| The Forks | |
|---|---|
| Native name ᓂᐢᑕᐚᔮᐤ (nistawâyâw) (Cree) | |
 The Forks Market Tower | |
 Interactive map of The Forks | |
| Type | Historic site |
| Location | Winnipeg,Manitoba,Canada |
| Coordinates | 49°53′13″N97°07′50″W / 49.88694°N 97.13056°W /49.88694; -97.13056 |
| Founded | c. 4000BCE |
| Visitors | 4,000,000+ annually[1] |
| Governing body | The Forks North Portage Partnership |
| Website | www |
| Official name | The Forks National Historic Site of Canada |
| Designated | 1974 |
| Public transit |  Winnipeg TransitD12 D13 31 |
The Forks (French:La Fourche;Cree:ᓂᐢᑕᐚᔮᐤ, nistawâyâw, often rendered as "Nestawaya") is a historic site, meeting place, andgreen space indowntown Winnipeg located at theconfluence of theRed River and theAssiniboine River.
The Forks was designated aNational Historic Site of Canada in 1974 due to its status as acultural landscape that had borne witness to six thousand years of human activity.[2] The site's 5.5-hectare (14-acre; 0.021 sq mi) grounds are open year-round.[3]
The first attestation of the French form of the name known toElliott Coues was in the writing of theVérendrye brothers, who in 1738 wrote of "La Fourche des Assiliboiles". According to Coues, the name "the Forks" had become established in English by the end of the eighteenth century.[4]: 44–45 The place-name arises from the largely North American usage of the nounfork to mean "the point at which a river divides into two, or the point of junction of two rivers; a branch or tributary".[5] According toGeographical Names of Manitoba, "the plural form is used because two rivers [...] merge here. If a single river splits into two branches, the singular 'fork' is more properly used".[6]: 271
Numerous archaeological digs have shown that early Indigenous groups arrived at The Forks site around 6,000 years ago. The digs conducted between 1989 and 1994 discovered several Indigenous camps. Artifacts related to the bison hunt and fishing were unearthed. Evidence showed thatNakoda (Assiniboins),Cree,Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) andSioux (Dakota) visited the site.[7] Seasonal migration routes from northern forests to southern plains featured the Forks area as a rest stop, and the location became a key transcontinental trade link.[8]
TheAssiniboine River has followed its modern course for approximately 700 years. The Assiniboine River formerly met theRed River near the present-day mouth of theLa Salle River.[9]
European fur traders arrived at the site and initiated trade with the local peoples, using the Assiniboine people as fur trade middlemen.[8]
Europeans arrived by canoe in 1738.La Vérendrye erectedFort Rouge, the first of a long line of forts and trading posts erected in the area. TheRed River Colony and the forts were all established near The Forks. The area remained the hub of the fur trade up until the 1880s. At that time, grain production became Western Canada's principal industry and the main transportation for that industry was rail rather than waterways.[7]
From 1760 to 1821, theHudson's Bay Company (HBC) andNorth West Company competed for furs. Both companies used The Forks to store and ship supplies and furs. By 1821, competing fur companies were amalgamated into the HBC.[8]
The rail yards of theNorthern Pacific andManitoba Railway Company, theCanadian Northern, theGrand Trunk Pacific Railroad, and theCanadian National Railway were dominant facets of the Forks site, and this era is responsible for some of the buildings still standing at The Forks.[7]
The Forks Market was formed by joining together the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway stable and the Great Northern Railway stable. What is now the Johnston Terminal was originally known as the National Cartage Building.[7]
TheManitoba Children's Museum is housed in what used to be the Northern Pacific and Manitoba Railway Company's Buildings and Bridges (B & B) Buildings.Union Station is still in operation.[7]
Across thePrairies, the Canadian government began actively promoting immigration, settlement, and railway development in the late 1800s. The Canadian government erected two immigration sheds at The Forks, each accommodating up to 500 people.[7]
On July 24, 1987, the Forks Renewal Corporation (FRC) was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the North Portage Development Corporation (NPDC). The objective of FRC was to provide a mechanism for implementing the redevelopment of the former CN East Yards area. The result was The Forks as its known today. (The operations of FRC and NPDC were merged in 1994 to form The Forks North Portage Partnership.)[10]
Following the opening of the Forks National Historic Site in 1989,[3] the Forks became the location of an interpretive park, and later public space for celebrations and recreation, revitalized historic and new buildings containing shops and restaurants, as well as a skateboard park and historic port. The Forks attracts over four million visitors each year.[7]
Beginning as two adjacent stables for competing rail companies (Grand Trunk Pacific andGreat Northern), the horse stalls were joined by a courtyard and bridges, and became what is now known asThe Forks Market.[11]
The Forks Market features a six-storey tower with viewing platform,[12] which is accessible by stairs or elevator and features interpretive panels with information on the site's history.
