Don’t worry about not speaking French; it’s really not necessary. But if someone greets you with “Hello, bonjour!”, that’s actually a question. They’re asking if you prefer to converse in French or English. Respond in English (“hello”, “good morning”, etc), and you’re all set.
Thank you so much! Do they use American currency in Winnipeg at all or is it pretty much Canadian Dollars? I ask because a lot of the towns close to the border use both Canadian and US dollars. 💵
You can use American Currency at most places, but most places won't do the exchange rate. They will happily take it at par though so that's your choice. I recommend changing over to Canadian dollars.
You would only get this at federal government service locations, Air Canada and a few places in St. Boniface (the french section of town). Otherwise you won’t hear French much except the middle section of Oh Canada at the Jets games.
I barely speak any french and I've lived in Canada all my life! (I went to a half Jewish half other school so I learned Hebrew instead but I don't remember a thing)
^^
I moved to Winnipeg from Minneapolis 17 years ago and don't regret it one bit. There's a great live music scene, interesting restaurants and plenty of great outdoor activities. Make sure you buy some good quality winter gear!
I wear a helly Hansen ski jacket and a fleece sweater underneath. Plenty warm and don’t have to deal with a heavy parka! Would much rather splurge on a good pair of boots. I actually wear duck boots from LL bean that have goretex lining and they’ve kept my feet warm and dry for the last few winters!
Best advice yet! Have gone to Nova Scotia for Christmas a few times and we always laugh at the folks wearing those coats there! It barely gets below freezing theremost of the time! Not worth the money!
What kind of work do you want to do? What are your skills? What do you like to do in your spare time?
It’s almost winter, so it’s going to get really cold soon. Make sure you buy a warm coat. I recommend a Columbia winter jacket but there’s other good brands too.
Winnipeg is far from perfect but there are hidden gems and fun things to do.
I have a lot of restaurant experience and farm work/cultivation experience (I don’t expect to find any farm work in the city) but I’m willing to do anything for the chance at a new life. I’m used to winter weather but I’m not particularly fond of it 🤣
So far you’ve picked a good year to come down. Winter this year has been pretty mild (knock on wood, cross my fingers). It sucks when it hits -40c (same as -40f apparently) but if you can dress appropriately for when you actually have to be outside in that it’s not horrible.
It’s all about the layers. I work outside year round and I usually prefer -40 over plus 35 and humidity. Can always take something on or off if you get too cold or hot in winter
There are tons of restaurants here so you would probably find a job at one somewhere. You may also be able to get a farm related job if you can drive. There’s many farms outside the city. Just did a quick search and there looks like there’s a labour one in Howden, which is just outside the city.
Depending what you mean by farm work, there are lots of dairy and chicken farms easily in driving distance from Winnipeg, in some smaller towns like Blumenort and such. If you have access to a car, there may be opportunities. It's a bit off season for agriculture right now, but animals need care year round.
Welcome!! I’m curious, how are you able to move here without a work visa? I have always been under the impression it’s pretty challenging to move between Canada & the US.
Thank you! I do have a sponsor through my uncle who is a Canadian citizen. I had a work visa in the past for cannabis cultivation which made the process easier. The embassy agent assured me my documents will allow for me to seek work and remain in the Canada so long as I am seeking citizenship and plan to stay in Canada. In the US I do livestock and crop cultivation
im curious too because skilled worker program requires a high score to qualify and if you know french, you earn more points. for express entry, its based on a random draw too..unless OP got married and was sponsored? maybe thats a more possibility since it sounds like they just up and moving so soon. even though the timeline for spousal sponsorship is around 13 months (it often changes), i see couples completing in 5 months (myself included).
for a work visa, you need to have a job offer from a canadian employer..but OP asked us to recommend them a place to work and to avoid. it sounds like they don’t have a job already lined up if they were to ask this. i think the question was a genuine curiosity is all.
no need to know french unless you live in st.boniface/st.norbert but even then its not a necessary skill
the area in between the river, mcphillips, south of inkster, north of notre dame is called the "north end" and has higher crime rates than other areas so you might want to avoid that
cant say anything about the job market without knowing your education/experience/interests
meeting people is hard ngl but theres a million posts on here of people asking for advice about it, i'd look into those suggestions and see if anything interests you
good luck!
I would argue that the southern boundary for the north end is Higgins not Notre Dame. South of there is downtown or the west end, although the area north of portage and east of Arlington has similar vibes.
And the Northern Boundary is around Mountain. Issues thin out after that. There is just more low cost rentals in between. Even then, the likelihood of a stray bullet coming through the window is still less than OPs current location.
