Winnipeg is the vibrant capital of Manitoba, the geographic center of Canada and North America. The metropolitan population is over 712,000 people of diverse backgrounds who bring an international, cosmopolitan flair to the city as well as a feeling of community. Winnipeg is home to more than 60 percent of Manitoba’s residents and the city continues to grow.
If you’ve never been to Winnipeg or if you have visited before, or even if you live here, you’ll find the Tell Me About Winnipeg area full of helpful background on the city. From where Winnipeg is located to the history of the city to our four-page Fast Facts, it’s all here!
Location
Winnipeg, located at the geographic centre of North America, is situated at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. It is the capital city of the province of Manitoba, which borders the provinces of Ontario to the east, Saskatchewan to the west, Nunavut to the north, and the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota to the south.
Its geographic location places the city on the eastern edge of the Canadian prairies, the northern extension of North America’s Great Plains region. The surrounding landscape is characterized by agricultural land utilized for grain production and livestock. In addition, the surrounding area also includes forests, marsh landscapes, and various lakes and rivers including Lake Winnipeg, the third largest lake in Canada and 13th in the world.
Its central location makes Winnipeg easily accessible by air, road, and railway. Via major airlines, Winnipeg is only two hours from the cities of Calgary, Edmonton, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Denver. For those traveling by road east/west, Winnipeg is conveniently located on Canada’s Trans-Canada Highway and Yellowhead Route. For those traveling to and from the United States, Winnipeg is only 97 km (60 miles) north of the Canada-U.S. border and connects directly with Interstate 29. Winnipeg is also accessible by railway as a destination along the “Canadian” route operated by VIA Rail Canada.
Winnipeg’s longitude and latitude coordinates are: 49 degrees 53 minutes 4 seconds North by 97 degrees 8 minutes 47 seconds West.
Time Zone
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. Starting in 2007, clocks move ahead one hour on the second Sunday in March and revert back one hour on the first Sunday in November.
Climate
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.
In terms of sunlight, 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 precipitation averages approximately 51.4 centimeters (20.2 inches) per year.
Currency
The currency used in Winnipeg is the Canadian Dollar.
In Winnipeg, foreign currency exchanges can be made at all major banks: Royal Bank, Imperial Bank of Commerce, Scotia Bank, Toronto Dominion, and Bank of Montreal.
Winnipeg Fast Facts
If you’re looking for quick information on everything from Winnipeg’s population to the number of hospitals or the cost of leasing commercial or industrial space, you’ll find it and more in our Fast Facts. A quick hit of information when you just want “the facts.”