The market also comprises two storeys of vendors selling everything from fresh fruit, bread, meat, and wine to cigars and aromatherapy products to crafts and artworks from 300 local and Canadian artisans.[11]
In mid-2016, the Forks completed a $2.5-million renovation of the food hall into a feature calledThe Common, including a new beer and wine kiosk.[13]
Outside, located directly in between The Forks Market and Johnston Terminal,The Forks Market Plaza features fountains, canopies, dancing programs, several open performance spaces and patios.[14] In the winter, the Plaza is home to an artificially cooled skating rink, under a canopy and lights.[14]
| Johnston Terminal | |
|---|---|
 The main entrance to Johnston Terminal at the Forks | |
 Interactive map of Johnston Terminal | |
| Former names | National Cartage Building |
| General information | |
| Location | 25 Forks Market Rd, Winnipeg, MB |
| Completed | 1928 |
| Cost | $134,700 |
| Owner | Artis REIT |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
| Design and construction | |
| Main contractor | Carter-Halls-Aldinger Company |
Across the courtyard from the Forks Market is the four-storeyJohnston Terminal building.
It was constructed in 1928 by Carter-Halls-Aldinger Company, and cost an estimated $134,700.[15][16] Originally named theNational Cartage Building, it was built as a warehouse andfreight-forwarding facility for theCanadian National Railway (CNR).[17][16]
After a substantial addition in 1930, the warehouse was at the time one of the largest in Winnipeg, containing over 9,300 square metres (100,000 sq ft) of usable space. It was occupied by National Storage and Cartage, a wholly owned CNR subsidiary, until 1961, and was leased to the Johnston National Cartage Company (later known as the Johnston Terminals Company) for the next 15 years.
Vacated in 1977, the building was unoccupied until the redevelopment of the site into The Forks as a retail space.[17] The developers, Artis REIT, continue to own and manage Johnston Terminal.[18]
The building is now a municipally designated historic site, and is now home to a variety of specialty boutiques, stores, offices, and restaurants. The main and second floor tenants are retailers, includingThe Old Spaghetti Factory; while the third and fourth floors are leased to office tenants.[19] The basement of the building hosts the Johnston Terminal Antique Mall, which has more than 30 consigners and 7,000 square feet (650 m2) of new merchandise brought in daily.[20]
Travel Manitoba Visitor Information Centre is the visitorinformation centre for Manitoba, offering travel counselling and trip planning services. The centre also acts as a meeting point for the "6,000 Years in 60 Minutes!"Parks Canada interpretive program offered throughout the summer months.[21]
Located next to the Oodena Celebration Circle, the Manitoba Children's Museum is a non-profit, charitablechildren's museum featuring twelve permanent galleries.[22] Originally opened at a different location in 1986, the museum's moved to its current building at the Forks in 1994.[23] The museum is now housed in the former Kinsmen Building, which is the oldest surviving train repair facility in Manitoba, having been built in 1889.[24]
The museum underwent $10 million in renovations in 2011, including the addition of the Buhler Welcome Centre.[23]
The Manitoba Theatre for Young People (MTYP) is a theatre for children and young adults, located at theCanwest Performing Arts Centre (now theShaw Performing Arts Center) in The Forks.[25] The location provides 28,000 square feet (2,600 m2)[26] of space for the theatre to use towards its missions of producing entertaining professional theatre, providing training in theatre and portraying the experience of Canadian children.[27]
MTYP's Theatre School offers Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions, as well as spring break and summer camps, including classes for children as young as three years old.[28] MTYP offers free acting, performing and film training classes to Winnipeg's Indigenous youth between the ages of 12 and 18.[29]
The Forks is the location of theCanadian Museum for Human Rights, the firstnational museum in Canada located outside ofOttawa. Its construction was completed in 2014.
