Manitoba by Bronwyn Gould
The beautiful Northern Lights
Manitoba Fun Facts
- Did you know that there are polar bears in Churchill?
- There are also beluga whales in Churchill.
- Did you know that Manitoba's Provincial flower is the prairie crocus? And its Provincial tree is the white spruce?
- Did you know that Manitoba is the most eastern prairie province?
- The name "Manitoba" means "strait of the spirit" or "lake of the prairies" and came from one of the First Nations languages
- Manitoba's nickname is the "keystone Province".
- Winnipeg is home to the golden boy - a golden statue on top of the Provincial Legislature Building.
- There is a street in Winnipeg named Valour Road because three of Canada's Victoria Cross recipients lived on the same block of that street: Frederick Hall, Leo Clarke and Robert Shankland all died fighting in World War I.
- Did you know that according to the Guinness Book of World Records, Winnipeg has the world's longest skating rink? In the winter, there is a rink at the Forks - which is where two of the biggest rivers in Manitoba - the Red River and the Assinaboine River - meet.
Manitoba History
The land that is now Manitoba was first lived in by First Nations people beginning thousands of years ago after the ice age glaciers were gone. French and English explorers and fur traders began arriving in Manitoba in the 1600s. The Hudson's Bay Company controlled Rupert's Land, which included the land that is now Manitoba. It sold Rupert's Land to the Government of Canada in 1869 and it was made part of the North-West Territories. Louis Riel, the Metis leader, thought the Government was ignoring his people and led the Red River Rebellion. His rebel government negotiated with the Government of Canada and Manitoba became a province of Canada in 1870. It was originally nicknamed the "Postage Stamp Province" because it was small and square and only 1/18th the size of the current Manitoba.
Manitoba, the Cities and Natural Resources
Manitoba's population is 1,230,270 (in 2010). Manitoba is located east of Ontario and west of Saskatchewan. It is 8th largest Province or Territory by land mass. Manitoba has over 110,000 lakes, making it the 5th largest Province or Territory by water mass. Manitoba is very cold in the winter. Did you know that Manitoba in winter gets below -40c?
Winnipeg is the capital of Manitoba, its largest city and the Province's political, economic and financial centre. With 697,274 people living there, Winnipeg has 60% of the Province's population. The 2nd largest city is Brandon (population 52,550) and the 3rd largest is Thompson (population 13,446). Brandon is an important centre for the agriculture that surrounds it, food processing and is a service centre. Thompson is important for Manitoba's mining business.
Manitoba's natural resources and how they play a part in our daily life are: wheat = flower; flax = food oil + linen; nickel = stainless steel; hogs = bacon, pork, ham + ribs; copper = wire for buildings and computers; hydro power = electricity.
Winnipeg is the capital of Manitoba, its largest city and the Province's political, economic and financial centre. With 697,274 people living there, Winnipeg has 60% of the Province's population. The 2nd largest city is Brandon (population 52,550) and the 3rd largest is Thompson (population 13,446). Brandon is an important centre for the agriculture that surrounds it, food processing and is a service centre. Thompson is important for Manitoba's mining business.
Manitoba's natural resources and how they play a part in our daily life are: wheat = flower; flax = food oil + linen; nickel = stainless steel; hogs = bacon, pork, ham + ribs; copper = wire for buildings and computers; hydro power = electricity.
Major Landforms
Manitoba's Major Landforms:
1. Canadian Shield
2. Manitoba prairie
3. Manitoba up lands
Manitoba is mostly flat prairie land, with some hills and small mountains in the southwest.
The Canadian Shield covers about half of Manitoba. That landscape is mostly flat plains and plateaus, covered by large areas of evergreen forests and crossed by rivers and many large lakes.
That Canadian Shield slopes gently to the northeast, where it flattens out into the Hudson Bay area, land covered by very thin soil, widely scattered forests and frozen tundra.
Manitoba's southwestern mountains include the Duck, Pembina and Porcupine ranges. The Duck Mountains include Manitoba's highest point, Baldy Mountain, 831 m (2,727 ft.)
Manitoba is covered by rivers and hundreds of lakes, especially in the central and south. Lake Winnipeg is the fifth-largest lake in Canada. Other major lakes include Cedar, Manitoba, Nueltin, Southern Indian and Winnipegosis.
Important rivers in Manitoba include the Assiniboine, Bloodvein, Churchill, Gods, Nelson, Poplar, Red, Souris and Wolverine. The Lake Winnipeg watershed drains north into the Nelson River, and on into Hudson Bay.
1. Canadian Shield
2. Manitoba prairie
3. Manitoba up lands
Manitoba is mostly flat prairie land, with some hills and small mountains in the southwest.
The Canadian Shield covers about half of Manitoba. That landscape is mostly flat plains and plateaus, covered by large areas of evergreen forests and crossed by rivers and many large lakes.
That Canadian Shield slopes gently to the northeast, where it flattens out into the Hudson Bay area, land covered by very thin soil, widely scattered forests and frozen tundra.