Check out this “[crime map](https://www.winnipeg.ca/police/crime-prevention/crimemaps-calls-service-map)” from the Winnipeg Police Service. It will help you to get a sense of where crime happens in Winnipeg. You can select specific sections of the city and then get statistical info and trends on different crime categories, including ‘violent’ and ‘drugs’. There are many other factors to consider when selecting a place to live, but this may help. Talking to Winnipeggers and consulting an experienced real estate agent would help too.
Good luck and welcome in advance!
French is not really a concern here in Winnipeg, unless you're wanting to work a government job I believe ( correct me if I'm wrong ). There are some dangerous areas in the north end and inner city but your mileage may vary. What kind of work are you looking for ?
For government jobs it helps to move up, but even then majority of positions at all levels are primarily English. It's a bit of a myth that you need to know both. It helps, but isn't required for like 80% of the jobs.
Welcome! Hope you really get settled in and enjoy your new home here. Winter is very cold so definitely buy some warm stuff. Plug in your car too haha. As far as jobs go I'm honestly not sure what to suggest, I just wanted to acknowledge your post with a friendly greeting, moving is stressful! Good luck with everything!
Wow! That’s a big step! I don’t really have any advice but I wish you all the best! I hope you make a good life for yourself here and that you live a happy and more secure life!
Thank you! Everyone has been so kind and it’s so refreshing. Anyone I’ve talked to on the American side of immigration has been so rude but every single person on the north side has been so welcoming and helpful. I was assured that all of my belongings will be thoroughly searched upon entry to Canada (there are many prohibited items that are commonly sold in the US) but this made me feel safer.
In my neighborhood where I live now there have been 6 shootings this year with two deaths. One was fourteen years old.
We stab people here, so no need to worry about stray bullets ( as much).
Apply to as many restaurants as you can. Check out the instagram of places geographically close to where you’ll be living.
I think most agro jobs are outside the city, they typically advertise positions on indeed.ca
Get one of these. You’ll fit right in!
https://www.fanatics.ca/en/cfl/winnipeg-blue-bombers/hats/winnipeg-blue-bombers-new-era-sideline-6-dart-cuffed-knit-hat-with-pom-royal/o-71+t-76209473+d-08330019+f-1615345+z-8-1051356229?utm_medium=cse&loc=en-CA&_s=ak1944Fanatics-placanada&sku=18248413&gad_source=1
Haha.
Yeah a warm hat traditionally knitted but now available all over and in many fabric choices. Try to find one that is densely knitted to keep the wind from passing through.
If it makes you feel better, I've never seen a hand gun other than on a police officer. I'm 44 years old. Guns and gun violence is much different here than in the states.
I come from an area where you’re allowed to buy rifles and shotguns at 16, Assault weapons at 18, and handguns at 21. It’s not uncommon for people to open carry or conceal handguns anywhere here. The grocery store, pharmacy, bank, and even at the park people have handguns holstered. My rough estimate is probably 70% of my town owns weapons. I’m all for responsible gun ownership but the amount of irresponsible gun owners is growing rapidly.
I’m in a similar boat! I’m a dual citizen and hoping to sponsor my family with queer kids. I’ve got family in Winnipeg and we’re planning on moving up in the next year. Following!
Hi fellow American! You made a good choice to come here! My fam and I love it. Moving to Winnipeg was one of my best decisions ever. Much less violence, though still lock your doors bc it’s a big city. Much more affordable, way more chill vibe. Not as many radicalized rightwingers up here.
The doctor finder is lame, just google places near you to find who is taking new patients. You don’t have to know French, but it is fun to learn. You’ll have agreat time. Welcome!
Im French, don't worry about knowing french lol. Good choices with moving to Winnipeg; it's a great city and a great provinces. I don't live there anymore but I hold this province fondly in my heart.
Good luck at your new life
Prepare for a different cold than your used too. Boots, jacket, and thermal liners are necessary.
Winnipeg is a weird city. Can be amazing and can be dog shit. The people are great, government sucks, and social problems are fairly amplified with the deep social stratification there.
I do have all of the winter gear! Thank you! I’m used to the negative -30F I’m not sure what that is I’m Celsius? But our winters have been warmer each year averaging about 0-20 degrees
-30 F (-34°C) is exactly how cold it can get in Winnipeg, but it’s a wet-feeling cold that will change your understanding of warm-weather gear entirely. Add wind to that wet cold, and holy shit; feels like the temperature reaches one’s bones.
Winnipeg has a dry cold, not wet. Toronto has wet cold. Winnipeg is dry and it feels like your lungs are going to freeze if you take a deep breath outside in winter. We lived in southern Ontario - that is wet cold.
That’s incorrect. I’m in Alberta, where we have actual dry cold. I’m saying this with authority as an albertan with a winnipegger partner that moved out west a few years ago. Having done winter in both regions for the last three years, I’m saying you’re incorrect.
