The Winnipeg Capital Region is located in the southeast part of the province located along the Assiniboine and Red Rivers with the northern part of the region bounded by the south basin of Lake Winnipeg. It makes up approximately 1.4% of the province's land base. The 1996 population of the region was 706,000. The region is made up of the City of Winnipeg (the province's capital and largest city), the City of Selkirk, Town of Stonewall and the Rural Municipalities of Cartier, East St. Paul, Headingley, Macdonald, Ritchot, Rockwood, Rosser, St. Andrews, St. Clements, St. Francois Xavier, Springfield, Tache and West St. Paul.
The Capital Region reflects the shared interests of the member municipalities in the sustainable future of their communities, economy, environment and natural and human resources.
Overview of Regional Economy
The region's economy is very diversified and is based on agriculture, food processing, secondary manufacturing, transportation, tourism and the service and retail sectors. More than 63% of Manitoba's population, labour force and industry is located in the Capital Region.
The region's core city, Winnipeg, besides being the seat of Manitoba's Provincial Government, serves as a centre for a number head offices for financial, insurance, real estate, research and development institutions.
Winnipeg also serves as a gateway for east-west and north-south traffic by air, rail, highways and water. Distant markets are accessible on the same day with local access to an international airport, and instantly by telecommunications.
Strategic Reasons to Locate to the Region
The Winnipeg Capital Region is one of the most diversified regions in Western Canada with a strong presence in such industries as:
aerospace, apparel and clothing, broadcasting and communications, bus manufacturing, cabinet and furniture manufacturing, farm equipment and machinery, food processing, freight transportation, health products, as well as in corporate head office functions for financial, insurance and real estate.
Innovative and entrepreneurial spirit thrives
Excellent Education & Health Care Facilities
Social and economic stability characterized by predictable housing prices, rates of population and labour force growth
A rich ethno-cultural mix made up from people who have come from many different countries
An abundant choice of affordable housing options from Winnipeg's downtown and suburban neighborhoods to rural residential living
Plenty of recreational opportunities highlighted by cultural events and facilities, professional sports teams, walking and bicycle paths along the rivers, boating and fishing, parks and golf courses
Low crime rate
An abundance of commercial and industrial land located in several serviced industrial business parks around the region
Cultural Events
The Capital Region is home to one of the most diverse cultural communities in Canada and this is reflected in the range and variety of cultural events as see in the following:
Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Canada's oldest professional ballet company
Professional Theatre - Manitoba Theatre Centre (MTC), Warehouse, PTE, Rainbow Stage, MTFYP and others
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Winnipeg Opera Company
Museums such as Museum of Man & Nature, Lower Fort Garry, Selkirk Marine Museum
Eco-tourism interpretive centres such as Oak Hammock Marsh and Fort Whyte Centre
Winnipeg Contemporay Dancers
Art Galleries such as Winnipeg Art Gallery along with 75 others
Annual Events such as:
- Folklorama
- Fringe Festival
- Highland Gathering
- Octoberfest
- Festival Du Voyager
- Red River Exhibition
- Scottish Heritage Days
- Triple S Fair & Rodeo
- Quarry Days
- Winnipeg Folk Festival
- And many others
Thriving Business Environment & Lower Business Costs
The region has a thriving business environment with a stable and diverse economy. Business thrives here with benefits like low cost serviced industrial land, a highly skilled labour force and one of the lowest electricity rates in North America. Within the region, Winnipeg boasts the most diversified secondary manufacturing base in Canada, along with the service industries to support it.
Over 65 per cent of the Provincial workforce (373,375) is employed in the region, comprising a qualified and multilingual labour pool. Many workers are products of the region's universities, technical schools and training programs.
Central Location
Located in the geographical centre of North America, the Winnipeg Capital Region is open for business. What was once considered the gateway to the west is now Canada's largest distribution centre between Vancouver and Toronto. As one of the few North American locations that can optimize distribution of manufactured goods to both domestic and international markets by air, rail and highway, Winnipeg also offers direct links to the seaports of Thunder Bay and Churchill.
Our central time zone location maximizes the business day, a particular benefit for growth industries like information technology, customer service and call centres.
Transportation Centre
Within the Capital Region, the City of Winnipeg has become one of Canada's key international transportation centres. Two transcontinental railways intersect in the city, the Trans-Canada Highway meets Canadian Highway 75 (the extension of U.S. Interstate 29). Winnipeg International Airport is busy with both passengers and cargo flights, and the northern Manitoba seaport of Churchill provides a vital sea link to the world. As a result of this intermodal transportation infrastructure, Manitoba is well positioned to take advantage of trade opportunities with other provinces in Canada, as well as trade with the U.S. and Mexico given its easy access to east-west transportation routes and the North American mid-continent corridor to the south.
International Airport
Winnipeg International Airport is Canada's only centrally located 24 hour airport, a mere 7km from the City Centre. It began operating in 1928, and today, this longest serving Canadian International airport handles 3 million passenger trips, 132,000 tones of cargo and over 155,000 aircraft flights annually.
Post Secondary Educational Facilities
Each year, more than 45,000 Manitobans attend the University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg, Brandon University and College Universitaire de Saint-Boniface. The province's three vocational community colleges - Red River, Assiniboine and Keewatin - work with industry to produce skilled workers in various trades and professions, as do a dozen or more private training colleges. In addition, business utilizes government training programs to upgrade the skills of employees, especially in high-technology areas.