Manitoba's southwestern mountains include the Duck, Pembina and Porcupine ranges. The Duck Mountains include Manitoba's highest point, Baldy Mountain, 831 m (2,727 ft.)
Manitoba is covered by rivers and hundreds of lakes, especially in the central and south. Lake Winnipeg is the fifth-largest lake in Canada. Other major lakes include Cedar, Manitoba, Nueltin, Southern Indian and Winnipegosis.
Important rivers in Manitoba include the Assiniboine, Bloodvein, Churchill, Gods, Nelson, Poplar, Red, Souris and Wolverine. The Lake Winnipeg watershed drains north into the Nelson River, and on into Hudson Bay.
Manitoba Wildlife
Manitoba is a beautiful Province. Manitoba is known all over Canada for its amazing wild life. Manitoba's provincial bird is the Great Gray Owl. Manitoba has tons of animals. My favorite animal is the Polar Bear. I like the Polar Bears because they are amazing runners and they are amazing to watch. In Churchill you can see the Polar Bears running under the Northern Lights (the scientific name for it is Aurora Borealis).
Tourism Attractions
The top things to visit in Manitoba are the polar bears and beluga whales site in Churchill Manitoba. Another tourism attraction is Lake Winnipeg and the many other lakes and rivers where you can catch cat fish and pickerel. I even got to catch a 36 inch and 28 pound cat fish in the summer on the Red River. There are lots of Provincial and National parks and natural spots in Manitoba. There is also Lower Fort Garry which is a restored stone fort from the fur trade days. Also there is the Canadian Mint which is were they make all the money for Canada. And last but not least the final top tourism attraction is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights that is opening this year.
The top things to visit in Manitoba are the polar bears and beluga whales site in Churchill Manitoba. Another tourism attraction is Lake Winnipeg and the many other lakes and rivers where you can catch cat fish and pickerel. I even got to catch a 36 inch and 28 pound cat fish in the summer on the Red River. There are lots of Provincial and National parks and natural spots in Manitoba. There is also Lower Fort Garry which is a restored stone fort from the fur trade days. Also there is the Canadian Mint which is were they make all the money for Canada. And last but not least the final top tourism attraction is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights that is opening this year.
All About My Manitoba Family
My grandma grew up on a farm in a small town by Brandon Manitoba called Oak River. My grandpa grew up on a farm in a small town north of Brandon called Kenton. Both their families were farmers and originally came from the United Kingdom. My grandma was a teacher in one of the last one room school houses in the Province. My grandpa was a farmer and then he became a doctor. He still is one now. My dad grew up in Winnipeg Manitoba and he went to a school in Winnipeg called St Johns Ravenscourt. My cousins now go there too.
My grandma grew up on a farm in a small town by Brandon Manitoba called Oak River. My grandpa grew up on a farm in a small town north of Brandon called Kenton. Both their families were farmers and originally came from the United Kingdom. My grandma was a teacher in one of the last one room school houses in the Province. My grandpa was a farmer and then he became a doctor. He still is one now. My dad grew up in Winnipeg Manitoba and he went to a school in Winnipeg called St Johns Ravenscourt. My cousins now go there too.
Famous People from Manitoba
Many famous people were born in, raised in or achieved fame in Manitoba, including:
1. Terry Fox
2. Tommy Douglas, politician and father of Canada's healthcare
3. Neil Young, musician
4. Anna Paquin, actress
5. Carol Shields, writer
6. Louis Riel, Metis leader
7. Randy Bachman, musician
8. Chantel Kreviazuk, musician
9. Jonathan Toews, hockey player
10. Clara Hughes, Olympic cyclist and speedskater
11. Cindy Klassen, Olympic speedskater
12. Brett Hull, hockey player
13. Burton Cummings, musician
14. Miriam Toews, writer
15. Nia Vardalos, actress
16. Marshall McLuhan, writer and media visionary
17. Guy Maddin, director
18. Brian Williams, broadcaster
19. Nellie McClung, teacher and women's rights activist
20. Issy Asper, businessman
More Manitoba Pictures
Many famous people were born in, raised in or achieved fame in Manitoba, including:
1. Terry Fox
2. Tommy Douglas, politician and father of Canada's healthcare
3. Neil Young, musician
4. Anna Paquin, actress
5. Carol Shields, writer
6. Louis Riel, Metis leader
7. Randy Bachman, musician
8. Chantel Kreviazuk, musician
9. Jonathan Toews, hockey player
10. Clara Hughes, Olympic cyclist and speedskater
11. Cindy Klassen, Olympic speedskater
12. Brett Hull, hockey player
13. Burton Cummings, musician
14. Miriam Toews, writer
15. Nia Vardalos, actress
16. Marshall McLuhan, writer and media visionary
17. Guy Maddin, director
18. Brian Williams, broadcaster
19. Nellie McClung, teacher and women's rights activist
20. Issy Asper, businessman
More Manitoba Pictures