Manitoba

This article is about the Canadian province. For other uses, see Manitoba (disambiguation).

Manitoba
Province
A red flag with a large Union Jack in the upper left corner and a shield, consisting of St. George's Cross over a left-facing bison standing on a rock, on the right side
Flag
A central shield showing a bison standing on a rock, under a St George's Cross. On top of the shield sits a helmet decorated with a red and white billowing veil. On top of the helmet sits a beaver with a crown on its back, holding a prairie crocus. To the right of the shield is a rearing white unicorn wearing a collar of white and green maple leaves, from which hangs a green cart-wheel pendant. To the left of the shield is a rearing white horse wearing a collar of Indian beadwork, from which hangs a green cycle of life medallion. The animals and shield stand on a mound, with a wheat field beneath the unicorn, prairie crocuses beneath the shield, and spruces beneath the horse. Beneath the mound are white and blue waves, under which is an orange scroll bearing the words "GLORIOSUS ET LIBER"
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
Latin: Gloriosus et Liber
"Glorious and free"
Coordinates: 55°N 97°W / 55°N 97°W / 55; -97[1]
CountryCanada
Before confederationRed River Colony
Confederation15 July 1870[3] (5th, with Northwest Territories)
Capital
(and largest city)		Winnipeg
Largest metroWinnipeg Region
Government
 • TypeParliamentary constitutional monarchy
 • Lieutenant GovernorAnita Neville
 • PremierWab Kinew
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Manitoba
Federal representationParliament of Canada
House seats14 of 338 (4.1%)
Senate seats6 of 105 (5.7%)
Area
[4]
 • Total
647,797 km2 (250,116 sq mi)
 • Land553,556 km2 (213,729 sq mi)
 • Water94,241 km2 (36,387 sq mi)  14.5%
 • Rank8th
 6.5% of Canada
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
1,342,153[2]
 • Estimate 
(Q3 2024)
1,494,301[5]
 • Rank5th
DemonymManitoban
Official languagesEnglish[6]
GDP
 • Rank6th
 • Total (2015)C$65.862 billion[7]
 • Per capitaC$50,820 (9th)
Time zoneUTC−06:00 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−05:00 (Central DST)
Rankings include all provinces and territories

Manitoba (/ˌmænɪˈtoʊbə/ ⓘ MAN-ih-TOH-bə) is a province of Canada at the longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's fifth-most populous province, with a population of 1,342,153 as of 2021.[2] Manitoba has a widely varied landscape, from arctic tundra and the Hudson Bay coastline in the north to dense boreal forest, large freshwater lakes, and prairie grassland in the central and southern regions.

Indigenous peoples have inhabited what is now Manitoba for thousands of years. In the early 17th century, English and French fur traders began arriving in the area and establishing settlements. The Kingdom of England secured control of the region in 1673 and created a territory named Rupert's Land, which was placed under the administration of the Hudson's Bay Company. Rupert's Land, which included all of present-day Manitoba, grew and evolved from 1673 until 1869 with significant settlements of Indigenous and Métis people in the Red River Colony. Negotiations for the creation of the province of Manitoba commenced in 1869, but deep disagreements over the right to self-determination led to an armed conflict, known as the Red River Rebellion, between the federal government and the people (particularly Métis) of the Red River Colony. The resolution of the conflict and further negotiations led to Manitoba becoming the fifth province to join Canadian Confederation, when the Parliament of Canada passed the Manitoba Act on 15 July 1870.

Manitoba's capital and largest city is Winnipeg, the sixth most populous municipality in Canada. Winnipeg is the seat of government, home to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the Provincial Court. Four of the province's five universities, all four of its professional sports teams, and most of its cultural activities (including Festival du Voyageur and Folklorama) are located in Winnipeg. The city has an international airport as well as train and bus stations; a Canadian Forces base, CFB Winnipeg, operates from the airport and is the regional headquarters of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

  1. ^ "Manitoba". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  2. ^ a b Statistics Canada. Data table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population – Manitoba [archived 10 February 2022; Retrieved February 9, 2022].
  3. ^ Brawn, Dale. The Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba, 1870–1950: A Biographical History. University of Toronto Press; 2006. ISBN 978-0-8020-9225-0. p. 22.
  4. ^ Statistics Canada. Land and freshwater area, by province and territory [Retrieved 25 August 2023].
  5. ^ Statistics Canada. Population estimates, quarterly; September 27, 2023 [archived September 28, 2023].
  6. ^ University of Ottawa. The legal context of Canada's official languages [archived 10 October 2017; Retrieved 7 March 2019].
  7. ^ Statistics Canada. Gross domestic product, expenditure-based, by province and territory (2015); 9 November 2016 [archived 19 September 2012].