The site for the museum is one of archaeological importance relating to First Nations history.[30]
Inn at the Forks is a five-storey hotel located at the Forks.[31] It has 117 guest rooms and suites, meeting and reception space for up to 200 people, fitness facilities, and features the restaurant Smith and Riverstone Spa.[32] The hotel features natural slate floors in the main lobby, glass vanities in the suite washrooms, heated floors, and a water wall in the spa.[31]
The Inn at the Forks project was the first Canadian application of the "Redi-Maid" system that links ensuite occupancy sensors, lighting and mechanical system controls to staff PDAs with the goal of maximizing energy efficiency. The hotel was completed with a construction cost of $16 million in May 2004.[33]
The Winnipeg Railway Museum is located at the historicUnion Station adjacent to the Forks. It is home to theCountess of Dufferin, the firststeam locomotive on theCanadian Prairies or to enterwestern Canada. The museum closed on 31 December 2021.[34]
The Forks features numerous outdoor facilities, sculptures, and landscape features open to the public.
During winter, the followingskating rinks, trails, and snow park structures are erected at the Forks:[35]
In January 2008, theGuinness Book of World Records recognized The Forks as the home of the longest skating rink in the world.[36] The 8.54-kilometre-long River Trail on theAssiniboine River and theRed River is almost 1-kilometre longer than the previous record-holding rink. The 7.8-kilometre long rink on theRideau Canal inOttawa,Ontario had lost its World Record title which it had held since 1971. Then in 2008 the rivers beat their own record which made the longest rink go to about 9.3-kilometres. The Rideau Canal still held the record for the "world's largest naturally frozen ice rink" by the Guinness Book of World Records because "its entire length receives daily maintenance such as sweeping, ice thickness checks and there are toilet and recreational facilities along its entire length".[37][38] In 2013, the Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail lost its record to theLake Windermere Whiteway atInvermere, British Columbia.[39]
The length of the skating trail at The Forks changes each year, depending on river and ice conditions, although a concerted effort is made to make it as long as possible. In the winter of 2010/2011, conditions on The Assiniboine River made it impossible to safely create skating westward, so the path extended instead south on the Red River. Essentially, the water level and the weather at the time of freeze-up will impact the way the ice forms (seefrazil ice, for example), how stable it will be, and how smoothly it can be made for skating. Much of the local river ice in Winnipeg in the winter of 2010/2011 was too rough to form a skating surface. There is also a skating trail made overland which is not impacted by river conditions. There are also walking and ski trails running parallel to the skating trail.
Warming Huts: An Art + Architecture Competition on Ice is an open competition endorsed by theManitoba Association of Architects. Started in 2010, the first iteration of the competition saw five local architects building outdoor structures to protect people from winter weather. In 2011, competition was opened up to international participants and included work byFrank Gehry's firm Gehry Partners.[40][41] The competition has been awarded a Downtown Merit Award from theInternational Downtown Association.[42]
| Year | Opening | Closing | Days open | Maximum length (km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 9 Jan | 5 Mar | 56 | 9.34[43] |
| 2010 | 4 Jan[44] | 5 Mar[45] | 61 | 7.5 |
| 2011 | 13 Jan[46] | |||
| 2012 | 24 Jan[47] | 11 Mar[48] | 48 | |
| 2013 | 24 Dec | 27 Feb | 66 | 7[49] |
| 2014 | 10 Jan[50] | 11 Mar[51] | 61 | 6.5 |
| 2015 | 1 Jan[52] | 9 Mar[53] | 68 | 6.1[54] |
TheAssiniboine Riverwalk follows along theAssiniboine riverbanks from underneathEsplanade Riel to the grounds of theManitoba Legislative Building.[55]
The Riverwalk is often closed due to river flooding in springtime.[56][57] From the construction of the walkway to the summer of 2011, the walkway has been submerged beyond access for part of the summer for 16 out of 21 years.[58]
| Year | Days submerged | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 Apr – 3 Sep | 156[59] |
| 2012 | 21 – 25 Mar | 5 |
| 2013 | 27 Apr – 16 Jul | 80 |
| 2014 | 15 Apr – 3 Oct | 171 |
| 2015 | 23 – 27 Mar[60] | 5 |
TheBroadway Promenade is apedestrian walkway connecting theEsplanade Riel pedestrian bridge toUnion Station andBroadway.[61] Designed by Scatliff+Miller+Murray, the design incorporates two pathways which cross the site. One pathway re-established the historic Broadway/Provencher Boulevard connection, and the other is a winding pathway representing pre-European contact era.[62]
Named in honor ofLouis Riel,[63] Esplanade Riel is a pedestrian-onlyside-spar cable-stayed bridge which spans theRed River connectingdowntown Winnipeg withSt. Boniface, and it is paired with a vehicular bridge, theProvencher Bridge.
