CANADIAN RELOCATION
MANITOBA PROFILE

At the 2011 census, Manitoba had a population of 1,208,268, more than half of which is in the Winnipeg Capital Region; Winnipeg is Canada's eighth-largest Census Metropolitan Area, with a population of 730,018 (2011 Census). Although initial colonization of the province revolved mostly around homesteading, the last century has seen a shift towards urbanization; Manitoba is the only Canadian province with over fifty-five percent of its population located in a single city.

Manitoba, lying midway between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. Of its more than 38,500 lakes, Lake Winnipeg is the 13th largest in the world. More than two-fifths of its land area is forested. Winnipeg, the seventh largest Canadian city, is the capital. The province's name comes from an Indian word meaning "the god who speaks". The province, with an area of 649,950 square kilometres (250,900 sq mi), has a largely continental climate, with thousands of lakes and many rivers. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other major industries are transportation, manufacturing, mining, forestry, energy, and tourism.

Manitoba has a moderately dry climate with sharp seasonal temperature changes. Temperatures of -40º F (-40º C) are not uncommon in any part of the province; summer days of 100º F (38º C) are not unusual in the southern regions.

Average daily temperatures at Winnipeg range from 9º F (-13º C) in January to 80º F (27º C) in July. Average lows vary from -9º F (-23º C) in January to 57º F (14º C) in July. Annual precipitation varies from 14 inches (355 millimetres) in the north to 22 inches (560 millimetres) in the southeast, with about two-thirds of it falling between May and September.

Manitoba has a range of resources to draw upon, allowing it to diversify its economic base. The province has more than 12 million acres (5 million hectares) of land in agricultural use, a huge network of streams, rivers, and lakes with considerable potential for irrigation and hydroelectric development, massive stands of timber, significant fish and game resources, and numerous mineral deposits, including nickel, copper, gold, lead, silver, cadmium, and zinc.

Manitoba's lakes cover approximately 14.5% or 94,241 km² of its surface area.

Manufacturing has overtaken agriculture as the largest sector of the province's economy. The traditional industries--meatpacking, flour milling, lumber, pulp and paper, printing, and clothing--have been supplemented by more advanced processing and manufacturing. Food processing and distilling remain important, as do nickel and copper ore smelting and the manufacture of aeronautical systems, computers, electrical equipment, and a variety of other products.

Winnipeg, once the commercial centre for western Canada, remains a major financial centre, home to the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange and other financial institutions. The growth of government services has also contributed to the expansion of the Manitoba service sector. Tourist travel grew steadily in the 1980s.

Because of its location, Manitoba has long been a focus for transportation activity. The construction of transcontinental railways after Manitoba joined the confederation stimulated much development in the region.

In outlying areas, branch lines are being abandoned as roads are built and passenger traffic declines. The province has an extensive network of major highways running east to west (including the Trans-Canada Highway) and north to south, supplemented by secondary gravel roads.

Winnipeg is a major hub for air travel; scheduled flights carry travelers to major Canadian centres and the United States, while nonscheduled operators provide service throughout isolated areas of Manitoba.

Churchill, a railway port and former military base on the shore of Hudson Bay, provides a short, direct sea route to Europe. The port is open for only 10 weeks in late summer, however. Waterborne freight traffic plies Lake Winnipeg in summer, and isolated northern communities and logging and mining camps are served by sled trains and vehicles designed for winter roads.

Manitoba derives its authority from the Canadian Constitution and the Manitoba Act of 1870. The lieutenant governor of Manitoba, appointed by the (federal) governor-general in council, represents the crown; the duties of this office are largely honorary and ceremonial. The functioning head of the government is the premier. The legislature sits for five years or until dissolved by executive action.

Municipalities are incorporated by the province, and local administration is under provincial control. Each municipality is governed by a council headed by a mayor or reeve. Districts are governed by provincial administrators, but there are no counties. Provincial policing is handled by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Elementary, secondary, technical, and vocational schools and universities are a provincial responsibility. Schools are administered by elected local or larger-unit boards under supervision of the Department of Education and are financed by government grants and local taxes. After French-speaking Manitobans fought for their linguistic rights, the availability of French as a language of instruction was reinstated.

Manitoba has three universities. The University of Manitoba in Winnipeg is the major academic institution and home to most professional schools. The University of Winnipeg, noted for its Institute of Urban Studies, is a major cultural centre in downtown Winnipeg. Brandon University is small but noted for its music school and native studies program. Vocational schools are based in Winnipeg, The Pas, and Brandon.

The people of Manitoba enjoy a relatively high standard of living and access to a wide range of government services. Sanitation and water-delivery systems protect against outbreaks of disease and are part of an extensive public health and safety service.

The province supervises medical and hospital insurance programs and provides all Manitobans with free medical insurance. Manitoba has an extensive hospital network, with most specialized services available in Winnipeg or in regional centres. The province also maintains a substantial social welfare infrastructure.

Manitobans have a reputation for supporting cultural agencies. Winnipeg is home to major artistic institutions: the internationally famous Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Rainbow Stage, Le Cercle Molière, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. A major centre in downtown Winnipeg houses a concert hall and planetarium.

Professional sport include the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League and the Winnipeg Jets NHL Hockey team. Curling is the premier winter sport. Other sports include ice hockey, baseball, cross-country skiing, fishing, and hunting. Manitoba has one national park, Riding Mountain, and numerous provincial parks.

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