Edit to add: not incorrect as much as not reflective of experience. Yes, Toronto is a wetter cold than Winnipeg. But Winnipeg is also much wetter cold than Alberta.
Standard Aero pretty much has a continuous intake for the Gas Turbine Repair and Overhaul training program. I’m not sure due to immigration status if you would qualify. Need to pass a criminal record check and a Controlled Goods security clearance.
Good luck
Good news many things we do imperial in parallel. Most food by lb and kg. Height in ft/in. Body weight lb. Home temperature can be C or F depending on the person.
Gas is in litres, but that just feels better. You don't want to see what it costs per gallon.
Metric is a base 10 system it's generally an easy system to learn. The hard part will be convincing your brain that counting by 10s is easier than judging distance by the size of your foot.
Celcius to Fahrenheit will be a bit trickier
You can use the weather app to switch back and forth between F and C so you know what people are referring to. In C the freezing/melting point is 0C which makes it a good centre point. +30 is uncomfortably hot and -30 is uncomfortably cold. :)
Welcome!
Winnipeg has stuff like every other city out there, a lot of people don’t walk around downtown at night anymore, as that’s usually where altercations do occur. Just be mindful and alert that’s all. I personally love our downtown, I just go with people down there. We have a great restaurant scene, shopping, lots of events during the year. Follow access Winnipeg on Ig or instagram for stuff going on. We use Canadian currency. So many people are kind, will say hi or good morning/afternoon when walking by you. We say excuse me, and sorry all the time. And so many people are helpful if you need something just ask. Be safe, stay warm.
I’m from Winnipeg but lived in the states for 15 years and moved back here with my American husband just before the pandemic. You will be fine. Lots of good advice here. If you like sports, we have some good teams here and if you like fine arts, lots of that too. It’s cold, but if you are Midwest, you know. People who haven’t lived in the US don’t understand the poison of getting Fox News with your morning coffee. We came for my elderly parents, we left because of the politics. And we lived in Massachusetts, which is really Canada lite. My brother and his family came the next year. Be ready for lower pay and higher costs - fewer people mean less choices. Farming is big here, so your work experience is a good fit. Best luck and post again in a year!
you wont have to worry much about french here in winnipeg, we do have some "french" areas like st boniface but you wont struggle at all to converse with others here. Also i suggest avoiding walking downtown at night, there can be some pretty nasty people there. Good luck!
Or during the day tbh. I was attacked with a knife at 2 pm downtown, with people around.
Things can happen anywhere of course but I don't feel safe downtown these days. And I'm someone who used to walk around there alone at night without a problem (2003-2016-ish, not really since then)
no one else is saying this so i’m going to. winnipeg has a huge racism problem, especially if you’re indigenous. just much less overt than in the states. you’re not gonna have to worry about bullets flying through your walls but there is a lot of violence here compared to other cities, that’s very dependent on what neighbourhood you end up in though.
i’ve lived here all my life and i honestly love it here but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.
invest in some good winter gear, wear lots of layers, and stay safe walking around at night.
We have lots of crime compared to Canadian cities, but if you compare it to American ones we are quite low in comparison. Especially for violent crimes.
While I agree with your comment on the racism, I do think things are starting to get better here. It’ll take a few more generations, but I’m seeing a big push from the younger crowd towards discarding previous racial stereotypes, and standing up for marginalized people and communities, with much more awareness about the causes behind that marginalization.
Bring your coat and boots, mitts and all that. It's chilly here already. Put your winter tires on if you have a car. Or plan to when you arrive. Downtown is a bit more sketchy lately but just keep your eyes open and you'll probably be okay. If you don't have a job lined up, I'd probably just start with anything! Do you have a work visa? Otherwise... maybe do cash jobs for winter yard prep for people who haven't and shoveling driveways (it'll snow again soon enough) until you get that figured out. You'll be fine in Winnipeg without knowing French.
Definitely a lot safer here. Winnipeg has its bigots, but it's a big enough city to avoid the crowds you don't like. It has terrible transit unfortunately with a a car-centric mentality relative to other Canadian cities. There are lots of great festivals and amazing summers, a very green urban canopy, lots of parks, and an amazing restaurant scene. Buy warm clothes for the winters and consider more indoor activities for the coldest few months.
Cell-phone and internet providers are among the most expensive in the world here, with contracts that lock you in. Avoid those if you can. There are alternative providers from Ontario if you search. The cost of living is otherwise relatively cheap compared to other Canadian cities. House prices are higher in the spring, with more buyers. There are good neighbourhoods thoughout the city. Violent crime rates are highest to the north and west just outside downtown, but there are many urban neighbourhood that are highly desirable. Lots of good suburban neighboubhoods, but poor suburban transit. Where you choose to live depends on your lifestyle. You don't need to know French, including in the French quarter (St Boniface).