Co-designed by architects Guy Préfontaine andÉtienne Gaboury of Gaboury Préfontaine Perry Architects Inc.,[64] Esplanade Riel is the only bridge with a restaurant in North America, and since July 2015 is occupied by Mon Ami Louis.[65] Former leasees includeSalisbury House,[66] a local Winnipeg chain restaurant, and Chez Sophie.[67]
TheCN Stage is an outdoor stage with adjoining greenspace, built along the Broadway Promenade.[68]
Many concerts and events in Winnipeg are held here. In the past, events have included annualCanada Day celebrations,2017 Canada Summer Games Festival,Queen Elizabeth's 2010 visit, the1999 Pan Am Games mainstage concerts, etc.[69] In 2012, the signature events at the stage includedWinnipeg's Pride Parade festival, Aboriginal Day Live hosted byAPTN, and theFolklorama Kick-Off.[70]
In the summer of 2004, a new pathway opened through Festival Park, connecting theEsplanade Riel pedestrian bridge withUnion Station onMain Street.[69]
Positioned along the Assiniboine Riverwalk, the historic port offers river vessel docking and rental, as well as access to the Winnipeg Waterways Water Bus and River tours.[71]
During times of flooding Winnipeg Waterways employs a movable ramp and floating dock system that allows it to operate in high water conditions.
Built in 1888, therail bridge was abandoned and eventually converted into a lighted crossing for pedestrians, cyclists and skaters.[72] The mural on the side of the rail bridge is entitled "Jackson Beardy – Woodlands Group of Seven Tribute", and was painted in 2006 for Graffiti Gallery's Winnipeg International Mural Festival. The 30-foot wide and 20-foot tall mural pays tribute to Cree artistJackson Beardy as well as the other members of theIndian Group of Seven.[73]
Oodena Celebration Circle is a natural shallowamphitheatre located between Johnston's Terminal, theManitoba Children's Museum, and the Red River Riverwalk.Oodena is Ojibwe for 'centre of the city'. Commissioned in 1993, the site was designed by the firm of Hilderman Thomas Frank Cramm.[74] The location features sculptures, asundial, interpretive signage, a naked-eyeobservatory, and a ceremonial fire pit.[75]
The circular amphitheatre is 60 metres (200 ft) in diameter and 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) deep.[76] The 3 metres (9.8 ft) excavation for the site unearthed what is referred to by local archaeologists as "the archaic horizon", a 3,000-year-old layer of soil rich in artifacts.[77]
There are eight unique steelarmatures that rest on cobblestone formations surrounding the bowl.[74] Each armature points at a specificconstellation, according to dates and times indicated on the panels surrounding the central stage.[74] Sighting rings on the armatures identify specific stars within the constellations.[77] The supporting cobblestone formations bear inscriptions of various legends about the stars their armatures focus upon.[74] The amphitheatre marks the vernal and autumnal equinox and the summer and winter solstices.[76] "The south armature features a shadow rod that castssolstice shadows on ground markers, the west armature is fitted with a wind sculpture, and the northeast armature features anaeolian harp." (Hilderman Thomas Frank Cramm – Oodena Celebration Circle)[74]
The site has been used as a meeting grounds for such varied events as "No Stone Unturned", a free concert in honour of Manitoba's missing and murdered women,[78] as well as the 2011 opening night location for THIN AIR, theWinnipeg International Writers Festival[79] and as the meeting location for Winnipeg's Zombie Walk 2012.[80]
The Forks'Prairie Garden is a 1,900 m2 (20,000 sq ft) garden featuring Manitoba's natural heritage. It was developed in 1999 in partnership withNature Conservancy of Canada as a demonstration garden, in anticipation of it being a showcase for visitors at the1999 Pan Am Games. Theprairie garden is a natural wild garden with over 10,000 plants in over 150 native plant species, including 38 prairie plants such asprairie crocus,wild iris,bergamot, purpleprairie clover, andwild columbine.[81]
ThePublic Orchard, in collaboration with Winnipeg-CORE,[82][83] contains 61 fruit trees including apple, apricot, cherry, pear, and plum, which the public can pick to eat from when the fruit is ripe. There are as many as 75 fruit bearing shrubs packed with all types of berries to pick from during the summer days. There are also many education sessions through Winnipeg-CORE that are open to the public, as part of The Fork's Target Zero initiative.[84]
