Winnipeg
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Orientation
Context
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Climatic Conditions
Links to the Flood of 1997 [1]http://winnipeg.ca/Services/CityLife/HistoryOfWinnipeg/Flood/ [2]http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/floods/redriver/geological_e.php
Winnipeg has a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. The temperatures in winter average -10.5 °C while the average for summer is 15 °C. Extreme high temperatures of 40 °C and lows of -45 °C are possible. Precipitation averages 514 mm.
Ref. [3]http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/naturalist/ns/natureareas/Background.asp
Climate Conditions in Winnipeg [4]http://www.livingin-canada.com/climate-winnipeg.html
Temperatures
Winnipeg has a continental-type climate, enjoying four distinct seasons. There are significant temperature variations through the year generally ranging from highs of +35 degrees Celsius (+95 degrees Fahrenheit) to lows of -40 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees Fahrenheit).
Precipitation
The average annual precipitation is approximately 535 millimeters (21 inches) per year, of which about 125 millimetres (5 inches) falls as snow.
Sunshine The City is the sunshine capital of Canada, with over 2300 hours of sun annually. The sky is arguably as blue as in southern Italy.
Ref. [5]http://www.apegm.mb.ca/about/wpg/climate.html
Site Boundaries
Existing Vegetation
Background (Natural History Perspective of Winnipeg)
The landscape around Winnipeg is influenced by climate, topography, time and more recently humans. These factors play the major role in what plants and animals call Winnipeg home, and what communities (habitat types) they form. Winnipeg is in the Tall Grass Prairie portion of the Prairies Ecozone. The Prairies are an area that is dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants. The Tall Grass Prairie is dominated by taller species of grass such as Big Bluestem. Forest types such as Aspen Forest, Oak Forest and Riverbottom Forest are also common around Winnipeg. The rivers which run through Winnipeg have helped to shape the landscape and influence the plants and animals that live here. Winnipeg is found within the Red River Valley where the Assiniboine River flows into the Red. The Red River Valley has a finely textured rich black soil, also known as Chernozemic soil, which is mainly composed of Red River clay sediment deposit. Although the landscape has fairly good surface drainage it has slow internal drainage that creates random small depressional wetlands such as sloughs, ponds and marshes. The soil is high in organic matter from the plant litter created each year that the prairie grasses covered the land. This combined with the soil's good moisture holding capacity gives it high productivity for agriculture.
Climate is one of the major influences affecting the natural communities in Winnipeg and the surrounding area. Winnipeg has a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. The temperatures in winter average -10.5 oC while the average for summer is 15 oC. Extreme high temperatures of 40 oC and lows of -45 oC are possible. Precipitation averages 514 mm. The effect of this climate means that plants and animals must be adapted to high and low temperature extremes, and must be able to survive in adverse conditions. The precipitation is higher than many other areas in the Prairies Ecozone. These higher levels of precipitation are what makes it possible for the species of the Tall Grass Prairie to survive here.
Dominant tall grasses such as big bluestem and spear grass, and a colourful array of wildflowers such as aster, goldenrod, prairie crocus and lady's-slipper all survive in the Tall Grass Prairie. Native plant species have extensive root systems to assist them in reaching water and nutrients within the soil. These root systems can survive for many years, each year sending forth their new growth above the ground in Spring.
The plant communities also have a dramatic effect on animal species present in the area. In the past Bison, Antelope, Mule Deer, Grizzly Bears and Wolves were all common around the area that has become Winnipeg. As the landscape has changed these animals are no longer found wandering the plains around Winnipeg. With the spread of agriculture into the region and the restriction on prairie wild fires there has been an increase in the small tree bluffs located around the area. This transition has made it an ideal habitat for species such as Whitetail Deer that once only lived further to the southeast. However, some of the smaller animals from the Tall Grass Prairie can still be found around Winnipeg. There are Richardson’s ground squirrel, white-tailed jackrabbit, Red fox and Woodchucks just to name a few. Some bird species include a variety of hawks such as ferruginous and Swainson’s, owls such as great horned and screech and other migratory waterfowl such as Canada geese and mallards.
Ref. [6]http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/naturalist/ns/natureareas/Background.asp
[7]Link to the Habitat in Winnipeg
[8]Link to the Invasive Species in Winnipeg
Materiality
Connections
History
Historic air photos
1928
- source - Natural Resources Canada
- http://airphotos.nrcan.gc.ca/photos101/winnipeg_e.php
Historical Profile of Winnipeg
The City of Winnipeg is located at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, almost at the geographic centre of North America. With an ethnically diverse population, Winnipeg is characterized by slow but steady growth. It is the eighth largest city in Canada and dominates the Manitoba economy.
