Manitoba

My most vivid memory of visiting Manitoba is travelling west on the Trans Canada Highway, leaving the rocks and lakes of the Canadian Shield behind, and seeing the beginning of the Prairies. The change is dramatic and breathtaking.

Manitoba's population of 1,119,583 is incredibly culturally diverse. People from virtually every country have settled in the province. You'll find people of Aboriginal, Scottish, English, French, Russian, Ukrainian, German, South American, Caribbean, African, Asian, and even Icelandic decent in the area.

Manitoba is the easternmost of the Prairie Provinces, but Manitoba is much more than just prairie. The northern section of the province is Canadian Shield and in the extreme north the landscape is made up of tundra and permafrost. The Hudson Bay area features majestic rivers, lakes, forests, desert dunes, and arctic coastline. If you canoe or a kayak, Manitoba's waterways will keep you occupied for days, even weeks. North America's seventh largest lake, Lake Winnipeg, is a windsurfer's paradise and is located a short drive from the capital and largest city in Manitoba, Winnipeg.

Whether you are traveling east or west across Canada, you'll end up in Winnipeg, a metropolis in the middle of picturesque canola and wheat fields. With its 619,544 people, Winnipeg is the largest city in the Canadian Prairies. The city is also rumored to be the dining capital of Canada with more restaurants per capita than any other city in the country.

Churchill is located in the tundra on Hudson Bay. Known as the polar bear capital of Canada, the best time to see these majestic creatures is in the fall. In the summer months, you can see beluga whales in the bay. If you enjoy solitude, Churchill may be the place for you. Please note that if you want to visit or relocate here, the only transportation in and out of Churchill is by train or plane.

The Pas is one of the oldest settlements in Manitoba and was the traditional meeting place of Native trappers and French and English fur traders. The Pas is now regarded as the Gateway to the North.

About 97 kilometers (60 miles) north of Winnipeg on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg is the truly unique community of Gimli. This town is the hub of Icelandic culture in Manitoba. Gimli was established as the capital of New Iceland more than a century ago and, for quite awhile, it was self-governing with its own schools and newspapers. To this day, Gimli celebrates Islendingadagurinn (a festival about Icelandic culture) on the first long weekend every August. The festival is a rare chance to experience this exciting culture without actually going to Iceland.

If Manitoba can offer so much to so many different cultures, then this province will have something to offer you as well.

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