Winnipeg’s new 311 inquiry service provides citizens the opportunity to ask questions about, or to request city services at their convenience. Customer Service Representatives (CSR’s) operate out of a contact centre right here in Winnipeg, and are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Inquiries from the public can be dealt with in both English and French.
Winnipeg experiences a continental climate characterized by four distinct seasons creating a variety of weather conditions throughout the year. Average temperatures range between -12 degrees Celsius (+10.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in the winter months to +26 degrees Celsius (+78.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summertime. Winnipeg receives over 2,300 hours of sunlight annually. Due to its northern location, Winnipeg residents enjoy up to 16 hours of sunlight daily during the summer months. Winnipeg’s averages approximately 51.4 centimetres (20.2 inches) of precipitation each year.
Source: Environment Canada
Winnipeg’s central location on the continent places it within North America’s Central Time Zone. The difference to Eastern Time and Mountain Time Zones is only one hour. There is a two-hour difference between Winnipeg and Atlantic or Pacific Time Zones. Manitoba observes Central Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 a.m. local time on the second Sunday in March when clocks move ahead one hour. At 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday in November, Manitoba clocks are turned back one hour and return to Standard Time.
The currency used in Winnipeg is the Canadian Dollar. Foreign currency exchanges can be made at all major banks: Royal Bank, Imperial Bank of Commerce, Scotia Bank, Toronto Dominion and Bank of Montreal.
English and French are Canada’s two official languages. Old St. Boniface/Winnipeg’s French Quarter is largely French-speaking. Many banks, hotels, airline offices, service institutions, shops and key tourist destinations have multilingual staff.
Canada follows the international metric system. Temperatures, rainfall measures, distance, weights and velocity are expressed in metric units.
Outlets and voltage (110 volts) are the same as in the United States. Small appliances such as hair dryers, irons, razors, etc. can be used in Canada. For those from other countries, adapters are required for electrical appliances. The frequency of electrical current in Canada is 60 Hz.
In Canada, the NTSC-system is used for television broadcasts. This system is not compatible with the PAL and SECAM systems used in Europe and in many other countries. If you purchase a videocassette in Canada, ensure it is recorded in the appropriate system for your video playback machine.
Personal – Travellers are advised to purchase their own personal, baggage and travel insurance before leaving home. If while visiting Winnipeg you require medical attention, regardless of financial status or coverage, hospitals in Winnipeg will not refuse treatment.
Automobile – Prior to visiting Canada, United States motorists should obtain a Canadian non-resident interprovincial motor vehicle liability insurance card from their insurance company. Possession of a card, properly filled out, is an indication that your insurance company has agreed to abide by the minimum limits of financial responsibility prevailing in Canada.
Effective June 1, 2008, the City of Winnipeg enacted the collection and remittance of a 5% tax on accommodations within Winnipeg.
With some specific exemptions, the accommodation tax is charged on all room or bed accommodations of less than thirty nights in the city of Winnipeg. The accommodation tax will apply to the purchase price of the accommodation with no deductions made for items that are “built into” the room charge, such as the use of a pool or continental breakfast, where those items are not available for purchase separately.
For more information on Winnipeg’s accommodation tax, go to the City of Winnipeg website at www.winnipeg.ca/tax/accommodation.
Goods and services purchased in Manitoba are subject to the Provincial Sales Tax (PST: 7%) and the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST: 5%).
As of April 2007, international visitors to Canada will no longer be eligible for a refund of the Goods and Services Tax or Sales Tax paid on accommodations and goods purchased during their visit.
Regular banking hours in Canada are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, with extended hours including weekends at some locations. Visitors who wish to cash cheques or require other banking services are advised to check times of operation with the institutions. Main branches of Canadian chartered banks, particularly in major centres, are equipped to exchange foreign currency as well. Most banks have automatic teller machines, which can be accessed 24 hours a day, using bank cards on major international banking networks such as Cirrus, Plus and Interac.
Most major credit cards are accepted, but visitors are always advised to check with the vendor before a purchase is made. Cash machines with 24-hour access are available in many convenient locations.
Some properties and resort hotels include tips or gratuities with group tours to simplify bookkeeping. This will usually include gratuities for housekeeping, bell and food service. If meals are included in the price, customary gratuity will be calculated at 15%. Visitors should be advised that the standard tip in most restaurants is also 15%.
Spirits, wine and beer are available at Manitoba Liquor Mart outlets. Domestic beer is also available from hotel vendors. Open liquor must not be transported in a vehicle unless stored in the trunk or space designed for baggage. The legal age for consumption of alcohol in Manitoba is 18 years. These laws are strictly enforced.
Manitoba’s impaired and suspended driving legislation is one of the toughest in Canada. Visitors from outside Manitoba, whether they are from another province, the United States, or a foreign country, are not exempt from these countermeasures. The operation of a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 or over or the refusal a “breathalyzer” or blood test, will result in the police seizing and suspending the driver’s license for three months. The suspension takes effect seven days after the incident. The operation of a motor vehicle while a driver’s license is suspended or prohibited, will result in the police immediately impounding the motor vehicle used to commit the offense from the roadside, for a period of 30 days
The use of seat belts, child restraints and motorcycle helmets is compulsory within the province of Manitoba. Right turns are allowed on red lights, unless otherwise posted. Left on red from one way to one way is allowed, unless otherwise posted.
Watch for no-parking signs and no-turn signs between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., and again between (3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. City of Winnipeg metered parking is in effect Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Free two-hour parking is available downtown, and where available, is noted on the meter. Privately metered parking extends past 5:00 pm and is noted on road signs or on the meter itself.
For the best navigation, use the route numbers and remember that avenues typically run east and west and streets are north and south, and numbers begin at the rivers.
Please note: The City of Winnipeg utilizes photo radar technology in an effort to reduce the incidences of red light running and speeding within the city limits. Signage is posted in all areas where camera enforcement is used.
The Winnipeg smoking by-law prohibits smoking in all enclosed public places including, but not limited to, restaurants, bars, lounges and private clubs. For more information, visit the City of Winnipeg website at www.winnipeg.ca. Several hotels in the city now provide a totally smoke-free environment, no longer allowing smoking anywhere on the premises, including guestrooms.
Louis Riel Day (February – provincial statutory holiday), Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday (closure includes banks and government offices), Victoria Day (first Monday in May preceding May 25), Canada Day (July 1), Civic Holiday (first Monday in August), Labour Day (first Monday in September), Thanksgiving Day (second Monday in October), Remembrance Day (November 11 – banks and government offices are closed, private companies close at their discretion), Christmas Day (December 25), Boxing Day (December 26), New Year’s Day (January 1).
The two major local daily newspapers in Winnipeg are the Winnipeg Free Press and the Winnipeg Sun. There is also the weekly local entertainment and culture newspaper Uptown, available for free at many of the tourist attractions as well as at Economic Development Winnipeg. As well, both The Globe and Mail and National Post provide national and international news on a daily basis.
Emergency mailboxes are available at 266 Graham Avenue. Rates are available from any post office or postal outlet.
Criminal occurrences may take place in Canadian cities, but are generally concentrated in areas that visitors are unlikely to frequent. travellers however, should remain vigilant and alert to their surroundings. It is recommended that all items of value be removed from the car or safely stored out of sight in the trunk. For emergencies only, call 911. For non-emergency police services, call 204-986-6222.
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