Winnipeg Meets Nunavut.

I’ve written these pages now for almost 5 years, since fate smiled upon Darlene and I and we were whisked away to New York City. Over the years I’ve covered many topics before finding my voice and becoming a cheerleader for my adoptive home town of Winnipeg. As any blogger will undoubtedly tell you writing is only half the job of running a blog, the other portion includes reading vast amounts of other people’s work and striking up constructive friendships that help hone the craft.

One such friendship that I cultivated is with the author of I’ll Have Nunavut, a blog by Suzanne Parm-Etheridge and her husband Ian.  Two people adapting to life in Canada’s far north.  Imagine my surprise when I found out that Suzanne was coming to Winnipeg as part of a conference and would be staying less than 10 minutes from our home.

Suzanne and I with Darlene enjoying a nice evening stroll on Corydon Ave.

We met at the Forks Market where Suzanne stayed and journeyed out to UnBurger in Osborne Village.  Suzanne frequently commenting on Winnipeg’s beautiful parks and neighborhoods.  In return Darlene and I asked questions about the far northern reaches of Canada.  It was like we had been old friends for years.

From Osborne Village to Corydon Avenue the three of us strolled, enjoyed Italian Gelato and shared stories of our lives.  As the sun dipped below the horizon a starlight tour of Downtown Winnipeg seemed in order.   Suzanne loved the stories of old Winnipeg and really seemed to get a kick out of visiting Portage and Main, Winnipeg’s most famous intersection.

Darlene and Suzanne ham it up for the camera at Portage and Main.

Thanks for visiting Suzanne, I hope I didn’t bore you with my long-winded explanations and rambling stories.  It’s one thing to have made a friend though our writing but it’s an absolute joy to have met you in person.  Come back to Winnipeg anytime!

To wrap it up here’s a great song about Winnipeg by two hometown boys Randy Bachman and Neil Young with Prairie Town.

 

Bachman and Turner: Still Rollin’ Along

After an extended absence from the North American music scene Randy Bachman and Fred Turner are fresh out of the studio and back on the road after parting ways in the late 1970’s.   The bombastic pair from Winnipeg’s North End once formed the backbone of the guitar heavy rock group Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

Randy Bachman and Fred Turner (Photo - Dan Harper)

Winnipeg: City of Murals

For anyone who has driven down Portage Avenue or into the North End of Winnipeg can attest that this city is seemingly in love with murals.  Back from the early days when the city was the rail and farming hub of Western Canada businesses would paint the names of the company on the side of the building.

Todays murals tend to be in a more artistic vein sometimes promoting a business, showcasing Winnipeg culture, remembering our war veterans, or simply having fun.  The tone of the art also seems to vary from one part of the city to the next.

Winnipeg does have a very diverse set of neighbourhoods and from the rough and tumble North End to the post war housing of St. James.  The city grows out like rings on a tree every layer having its distinct flavour.

Aside from a little commentary on the photos I am going to let the murals do the bulk of the work in this post.  As they say a picture is worth a thousand words after all.

Downtown Winnipeg and the North End.

The Nutty Club Building.

The Nutty Club Man has been a fixture on the Downtown Winnipeg skyline for decades.  Home to the Nutty Club brand, since the 1930’s.