Transcona, Manitoba

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Transcona is a neighbourhood in Winnipeg, Manitoba, located about 6 miles (10 km) east of the downtown area. Until 1972 it was a separate municipality, having been incorporated first as the Town of Transcona in 1912 and as the City of Transcona in 1967. It is primarily a working class residential suburb with some light industry. To this day, many people in the rest of the city of Winnipeg and residents of Transcona refer to the area as if it were still a separate city, as it is somewhat isolated and quite distinct from the rest of Winnipeg.

Transcona was founded in 1909 as the site of the repair shops for the Grand Trunk Pacific and National Transcontinental Railways. Its name is derived from combining Transcontinental with Strathcona, the name of Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona, a former Manitoban who was instrumental in building Canada's first railway. Today the successor to these railways, Canadian National Railway, is still a major employer in the community.

Transcona is home to 30,255 residents as of the 2001 census (source Statistics Canada) and is continuing to expand. Though the majority of the area consists of houses built several decades ago, there are newer developments located in the east and northwest sections of the community including Canterbury Park, Kildonan Meadows, Lakeside Meadows and Mission Gardens. Transcona's future development is limited by the presence of the Red River Floodway and the Perimeter Highway located immediately to the east of the built-up area.

Three major community clubs and two indoor arenas can be found within the neighbourhood. Park City West, Oxford Heights, and East End Community Clubs organize a variety of recreational activities, while East End and Roland Michener arenas host most on-ice activities.

The neighbourhood is peppered with several elementary and middle schools, and 3 high schools; Transcona Collegiate Institute (TCI), Murdoch MacKay Collegiate, and the french-immersion Collège Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau--the first public building named after the former Prime Minister.

The neighbourhood has produced several minor celebrities, including sports commentator Rod Black, former MuchMusic on-air personality Bradford How and Paris Hilton look-alike Natalie Reid[1], as well as athletes Terry Fox and Olympic speed skater Susan Auch.

Transcona is also the home of Football Manitoba sports team the Transcona Nationals which has age groups ranging from 7 all the way to 21.

It is represented in the Canadian House of Commons by Bill Blaikie of the social democratic New Democratic Party and in the Manitoba Legislature by Daryl Reid, also of the NDP.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/H/Hilton_Paris/2006/08/02/1714484.html