Winnipeg arts and culture
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Winnipeg is well known across the prairies for its arts and culture.[1]
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[edit] Architecture
- See also: List of tallest buildings in Winnipeg
The Exchange District Historical site is the original site of commerce in Winnipeg. After the railways came to Winnipeg, this area was developed with many fine warehouses, offices and banks. Many of these buildings are still standing and are unrivalled in Canada.[2]
On September 27, 1997, the original core of the city of Winnipeg, the Exchange District, was declared a National Historic Site by the federal Minister of Canadian Heritage. The Historic Sites and Monuments board recommended that Winnipeg's Exchange District be designated an historic district of national significance because it illustrates the city's key role as a centre of grain and wholesale trade, finance and manufacturing in two historically important periods in western development: between 1880 and 1900 when Winnipeg became the gateway to Canada's West; and between 1900 and 1913, when the city's growth made it the region's metropolis.
Winnipeg's famous North End has spawned a variety of talented writers, artists and entertainers ranging from Monty Hall, famed host of Let's Make a Deal to Burton Cummings, singer from The Guess Who. The commercial main street of this neighbourhood, Selkirk Avenue, first saw development in the 1870s and its importance grew with a wave of immigration from Eastern Europe. The old country flavour of the neighbourhood still exists with a variety of boutiques, bakeries and butcher shops. This vibrant area also boasts 49 painted murals, each depicting a different multicultural and historical scene.
[edit] Media
- Newspapers
Winnipeg has two daily newspapers, the Winnipeg Free Press (a broadsheet) and the Winnipeg Sun (a tabloid), a widely distributed weekly student run newspaper The Manitoban from the University of Manitoba, and The Uniter from the University of Winnipeg. OutWords is the city's monthly gay-lesbian newspaper. There are also a number of smaller community papers distributed weekly by Canstar Community News: the Herald, the Lance, the Metro, the Headliner and the alternative newspaper Uptown.
- Magazines
There are two Winnipeg magazines published quarterly by Studio Publications. Winnipeg Women and Winnipeg Men magazines feature local individuals, businesses and services. There is also a monthly publication, known as Where Winnipeg, which includes travel information, upcoming events and reviews.
- Television stations
There are six English speaking stations and one French speaking station based in Winnipeg that supply free programming to the city. Most homes subscribe to cable through Shaw Communications, or digital television through MTS digital. There are also two satellite services available through Star Choice and Bell ExpressVu. Some homes use grey market satellite dishes to bring in signals from American satellite services.
Additionally, American network affiliates broadcasting from North Dakota are available over-the-air in many parts of Winnipeg and Southern Manitoba. WDAZ and KGFE/Prairie Public Television are the only stations that still air on cable from this region. From August 14, 1968 till March 1986, KXJB and KVLY (then known as KTHI) were available on Winnipeg's cable service. These channels were replaced by WDIV and WJBK from Detroit, with WJBK replaced by WTOL from Toledo in December 1994. WTVS (Detroit Public TV), is also available on cable. WCCO and KARE from Minneapolis replaced WDIV and WTOL on May 1, 1996, where they remain today. WUHF, the Fox-affiliate from Rochester, New York, has been available on cable since December 1994, despite a nearby Fox station, KNRR, in Pembina, North Dakota that can be viewed over-the-air in Winnipeg.
- Radio stations
Winnipeg is home to 25 AM and FM radio stations. The most popular station for many years has been CJOB, a talk-oriented station famous for its coverage of major storms and floods. After an absence of many years, Winnipeg is now home to several English (CJUM, CKUW, CKIC), and one French campus radio stations. NCI is devoted to Aboriginal programming and CKJS is to ethnic programming. CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two broadcast local and national programming. There are several rock, pop, and hot adult contemporary oriented stations and two country stations. Two Radio-Canada stations — CKSB as well as one community owned radio station, Envol 91FM, broadcast French programming.
[edit] Writers and Novelists
There have been many famous writer and novelists who have called Winnipeg home over the years. Some were born in Winnipeg, some raised in Winnipeg and some have re-located to Winnipeg. One of Canada's most important Francophone writers was Gabrielle Roy who was born in the St. Boniface neighborhood. Her books helped fuel the Quiet Revolution in Quebec. In her lifetime, she was awarded the Governor General's Award and in 1967, she became a Companion of the Order of Canada.
List of Winnipeg writers:
- Gabrielle Roy, Francophone writer
- A. E. van Vogt, science fiction writer
- Miriam Toews, writer of "A Complicated Kindness"