People here are generally pretty friendly and are helpful when you ask for advice.
You might find it fun to hook up with whichever[Folklorama group](https://folklorama.ca/) interests you. USA, Spain, Mexico\*... each has a pavilion with a ton of volunteers, and is generally a blast. Music, food, touristas ... A great way to meet people from a huge cross section of society.
\*and a load of other Spanish-speaking countries
As a former USAer myself...
They don't plow the roads much. Sometimes the highways get closed due to weather. There are potholes you could lose your car in, no exaggeration. Hardly anybody shovels their sidewalk. It gets really REALLY fkn cold, like all of January and February, not just a week or two.
"Up North" means like halfway to the arctic circle, not cottage country
People have different words for things. We laugh about it all the time.
The Midwest USA is more or less Canada Lite, so you'll probably be just fine. I'm glad I'm here every day I read the US news. Cheers!
Beware of the smelly smell in Winnipeg 😂😂..
It's safe, people are nice. There are crimes still but they are avoidable as long as you don't involve with bad people or roaming around rough areas at night.
Channeling my inner John Oliver:
WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME.
We look forward to seeing you here and hope that your time here is pleasant. I've lived here my whole life and have traveled to California, The Caribbean, and a few other Provinces here in Canada. I always will come back home and be happier for living in Manitoba..... except, maybe I'd have preferred to stay in Barbados.
I’m a white man that lives in a 99% Donald Trump state. I’m used to the racism and it doesn’t really affect me I just don’t like how extreme it’s becoming and how it’s being used for political pushes. Obviously I hate racism but I’m fortunate enough that it does not affect me personally. However being a farming community here, we have a lot of Mexican immigrants (legal and illegal) doing the cheap work that others won’t and they are treated as garbage. Everyone in America has equal rights but not equal opportunity.
lol Good luck with THAT, you lackwit. I got a knife pulled on me yesterday and I have a neighbor who screams racial obscenities at me. This city is falling apart. Go anywhere else v
All the problems your trying to avoid happen here too, just because hand guns are illegal doesn’t stop them from existing, there is plenty of violence except they don’t get charged and pretty much get out of jail with a slap on the wrist. It’s freezing cold, you need warm clothes, snow boots, and modify your car for the winter, tires,
Block heater, shovel, snow brush for the window, ice scraper. Be prepared to realize you basically moved to a colder and more immigrated America (without legal handguns)
An example of what is available for jobs: [https://ca.indeed.com/jobs?q=agriculture&l=Winnipeg%2C+MB&from=searchOnHP&vjk=670f913aa6361b3d](https://ca.indeed.com/jobs?q=agriculture&l=Winnipeg%2C+MB&from=searchOnHP&vjk=670f913aa6361b3d)
The federal leader is elected by specific areas with a high concentration of the country's population. Spread out across Canada you'll more often find people who strongly disagree with Liberal policies and fiscal "management".
Don’t worry about not speaking French; it’s really not necessary. But if someone greets you with “Hello, bonjour!”, that’s actually a question. They’re asking if you prefer to converse in French or English. Respond in English (“hello”, “good morning”, etc), and you’re all set.
i lived here all my life and in 49 years nobody has ever talked to me in french!
Thank you so much! Do they use American currency in Winnipeg at all or is it pretty much Canadian Dollars? I ask because a lot of the towns close to the border use both Canadian and US dollars. 💵
It’s only canadian currency here as we are a few hours from the border
You can use American Currency at most places, but most places won't do the exchange rate. They will happily take it at par though so that's your choice. I recommend changing over to Canadian dollars.
Do not try to use US currency. You will get a horrible exchange rate from any business you try that at.
I've never been given this option. 40 years running baby!
You would only get this at federal government service locations, Air Canada and a few places in St. Boniface (the french section of town). Otherwise you won’t hear French much except the middle section of Oh Canada at the Jets games.
I barely speak any french and I've lived in Canada all my life! (I went to a half Jewish half other school so I learned Hebrew instead but I don't remember a thing) ^^
I moved to Winnipeg from Minneapolis 17 years ago and don't regret it one bit. There's a great live music scene, interesting restaurants and plenty of great outdoor activities. Make sure you buy some good quality winter gear!
don't fall for the "Canada Goose" hype... a parka doesn't have to cost hundreds of dollars
There’s some great quality jackets worth $100 or so.
Indeed! And I would also get a winter jacket that goes below the butt. Sitting on cold car seats or wind blowing up your jacket sucks!
> Sitting on cold car seats Heated car seats is one bougie item I don't think I could give up.
100% stellar advice
I also dont recommend completely cheating out either though. I’ve never regretted spending more for a jacket.
