.jpg)
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Manitoba. The name comes from Western Cree words for muddy or brackish water, referring to Lake Winnipeg, which is just north of the city along the Red River. The region was a trading centre for aboriginal peoples long before the arrival of Europeans. French traders built the first fort on the site in 1738. A settlement was founded in 1812 by the Selkirk settlers of the Red River Colony, the nucleus of which was incorporated as the City of Winnipeg in 1873. The census of 2011 lists Winnipeg as the seventh most populous municipality in Canada. Known as the "Gateway to the West", it is a transportation hub with a diversified economy. Its annual festivals include the Festival du Voyageur, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Jazz Winnipeg Festival, the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, and Folklorama. Winnipeg was the first Canadian host of the Pan American Games. It is home to several professional sports franchises, including the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Canadian football), Winnipeg Jets (ice hockey), Manitoba Moose (ice hockey) and Winnipeg Goldeyes (baseball). (Full article...)