The West End of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, is a mostly residential area just west of Downtown Winnipeg

Downtown Winnipeg

Downtown Winnipeg is centred around Portage Avenue and Main Street, and is bounded by the Assiniboine River on the south, Colony and Balmoral Streets on the west, Notre Dame Avenue, Princess Street, and Logan Avenue on the north, and the Red River on the east. It includes the Exchange District,...

. It is bordered by Route 62

Winnipeg Route 62

Route 62 is a major north-south arterial route in Winnipeg, Manitoba that has eight different street names.The official route begins on Salter Street in the city's North End; its northernmost point is often given on maps as the intersection of Salter Street and Redwood Avenue...

 (Osborne, Memorial, Colony, and Balmoral Streets) on the east and stretches as far west as St. James Street, the boundary between the old City of Winnipeg and St. James-Assiniboia

St. James-Assiniboia

St. James-Assiniboia is a major district in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Located in the far western part of the city, it is bounded on the north by the Rural Municipality of Rosser and the Canadian National Railway's Oak Point line, on the south by the Assiniboine River, on the west by the Rural...

. The southern boundary is the Assiniboine River

Assiniboine River

The Assiniboine River is a river that runs through the prairies of Western Canada in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is a tributary of the Red River. The Assiniboine is a typical meandering river with a single main channel embanked within a flat, shallow valley in some places and a steep valley in...

 and the northern boundary is Notre Dame Avenue. It includes the neighbourhoods of West Broadway, Armstrong's Point, Spence, Wolseley

Wolseley, Manitoba

Wolseley is a residential area in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, located in the west central part of the city. It is named for Field Marshal Sir Garnet Wolseley, a British Army officer who came to Manitoba in 1870 to suppress the Red River Rebellion.-History:...

, St. Matthews, Daniel McIntyre, Sargent Park, and Minto.

Demographics

The area is very ethnically diverse as is evidenced by the Portuguese

Portuguese cuisine

Portuguese cuisine is characterised by rich, filling and full-flavored dishes and is closely related to Mediterranean cuisine. The influence of Portugal's former colonial possessions is also notable, especially in the wide variety of spices used. These spices include piri piri and black pepper, as...

, Greek, Vietnamese, Chinese

Chinese cuisine

Chinese cuisine is any of several styles originating in the regions of China, some of which have become highly popular in other parts of the world – from Asia to the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and Southern Africa...

, East Indian

Indian cuisine

Indian cuisine consists of thousands of regional cuisines which date back thousands of years. The dishes of India are characterised by the extensive use of various Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruit. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society...

 and Thai restaurants that line both Ellice and Sargent Avenues. Historically the area was home to large German, Scandinavian, and Icelandic communities, though these groups are less predominant now. Visible minorities comprise about 29% of the total population and Aboriginals

Aboriginal peoples in Canada

Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....

 approximately 13%. As of the 2001 Census, the population was 35,500, which represents a decline of over 23% from the 1971 pre-Unicity figure of 46,320.

History

The area was originally a part of the Parish

Parish

A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...

 of St. James until the boundary of the City of Winnipeg was extended to St. James Street from Maryland Street (formerly Boundary Road) in 1882. Development of the area as a working and middle class residential area began in the late 19th century and continued through the 1920s until the area was completely built up. The area developed rapidly due to its proximity to Downtown Winnipeg, and, unlike Winnipeg's North End

North End, Winnipeg, Manitoba

- Overview :The North End is a large area located to the North and Northwest of Downtown Winnipeg. It is bordered by the Red River on the east, the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline on the south, the City of Winnipeg boundary on the west and Jefferson Avenue, Keewatin Street, Carruthers Avenue,...

, the mainline of the Canadian Pacific Railway

Canadian Pacific Railway

The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...

 did not impose a physical barrier between the West End and Downtown. This fact, while it enhanced the area's reputation, retarded the development of a strong sense of community, and the West End is today much less well-known outside of Winnipeg than the North End. The area was also well served by the city's street railway system with lines on Portage Avenue, Sargent Avenue, Sherbrook Street, and Arlington Street. The industrial area located adjacent to the railway spur

Spur

A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids and to back up the natural aids . The spur is used in every equestrian discipline...

 between Wall and Erin Streets provided employment for many West End residents.

The West End was considered Ward Two in the Old City of Winnipeg and was seen as the "swing riding" between the affluent and conservative

Conservatism

Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...