Though there have been fur trading posts on the site since 1738, the first permanent settlement of the area occurred in 1812 when a group of Scottish crofters arrived. Winnipeg was incorporated as a city in 1873 with a population of 1,869 people. The arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885 brought a 30-year period of growth and prosperity unequalled in Canadian urban development. A flood of immigrants, high wheat prices, plentiful capital, and improved farming techniques contributed to making Winnipeg the wholesale, administrative, and financial centre of western Canada. Following World War I, economic stagnation due to low wheat prices and the Depression lasted well into the 1940s.
Since 1945, Winnipeg has grown steadily, based on its position as a major grain, financial, manufacturing, and transportation centre.
In 1972, the unified City of Winnipeg was created by amalgamating the following 13 municipalities, towns and cities: R. M. of Charleswood R. M. of North Kildonan Town of Tuxedo City of West Kildonan City of Transcona City of St. James-Assiniboia The Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg R. M. of Fort Garry R. M. of Old Kildonan City of East Kildonan City of St. Vital City of St. Boniface City of Winnipeg
Winnipeg "Heart of the Continent"
The name Winnipeg has its origin in the Cree Indian name given to the lake 40 miles north, meaning "Win", muddy, "nipee", water.
Winnipeg is situated at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers; 40 miles south of Lake Winnipeg and 60 miles north of the boundary line between Canada and the United States of America, almost midway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at an altitude of 760 feet above the seaboard level of New York.
From a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post (Fort Garry) in 1870, with a population of 215, Winnipeg proper has grown to the size of a first-class city of 256,000 and Greater Winnipeg 500,000 people. When the city was incorporated in 1873 there were 1,869 inhabitants. In 1878 steam railway connections from St. Paul, Minnesota, had reached a point just across the river from Winnipeg; and on July 1st, 1886, the first through railway train, which left Montreal on June 28th, 1886, arrived in Winnipeg. The advent of railway connections introduced a steady stream of travel and trade and an influx of population that resulted in the building up of a City of standing and importance that is exceeded by only a few cities in Canada.
Winnipeg has become a significant grain centre on the American continent, the financial, commercial, wholesale and manufacturing centre of the middle west, owing to its geographical position and its tremendous railway facilities, with branches reaching out in every direction. It affords great possibilities for trade in the province and the Northwest and an inducement for the establishment of manufacturing and other industries. Winnipeg's soft water supply is adequate for the needs of a city of one million inhabitants.
The day of incorporation came, but not without struggle. The first Bill presented to the Legislature for the City’s incorporation was thrown out and the townspeople seized the Speaker of the House and gave him an extensive tar bath. However, cooler heads did prevail and with legal guidance the Bill was passed. The government of the City was carried on under the powers of a special Charter granted by the Provincial Legislature. This charter was repealed in 1886, and from that time until 1902 the City’s affairs were administered under the provisions of the Manitoba Municipal and Assessment Acts. Once again the City obtained a special Charter which has been revised and consolidated in the years 1918, 1940 and 1956.
Today, Winnipeg is noted for its fine hotel and motor hotel accommodations and for its superb restaurants. It has excellent shopping facilities, "A Shopper’s Paradise", and is one of the few Cities in Canada that has not imposed a general sales tax. It has enjoyed this distinction for ninety-two years.
There are facilities for playing golf, tennis, swimming, boating and other outdoor sports. Close to Winnipeg, anglers will find good fishing in many lakes accessible over first-class highways.
Few Cities have as many beautiful parks. Visitors to Assiniboine Park will find magnificent facilities for rest and recreation as well as one of the finest Zoos in the country, while Kildonan Park is the home of some of the most beautiful trees in Winnipeg.
Winnipeg, the "Friendly City of the Nation", extends to every visitor a truly warm Western Welcome.
