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Originally Posted by pspeid
I know what you mean. Within Canada I guess we would be considered "medium sized", perhaps on a world-scale we are still a "small" city.
I'm not even sure what these labels mean any more. I think it used to be that "small city" meant a city with few amenities, but realistically that doesn't describe Winnipeg any more (though it may describe it's perception).
I also wonder about labels like "working class". Winnipeg has been called a "working class" city at times, but what does that really mean? If it reflects the number of head offices there may (or may not be) in a city, then yeah, I guess it's "working class". Trouble is, like "small city", a label like "working class" is often seen as a slight epithet to mean "low class' or "no good enough".
As far as annoying labels go, I couldn't tell you the number of times I have choked internally when someone has told me Regina is a "big city". I understand people having civic pride, but come on, people!
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Yeah I understand. It can be common for perceptions to form especially when they never know Winnipeg on a deeper level.
I guess the "working class" myth comes from Winnipeg's strength, manufacturing.
Yes Winnipeg makes buses. But few outsiders know New Flyer sells buses to the United States prominently.
Yes Winnipeg "farms", but Winnipeg doesn't do "hobby farming". The agricultural scene here is probably global. U of M's agricultural faculty is very competitive. Richardson has been there for a century already.
Yes Winnipeg also makes farming equipment, but that doesn't mean only "tractors". MacDon has its own global business.
And there is Boeing. And now our tec sector is coming up. So yeah, "small" tag can go away. Did someone mention Winnipeg was Canada's only solid manufacturing base?