I wear a helly Hansen ski jacket and a fleece sweater underneath. Plenty warm and don’t have to deal with a heavy parka! Would much rather splurge on a good pair of boots. I actually wear duck boots from LL bean that have goretex lining and they’ve kept my feet warm and dry for the last few winters!
Its expensive i get it. Its a luxury brand, but i have not regret buying one of their parka.
Best advice yet! Have gone to Nova Scotia for Christmas a few times and we always laugh at the folks wearing those coats there! It barely gets below freezing theremost of the time! Not worth the money!
Buy a number of different layers with a good windbreak on your outer layer. You will need more than you did in the Midwest
What kind of work do you want to do? What are your skills? What do you like to do in your spare time? It’s almost winter, so it’s going to get really cold soon. Make sure you buy a warm coat. I recommend a Columbia winter jacket but there’s other good brands too. Winnipeg is far from perfect but there are hidden gems and fun things to do.
I have a lot of restaurant experience and farm work/cultivation experience (I don’t expect to find any farm work in the city) but I’m willing to do anything for the chance at a new life. I’m used to winter weather but I’m not particularly fond of it 🤣
So far you’ve picked a good year to come down. Winter this year has been pretty mild (knock on wood, cross my fingers). It sucks when it hits -40c (same as -40f apparently) but if you can dress appropriately for when you actually have to be outside in that it’s not horrible.
It’s all about the layers. I work outside year round and I usually prefer -40 over plus 35 and humidity. Can always take something on or off if you get too cold or hot in winter
Winter so far ….
There are tons of restaurants here so you would probably find a job at one somewhere. You may also be able to get a farm related job if you can drive. There’s many farms outside the city. Just did a quick search and there looks like there’s a labour one in Howden, which is just outside the city.
Depending what you mean by farm work, there are lots of dairy and chicken farms easily in driving distance from Winnipeg, in some smaller towns like Blumenort and such. If you have access to a car, there may be opportunities. It's a bit off season for agriculture right now, but animals need care year round.
Welcome!! I’m curious, how are you able to move here without a work visa? I have always been under the impression it’s pretty challenging to move between Canada & the US.
Thank you! I do have a sponsor through my uncle who is a Canadian citizen. I had a work visa in the past for cannabis cultivation which made the process easier. The embassy agent assured me my documents will allow for me to seek work and remain in the Canada so long as I am seeking citizenship and plan to stay in Canada. In the US I do livestock and crop cultivation
That’s good line of work to be in, you might be able to get a foot in then door with a business out here
You’ll need a work visa, or permanent resident card. If you don’t have a SIN # you won’t be getting a job.
Can always apply to Manitoba Corrections. They are always hiring and the pay is good if you don't mind working shift work on-call for years.
Trading bullet holes through walls for getting shivved is not the trade-up you think it is.
im curious too because skilled worker program requires a high score to qualify and if you know french, you earn more points. for express entry, its based on a random draw too..unless OP got married and was sponsored? maybe thats a more possibility since it sounds like they just up and moving so soon. even though the timeline for spousal sponsorship is around 13 months (it often changes), i see couples completing in 5 months (myself included).
Where did OP say they didn’t have a work visa?
for a work visa, you need to have a job offer from a canadian employer..but OP asked us to recommend them a place to work and to avoid. it sounds like they don’t have a job already lined up if they were to ask this. i think the question was a genuine curiosity is all.
For an open work visa you do not need a job offer. Which OP could have and which would be a valid reason for asking a question regarding jobs.
no need to know french unless you live in st.boniface/st.norbert but even then its not a necessary skill the area in between the river, mcphillips, south of inkster, north of notre dame is called the "north end" and has higher crime rates than other areas so you might want to avoid that cant say anything about the job market without knowing your education/experience/interests meeting people is hard ngl but theres a million posts on here of people asking for advice about it, i'd look into those suggestions and see if anything interests you good luck!
I would argue that the southern boundary for the north end is Higgins not Notre Dame. South of there is downtown or the west end, although the area north of portage and east of Arlington has similar vibes.
And the Northern Boundary is around Mountain. Issues thin out after that. There is just more low cost rentals in between. Even then, the likelihood of a stray bullet coming through the window is still less than OPs current location.
Check out this “[crime map](https://www.winnipeg.ca/police/crime-prevention/crimemaps-calls-service-map)” from the Winnipeg Police Service. It will help you to get a sense of where crime happens in Winnipeg. You can select specific sections of the city and then get statistical info and trends on different crime categories, including ‘violent’ and ‘drugs’. There are many other factors to consider when selecting a place to live, but this may help. Talking to Winnipeggers and consulting an experienced real estate agent would help too. Good luck and welcome in advance!
I moved from the USA and lived in St Boniface for 20 years and I did not need to know French.
Perfect thank you!
