport, in the “Heart of the Continent.”

  14. 600 pieces of street art! That is simply amazing. I have Filipino friends in Winnipeg. Time to visit!

  15. We haven’t traveled to Canada, but are considering adding it soon. Winnipeg looks like a great place to start. Thanks for sharing your adventure.

    • Hi Jeff and Crystal. Winnipeg is heart in the centre of Canada, so a great place to visit if you are driving across the country, or heading up north to see the polar bears, belugas, or aurora.

  16. Honestly, Doreen, I didn’t know anything about Winnipeg, except for your hockey team. The locations you chose look wonderful.

  17. Winnipeg is on the list of places to visit and you’ve given me five more reasons it should be. Super guide to what we should be seeing when and if we get there!

  18. Like my hometown of Philadelphia, I suspect that Winnipeg is underappreciated by the tourism world although I admit I’d probably want to make my visit during the late spring, summer, or early fall. Winnipeg and Philly apparently have another thing in common — murals. Philadelphia has more than 3,600 murals commissioned by Mural Arts Philadelphia.

  19. Winnipeg looks a fun and lively place to visit. As one who loves street art, I think time exploring the murals would definitely be one of the 5 (or more) things I’d like to do in Winnipeg 🙂

  20. I didn’t know you were originally from Winnipeg! We have a trip to Manitoba pending for later this year. Hope to visit the Museum of Human Rights, too. Thanks for the tips!

  21. I’d never realised there was so much in Winnipeg. I love the Winnie the Pooh sculpture!

  22. What a perfectly curated list for the first-time visitor to Winnipeg! Glad you mentioned hockey, too:-)

  23. We really need to get to Winnipeg someday. . .and this post just pushed it higher on the ‘must see’ list!

  24. It sounds as though I need a return visit back to Winnipeg! I don’t think there were any murals when I lived there and now there are 600? That must be something amazing to see and would really brighten the street scene in the winter

  25. Anita says:

    Always good to hear from someone as enthusiastic about their hometown as you, Doreen! I visited Winnipeg just once, for a conference, but did not have much time to explore. I would really like to see all those murals!

  26. I too love my Winnipeg home and all the city has to offer. I love the murals but didn’t know about Bob Buchanan’s website. That might just be sending me off on a whole bunch of adventures seeking out murals I haven’t yet seen.

  27. Nancie says:

    Hi Doreen. I visited Winnipeg in the early 90’s. I was exhibiting at a conference, so I didn’t have much free time. I do remember eating at a lovely French restaurant across the river. I’d like to go back sometime and be a tourist.

  28. Kemkem says:

    The murals and the forks would be my favorite great things about Winnipeg. It must have been fun living in such a vibrant city. It’s obvious you loved it as it shows through on your post. Thanks for sharing.

  29. Winnipeg sounds and looks like a wonderful city to be part of. I’d especially love to see the murals and those historical locations. Just beautiful.

  30. noel says:

    I definitely would love to do all of these especially checking out those murals and then having a nice long brunch in that lovely dining spot

  31. Carol says:

    600 murals or street art! Whoa, that’s a lot!!! Someday I I will visit your hometown where some Filipino friends live!

  32. It can’t come soon enough for me, Bo. It’s been a VERY long time coming!
    Doreen Pendgracs recently posted…growing cacao in the Peruvian jungle in Tocache and Tingo MariaMy Profile

  33. Bo Kauffmann says:

    Nice post. There is a lot to like about Winnipeg, especially with the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights coming soon.
    Bo Kauffmann recently posted…Top 10 Winnipeg Tourist Attractions in Winnipeg (Slideshow)My Profile

  34. wizardofwords says:

    Thanks, Laura. Let me know when you’re coming!

  35. Laura Byrne Paquet says:

    Fun post about the ‘Peg, Doreen! Your love for the city shines through. I’ve got to get back there someday–haven’t been in many years. I’ll have to check out the murals. I’m a sucker for city murals, and I didn’t realize Winnipeg had more than 500.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge