LGBTQ+ Facts
Winnipeg has been known as an inclusive and welcoming city for a long time. This fact should come as no surprise when this city’s most renowned landmark is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. In addition, its community has a long history of fighting for LGBTQ+ rights. This history traces back to the 1920s where there were some underground gay establishments. The University of Manitoba’s Manitoba Gay/Lesbian Archive’s Oral History Project recounts this time in history.
Winnipeg is home to a vibrant and diverse LGBTQ2 community, was the first North American city to elect an openly gay mayor (from 1998 to 2004). In addition, same-sex marriage has been legal in Manitoba since 2004 and was only the eighth jurisdiction worldwide that had done so.
Every year since 1987, Pride Winnipeg has taken place and celebrates this thriving community.
Mental Health in Winnipeg, Manitoba
According to Children First Canada (CIHI) data, many young people in Manitoba are struggling with their mental health. For example, 1,262 youth have been hospitalized over mental health concerns between 2016 to 2017. These numbers align with what is being recorded all over the country, with a 55 percent increase in the past decade for mental health hospitalizations of youth ages five to 24.
This report also discovered that suicide is the second leading cause of death for Canadians. In fact, Canada ranked in the top five countries for the most child suicide rates in the world.
If you know a youth in Winnipeg who would benefit from a psychologist for kids, be sure to check out our listings and LGBTQ and ALL. We have compiled a list of mental health practitioners that can help treat young people and talk to them about any concerns they might have in their lives.
Top Features for Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg is referred to as the “Gateway to the West” since it is a railway and transportation site with a mixed economy. This multicultural city also puts on various festivals every year, like the Festival du Voyageur, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Jazz Winnipeg Festival, the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, and Folklorama.
Other top attractions in Winnipeg include:
- The Forks Market
- The Winnipeg Art Gallery
- Assiniboine Park Zoo
- The Manitoba Museum
- Assiniboine Park
Facts
- Winnipeg was the first city globally to create the 911 emergency number.
- The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is the oldest dance company in Canada and the longest-running ballet company in North America.
- The Winnipeg Art Gallery features the most extensive collection of contemporary Inuit art worldwide.
History/Data
In 1873, Winnipeg was first incorporated as a city, with a population of 1,869 residents. Then, when the Canadian Pacific Railway started operating in 1885, it brought a 30-year long run of growth and prosperity in Canadian urban development.
When it comes to indigenous people and land, Winnipeg is found within Treaty No. 1 Territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinabe (Ojibway), Ininew (Cree), Oji-Cree, Dene, and Dakota. In addition, it is the Birthplace of the Métis Nation and the Heart of the Métis Nation Homeland.
In 2020, it was determined that the metro area population of Winnipeg was 817,000 residents, which was a 1.11% increase from 2019.