Ref. [9]http://winnipeg.ca/Services/CityLife/HistoryOfWinnipeg/HistoricalProfile.stm
[10]Link to The City of Winnipeg's History Page
Ref. [11] Link to Historical flood photos of The Forks
Existing Infrastructure
Programmes
Ecology
Business
A few helpful and interesting websites
[12]http://www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com
[13]http://www.exchangedistrict.org/
[14]http://www.destinationwinnipeg.ca
Cultural Significance
People Response
Proposed Developements
Environmental Values
Site SWOT
Strengths
Weaknesses
Active Transportation
According to the City of Winnipeg's 2005 report, every street in Winnipeg is a "bike street." However, Winnipeg has done very little to make the city bike friendly. The three tools used by the city to accomodate bikes are Diamond Bike-Bus Lanes, Widened Curb Lanes, and physically seperated from the street bike lanes. All three of these tools are used scarcely in the downtown area. The Diamond Bike-Bus Lane requires the biker to share the lane with Buses, and at times parked cars which force the Biker into regular traffic. Widened Curb Lanes paint the width of the curb side lanes wider so that both bikers and cars may share the lane. The only example of a physically seperated lane can be found across the Norwood Bridge on Main St. According to residents and visitors, most find Winnipeg to be Bike unfriendly. The second issue, pedestrian traffic, is worse in some areas than others. Main St. in many ways is an obstruction to cross traffic. From personal experience, every crossing has an electric crosswalk system with accompanying sounds for the blind. There is also a system of skyways. From personal interviews, Winnipeg has very little pedestrian traffic in the winter, mostly due to weather conditions, the other part being due to safety issues.
Opportunities
Threats
Site topography
Significant Landmarks
Studio sections
Contact assignments
City of Winnipeg: Planning, Property & Development Department
City of Winnipeg: Public Works (parks etc.)
Others?
Section 1 Bakr
Group 1 Bakr Community and Impressions of Population Derek S., Emily W., Brittany F., Thomas H., Trisha G.
Amendment to Manitoba Fire Code
Amendment to Ventilation Standards
Universal Design Guiding Principles
Group 2 Bakr Built Features and Infrastructure Ian M., Charles W., Jeremiah J.
Group 3 Bakr Demographics and Financial Info Cody K., Jackson S., Justin N.
Average Income for Carlton Street
Crime Statistics for Carlton Street
Population Age Distribution for Carlton Street
Street Observations for Carlton Street
Unemployment Rate for Carlton Street
Visible Minorities for Carlton Street
Crime Statistics for Downtown Winnipeg
Public Opinion Key Issues Survey
Group 4 Bakr Transportation Scott C., Dorissa T., Brian L.
Group 5 Bakr History, Culture, and Regional Concerns Matt S., Dana P., Justin A.
Section 2 Don
Groups
1: Mary Megan Casey Jenna
2: Julie David Alyssa
3: Tim Jordan Cory Nate Peter
"Stay Home Group" 4: Brett Masa Godfrey
LA's: Matt Aaron
Don's Site Analysis
Group 1
Cultural Aspects and Natural Systems
[15]Pictures of North End of Section
Group 2
Group 3
Demographic Information for the Broadway Neighborhood File:Neighborhood Census Info.pdf
Group 4
Section 3 Frank
Section 4 Mark
ref:[16]National Research Council Canada
Group 1 Mark's Section
Group 2 Mark's Section
Link to Centre Venture (The Condo Developers along Waterfront) [17]
the following pictures area a shameful copy of mike & adam's original idea.
Group 3 Mark's Section
http://picasaweb.google.com/aruh22/PresentationViewsAroundBbfield
Group 4 Mark's Section
ref [18]http://blog.uwinnipeg.ca/ius/thr33d.jpg
On our site, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is going to be built starting in the Spring of 2008 [19]http://www.canadianmuseumforhumanrights.com
Power Point of Pictures Taken of Site
Tables of Crime Statistics for Winnipeg
Graphs of Soils Types Winnipeg has Devonian/Silurian/Ordovician soils and is located on the Canadian Shield
More About Soil Types Clay soils line the riverbank and are difficult to build on because the soil is weak and moves around alot. The clay goes down anywhere from 40'-50' to 200' in some places. Where the banks are steeper, alluvial soils have been deposited and are stronger than clay soils.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights As Positioned on Site
Ref. [20]Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Section and Plan
Ref. [21]Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Group 5 Mark's Section
ref.[22]The Junction and the Railway Era: 1886-1923
[23]Pictures and Information about the Forks
[24]Downtown Winnipeg Zoning
Group 6 Mark's Section
[25] The Forks Market website
[26] Plants in the Prairie Garden
Section 5 Regin
External links
Citizen Information Services Searchable Map
[http://winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/Documents/pw/2005/a5751/03.%20ris%202956%20-%20active%20transportation%20study%20-%20final%20report%20attach.pdf A 2005 City Report describing Active Transportation]













