Winnipeg Construction

[Spocket]

"There's no there there." ? Did this author leave his vehicle at any time ?

[Only The Lonely..]

Originally Posted by Archiseek

Urban myths


A checkup of Canada's major cities reveals some surprises (it's okay, Montreal, you're still cool


excerpt...
On the other coast, Vancouver has become one of the world's most desirable cities, routinely voted the number-one livable community on Earth. But don't hold your breath for Calgary, Winnipeg or Edmonton to make that list. Western Canada may have a lot going for it, but not its cities. As Gertrude Stein would have said, there's no there there. For all the wealth, these cities are rough, unfinished, uncared-for and scarily empty.

My first question: Where is everyone?

http://www.thestar.com/article/580078

Ahh yes, the Toronto Star..

Western Canada's most beloved journal of record since 18-never.

These guys probably flew into town, rented a car, and then drove around St.James for 15 minutes before concluding that there's nothing here.

I'm not surprised by their assessment.

[Kinguni]

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

Ahh yes, the Toronto Star..

Western Canada's most beloved journal of record since 18-never.

These guys probably flew into town, rented a car, and then drove around St.James for 15 minutes before concluding that there's nothing here.

I'm not surprised by their assessment.

Did you read the article? They came in by train.

[Only The Lonely..]

Originally Posted by Kinguni

Did you read the article? They came in by train.

Did they?? No, I missed that part.


But, I still stand by my earlier comments about people from the east trying to paint the west with broad strokes.

Winnipeg isn't perfect, but there are parts of this town that wouldn't be all that out of place in cities many times bigger.

The Exchange, Osborne / Corydon, Wolseley..even parts of Sargent and Ellice.

My point being, that one can live quite comfortably here in an urban neighbourhood if they so choose.

I don't think it was entirely fair of the author to say that there's nothing here but tall grass, blue sky and grain elevators.

As I write this, i'm reminded of those crappy RBC Vancouver 2010 commercials where they carry the torch across 'Canada'. That is if Canada consisted of only Toronto and Vancouver, which i'm sure that for most Canadians it probably does.

[The Jabroni]

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

Did they?? No, I missed that part.


But, I still stand by my earlier comments about people from the east trying to paint the west with broad strokes.

Winnipeg isn't perfect, but there are parts of this town that wouldn't be all that out of place in cities many times bigger.

The Exchange, Osborne / Corydon, Wolseley..even parts of Sargent and Ellice.

My point being, that one can live quite comfortably here in an urban neighbourhood if they so choose.

I don't think it was entirely fair of the author to say that there's nothing here but tall grass, blue sky and grain elevators.

As I write this, i'm reminded of those crappy RBC Vancouver 2010 commercials where they carry the torch across 'Canada'. That is if Canada consisted of only Toronto and Vancouver, which i'm sure that for most Canadians it probably does.

Actually, I saw the Richardson building in that skyline part (if it's actually the Richardson building at all).

Then again, one would never know.

[1ajs]

?

[drew]

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

As I write this, i'm reminded of those crappy RBC Vancouver 2010 commercials where they carry the torch across 'Canada'. That is if Canada consisted of only Toronto and Vancouver, which i'm sure that for most Canadians it probably does.

Ha, that's funny - I was telling my wife the exact same thing the last time I saw that commercial.

Bascially, this illustrates how people in Toronto view Canada. You arrive on the east coast, travel a bit over nothing, arrive in magnificent Toronto, the centre of Canada, and continue west passing nothing till the Rockies after which Vancouver magically appears. Unbelievable.

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by drew

Ha, that's funny - I was telling my wife the exact same thing the last time I saw that commercial.

Bascially, this illustrates how people in Toronto view Canada. You arrive on the east coast, travel a bit over nothing, arrive in magnificent Toronto, the centre of Canada, and continue west passing nothing till the Rockies after which Vancouver magically appears. Unbelievable.

Who's "Vancouver"?

Isn't Canada out past Barrie somewhere?

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

Did they?? No, I missed that part.


But, I still stand by my earlier comments about people from the east trying to paint the west with broad strokes.

Winnipeg isn't perfect, but there are parts of this town that wouldn't be all that out of place in cities many times bigger.

The Exchange, Osborne / Corydon, Wolseley..even parts of Sargent and Ellice.

My point being, that one can live quite comfortably here in an urban neighbourhood if they so choose.

I don't think it was entirely fair of the author to say that there's nothing here but tall grass, blue sky and grain elevators.

As I write this, i'm reminded of those crappy RBC Vancouver 2010 commercials where they carry the torch across 'Canada'. That is if Canada consisted of only Toronto and Vancouver, which i'm sure that for most Canadians it probably does.

You're not the only one. A total let down. I would understand (though not appreciate) if they left out Saskatoon and Regina, but, all of the West's cities? As some would say, a pathetic, however expected attitude.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by drew

Ha, that's funny - I was telling my wife the exact same thing the last time I saw that commercial.