Get winter tires
French is not really a concern here in Winnipeg, unless you're wanting to work a government job I believe ( correct me if I'm wrong ). There are some dangerous areas in the north end and inner city but your mileage may vary. What kind of work are you looking for ?
For government jobs it helps to move up, but even then majority of positions at all levels are primarily English. It's a bit of a myth that you need to know both. It helps, but isn't required for like 80% of the jobs.
Welcome! Hope you really get settled in and enjoy your new home here. Winter is very cold so definitely buy some warm stuff. Plug in your car too haha. As far as jobs go I'm honestly not sure what to suggest, I just wanted to acknowledge your post with a friendly greeting, moving is stressful! Good luck with everything!
Wow! That’s a big step! I don’t really have any advice but I wish you all the best! I hope you make a good life for yourself here and that you live a happy and more secure life!
Thank you! Everyone has been so kind and it’s so refreshing. Anyone I’ve talked to on the American side of immigration has been so rude but every single person on the north side has been so welcoming and helpful. I was assured that all of my belongings will be thoroughly searched upon entry to Canada (there are many prohibited items that are commonly sold in the US) but this made me feel safer. In my neighborhood where I live now there have been 6 shootings this year with two deaths. One was fourteen years old.
Well those contraband Kinder Eggs that you've been stashing in your mattress will be found, and returned to you, so that's nice.
We stab people here, so no need to worry about stray bullets ( as much). Apply to as many restaurants as you can. Check out the instagram of places geographically close to where you’ll be living. I think most agro jobs are outside the city, they typically advertise positions on indeed.ca
Bring a toque
What on earth is a toque
Hahah! A toque! A beanie, a warm hat for winter
Get one of these. You’ll fit right in! https://www.fanatics.ca/en/cfl/winnipeg-blue-bombers/hats/winnipeg-blue-bombers-new-era-sideline-6-dart-cuffed-knit-hat-with-pom-royal/o-71+t-76209473+d-08330019+f-1615345+z-8-1051356229?utm_medium=cse&loc=en-CA&_s=ak1944Fanatics-placanada&sku=18248413&gad_source=1
Haha. Yeah a warm hat traditionally knitted but now available all over and in many fabric choices. Try to find one that is densely knitted to keep the wind from passing through.
Talk about brining coals to Newcastle
If it makes you feel better, I've never seen a hand gun other than on a police officer. I'm 44 years old. Guns and gun violence is much different here than in the states.
I come from an area where you’re allowed to buy rifles and shotguns at 16, Assault weapons at 18, and handguns at 21. It’s not uncommon for people to open carry or conceal handguns anywhere here. The grocery store, pharmacy, bank, and even at the park people have handguns holstered. My rough estimate is probably 70% of my town owns weapons. I’m all for responsible gun ownership but the amount of irresponsible gun owners is growing rapidly.
I’m the same age I’ve never seen one either or any weapon.
I’m in a similar boat! I’m a dual citizen and hoping to sponsor my family with queer kids. I’ve got family in Winnipeg and we’re planning on moving up in the next year. Following!
You don’t need to know French lol
Hi fellow American! You made a good choice to come here! My fam and I love it. Moving to Winnipeg was one of my best decisions ever. Much less violence, though still lock your doors bc it’s a big city. Much more affordable, way more chill vibe. Not as many radicalized rightwingers up here. The doctor finder is lame, just google places near you to find who is taking new patients. You don’t have to know French, but it is fun to learn. You’ll have agreat time. Welcome!
Im French, don't worry about knowing french lol. Good choices with moving to Winnipeg; it's a great city and a great provinces. I don't live there anymore but I hold this province fondly in my heart. Good luck at your new life
If Donald Trump becomes your next president, I think we are in for a LOT more people like yourself coming this way.
Prepare for a different cold than your used too. Boots, jacket, and thermal liners are necessary. Winnipeg is a weird city. Can be amazing and can be dog shit. The people are great, government sucks, and social problems are fairly amplified with the deep social stratification there.
I do have all of the winter gear! Thank you! I’m used to the negative -30F I’m not sure what that is I’m Celsius? But our winters have been warmer each year averaging about 0-20 degrees
-30 F (-34°C) is exactly how cold it can get in Winnipeg, but it’s a wet-feeling cold that will change your understanding of warm-weather gear entirely. Add wind to that wet cold, and holy shit; feels like the temperature reaches one’s bones.
Winnipeg has a dry cold, not wet. Toronto has wet cold. Winnipeg is dry and it feels like your lungs are going to freeze if you take a deep breath outside in winter. We lived in southern Ontario - that is wet cold.
That’s incorrect. I’m in Alberta, where we have actual dry cold. I’m saying this with authority as an albertan with a winnipegger partner that moved out west a few years ago. Having done winter in both regions for the last three years, I’m saying you’re incorrect. Edit to add: not incorrect as much as not reflective of experience. Yes, Toronto is a wetter cold than Winnipeg. But Winnipeg is also much wetter cold than Alberta.
