Why Winnipeg
LOCATION:
Winnipeg lies at the geographic centre of North America. Winnipeg is the capital city of Manitoba, a resource-rich province of 1.2 million people bordered by Ontario to the east, Saskatchewan to the west, and North Dakota and Minnesota to the south. The city is just 100 km (62 miles) from the United States border and is the major Canadian centre closest to Mexico. (Click Here for Map)
DIVERSITY
Winnipeg has the most diverse economy of major cities in Canada. Key industries include:
- Transportation and distribution;
- Aerospace;
- Agri-business;
- Finance and insurance;
- Life sciences and biotechnology;
- Information and communications technology;
- Media and tourism
- Electric power;
- Apparel;
- Furniture and advanced manufacturing.
Winnipeg is also one of the most culturally diverse cities anywhere. Some 100 languages are represented in the region and Winnipeg is well known for its cultural achievements and flourishing arts scene.
PERFORMANCE:
- Higher expectations for Winnipeg’s economic performance has been attributed to positive changes in Winnipeg’s manufacturing sector, which has stabilized and is now showing signs of growth.
- During the third quarter of 2011, Winnipeg’s labour force grew by 1.8% over the same period last year and employment remained stable, growing at the same rate.
- Winnipeg’s employment situation continues to surpass the national average with an average unemployment rate of 5.7% in the third quarter, compared with the national average of 7.5%.
- For 2012, the Conference Board is projecting employment will grow by 2.0% with job gains expected in the manufacturing sector and in residential construction
- The Manitoba Bureau of Statistics reported Manitoba exports grew 51.3% within the third quarter of 2011; on a year-to-date basis, exports improved 26.7% over 2010.
(Click Here for CMHC’s Housing Now 2012 report)
(Click Here for CMHC's Manitoba Rental Highlights)
(Click Here for a Real Estate News 2012 Article)
GROWTH:
Winnipeg’s downtown core is undergoing a dynamic renaissance. Over $900 million has been invested in, or committed to, 140 projects in Winnipeg in recent years.
Several projects in the areas of research and biotechnology have contributed to Winnipeg’s growth, these include:
- The Smartpark at the University of Manitoba which houses an incubation centre for life sciences technology and the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals
- A $3 million breast cancer research facility by CancerCare Manitoba
- A $11 million Centre for Commercialization of Biomedical Technology located at the National Research Centre’s Institute for Biodiagnostics
- A multi-million dollar expansion of Cangene Corporation, a leader in specialty hyperimmune plasma and biotechnology products
- A $28 million expansion of Biovail Corporation’s Steinbach facility, to accommodate the company’s new biopharmaceutical products