The Heart of North America

Have you ever heard of a place called Winnipeg? Let me tell you about this medium-sized city in North America of about 750,000-population strong, because it is the place that holds my heart at the moment. It is one of those tightly kept secret that I think it's time to share.

Winnipeg sits in the middle of North America. Yes, it's smack in the middle. It is the place the Aboriginal or First Nations people call Turtle Island or "Seat of God". It is also known as the 'windy Winterpeg". Yes it is cold but not cold and grey, cold and brilliant. The motto of the province has recently changed from Friendly Manitoba to Spirited Manitoba. We are both friendly and spirited. It's a double whammy of Manitoba goodness.

A lot happens in Winnipeg and many of the social movements and progressive ideas in this country gave birth in Winnipeg. If someone wants to start a business, Winnipeg is often used as a testing ground. If the business succeeds here, chances are that it will succeed in any other part of Canada.

I'm sure you must be thinking that this place called Winnipeg is endowed with special qualities because of its location. I really believe that.

Located at the gateway of the Prairies in the Province of Manitoba, Winnipeg, the capital city, has been made famous by not only Folklorama, the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America or the Winnipeg Folk Festival which is also the largest festival of its kind in North America but is also the home of Nellie one of Canada's earliest feminists and a member of the Famous Five, Nellie McLung, the suffragette, who along with five other women was responsible for women gaining the vote for Caucasian Canadian women and their recognition in law as "Persons"; it is the home of Burton Cummings, Neil Young The Weakerthan, Remy Shand, Chantal Kreviak, The Guess Who, Maiko Watson and numerous other outstanding personalities and stars.

A bi-lingual province with a prosperous and active Francophone community that brings the Festival du Voyager to Winnipeg in February each year to promote and maintain awareness of Francophone culture, the Festival also gives Winnipeggers an experience what it was like in the olden days. Festival du Voyageur recreates the life of the French and Metis people in Manitoba, what they ate, how they traveled, what they wore and the music they played. The frozen Red River became the road upon which the voyageurs traveled during the winter months. On these long journeys from the North they portaged at various locations including at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers which has now been immortalized by the establisment of a thriving and bustling historic Forks Market where people still gather today. This was the spot where the Aboriginal people welcomed, traded and offered their generosity to strangers on their territory.

Winnipeg is also the home of the largest concentration of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. It is the headquarter of the APTN - the Aboriginal People's Television Network and National TV station that brings you everything Aboriginal, their issues, culture and current affairs.

Living in peace side by side in this City, are people of more than 60 cultural backgrounds who are allowed to express their individuality, culture and religions under the protection of the Human Rights Code.

I love this City; there is a spirit of ecclectism to it. There is everything in Winnipeg that a large metropolis has, a vibrant art community, numerous nightclubs, one of Canada's premier dance companies, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, where international students come to learn the art and it is also blessed with clear bright blue skies most days. Winnipeg is the birthplace of some of the greatest social movements in this country, it is a place where things happen and it is so tight knitted that everyone appears to get involved. You cannot help but feel the buzz that zips through the city that prompts you to get involved in some social action group. Perhaps it is to forget the cold and mingle with like-minded people in warm places, sipping coffee and fresh delicious desserts but in this city there is that spirit, that rich spirit of giving and working voluntarily towards making life better for everyone.