Dear Fellow Winnipeg Forum Friends,
I’d like to go off topic for just a moment – as of October 1st, I will be leaving Manitoba and relocating myself and my family to Victoria B.C. This was a very complex decision for my wife and I, however we feel strongly foremost about living closer to our families so our kids can know their cousins, and grandparents better. The timing lies with me accepting an excellent career prospect with a company there that will allow me to continue with my PhD research, but also applying it to industrial research and development. Given the deep cuts to academia, this is the direction that science is taking in our country these days. This move will close a (nearly) seven year chapter in my life; seven years in Winnipeg.
I will always deeply cherish my time in Winnipeg, probably most prominently because my son was born here, but I have many more reasons to share. Winnipeg is arguably one of the most family-friendly cities in the country. I’ve had the privilege of living near many young families (Wolseley) where kids still play outside regularly, thus I am extremely sad to be leaving such an excellent neighbourhood and all it has to offer for children of all ages. But in the broader sense, the average family does not have to go up to their ears in mortgage debt to be able to afford a family home here. In contrast, many of my friends in Vancouver are starting families in condos. While there is nothing wrong with that, it’s challenging space-wise and difficult from a personal values stance where many of us grew up with the house and yard, and want our kids to have the same. It’s not realistic that as a society we can all continue to expect this standard of living; increased density is what our cities need to be sustainable, but I also believe everyone deserves an affordable home and the prices of homes in some parts of this country are simply unattainable for many.
On the professional front, I joined a world-class Arctic research group, whom was looking for students at the right time, and this clearly refined my earlier unguided earlier career aspirations (uhm, government scientist?) into a much more focused and viable direction. Further to this, I have had the opportunity to spend twenty weeks in the Arctic aboard a research Icebreaker, meet some of the greatest people I’ll ever know, and I am going to miss them all very much, including a close colleague of mine who was tragically killed in a helicopter crash only a couple days ago. The vast majority people in this city are truly great, compassionate and friendly people, who have a very strong sense of community and look out for each other. When I got stuck on a snowbank this past winter, it took no less than two minutes for random strangers to stop and offer to help push me off. I won’t tell that story now, but it’s a sincere, warm, ‘Winnipeg’ story that I’ll be telling to my grandchildren.
Now back to city development; so much has happened to the city during my time here. When I first arrived in 2006, I had no knowledge of the history of the city, the plight of the 90’s, and got the impression very little new development was happening here. How wrong I was. Since 2006, I’ve had the pleasure to witness the construction of the new Airport, MB Hydro tower, IKEA, CMHR, early stages of CentrePort, floodway expansion, CPT, CCW, Journey to Churchill, countless residential units, urban infills, convention centre expansion, new hotels, and a rise in property values, which is spurring new investment and renovation in the older neighbourhoods. (I’m forgetting stuff here, I know…).
Then there was the return of the Jets. As a Canucks fan (but avid general NHL fan), I was thrilled to have the NHL returning to the city (the excitement of this preceding the embarrassment and disappointment of the Stanley Cup meltdown and following Riots in Vancouver). Hockey is such a huge part of the winter culture and lifestyle here. Although the outdoor rinks are quite visible around town, It still always felt like something was missing here. Sure, the AHL Moose were in town, tickets were cheap, and it was always available on the radio to listen to, it just wasn’t the same. How can one really get passionate about a team that turns over about 90% every year? The constant, intense hockey chatter on the radio (now available on 1290), the passionate display of the logo and colours everywhere (again, not knocking the moose), and of course, the televised games; something to really get into on a cold winter night at home… pizza and beers with some friends, put on the game; get all emotional (angry or happy) at the outcome. That was all missing for me. Well, I’m sure it was missing for everyone, and now that its back, there are going to be some other great benefits for the city coming down the pipe – and its already started with the ALT hotel construction, Shark Club, new restaurant chains poking their heads in town, new retailers, and of course, the promised condo explosion in and around the SHED. This whole situation IS a game changer for downtown Winnipeg. Don Cherry said it best – “Winnipeg … get ready.”
I’m still very much excited for Winnipeg’s general potential for new growth and construction in the coming years in other parts of downtown (Assiniboine Ave., Exchange, etc), as well as in other neighbourhoods. There are numerous major projects at various stages of development for downtown, something that everyone here should be very excited and proud of. Even if a few of them should falter, I cannot stress enough that the dream of downtown revitalization will be achieved, and it starts with the residential construction rush that we’re seeing now, along with ‘mega-project’ concepts, such as the Sports and Hospitality Entertainment District. As for the suburban sprawl projects, those aren’t going to stop anytime soon, but a healthy, growing city has a balance of sprawl and downtown density. Keep fighting for rapid transit expansion, and that balance will be easier to shift towards density (I.e. around transit stations).
So I’ll close with this message. Although I’ve been very positive up to this point, there are clearly some problems in the way this city is managed that dearly need to be addressed. I admit my calls for ‘cleaning house’ at city hall are extreme, and unrealistic. However, you are all passionate members of a community that has the ability to act in meaningful ways; attend meetings, write letters or articles in the Free Press (Great stuff TV, been reading all your articles), or simply get out and vote. I strongly believe that for Winnipeg to move forward, there is a critical need for some youth and new ideas at city hall. The above-mentioned lack of communication and coordination between city departments *IS* ridiculous. I can only ponder how much money has been wasted rebuilding the same street or sidewalk three times in two years. The city will always have its operational challenges with the harsh climate, heaving soils, aging infrastructure, and battles with the Province for funding. However, I firmly believe that Winnipeg never lost its soul or its identity through the tough times, and now is the opportunity to let it shine bright, and to be proud of the great city that it is and always has been.
I will continue to follow and participate in the Winnipeg construction thread, as there is simply too much exciting stuff going on here to simply walk away from. Evidence is listed on Page 1 of this thread
Thank you and best wishes.
-Matthew Asplin, “Mininari”
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