Whyte Ridge is a residential subdivision of approximately 1500 homes in the southwest corner of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The subdivision was built on former farmland, just south of a small townsite that was historically known as Fort Whyte. The first homes in the subdivision were constructed in 1986. The final homes in the subdivision were constructed in 2007.
The name of the neighbourhood was derived from William Whyte, who led a "bloodless battle" over railway rights in 1888 on land that is adjacent to the neighbourhood.[1]
Subsequent to the battle of Fort Whyte, a small townsite called "Fort Whyte" appeared, which included a few dozen homes and a grain elevator. The grain elevator was disassembled in the 1980s, but the original homes of the townsite are still found in Whyte Ridge along McGillivray Boulevard, just to the north of the newer subdivision. Residents of these older homes are considered to be a part of Whyte Ridge, and are part of the Whyte Ridge Community Centre catchment region (as are residents of the small subdivision called Linden Ridge, found to the East of Whyte Ridge across Kenaston Boulevard).
Two large man-made lakes were excavated for the development and a ridge was created from the earth that was removed. The lakes are simply named East Lake and West Lake. While no fish have been stocked in either lake, because they drain out to the Red River through underground pipes, fish have made their way into the lakes. Brown Bullhead, Carp and Northern Pike are some of the species of fish that have been identified in the lakes. The lakes are also a popular hangout for Canada Geese, Pelicans, Mallard Ducks, Coots, and assorted other foul, many of which come to Whyte Ridge from the nearby FortWhyte Alive Wildlife Centre.
The neighbourhood contains an elementary school (kindergarten to Grade 4) called Whyte Ridge School, and a middle school (Grades 5-9) called Henry G. Izaat ("HGI") School. Both schools are found on Scurfield Boulevard. Both schools have full sized soccer fields and basketball hoops which are used by the community. In addition, HGI sports a softball diamond on its grounds.
Whyte Ridge has a community centre located on Fleetwood Road. It currently contains a clubhouse, toboggan slide, full sized soccer field, tyke sized soccer field, outdoor basketball court and outdoor hockey rink, along with two parking lots. Further development of the community centre site is in the planning stages.
The neighbourhood has five playgrounds. One is found adjacent to the community centre on Cloverwood Road, one is found near HGI School adjacent to the Softball Diamond, two are found at Whyte Ridge Elementary School, and one is found to the South of the East Lake, on Columbia Drive.
The neighbourhood currently has one church, namely the Whyte Ridge Baptist church on Scurfield Boulevard at Apple Hill Road. The Whyte Ridge Baptist church congregation has bought land north of Whyte Ridge on McGillivray Boulevard, where a larger church is planned. In addition, St. Gianna's Catholic Church is being planned on vacant land that borders McGillivray Boulevard, Columbia Drive and Scurfield Boulevard. Lastly, a Presbityrian church is planned next door to St. Gianna's on McGillivray Boulevard. There is no estimated time of construction for any of these churches.
Adjacent to the neighbourhood but within the geographic area of the subdivision are two gas stations. A Shell station and convenience store is located at the corner of Scurfield Boulevard and Kenaston Boulevard. A Petro-Canada gas station, convenience store and A&W Drive-through restaurant is located at McGillivray Boulevard and Kenaston Boulevard. In addition, next to the Petro-Canada station is a 12 screen Cinema City second run movie theatre which borders Columbia Drive and Scurfield Boulevard.
Just outside of the subdivision's limits are several retailers and restaurants located in at least four distinct retail developments (Kenaston Crossing, Kenaston Common, Linden Ridge Mall and Whyte Ridge Mall). Among the anchor tenants at these malls are Wal-mart, Canadian Tire, Safeway, Costco and Sobeys. The malls also contain several smaller stores, a dozen restaurants, and several financial services and insurance broker offices.
Whyte Ridge residents of note include World Champion curler Cathy Overton-Clapham.
| Tuxedo | ||||
| Oak Bluff, Manitoba | Fort Garry Industrial | |||
| Whyte Ridge | ||||
| Waverley West |
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