Bascially, this illustrates how people in Toronto view Canada. You arrive on the east coast, travel a bit over nothing, arrive in magnificent Toronto, the centre of Canada, and continue west passing nothing till the Rockies after which Vancouver magically appears. Unbelievable.

I like how a bison joins in with the people. You Manitobans are so ungrateful.

"Yeah, make sure to include grain elevators, wildlife, Eatons catalog homes, and the mountains. We need to represent all of Canada."

• Video Link

[amac]

The Toronto Star... pulleeeze. Some checkup... it's like reading the first and last chapter of a book and writing a review. I'm not going to waste my time reading that article, but did they happen to mention that precious Vancouver is home of the infamous downtown east side? By far the the most "rough", "unfinished" and "uncared-for" neighbourhood in Canada.

[rgalston]

Is this the thanks we get for putting all the Star's leftist ideals to practice for the past 90 years? They should love us.

[Reed Solomon]

Originally Posted by rgalston

Is this the thanks we get for putting all the Star's leftist ideals to practice for the past 90 years? They should love us.

Oh they're just jealous that our non existent NHL team has been doing consistently better on the ice than the maple leafs.

[Spocket]

Originally Posted by Reed Solomon

Oh they're just jealous that our non existent NHL team has been doing consistently better on the ice than the maple leafs.

No, they're jealous that my little nephew's peewee team is doing better than the Leafs.

[Reed Solomon]

Originally Posted by Spocket

No, they're jealous that my little nephew's peewee team is doing better than the Leafs.

well they are pretty good.

[1ajs]

Habitat has biggest job ever in city
34-home development stresses green housing
By: Lindsey Wiebe
Winnipeg Free Press

It's the biggest, greenest development ever for Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg.
The non-profit affordable-housing agency announced plans Tuesday for a new 34-home development on the former site of Sir Sam Steele School, a project that will follow strict environmental standards.

"This by far is the biggest undertaking we have ever developed," said Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg CEO Sandy Hopkins.

Hopkins said the project at Chester Street and Nairn Avenue will use less wasteful construction practices. Finished homes will be more energy- and water-efficient and have better air quality, he said.

Early work on the project is already underway, with 12 homes expected to be completed this year.

Habitat for Humanity homes have followed Manitoba Hydro's Power Smart Gold Standards since 2006, but the new development will also meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building standards.

The development will include single-family dwellings ranging from 800 to 1,000 square feet, and side-by-sides covering 1,200 square feet over two storeys.

Hopkins said following environmental building rules "actually makes the homes more affordable for our families" by cutting back on future costs.

Architects Rudy Friesen and Marten Duhoux with the Friesen Tokar architecture firm said the homes' windows and overhangs will be designed to take advantage of passive solar heating and landscaping on the yards will include native plants that don't need watering.

Paints and carpets that release fewer chemicals into the air will be used in the homes, and shower drains will include special copper pipes that can recapture heat and channel it back to hot water tanks.

Many of the measures don't cost more, "you just have to plan for them," Friesen said.

Funding for Habitat's green building program comes from Investors Group, Manitoba Hydro and Home Depot.

[j.online]

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

Ahh yes, the Toronto Star..

Western Canada's most beloved journal of record since 18-never.

These guys probably flew into town, rented a car, and then drove around St.James for 15 minutes before concluding that there's nothing here.

I'm not surprised by their assessment.

Love 'em or hate 'em, there's some truth in the Star's words.

It may be hard to admit, but Winnipeg has a people problem. I walk near daily in the village, corydon/lilac, downtown, exchange district, central park hood, & HSC hood (I commute by foot almost everywhere). you'd be hard pressed to find more than 10 people on a sidewalk at any given time. The few exceptions to this are:
- occasionally on the one block in the village or the corydon/lilac hood
- between 11:30-13:00 at a select number of downtown locations (ie: in front portage place, parts of Graham, 2 or 3 blocks on broadway, Canwest plaza, McDermot/Albert/Bannatyne & a few others)
- an event going on (ie: Moose game, Fringe Festival, Canada Day, etc)

Any chance I get I'm showing off pictures of my home town to my out of town friends (& usually successfully convince them to come for a visit), but all too often the comments are, "great looking city, but where are the people". don't believe me? go take a look at just about any photo of winnipeg posted on the forum here. about 7 out of 10 has an empty sidewalk.

But I guess it's also a matter of perspective. The village is probably a congested hippie joint for a lifelong North K kid, but coming from 1 Yonge Street.... you get my point.

[j.online]

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

I frack'n love this! Would be great if they can pull this off.

[Only The Lonely..]

In my travels downtown today I noticed that Imrie has started the demo work on the Army Surplus store.

[Jeff]

just saw a quick news blurb on ctv while watching american idol (reserve judgements!!!) showing the roslyn block and saying something about a condo announcement.. i saw it quick so i'm not 100% sure. said watch tomorrow at 6.