In collaboration with Citigrow, theUrban Garden contains vegetables and herbs to be harvested by the Inn at The Forks and integrated into their menu.[85]
Officially opened 30 June 2006,[86] "The Plaza" is the largest urbanskate plaza and bowl complex in Canada.[87] Announced in 2005, it was built with money donated from the J.W. Burns Family Foundation. The skatepark includes a 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m2) skate plaza, and an 8,500-square-foot (790 m2) 'bowl complex'.[88]
The design features 'skateable' artwork, and is built to tolerate the regular use and enjoyment of skateboarders and cyclists. The park was also designed to integrate into the urban architecture of the city. It was designed bylandscape architecture firm van der Zalm + associates inc. of Vancouver, BC with key team members, New Line Skateparks and Scatliff Miller Murray as the local landscape architects.[88]
"Skate Patrol" are experienced skateboarder staff members that tour the park from dawn to dusk to educate skaters on the park's etiquette.[89]
In winter, this area features a small snowboarding facility.[35]
In 2006, the park was visited by professional skateboarderTony Hawk to shoot scenes for his movie releaseSecret Skatepark Tour 3.[90]
Located beside the Inn at the Forks, thePan Am Games Monument recognizes the governments, companies, and individuals who supported the1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg. The monument served as the flame cauldron for the games.[103] The 1999 Pan Am Games mainstage concerts were held at the Forks' Stage and Festival Park.[104]
The Forks hosts over 200 third-party and signature events throughout the year, most of which are free.[105]
Canada Day
Canada Day at the Forks is an all day event, with activities happening throughout the Forks grounds, and culminating in either a fireworks or drone show.[106][107]
Salsa Sundays
Salsa Sundays is a weekly event run at the Forks under the canopy during the summer, featuring free dance instruction and demonstrations set to live Latin music and DJ mixes.[108]
The Winnipeg International Children's Festival is a children's festival held annually at The Forks National Historic Park. Founded in 1983, it was held atAssiniboine Park, then atKildonan Park from 1984 through 1989, and eventually moving to its present location in 1990. The festival is made up of over 30 acts, held over four days, totalling about 120 performances.[109][110]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2021) |
The following projects are part of the ten-year revitalization plan for The Forks.[111]
| Climate data for Winnipeg The Forks | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.6 (47.5) | 9.2 (48.6) | 23.2 (73.8) | 27.4 (81.3) | 34.9 (94.8) | 35.0 (95.0) | 35.7 (96.3) | 36.4 (97.5) | 33.0 (91.4) | 31.1 (88.0) | 19.0 (66.2) | 8.0 (46.4) | 36.4 (97.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −10.1 (13.8) | −8.7 (16.3) | 0.1 (32.2) | 10.6 (51.1) | 17.3 (63.1) | 23.1 (73.6) | 26.6 (79.9) | 25.3 (77.5) | 20.2 (68.4) | 11.0 (51.8) | 1.3 (34.3) | −7.7 (18.1) | 9.1 (48.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −14.2 (6.4) | −13.1 (8.4) | −4.5 (23.9) | 5.3 (41.5) | 12.0 (53.6) | 18.1 (64.6) | 21.6 (70.9) | 20.2 (68.4) | 15.1 (59.2) | 6.9 (44.4) | −2.3 (27.9) | −11.3 (11.7) | 4.5 (40.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −18.1 (−0.6) | −17.4 (0.7) | −9.2 (15.4) | 0.0 (32.0) | 6.6 (43.9) | 13.0 (55.4) | 16.4 (61.5) | 15.0 (59.0) | 9.8 (49.6) | 2.7 (36.9) | −5.8 (21.6) | −14.9 (5.2) | −0.2 (31.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −35.8 (−32.4) | −33.1 (−27.6) | −32.2 (−26.0) | −15 (5) | −6.3 (20.7) | 1.8 (35.2) | 7.1 (44.8) | 5.7 (42.3) | −1.3 (29.7) | −8.5 (16.7) | −24.1 (−11.4) | −32.2 (−26.0) | −35.8 (−32.4) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 19.5 (0.77) | 14.1 (0.56) | 31.3 (1.23) | 31.0 (1.22) | 81.5 (3.21) | 97.1 (3.82) | 76.1 (3.00) | 70.0 (2.76) | 47.9 (1.89) | 35.0 (1.38) | 26.6 (1.05) | 23.5 (0.93) | 553.6 (21.80) |
| Source:Environment Canada, 1999–2016 Normals & Extremes[120] | |||||||||||||
National Historic Sites of Canada by location | |
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