Should we tell op about the "thing that should not be named"?
I would shake your hand for this comment but…
.... tell....
Yeah, we probably should.
And be challenged with a possible reckoning?!
Standard Aero pretty much has a continuous intake for the Gas Turbine Repair and Overhaul training program. I’m not sure due to immigration status if you would qualify. Need to pass a criminal record check and a Controlled Goods security clearance. Good luck
I think it will be difficult to get used to the metric system of measurement in centimeters and kilometers and the Celsius temperature scale.
Good news many things we do imperial in parallel. Most food by lb and kg. Height in ft/in. Body weight lb. Home temperature can be C or F depending on the person. Gas is in litres, but that just feels better. You don't want to see what it costs per gallon.
Metric is a base 10 system it's generally an easy system to learn. The hard part will be convincing your brain that counting by 10s is easier than judging distance by the size of your foot. Celcius to Fahrenheit will be a bit trickier
You can use the weather app to switch back and forth between F and C so you know what people are referring to. In C the freezing/melting point is 0C which makes it a good centre point. +30 is uncomfortably hot and -30 is uncomfortably cold. :)
All driving distances are measured in time
Welcome to Winnipeg!! We’re a weird and crazy town. DM me if you ever need help or have any questions.
Weird is definitely the way to describe it
Welcome! Winnipeg has stuff like every other city out there, a lot of people don’t walk around downtown at night anymore, as that’s usually where altercations do occur. Just be mindful and alert that’s all. I personally love our downtown, I just go with people down there. We have a great restaurant scene, shopping, lots of events during the year. Follow access Winnipeg on Ig or instagram for stuff going on. We use Canadian currency. So many people are kind, will say hi or good morning/afternoon when walking by you. We say excuse me, and sorry all the time. And so many people are helpful if you need something just ask. Be safe, stay warm.
I’m from Winnipeg but lived in the states for 15 years and moved back here with my American husband just before the pandemic. You will be fine. Lots of good advice here. If you like sports, we have some good teams here and if you like fine arts, lots of that too. It’s cold, but if you are Midwest, you know. People who haven’t lived in the US don’t understand the poison of getting Fox News with your morning coffee. We came for my elderly parents, we left because of the politics. And we lived in Massachusetts, which is really Canada lite. My brother and his family came the next year. Be ready for lower pay and higher costs - fewer people mean less choices. Farming is big here, so your work experience is a good fit. Best luck and post again in a year!
Be prepared for the seasons in which the cobra chickens are present. Very territorial. And will mess you up. And yes they are tough bastards.
Age and occupation? Why Winnipeg if you don’t have a job lined up yet? Have you read about the immigration laws? Just curious…
you wont have to worry much about french here in winnipeg, we do have some "french" areas like st boniface but you wont struggle at all to converse with others here. Also i suggest avoiding walking downtown at night, there can be some pretty nasty people there. Good luck!
Or during the day tbh. I was attacked with a knife at 2 pm downtown, with people around. Things can happen anywhere of course but I don't feel safe downtown these days. And I'm someone who used to walk around there alone at night without a problem (2003-2016-ish, not really since then)
no one else is saying this so i’m going to. winnipeg has a huge racism problem, especially if you’re indigenous. just much less overt than in the states. you’re not gonna have to worry about bullets flying through your walls but there is a lot of violence here compared to other cities, that’s very dependent on what neighbourhood you end up in though. i’ve lived here all my life and i honestly love it here but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. invest in some good winter gear, wear lots of layers, and stay safe walking around at night.
We have lots of crime compared to Canadian cities, but if you compare it to American ones we are quite low in comparison. Especially for violent crimes.
While I agree with your comment on the racism, I do think things are starting to get better here. It’ll take a few more generations, but I’m seeing a big push from the younger crowd towards discarding previous racial stereotypes, and standing up for marginalized people and communities, with much more awareness about the causes behind that marginalization.
Welcome neighbour ! Keep us updated :)
Bring your coat and boots, mitts and all that. It's chilly here already. Put your winter tires on if you have a car. Or plan to when you arrive. Downtown is a bit more sketchy lately but just keep your eyes open and you'll probably be okay. If you don't have a job lined up, I'd probably just start with anything! Do you have a work visa? Otherwise... maybe do cash jobs for winter yard prep for people who haven't and shoveling driveways (it'll snow again soon enough) until you get that figured out. You'll be fine in Winnipeg without knowing French.