 Ward One and overwhelmingly socialist Ward Three, which comprised the North End and Elmwood

Elmwood

-Places:Canada*Elmwood, Winnipeg, Manitoba*Elmwood , provincial electoral district in Manitoba*Elmwood—Transcona, federal electoral district in Manitoba*Elmwood, a community in West Grey, Ontario*Elmwood, Edmonton, Edmonton, Alberta...

.

Valour Road

Valour Road

Valour Road is a street in the West End of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was originally called Pine Street. In 1925, it was renamed as Valour Road in recognition of the courage of three young men who all lived on the 700 block of the street and all served in the First World War...

, the residence of three recipients of the Victoria Cross

Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....

 in World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, is located in the West End.

The area began a steady decline in the years following World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 as many of the more affluent families moved to Winnipeg's suburbs and much of the housing stock was converted to rooming houses and became dilapidated. Since the 1970s, parts of the area, particularly the neighbourhoods east of Arlington Street have been marked by crime. The majority of the properties in these areas are rentals with a transient population, and in the last decade prostitution has become a serious problem. Poverty

Poverty

Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...

 is a serious problem in this part of the West End. The West Broadway neighbourhood is the poorest in the entire City of Winnipeg with an average household income of $20,923, just 40% of the average for the city, and a home ownership rate of only 6%.

Since the 1980s, attempts to revitalize these neighbourhoods have been made. Numerous urban beautification projects have been undertaken and in 1987, The West End Cultural Centre was founded in an old church at Ellice Avenue and Sherbrook Street. The venue attracts 30,000 people a year to various events, mostly musical shows. The importance of a healthy and vibrant West End to the future success of Downtown Winnipeg has also been recognized.

In contrast, Wolseley, Sargent Park, and Minto

Minto

-Places:Antarctica*Mount Minto Australia*Minto, New South WalesCanada*Minto , a provincial electoral division in Manitoba*Minto, Manitoba, a community located in the Rural Municipality of Whitewater.*Minto, New Brunswick...

 have experienced somewhat of a renaissance in recent years and are again seen as desirable residential locations. These areas have experienced rapid increases in property values in the last decade; in many cases values have doubled, or even tripled. Historic Armstrong's Point, with its curving, tree-lined streets, and early 20th century mansions, is one of Winnipeg's most affluent neighbourhoods, with an average household income in 2001 of $102,214. Ironically, this neighbourhood is located directly to the south of West Broadway; the contrast could not be more extreme.

Amenities

The commercial area around Polo Park

Polo Park

Polo Park is Winnipeg's largest retail and entertainment district. It is the largest mall out of the eight malls in the city. Situated on the former Polo Park Racetrack, the Polo Park Mall was built in 1959. It was the first enclosed shopping mall in Winnipeg when a roof was added in 1963...

 Shopping Centre has expanded rapidly beginning in the 1990s with the building of dozens of big-box retail outlets, restaurants, and a major hotel. It has now supplanted Downtown Winnipeg as the city's main commercial area. The West End was home to the Winnipeg Arena

Winnipeg Arena

Winnipeg Arena was an indoor arena located at 1430 Maroons Road in Winnipeg, Manitoba, across the street from Canad Inns Stadium and just north of Polo Park.Built in 1955, it was owned by community-owned Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation...

 until is demolition in 2006 due to the construction of the MTS Centre

MTS Centre

The MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...

.

Attractions in the area include, the University of Winnipeg

University of Winnipeg

The University of Winnipeg is a public university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and theology as well as graduate programs. The U of W's founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged...

, Vimy Ridge Memorial Park, Omand's Creek

Omand's Creek

Omand's Creek runs throughout Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Its surroundings vary, from prairie to box stores. It also runs through Omand Park in the Wolseley area, into the Assiniboine River.-Events:...

 and Park, Canad Inns Stadium

Canad Inns Stadium

Canad Inns Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located north of Polo Park Shopping Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Stadium, named for hotel chain Canad Inns, and originally completed in 1953, seats 29,533 for football...

, Westview Park, and the Sargent Park Recreation Complex, as well as many houses, apartment buildings, schools, and an armoury with significant architectural merit. Portage Avenue is the site in the summer months of the "Sunday Night Cruise" by automobile enthusiasts, which while delighting the participants, raises the ire of many West End residents due to the noise, and the all too frequent practice of drag racing

Drag racing

Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....

.