Winnipeg or Québec - 1 Million

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by Docere

^ If "only" it had Minneapolis weather.

Yeah, there's not much stopping Minneapolis from being a Metro of 3.7M and CSA of 4.1 Million. Cold, harsh winters be damned.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

I'm going to sound like Grandpa Simpson here, but Winnipeg's winters are not nearly as severe as they were even a couple decades ago when I was in university. We get some frigidly cold days every winter but the long drawn out cold streaks of -30 days are quire rare now.

Plus knowing its winter makes it easier to dress for it. I spend a lot of time in Toronto and Ottawa for work each year and -10 to -15 in a wool overcoat is a lot more uncomfortable that -20 to -25 in a Helly Hansen or Columbia jacket over your suit.

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

With the federal reductions in foreign students, temporary foreign workers, and overall immigration levels, I’d expect Winnipeg’s population to have stagnated or grown only marginally, while Manitoba’s overall population has likely declined.

Winnipeg's population might be slowing down, but I think it'll weather the storm pretty well. I don't think it'll lose population, only a general slowdown like all cities, but probably to a lesser degree than most.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by Mr Tall Forehead

I'm going to sound like Grandpa Simpson here, but Winnipeg's winters are not nearly as severe as they were even a couple decades ago when I was in university. We get some frigidly cold days every winter but the long drawn out cold streaks of -30 days are quire rare now.

Were you in town from mid January to mid February this year? lol. There was a significant amount of time and day where the temperature dipped below -25 C, for the majority of a month. It even went down to -39 C in late January.

Having lived in Alberta, what I ahve noticed is that the winters and summers in Alberta do not feel as hot or cold as Winnipeg, since the humidity and wind is not as bad in Edmonton and the surrounding area.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

Winnipeg's population might be slowing down, but I think it'll weather the storm pretty well. I don't think it'll lose population, only a general slowdown like all cities, but probably to a lesser degree than most.

I believe Manitoba's population has decreased by nearly 6,000 , from it's peak in July 2025. I think it will depend on the number of South Asians that will be forced to leave Canada. I am unsure how many came to Winnipeg since COVID, but I doubt it was as many as some of the larger centers like Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and Ottawa.

Quebec may even narrow the gap, considering that less new Canadians would up there.

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

I believe Manitoba's population has decreased by nearly 6,000 , from it's peak in July 2025. I think it will depend on the number of South Asians that will be forced to leave Canada. I am unsure how many came to Winnipeg since COVID, but I doubt it was as many as some of the larger centers like Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and Ottawa.

Quebec may even narrow the gap, considering that less new Canadians would up there.

Winnipeg will probably see a blip, and it wouldn't surprise me if the growth is flat this past year, but it's been growing at a steady pace for a while now. It'll weather the storm and get back on track. QC might narrow the gap temporarily, but over the next few years I would bet Winnipeg is back on track and will still be the first to a million.

[DLLB]

According to the Canada Population clock

............... Aug 1/25 .... Aug 1/26 ........... Difference
Manitoba .. 1,514,829 .... 1,511,603 ..... -3,226 ..... .21%
Quebec .... 9,124,465 .... 9,038,427 .... -86,038 .... .94%

[Docere]

Winnipeg may have lost its relative place to Vancouver and then Calgary/Edmonton but it's been sort of a "steady Eddie" in terms of growth. It didn't really stagnate.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by DLLB

According to the Canada Population clock

............... Aug 1/25 .... Aug 1/26 ........... Difference
Manitoba .. 1,514,829 .... 1,511,603 ..... -3,226 ..... .21%
Quebec .... 9,124,465 .... 9,038,427 .... -86,038 .... .94%

I am going by the actual quarterly estimates of Statistics Canada.

From July 1, 2025 to April 1, 2026:

Manitoba = (-5,837)
Quebec = (-42,075)

The population clock seems to be all over the place, at times.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by Docere

Winnipeg may have lost its relative place to Vancouver and then Calgary/Edmonton but it's been sort of a "steady Eddie" in terms of growth. It didn't really stagnate.

Winnipeg definitely stagnated in growth during the 90s. In fact, of all large Canadian cities, Winnipeg grew the slowest over the last 50 years. It started to grow over the Canadian average (for metro areas) roughly 15 years ago, and has really accelerated it's growth from 2021-25.

The next quarterly estimates for provincial population should come out in mid September.

[harls]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Is your argument Winnipeg is a great city other than the weather? That seems dubious. It has none of the neighbourhood vibes or natural features that make similary cold Edmonton, Ottawa or Calgary (class above all around obviously) decent cities. The Forks is kind of Meh. Human Rights museum maybe top 10 in Canada but probably last in terms of repeatabilty for a resident especially with kids where even the other one and done mesuems mostly have more to offer kids. Manitoba Museum is better for kids but it's pretty standard fair otherwise. Any worth having a membership for a family?

Yowch. That's not very nice.

[MolsonExport]

Winnipeg is a great city in spite of the weather.

[optimusREIM]

Originally Posted by harls

Yowch. That's not very nice.

Normal reaction to Manitoba by people who don't spend much time here.

[harls]

Originally Posted by optimusREIM

Normal reaction to Manitoba by people who don't spend much time here.

I took some family members to a Vietnamese restaurant on Sargent and then to BDI on Jubilee on the same day.. I think I opened their eyes to what the city has to offer.

[drew]

Originally Posted by harls

I took some family members to a Vietnamese restaurant on Sargent and then to BDI on Jubilee on the same day.. I think I opened their eyes to what the city has to offer.

^ Was it Viva Restaurant?

That place is amazing.

[harls]

Originally Posted by drew

^ Was it Viva Restaurant?

That place is amazing.

Nope it was Pho Hoang near Arlington, but I will try your recommendation next time!

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by harls

Nope it was Pho Hoang near Arlington, but I will try your recommendation next time!

Love that location, in fact they are all great, good vibes.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by harls

I took some family members to a Vietnamese restaurant on Sargent and then to BDI on Jubilee on the same day.. I think I opened their eyes to what the city has to offer.

what is BDI?
And have you noticed anything different about Winnipeg? More traffic, cars? Any improvements?

Wpg_Guy, that restaurant looks very cool. Nice vibe

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by Wigs

what is BDI?

The Bridge Drive-In or BDI is a popular ice cream shop next to a pedestrian/cycling bridge over the Red River in south Winnipeg.











It's been around since 1957



---------------------------------------

The upcoming movie November 1963 starring John Travolta was filmed in Winnipeg, and the BDI area makes an appearance.

[Razor]

To play devil's advocate..What if Hamilton pulled a fast one, and came in from behind and beat both QC and Winnipeg to the million punch?..In reality it's not all that far behind really,+ they have the GGH draw of people all around it.