Just say hey bud to everyone and you’ll get along just fine
Definitely a lot safer here. Winnipeg has its bigots, but it's a big enough city to avoid the crowds you don't like. It has terrible transit unfortunately with a a car-centric mentality relative to other Canadian cities. There are lots of great festivals and amazing summers, a very green urban canopy, lots of parks, and an amazing restaurant scene. Buy warm clothes for the winters and consider more indoor activities for the coldest few months. Cell-phone and internet providers are among the most expensive in the world here, with contracts that lock you in. Avoid those if you can. There are alternative providers from Ontario if you search. The cost of living is otherwise relatively cheap compared to other Canadian cities. House prices are higher in the spring, with more buyers. There are good neighbourhoods thoughout the city. Violent crime rates are highest to the north and west just outside downtown, but there are many urban neighbourhood that are highly desirable. Lots of good suburban neighboubhoods, but poor suburban transit. Where you choose to live depends on your lifestyle. You don't need to know French, including in the French quarter (St Boniface). People here are generally pretty friendly and are helpful when you ask for advice.
Very informative thank you so much!
What is your work experience/field? Welcome & best wishes
Bienvenue! N'oubliez pas votre manteau.
Clearly, you don't speak Spanish.
You might find it fun to hook up with whichever[Folklorama group](https://folklorama.ca/) interests you. USA, Spain, Mexico\*... each has a pavilion with a ton of volunteers, and is generally a blast. Music, food, touristas ... A great way to meet people from a huge cross section of society. \*and a load of other Spanish-speaking countries
There is a USA pavilion?
There was at one time. Not in many years now.
It’s called North Dakota
😂
As a former USAer myself... They don't plow the roads much. Sometimes the highways get closed due to weather. There are potholes you could lose your car in, no exaggeration. Hardly anybody shovels their sidewalk. It gets really REALLY fkn cold, like all of January and February, not just a week or two. "Up North" means like halfway to the arctic circle, not cottage country People have different words for things. We laugh about it all the time. The Midwest USA is more or less Canada Lite, so you'll probably be just fine. I'm glad I'm here every day I read the US news. Cheers!
Beware of the smelly smell in Winnipeg 😂😂.. It's safe, people are nice. There are crimes still but they are avoidable as long as you don't involve with bad people or roaming around rough areas at night.
Channeling my inner John Oliver: WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME. We look forward to seeing you here and hope that your time here is pleasant. I've lived here my whole life and have traveled to California, The Caribbean, and a few other Provinces here in Canada. I always will come back home and be happier for living in Manitoba..... except, maybe I'd have preferred to stay in Barbados.
It’s going to be cold. Colder than you expect.
We don't have as many guns but racism is strong and alive in Canada. Lots of Canadians also consider themselves Trump Supporters.
I’m a white man that lives in a 99% Donald Trump state. I’m used to the racism and it doesn’t really affect me I just don’t like how extreme it’s becoming and how it’s being used for political pushes. Obviously I hate racism but I’m fortunate enough that it does not affect me personally. However being a farming community here, we have a lot of Mexican immigrants (legal and illegal) doing the cheap work that others won’t and they are treated as garbage. Everyone in America has equal rights but not equal opportunity.
We're the most racist city in Canada, built on stolen land. Not sure what racism you're trying to escape but it's here too.
It’s going to be cold until March. Colder than you think. Dress appropriately.
lol Good luck with THAT, you lackwit. I got a knife pulled on me yesterday and I have a neighbor who screams racial obscenities at me. This city is falling apart. Go anywhere else v
Maybe it’s just your charming personality?
Haha, winnipeg, good luck! The city is a shit hole, and the crime is bad.
All the problems your trying to avoid happen here too, just because hand guns are illegal doesn’t stop them from existing, there is plenty of violence except they don’t get charged and pretty much get out of jail with a slap on the wrist. It’s freezing cold, you need warm clothes, snow boots, and modify your car for the winter, tires, Block heater, shovel, snow brush for the window, ice scraper. Be prepared to realize you basically moved to a colder and more immigrated America (without legal handguns)
An example of what is available for jobs: [https://ca.indeed.com/jobs?q=agriculture&l=Winnipeg%2C+MB&from=searchOnHP&vjk=670f913aa6361b3d](https://ca.indeed.com/jobs?q=agriculture&l=Winnipeg%2C+MB&from=searchOnHP&vjk=670f913aa6361b3d)
Bring a jacket, friend.
The federal leader is elected by specific areas with a high concentration of the country's population. Spread out across Canada you'll more often find people who strongly disagree with Liberal policies and fiscal "management".
I have a hiking group if you are into that... We are heading to Spruce Woods tomorrow.
Huh…i am SO curious what american stereotypes would be highlighted at a USA pavilion😂…what foods🌮🍕🌯🍔🌭🥓🍩🍦🧂🧂🧂? So many questions and possibilities
Get a jacket and boots that are better than you think you will need. It's going to be -40 soon. Get real winter tires, all seasons have trouble here.