Urban Exchange

This is the fourth and final batch of readers’ submissions in the “What do you love about Winnipeg?” contest, and they’ve all got something in common. Students from an EAL class at Red River College sent them in after Urban Exchange staff joined them for a fantastic discussion about social issues.

Most of the students came to Canada within the last couple of years. All of them are working on their English language skills so they can join the workforce and do the things that they’ve trained for in their home countries.

We’ll kick things off with Elham, who could do without the mosquitos and the cold winters, but loves Winnipeg anyway:

Winnipeg is a gorgeous city in many ways except for two things. The first problem for me is the mosquitoes in the summer season and the second one is the cold temperature in the winter season (-45 degrees with the wind-chill). But as I said, there are many nice things in Winnipeg. For example, I have noticed that Winnipeg people are very friendly and helpful; also I feel this place is very safe and quiet. In addition to that, I have found there are more opportunities in education and work; even though I have some language difficulty (English). Another good thing in Winnipeg is the nature. It is so beautiful (the sky, rivers, parks….etc). In my opinion not only these things make Winnipeg a beautiful city but also there are more.

Agata just arrived, and has already grown to appreciate Winnipeg’s art galleries, among other things:

I have been in Winnipeg only for five months. I have not visited all the places in this city, I know downtown thoroughly and more or less the area where I live nowadays, that is St. Boniface. In my life, I always pay attention to the nature and the art. I am very glad, that in Winnipeg there are many parks and squares with seasonal flowers. It is very amazing to me that I have almost every day a possibility to watch some wild animals, like squirrels, wild geese and ducks, and most of all deer. I was very surprised when I first saw some deer on my friends’ yard, a place in the city not in the forest. The second important thing I love about Winnipeg is that there are many small art galleries in this city, especially Downtown. This fact enables me to meet the art every time I walk through Winnipeg’s streets. Even though I have no time to come in, I have a possibility to look at some pictures through a window.

It makes me happy that I can find in Winnipeg the places where I like to spend my spare time.

Jiao has been here a while and likes the fact that Canadians have a lot of support through government programs when we need them:

I have lived in Winnipeg since ten years ago. I love Winnipeg, because this place is nice and clean. Specially, the people who live in Winnipeg are the kindest in the world. The most I like is the benefits in terms of education, health and employment. For example: from nursery school to high school, we don’t need to pay any tuition. The people who are pregnant will have maternity leave from work for one year to take care of their baby, and the people who lose their job, they also get unemployment benefit. The people who retire will get pension from the government and so on … Winnipeg is a nice place to live in!

Miae has this to say:

If somebody asks me what I love about Winnipeg, I will answer like this:
First of all, if I am willing to learn English, to live here, to open a business, and to get a job, I believe that Manitoba will support me through many ways. I will also get many opportunities from the backing of Manitoba.

Second, I like the sky and the city of Winnipeg because the sky is like emerald that seems to fall down to me.

In addition, the city is always quiet and that enables our children to keep studying. These are the reasons why I love Winnipeg.

Finally, here’s what Svetlana loves about Winnipeg:

I like Winnipeg. My family came in Canada three years ago. I was surprised because people were friendly, and spoke slowly and nicely. When I came to Winnipeg, I didn’t feel comfortable because I didn’t speak or understood English, but everyone helped me. I was very grateful about it. I would like to tell some words about Winnipeg. I know the city has more spectacular and attractive places such as, The Forks, Assiniboine Park, Kildonan Park, a museum and other interesting buildings. Winnipeg has 4 seasons. Each season has some beautiful characteristics, colors and magnificent smell. I enjoy all the seasons because Winnipeg changes every three or four months. In my opinion, Winnipeg will develop, and in the future will have more interesting places for tourists. I like Winnipeg because I like changes.

And here’s a bonus submission! Red River College EAL instructor Rita Prokopetz has been participating in Urban Exchange since it started – here’s a list of the things she loves about Winnipeg:

Assiniboine Park, Art Walk, Ambassador Program and the Aboriginal Centre
Business Service Centre, Business network and Blue Bombers
Chinatown, Central Park, Chamber of Commerce, Centennial Concert Hall, Convention Centre, CanWest Global Park and Clean Team Project
Downtown Biz, Dalnavert Museum
Esplanade Riel and Exchange District BIZ
Fort Whyte, Forks, Fringe and Folklorama
Grain Exchange and Goldeyes
Human Rights Museum and Hydro (green building – work in progress!)
International Centre, In For Lunch, Imax
JAR International Airport, Jazz Winnipeg and Johnston Terminal
Key from Change for the Better
Legislative Building, Little Italy, Lower Fort Garry and Little Mountain Bluefest Event
Millennium Library, Mint, Market Square, MTC, Medical Laboratory, Museum and MTS Centre
North Main and NSI Film Festival
Oak Hammock Marsh and Outreach Patrol
Planetarium and Prairie Theatre Exchange
Quotidian events, projects and plans
Red River College, Red River Corridor, RWB, River Spirit and Rh Institute and Dr. Bowman
Shuttle Service, Safe Walk, Symphony and Gallery and Winnipeg Opera
Taste of Manitoba, Technical College and Thunderbird House
United Way, University of Winnipeg, University of Manitoba and Upper Fort Garry
Via Rail and Virtuosi Concerts
Walking Tours, Western Canada Aviation Museum, Women Enterprise Centre, Winnipeg Adult Education Centre, and Winnipeg Art
Explore Manitoba Centre
YMCA – YWCA and Young Sculptors at Work
Zoo and zesty ethnic restaurants

Thanks again to everyone who has written in to tell us what they love about Winnipeg! It’s been a fun and interesting conversation.