Winnipeg

Winnipeg is a major Canadian city, and the capital as well as the largest city of the province of Manitoba. Located in Western Canada, near where the Canadian Shield meets the Prairies, Winnipeg plays a prominent role in transportation, finance, manufacturing, agriculture and education. It is known as the Gateway to the West, and was historically known as the "Bullseye of the Dominion" and "Heart of the Continent", due to its critical location on the Canadian transportation network. It is also known to many as "the Peg". The city is located near the geographic centre of North America. It lies in a flood plain at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers and started around the point now commonly known as The Forks. It is protected from flooding by the Red River Floodway. It is by far Manitoba's largest city with a population of 619,544 people (2001 Canadian Census). The Winnipeg Census Metropolitan Area (which includes Winnipeg and surrounding rural municipalities) has a population of 706,900 (Statistics Canada, July 1, 2005 estimate). Area Code: 204