Winnipeg…in a nutshell

In preparation for my move to Winnipeg, I feel I should get to know the town I will soon be calling home. And for those who are reading this blog and don’t know too much about the ‘Peg, here’s Winnipeg in a nutshell.

• Population: Close to 700,000…and dropping
• Winnipeg is the capital of Manitoba
• Even more impressive, it is the Slurpee capital of the world (the citizens consume an estimated 400,000 Slurpees/month)
• Wedding Socials are held by engaged couples to raise money for their wedding. (NOTE: apparently you can host a social for any reason to raise money. I’m thinking of hosting weekly Jessica Socials to raise money for Slurpees and rent).
• Winnipeg Lake is the 11th largest lake in the world
• Grand Beach (at Winnipeg Lake) was once voted one of the top ten beaches in the world by Playboy magazine
  
• The James Bond character is based on a native Winnipegger – Sir William Stephenson
• “Winnipegger” is not in my spell check
• Terry Fox was born there
• The strongest tornado ever recorded in Canada was 40km west of Winnipeg
• The Royal Canadian Mint is located in the WPG and produces all the coins circulating in Canada as well as producing currency for 60 other countries
• The Air Command branch of the Canadian Military is based in Winnipeg
• The Canadian Military has an Air Command branch
• The Golden Boy, gilded in 24 carat gold, sits 225 feet atop the Manitoba Legislative Building and was built in France. He is fully nude.
• 1000 cars are stolen every month in Winnipeg
• Recovery rate of stolen vehicles = 90% (apparently they are mostly used for joy rides and getting around in the cold. Phewf)
• Neil Young lived there
• Winnie the Pooh was named after the city
• “Winnipeg” comes from the Cree word for “muddy waters”
• Coldest temperature recorded: -47.8 degrees celsius; warmest temperature recorded: 42.2 degrees
• Ranked 2nd sunniest city in Canada
• More than 100 languages are spoken
• The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is currently being built, scheduled to be completed in late 2012, and will be the largest human rights museum in the world
• Home of Canada’s oldest ballet company – the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
• 4th highest overall crime rate among Canadian Census Metropolitan Areas

So there you have it – all you ever needed to know about Winnipeg. I encourage everyone to come visit, drink a Slurpee and have your car stolen. As for my first Jessica Social? This fall – $20 cover (for a good cause of course).

COUNTDOWN TO DEPARTURE: 41 days